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FEST TALK & TIPS For Festival Professionals January 14, 2024 ELEMENTS OF AN EFFECTIVE FESTIVAL STREET BANNER An effective street banner takes some serious thought. For example, too much information or too many sponsor logos can be unreadable from a moving vehicle. Small or unusual font styles may dilute the message. Here are a few tips for creating a street banner that will convey the message you want: Clear Messaging: Ensure the banner communicates key details such as event name, date, and location in a concise and easily readable manner. Vibrant Colors: Use eye-catching colors that reflect the festival's theme and capture attention. Attractive Visuals: Incorporate engaging visuals that represent the essence of the festival, helping to convey its atmosphere and activities. Readability: Choose fonts that are easy to read from a distance, maintaining clarity for passing pedestrians and drivers. Event Highlights: Showcase the festival's unique selling points or special attractions to generate interest and excitement among potential attendees. TEXAS FESTIVAL & TOURISM CONSULTING Mike Baxter, CFEE 281-222-4775 mike@txfestconsultant.com Former Chairman and long-time member of the Texas Festivals and Events Association. #texasfestivalandtourismconsulting #MikeBaxter #TFEA #dfest

FESTIVAL CANCELLED EVERYTHING ELSE GOING AHEAD AS PLANNED & SCHEDULED FOR THE #ZEROSUICIDESOCIETY #JOINTHEDOTSTOUR Due primarily to poor advance ticket sales, we've had to cancel the Bootle Festival, sadly. An easy decision in some respects, difficult in others, partly as everything seemed to be in place for a superb Festival. Also, I'd very tightly managed the financials; almost all the Performers agreed to waive their fee; the Lock and Quay generously donated the venue; the total projected costs were sitting around £3,600 so we only needed to sell 180 tickets to cover our costs. It seemed like very little financial risk. So much so, I was even prepared to personally underwrite the Festival. Many of our #Merseyside Partners had said: "With Festivals in #Liverpool, most people buy tickets at the last minute. Many just rock up on the day". But advance ticket sales were very poor, and even direct mailers to those right bang in the middle of our target audience were not resulting in people getting tickets. There was a risk to the viability of the Festival - not the financial viability of the Festival, as that was NEVER an issue - my concern was about having enough people in the venue on the day (eg 500-600) to 'create the buzz' we wanted: for those on the stage and those in the audience. Lots of people told me the Festival line-up we'd pulled together was extraordinary and said they'd be coming...but they didn't buy tickets - at least not sufficient numbers in advance to give us confidence the Festival would be a huge success. I had to weigh up all the data in front of me, take into account the views of our key partners, and take a decision. I took the decision to cancel the Festival. But the good news is that everything else we've planned, organised & scheduled is going ahead, inc: > Sat morning, 22 June, at the #Anfield Sports & Community Centre, hosted by the LFC Foundation and > what will now be our final Tour event, on Sun 23 June, the '#VoicesOfHope Concert with Reflections' at the Liverpool Arts Bar on Hope Street - with an extension, so it's now 10am to 12.30pm (so more music & more #LivedExperience Speakers): https://lnkd.in/eYzs4sag Please join us if you can, to be there with us for the Tour finale. There are only 100 tickets for this one so please book straight away if you want to be there for this very special closing event. Tickets are free (asking for a donation to The Jordan Legacy CIC) Ironically, the original vision for the Tour didn't include an outdoor Festival but it did include 'a Hope Gathering on Hope Street'. I'm somewhat consoled by the thought that, for all of us "in the #hope business", it's rather fitting we finish in Hope Street! Last but not least, apologies to all those in Merseyside whose inboxes have, over these past 3 months, been on the receiving end of my Obsessive Compulsive Enthusiasm! 😬 😁 🙏

