Whether you’re planning a modest local festival or are part of a larger event that will garner viewers from all over the world, you still need to make sure that your festival does everything possible to ensure it is a hit. While you can have all the top industry names in attendance, it’s the fans that truly make a festival, and leaving them disappointed could spell disaster.
The festival goers’ enjoyment will make or break the event, so organizers must understand how to make sure they do not let them down, whether it’s getting into the festival or seeing their favorite acts. To make sure you do not miss a beat, here are six essential ideas to consider.
Make Yourself Legitimate
With so many festivals taking place every year, you have plenty of competition, especially if your festival is one of the lesser-known events or does not have the reputation that Creamfields and similar events have. This can make it difficult for punters to trust that you have what it takes to put on a good show, so you need to find ways to legitimize yourself.
Interviews with genre artists can help to spread the word about your event while using a physicaladdress (especially if running a small operation) makes it easier for the media to contact you about the festival. These measures can help increase your festival profile and make it easier to sell tickets.
Plan, Plan, and Plan Some More
No matter what type of festival you’re throwing, you need to make sure you have planned for every event and occasion. In many cases, this means planning for too many people rather than running out of food and drink that could affect the weekend.
You should also think about how you are going to line people up as they wait to get in. the shelter can protect festival-goers from harsh sunshine or miserable rain. It’s also worth setting up enough booths that allow people to get through without too much crowding or cramming, as this makes the experience unpleasant for everyone involved.
Test Everything and Test It Again
Besides planning, you also need to make sure everything works when the acts finally start. This involves setting up lights as well as the PA system to ensure the acoustics are just right both in open fields and in tent stages.
If this is your first time running a festival, this comprehensive but essential case study can provide all the information you need to set up a reliable speaker system that ensures the sound carries. The last thing you want is for the vocals or music to get lost along the way, so test everything and then test it again to make sure.
Make Sure Volunteers Understand Your Vision
Your volunteers can help visitors enjoy the best weekend of their lives (until the next festival, anyway), so you must hire people who share your vision. While you want them to have fun, they’re also expected to work, so you can’t have people slacking off while on shift.
But, you also can’t be too hard on them. They have volunteered to do you a favor, after all. Promoting a respectful partnership will make it easier to ensure everyone does their job and has fun when it’s appropriate.
Cultivate a Party Vibe Rain or Shine
Everyone has a story about bad weather ruining a festival, but it doesn’t have to. There’s little you can do about the rain, so your festival may as well make the most of it.
If the heavens open, many festival-goers will make the most of it, and you can encourage people to keep the party going by offering ponchos, perhaps with a free drink to go with it. This keeps people from hiding in their tents and ensures the vibe continues to thrive.
Curate A Good Lineup
A diverse lineup should be a priority for every festival, especially as too much of the same thing can wear your crowd out. By the time the headliners take to the stage, everyone is too exhausted to get into it, so you need to arrange your lineup to ensure you have the right peaks and valleys.
There will be times when people need to take a break, so while you want your festival to have banger after banger, they will appreciate a rest.
Fun in the Sun
Festivals are the perfect way to celebrate the summer. But with a history of poorly planned events that often overshadow the quality acts and other occasions, you must do everything you can to ensure it is a success. These tips will make that much easier to achieve, and you can stand back and enjoy the music alongside everyone else.