Editorial

Citation

Jago, L. and Carlsen, J. (2010), "Editorial", International Journal of Event and Festival Management, Vol. 1 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijefm.2010.43401baa.001

Editorial

Article Type: Editorial From: International Journal of Event and Festival Management, Volume 1, Issue 2

Festival and event management research is published in a broad range of journals that are positioned in areas including tourism, hospitality, leisure, recreation, sport management, marketing, public relations, public policy, sociology, geography, economics and ICT. This is a reflection of the multi-disciplinary approach to the study of festivals and events and the complex nature of festivals and events themselves. Whilst there is merit in exposing readers of a wide range of journals to the field of festivals and events, this dispersed and broad based coverage means that it is very difficult for festival and event management researchers to easily embrace the range of relevant material that is published. There is a need to consolidate the extant literature in this field in order to provide a definitive source of knowledge, a foundation for the development of new insights and a forum for discourse between researchers and practitioners. This is the primary objective of International Journal of Event and Festival Management (IJEFM) as it becomes established in the field and seeks recognition from academics and practitioners.

This objective involves several strategies for developing the journal content, recognition, citation and ranking. One strategy is to target the pre-eminent authors in the field of festival and event management to contribute seminal articles from their respective fields for publication, including articles that consolidate the event-related research in a particular field and provide insights and analysis of future directions within that field. We will be approaching individuals for contributions based on their extensive knowledge and experience in the field for contributions to future issues of IJEFM.

Another important strategy is to engage with practitioners and technicians in the field of events in order that the contents of IJEFM remain relevant and current. Whilst we want to ensure that the journal publishes papers that reflect the best of academic thinking in the field so that the journal becomes an essential academic reference, we are keen to ensure that the practical implications of the academic papers are explored. The field is evolving rapidly in areas such as technology, innovation, creativity and design so it is important that these developments are incorporated into the journal content. From previous experience, we have found that when the practical implications of academic research are communicated to practitioners in an accessible fashion, practitioners become more comfortable in seeking research to underpin their activities. Although this outcome does not occur “overnight”, we will be seeking to achieve this outcome over time.

Finally, it is important to acknowledge the critical role of the Editorial Advisory Board who will continue to be consulted with respect to the ongoing establishment of the journal as a leader in this field of study. In an age where communication is key and time is short, we have plans to ensure that the international network of EAB members is utilised to provide insights into developments in the field around the world.

This issue includes papers that cover a broad range of event and festival types and topics. Musical events are probably the most common type globally, so it is appropriate to develop an understanding of the profile of specific audience characteristics, preferences and behaviours. Oakes profiles the patrons of the Cheltenham International Jazz Festival in order to establish the demographic profile of the jazz audience and distinguish between two broad categories of jazz fan (modern and hybrid). Creativity and innovation are vital in the competitive world of events and festivals, but with increasing innovation comes the risk of increased failure. Jack Carlsen, Tommy D. Andersson, Jane Ali-Knight, Kari Jaeger and Ruth Taylor consider the drivers of festival innovation and causes of failure and provide examples from Scotland, Norway and Sweden. Functioning networks must be developed in all destinations that host events and festivals. Vassilios Ziakas and Carla A. Costa examine the functionality of inter-organisational linkages and host community events networks in Fort Stockton, Texas. Finally, all types of events attempt to deliver extraordinary, compelling experiences. Sudhir H. Kale, Robin D. Pentecost and Natalina Zlatevska provide some recent insights into the design and delivery of compelling event experiences based on the historic 2008 Democratic Elections broadcast event in the USA.

Leo Jago, Jack CarlsenCo-Editors