Location/Physical Facilities for a Fair, Festival or EventLumped together in this chapter are many other matters that must be attended to make your festival a success. A few words about the site: it must be large enough to accommodate the crowd, but not so big that there are vast distances between the various areas of activity. City parks are commonly used as are county fairgrounds. Some groups have even had success with downtown areas, particularly around squares.Location is another consideration when it comes to site selection. Not only should events take place fairly near their prospective attendees, these events need to be easy to get to. Areas along the route with potential bottlenecks-narrow roads, one-lane bridges, and the like-should be avoided. Likewise, property subject to flooding is not the best choice for an event. And, of course, there's no getting around the fact that event-goers arrive in vehicles, which somehow must be parked. If 10,000 people show up and they average three to a car, then a little over 3,000 vehicles must be parked. It's no wonder the sole responsibility of some event workers is arranging for parking. Among other things, their plans should include handicapper spaces. Once the site is chosen, sketch it out on a big sheet of paper. Draw property to scale, if possible, and include roads, trees, sidewalks, drainage, fi re hydrants, power lines, and any other important characteristics. When the "base map" is completed, identify tentative locations for restrooms, a first-aid station, concession stands, exhibit and entertainment areas, and whatever other features the festival will include. There are several rules to remember:
Know that few things are more terrifying for a child than being lost in a crowd; some festival organizers have devised a way to quickly reunite families. It's the "Lost People Tree"-a small tree decked out with clear Christmas tree type lighting-where counselors are stationed. Children who have become separated from their parents are taken here and so are adults who have lost their children. It's a great success. |
Planning a Successful Event, 2. Organizing 3. Fundraising 4. Corporate Sponsorship 5. Promotion 6. Buying Media 7. Setting the Image of the Event 8. Operating 9. Buying Music Acts 10. Grounds Attractions 11. Sound, Lighting & Staging 12. Sample Artist Contract and Rider 13. From the Entertainers View 14. Backstage Hospitality 15. Talent Contests 16. Queen Contests 17. Parades 18. Horse Events 19. Rodeo's and Horse Events 20. Farm Youth Program 21. Choosing a Carnival 22. Concessions 23. Legalities and Risk Management 24. Event Insurance 25. Royalties 26. Location/Physical Facilities 27. Grounds and Facilities 28. Office and Staffing 29. Tractor Pulls 30. Estimating Crowd Attendance 31. Festival Evaluation 32. Event Impact Studies 33. Conclusion, Final Word 12 Ways to Kill an Event Bibliography: Sources and Contributors Acknowledgements |