The festival season has started again! 🎊 I recently came across an article from NOS that really resonated with me. As festivals gain popularity this year, they also seem to be getting more expensive. One contributing factor is the increasing difficulty and cost of hiring personnel. In fact, tickets for these events can now soar to over 300 euros! Not long ago, my friends and I used to eagerly plan which festivals to attend each year. However, with these skyrocketing prices, our beloved "festival season" feels more constrained than ever before. Interestingly, despite the rising ticket prices, event organizers are finding themselves with smaller profit margins. How did we end up in a situation where both sides are losing out? That's where AIR Robotica steps in. We've developed a management system designed to tackle the personnel shortage while also helping organizers expand their profit margins, ultimately leading to more affordable ticket prices. As society increasingly values experiences over material possessions, the demand for events continues to grow, even as prices rise. At AIR, our goal is to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy these events in a safe, affordable, and entertaining manner. If you're an event organizer or know of an event in need of assistance with profit margins and crowd management, don't hesitate to reach out to us. Let's work together to make this festival season one to remember forever! #festivalseason #events #organisers #crowd #eventmanagement

Behind Every Great Festival Is a Year of Planning—Here’s Why Timing Is Everything Planning a festival isn’t a task for the faint-hearted. It’s a meticulous, well-oiled machine that requires a minimum of 9 months to a year of preparation to truly hit the mark. From the very first brainstorming session to the final touches, every detail counts. Imagine coordinating with artists, securing venues, managing ticket sales, and creating an atmosphere that will leave attendees talking for months—none of this happens overnight. It’s a process that requires dedication, precision, and a deep understanding of what makes a festival truly epic. The secret to a flawless festival experience lies in the months of behind-the-scenes work that you’ll never see. But trust us, every minute of planning is worth it when you see the joy on festival-goers’ faces. This is why timing is everything. A well-planned festival isn’t just an event; it’s a carefully crafted experience that’s designed to create lasting memories. So, if you’re thinking of throwing your own event, remember: start now, because good things take time. #FestivalPlanning #EventProfs #BehindTheScenes #FestivalPass #EpicEvents

Earlier this month at Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS), festival chiefs identified some of the key issues facing the festival sector today. 🌍 Supply chain issues “We have to invest and pay much more for the stuff that’s coming in. And that translates to ticket prices that are rising faster than inflation, which is already high – that’s what is the most worrying issue for me.” Eric Van Eerdenburg(Lowlands) 💰 Cost of living “The cost of hotels for the audience was maybe €100 per night, so for three nights practically, accommodation was ridiculous, which in the long term could kill the festival because it’s not sustainable.” Codruta Vulcu (ARTmania) 🎸 Booking international talent “It’s the international stadium acts that we have to look at as our headliners, which is also difficult when there are so many stadium tours happening. Stadium tours are definitely competitors for us during the summer.” Virag Csiszar (Sziget) As we fast approach the 2024 festival season, consumer ticket buying habits and pricing is a hot topic in our research. In unpredictable times, understanding your audience can help you find effective solutions that help your customers while protecting your business. That’s where we come in. Better data means better decisions. Thanks to Gordon Masson/IQ Magazine. (Full article in comments)

This time last week I attended a sell-out concert in London by the King of Mandopop. 🎤👨🎤 So many East Asians in one place - it almost felt like the whole of U.K.’s Chinese community had descended onto the O2 arena. But this isn’t a story about musician Jay Chou’s popularity. Nor is it about his enigma to unite a room full of mainland Chinese, Taiwanese, Hong Kongers or Chinese expats. It’s about how I ended up in the concert, along with some of my favourite clients who just so happened to be ‘die-hard” Jay Chou’s fans. Rewind to last November, a former client sought my help to put up his first exhibition in London Art Week to promote his Asian artists. The opening reception was happening in two days but his photographer and videographer both cancelled at the last minute. I had less than 48 hours to secure him two qualified professionals to sub in. It wasn’t a big ask and as soon as I referred the ideal candidates to him, I had moved on. Little did I know, one of the artists exhibiting was the long-term songwriting partner of the King of Mandopop. The visual work produced by the two subs was so good that his art got covered extensively in the press home and abroad. His artworks sold like hotcakes. As giddy as he was, he wanted to pay it forward and thank my former client, but instead, my former client suggested that he thanked me, the introducer. Fast forward to one day in January, an envelope with six VIP tickets to Jay Chou’s London concert was couriered to my office. The arrival was timely as earlier that day, my VIP clients were sharing frustrations about not being able to get their hands on tickets. Obviously, I made their day by inviting them to the concert as my guests, sitting in prime, central seats right next to Jay Chou’s father-in-law and brother-in-law. This real-life experience reinforced two beliefs in me: ✨ Building “Guanxi” is a DAILY practice. Helping others whenever you can without soliciting any reward, often the return is better than you can ever imagine. ✨ Networking and making MEANINGFUL contacts. In your little “black book”, you need people who are useful and people who are worthwhile to spend good time with. Who are you building “Guanxi” with today? #Buildingrelationships #EarningTrust #WinningChineseClients #SuGrowsGuanxi

