- PROGRESO TECNOLÓGICO, INGENIERÍA Y GESTIÓN EMPRESARIAL

To ‘present musicians of high quality’, ‘reach out to the jazz audience’ and offering ‘good service’, is referred to as the three most important success factors. From figure 5a and 5b, one can observe a slight difference between the clubs of how the subsequent factors is valued. The diagram brings out answers from the survey question which requests; ‘What do you believe are success factors for your jazz club?’. Hence, the respondents were asked to range the factors from 1 to 7, according to how big of an importance they thought it would have for their jazz club. At the end of the survey, one respondent commented that ‘it is hard to range success factors in priority order, because several of them are equally important’. When looking at the figures, one should have in mind that these success factors also is part of a value chain and therefore affect each other. Other respondents might also have had struggles with this question.

The last three questions of the survey, is of a qualitative nature. First, the respondents were asked to list their best concert experiences at their jazz club, then the following question requests why these concerts were experienced as extraordinary good. I consider some of these answers as examples of successful arranged and promoted concerts. The very last question, gave the respondents the opportunity to ask questions and write their own comments or recommendations of how their jazz club can improve. I would therefore, over the upcoming paragraphs bring forward a few interesting responses and common themes. Some of the comments put emphasis on success factors that has already been ranged, and some deals with topics that has not been mentioned in the survey.

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Figure 5a – Success factors KJV, Ranged from 1 (most important) to 7 (least important) N:36

Figure 5b – Success factors AJK, Ranged from 1 (most important) to 7 (least important) N:29

54 5.1.5 Good Sound, or a Pleasant Place?

Most of the AJK concerts occur at Lille Torungen, one of the smaller scenes at the professional driven culture house in Arendal, (Arendal kulturhus). The localities and sound engineers have been given good feedback on sound quality, from musicians and audience. KJV uses the cellar space at the restaurant Hos Naboen, which is located in the city centre, as their concert venue, but a few concerts has been promoted in collaboration with Kilden, the Kristiansand theatre and concert hall, where members of the jazz club has been offered discounted tickets¹⁴. The localities are quite different, and there are diverted meanings of what type of venue is preferred. The question that asks, ‘why did you experience that or these concerts as extraordinary good?’ unveil that there are three factors that play a big role in order to create extraordinary good concert experiences. It also seems like these factors are closely connected. Two of the factors weld together with the high responses as seen from figure 5a and 5b. Here, ‘top musicians’, ‘good music’, ‘good band’, ‘good interactions between the musicians’, ‘very good musicians and compositions’, ‘the music’ and more responses, confirm that to ‘present musicians of high quality’ is the definitive most important success factor. What is closely linked to a group of good musicians on stage, appears to be the

‘location’ and the ‘audience’. It is hard to tell which of them are of most importance because “good localities” was not an available option to range among the other success factors. ‘Good service’

was, on the other hand, possible to choose, and might have replaced some of the function of “good localities”. One of the members of KJV commented that the concert experience was good because of ‘Joyful musicking’ (‘spillegede’), an ‘intimate venue’ and because he/she ‘got a good seat’. The respondent had in the prior question told that his/her best KJV concert experiences was with the band Real Thing (at the regular venue) and diverse concerts at Kilden, and therefore explained that

‘the venue is actually cramped and unsuitable’, ‘Kilden, has better space, but it is not a pleasant (‘koselig’) place’. This is just one persons’ comment, so others might not agree.

Another KJV respondent desires a permanent place with food and drinks. This could again be related to ‘good service’ (from the question where to range success factors), and says something about how that person wants to enjoy a jazz concert experience. The respondent might prefer the current venue, because the scene is located at a recognised restaurant, but it might also be a reference to the current situation of service, (more described in the discussion).

14 The descriptions of the venues is information retrieved from own observations and knowledge.

55 5.1.6 What makes a Good Atmosphere?

Both audiences seem to be content with having a venue where there is opportunities for buying snacks or food and drinks. Other contributing factors of an extraordinary good concert experience, refers to a ‘listening audience’, ‘high quality of the concert promoter’, that there is always such a

‘good vibe’ or good ‘atmosphere’, and ‘the connection between the musicians, in between’ or together with, ‘the good and close connection between performers and audience’. ‘Joyful musicking’ was also stated among the AJK answers. Furthermore, respondents from KJV also appreciates the ‘top feeling/ atmosphere’ (‘topp stemning’) and the ‘mood among audiences’. As we have seen, several of the respondents from both jazz club commented that a factor that made their concert experience extraordinary good was “god stemning”. I will discuss more what makes a good atmosphere in the discussion, but a thing one could have in mind is that the term ‘good service’ from the survey, could have several meanings. Trying to think as a respondent, I would ask questions like; from who is good service communicated, and to who? Is it given by the concert promoter to the audience, from the concert promoter to the musicians, or the musicians to the audience? What is meant by good service? Is it a smiling volunteer at the door, member discounts, or nice facilities at the location?

Other survey answers tell that a ’full house’(AJK), and ‘much people’ (KJV) was a part of the reasons why they enjoyed that particular concert extra much. Several of the events that were most cited among the respondent’s opinions of best KJV concert experiences, was in particular the jam sessions with tribute concerts, and well-known jazz bands, like Rohey and Come Shine. These events have been among the most visited KJV concerts, which could indicate that there has to be a certain amount of people in order to provide a foundation for the best possible atmosphere. I was present at both of the latter mentioned concerts, and have made certain observations from own field notes, memories and video clips. These findings will be brought up after the interview findings is presented.