Interview | Josh Bush

Josh Bush's summer of 2024 has been full to the brim with live music and events. 

Originally from Norfolk, he's been studying at ICMP as part of the BA Live Event and Festival Management course, gaining great experience in the industry alongside planning to develop his own music ventures in the sector. 

We caught up with Josh to learn more about the different events he's worked on, including huge shows with James Arthur and Take That. 

How did you end up studying at ICMP? 

I was studying Music Business in Leeds in 2023, it wasn't the right course for me and my interests.

I removed myself from there, took six months away from studying and worked. During this time, I realised I wanted to do a degree, it's something I'd always wanted to do - somewhere enjoyable and pursuing a course I wanted to do.

I found the course at ICMP and as soon as I visited, I realised it was for me. All the facilities, the huge range of knowledge in the teaching staff, my peers, you have access to all these amazing resources but you have the freedom to use them to enhance what you want to do." 

How has the course prepared you to embrace industry opportunities? 

I'm building an events production services company and an artist management company, we've had two marketing modules and others on music business and the live music ecosystem. 

These have been massively beneficial and helpful, they've taught me various skills in branding and graphics which I didn't previously have. Also, getting to grips with different elements of the music industry from a business perspective, those modules have really helped me with this.

What roles have you taken on so far in the summer of 2024? 

I've spent three years working in events, now doing middle to senior management on some bigger events. 

As Site Office Manager for Take That and James Arthur's shows, these were last minute call ups. I've been in various operations and logistics jobs in the past so it's my area of specialism but never such a role for this kind of scale - sold out stadiums. 

My role consisted of overseeing the administrative, operational and logistical aspects of the site. I was a key information and communication point for all different departments and was the front face of the site. I was tasked with managing budgets and expenses, deliveries and collections, running to schedules and creating snagging and jobs lists where times were not met and creating and logging a variety of data and information from all different areas of the operations of site. I had to collate this in a well-organised filing system. 

My studies have helped me prepare as I have a clearer understanding of things and have been able to use elements of information that we've learned to support my work.

The highlights of these roles were definitely the networking opportunities and being able to work with new and familiar faces in a management position on two big shows. This work was for SJM Concerts via ProductionBox."

What other shows have been keeping you busy?

I assisted in the setup of Finsbury Park's VIP areas for their weekend show series and Wireless festival which was a much more hands on site job than others.

It involved constructing furniture and bar areas, offloading deliveries and organising the VIP area to a high standard to ensure customer satisfaction. 

I have just finished as the Glamping Campsite Coordinator at Truck Festival which consisted of working closely with campsite management, security and event control to ensure a smooth and safe environment in the campsite.

I was overseeing this area overnight ensuring we had no breaches of security, patrolling to ensure customer safety and satisfaction and to oversee site security in terms of perimeter lines, health and safety hazards and fire safety management. 

What's next?

Regarding what's next, I am about to begin a role as the Days Family Campsite Coordinator at Y Not festival, then I'm on to being Site Office Manager/Site Coordinator as a hybrid role for hospitality some more shows too.

I am also about to go and work on Chase and Status in Tenerife in October and also for the World Halal Food Festival in late September.

Connect with Josh | LinkedIn