What will theater look like after the climate apocalypse? Maybe something like “A Play for the Living in a Time of Extinction.” When it was staged at the Barbican in London, electricity for the production was entirely generated in real time by onstage cyclists riding 10 bikes. At the Théâtre de Liège in Belgium, they did it with two. In Zagreb, the Croatian National Theatre cast child actors as a reminder of the generation that stands to inherit the imperiled future. At the National Theater and Concert Hall in Taiwan, five-watt LED bulbs were enclosed in reused plastic bottles filled with water, in order to refract the most light possible from minimal power. But “Play for the Living”, which will have completed a zero-travel “tour” of ten countries by the end of this year, isn’t meant as a preview of our inevitable doom. Instead, it’s a provocation for theater makers around the world to make sustainability a priority—and it’s part of a growing wave of green initiatives that have boosted awareness and created tools for reducing the environmental impact of shows, venues, and practices both onstage and backstage. Read more from Gordon Cox: https://lnkd.in/drhEt-CN (sign up for a 7-day trial subscription to read his Substack post) #SweibelArts #Sustainability #GreenInitiatives

🍀This is a great step towards increased sustainable offerings at events! In short Preo customers Sam Ninaber van Eijben from OOMPH Industries has teamed up with Christopher Skovbjerg Nørgaard from Reunite are they now introducing the PVC-free and recyclable air matress to avoid thousands of non-recyclable air matresses being left behind at JELLING MUSIKFESTIVAL in Denmark. How is tech supporting these customers you think? 💳When working with sustainable products you have more complex selling patterns and deposit management. For that reason you can't use out of the box ticketing platform or e-commerce to sell these products. This is where Preo shines ☎️You have increased communnication with your customers before, during and after the festival due to the complex usage pattern that is associated with circular products. ⛺️We connect the products directly to the transaction onsite at handout - meaning that once the event is over guests can leave the matresses at designated drop-off points instaed of having to wait in line to get their deposit back. Staff takes care of scanning later! Read more in Danish here.

🏞️🎶 Let's Dive into the World of Outdoor Performance Spaces: Amphitheaters vs. Bandshells! 🎶🏛️ . Ever wondered about the key differences between amphitheaters and bandshells? Both serve as iconic venues for outdoor performances, but they each have unique characteristics that set them apart: 🎪 Amphitheaters: Amphitheaters are classic open-air venues with tiered seating designed to accommodate large audiences. They are commonly used for a wide range of events, from concerts and theatrical performances to graduations and lectures. The key features of amphitheaters include: Often set in natural landscapes, amphitheaters take advantage of their surroundings to create fantastic acoustics, enhancing the audience's auditory experience. Most amphitheaters are designed to offer a panoramic view, ensuring that everyone in the audience has a clear sightline to the stage. . Tune in next week to here more about Bandshells! 🎶 . #AmphitheatersVsBandshells #OutdoorPerformanceSpaces #ArtsAndCulture #ICON #shelters

Switzerland's Sechseläuten Festival commemorates a historical dispute with a lighthearted twist: the iconic Swiss Grape Fight. This playful battle between guilds is a reminder that sometimes a well-aimed grape is the best weapon. Learn more about this fascinating tradition in the latest "U-Can Grow Your Brain" blog post!