The nature of the social experience at popular music festivals: Bestival a case study. Millie Devereux Caroline Jackson Bournemouth University

Transcription

1 The natre of the social experience at poplar msic festivals: Bestival a case stdy Millie Deverex Caroline Jackson Bornemoth University

2 Content Rationale, aim and objectives Literatre review Methodology Findings Conceptal framework Conclsions

3 Rationale, Aim & Objectives The aim of this research was to explore the natre of attendee s socialisation at msic festivals. Winkle and Woosman (2013) stated that festival literatre emphasises examining the economic impacts and therefore downplays the social implications of festivals on attendees. Msic festival differentiation can be achieved throgh nderstanding attendees socialisation within the msic festival, de to the importance of the social experience on the holistic event experience. Objectives To identify what is already known abot the msic festival experience. To explore frther socialisation at msic festivals with particlar reference to Packer and Ballantyne's (2011) for facets of the msic festival experience (msic, festival, social and separation) and Nordvall et al.'s (2014) concepts of known-grop socialisation, external socialisation and adience socialisation. To identify how the findings from the research can be sed by festival organisers, especially Bestival, to enhance the social experiences of poplar msic festival goers.

4 Literatre Review The close proximity of the live msic amplifies the natral capacity of msic to evoke emotional experiences and inflence mood (Laiho 2004). This is created within a socially intensive and emotionally heightened environment (Havel 2013). Festival goers ndergo socialisation when attending msic festivals; socialisation is the process of being social. Defined as the acqisition, maintenance, and modification of the social beliefs, attitdes, and vales that form the core of an individal's nderstanding of social reality (Hansen and Hansen 1991, p.1). The literatre review detailed the importance of the consmption of the msic festival experience, dependent pon the intertwining of the 4 facets of msic festival experience (Packer and Ballantyne 2011). And how the shared experience amplifies emotions and experiences de to the socially intensive and emotionally heightened environment of msic festivals (Golding et al. 2009; Havel 2013). The literatre stated that socialisation is an eminent motive for attending msic festivals, althogh there is a need for knowledge detailing the factors most predominate in effecting their socialisation.

5 Methodology A qalitative approach and by condcting semi-strctred interviews. To gather in depth information regarding participant s social experience at Bestival by examining sbjective experiences in detail throgh discssion of their experience (Hennink 2011) and how this affects their social experience at Bestival. The poplation was festival goers who attended Bestival 2014 aged A poplation mst conform to similar criteria (Blaikie 2000). This ensres that participants are within the same scene (Bennett and Peterson 2004).

6 Findings Predominate Area of Research The For Facets of Msic Festival Experience The Social Experience Theme Msic Festival Atmosphere Separation from Everyday Life Known-Grop Socialisation External Socialisation Adience Socialisation Sb-Theme Individal wanted to see artist Discovered new msic Compromise on who to see in order to be with friends Magical World Creativity Atmosphere at the Festival Iconic/Special Experience No responsibilities Lack of technology (Phone Signal) Escapism Family Togetherness Importance of camping Grop Artist Wanted to see Deeper level of Friendship Experience with Friends Formation of commnities Interactions with strangers More open to meeting new people New friendships Feelings towards being a member of the adience Interactions when in the adience Feeling Safe at the festival

7 Conceptal framework

8 Conclsions Msic festivals are shared social experiences that attendees immerse themselves in by commnally escaping reality in the prsit of nited happiness and social acceptance. Attendees form commnities based on shared social vales to deepen their level of friendship, meet new friends and positively interact with the individals arond them. This is aided by the relaxation of feeling safe at Bestival which makes people feel friendly and happy creating a positive vibe aiding socialisation. Social experience has a strong inflence on all other facets of the msic festival experience. Recommendations for practice:

9 Main qestions What new findings did yo discover cf Packer & Ballantyne and Nordvall? Relevance academically and theoretically Recommendations for practice

10 References

11 The For Facets of Msic Festival Experience (Packer and Ballantyne 2011, p.173)