Duration:
2 years full time
Location:
Confetti College
This Technical Events college course will teach you all the ins and outs of the live event industry – from PA systems and rigging to lighting equipment and techniques, as well as recording, mixing, and stage management.
You’ll also gain experience in event planning, production management and event theory, providing you with the skills to not only work on an event as a technician, but also be part of organising and running events. Your skills will be put into practice on your own events and productions and you will have the opportunity to work at some of the East Midlands’ largest festivals and events.
You’ll learn:
- Live sound and lighting techniques
- How the live events sector works
- freelancing skills and health and safety
- Events and Production management
- How to set up real industry gigs & performances
- How to succeed in the live events industry
You’ll collaborate with other courses including Esports, Music Performance, Music Technology and TV and Film Production.
Your tutors are industry professionals, so you’ll be learning from the people in the know.
This course is for you if:
- you enjoy theatre production, attending live shows, gigs and festivals
- you are good at hands-on learning, organisation, running sound and lighting
- you are excited by being involved in an ever expanding industry
The Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma is a full time two-year course of study which will develop specialist knowledge, practical skills and understanding within a vocational area and will give you a qualification that is the equivalent to three A Levels. In most subjects, students will be awarded the BTEC Extended Diploma at the end of their two years of study. The Extended Diploma is fully recognised by universities and carries UCAS points, enabling you to progress to university or directly into employment. If you want to commit to vocational study in a particular area, then this could be the route for you.
Read our course commitment
- 5 GCSEs grade 9-4 (A*-C)* including English and maths
- An appreciation of and a passion for live events with a level of practical experience and/ or a Level 2 qualification in the subject area
Depending on your prior English and Maths attainment, you may need to improve your grade as part of your course.
When you’re ready to apply, there’s a few ways to start the process:
- Apply online – Start your application now!
- Come and visit us at an open day and fill in your application on the day
Understanding the fundamentals of live sound and lighting
You’ll be introduced to the technology used in the events industry. This includes live sound techniques and lighting operation along with how to safely set-up professional industry equipment. You’ll also receive an introduction to the theory of the events industry and study the variety of roles available.
Working on your first events
For this term you will be putting your newly learnt techniques in event production into practice – planning and working on three distinct events in your own production teams (solo artist show, gameshow and full band show). These small closed-door events will help build confidence in your production practice and allow you to experiment with different techniques while providing you a taste of professional gigs and events.
Staging and setup techniques
This term you’ll be working towards your own real-life staged event, putting on professional shows to your own invited audience. You’ll pull together your own production team and develop an understanding of the production roles within the industry. This term is all about doing it for real by organising, planning and executing a full staged production.
Event planning and organisation
Throughout the year we will also be teaching you to organise and plan events that you will be part of throughout the academic year. The course not only focuses on the technical roles within the event industry but also how to act as a production manager, stage manager and event organiser.
Modules studied:
- Developing production skills and techniques
- Responding to production requirements and purpose/Contributing to a production
- Planning a career in industry
Christmas Party and collaborative projects
This term focuses on advanced production techniques that lead to running Confetti’s main student event of the year: The Confetti Christmas Party! This event is held at our very own professional venue (Metronome) in Nottingham and will allow you to experience large sound and lighting consoles in a professional environment. You will also be preparing and taking part in collaborative projects with our music performance students, working on professionally produced evening shows as well as working on a unique Esports event where you learn live broadcasting techniques along with professional event production techniques.
Working as professional crew
During this term you’ll be following on with your collaborative project sessions as a production operative. We will also be embarking on a personal project, where you have total freedom with investigating advanced production technologies that you are interested in, creating and experimenting with content that make you more employable. You will also have access to additional opportunities within the local events industry on a variety of productions throughout the year.
Doing it for real and end of year shows
In the final term you’ll be studying the specialist area of the events industry that you see yourself working in, working on personal promotion to prepare you for a career in the events industry. You will also be working on your own large-scale selection of events within Nottingham’s events scene.
Modules studied:
- Using development plans to refine skills
- Producing a personal project
- Using material for self-promoting and networking
- Undertaking a defined administrative role
- Using creative collaboration to develop a project
- Producing a collaborative project
On this course you’ll have access to:
- Confetti’s contemporary Music & Events Hub, Metronome
- 400 Capacity Metronome venue
- Dedicated live events practice space
- Professional analogue and digital mixing desks
- Extensive backline equipment
- Full range PA systems with monitoring
- Full lighting rig including Avolites Lighting Consoles
- Professional MIDAS F32 Analogue Sound Consoles
Do It For Real
Industry Week
Studying at Confetti you’ll take part in Industry Week where you’ll be able to meet a range of professionals within your field of interest as well as other areas of the creative industries.
Past guests include Glastonbury organisers, Professor Green, and tour manager Trevor Plunkett.
Student work
Our Talent Development team works closely with course leaders to link students with opportunities across the industry. You’ll be offered work experience at Radfest, Rough Trade and Metronome.
- You’ll also go on trips to:
PLASA (one of Europe’s largest industry trade shows)
Local music festivals
Courses
Your creative industry studies don’t have to stop once you finish your college course. Choose to continue your studies on a range of foundation and full honours degrees at Nottingham Trent University that can help you further develop your skills and obtain the experience you need to get a head start in your career:
- FdSc Event Production
- BSc (Hons) Event Production
- BSc (Hons) Event Production – London
- BA (Hons) Event Management
- BA (Hons) Event Management – London
- BA (Hons) Music Business
- BA (Hons) Music Business – London
Future careers
- Live sound engineer
- Backline technician / roadie
- Lighting engineer / designer,
- Production manager
- Tour Manager
- Stage manager
