Planning a Fair, Festival or EventFailing to Plan is Planning to FailWhy a Fair, Festival, or Special Event? Fairs, festivals, and special events are staged for many reasons. Besides being informative and enjoyable, they provide a number of important benefits to the community. Here are a few popular reasons to consider when planning or justifying a festival:
Tip: When things get tough, nothing keeps you going better than a strong sense of purpose. Writing Objectives An important step in planning a successful community-wide event is to write objectives or goals for the project. The list of objectives should basically outline what is going to be done, who is going to do it, who will benefit, and what specific results are desired. Having a written list of objectives will help planners keep within the boundaries of their goals and will help recruit individuals and groups who identify with the planners' specific aims. The list of objectives also is an important evaluation tool-a yardstick by which to measure the event's success. Objectives provide a focus for the entire planning process and should be determined before moving ahead with the project. If you have multiple goals, list them in order of importance so your perspective will not be lost. By setting priorities, you increase your chances of accomplishing the most important goals. If you don't set priorities, you can spread yourself too thin in an effort to reach every objective, and odds are you will wind up meeting none of them. Your strategy needs to address long term goals and immediate plans-both at the same time. Do not put these off until the last minute. Planning includes a realistic budget. Even though this will be a task for the finance committee, each committee needs to submit their individual budget. Choosing a Theme and Name It's not good enough to hold a plain generic event anymore. The event must have a theme-a main idea or concept to provide a solid base for a variety of interesting and promotable activities. Develop a theme that gives your event a unique identity and prevents it from being a carbon copy of other events. The theme should be indigenous to the community's personality, legends, natural beauty, or other attraction.
Event themes can be categorized into several general types:
There's something to be said for choosing an unusual or even bizarre name; people certainly seem to notice it. The "Irons Ox Market and Flea Roast" resulted when the words "market" and "roast" were transposed. No doubt this festival owes a good deal of its success to a rather uncommon title. One last thing to remember about names: try to pick one that can be used year after year. It's one way of helping the event become a local tradition and establish good public relations over time. Also, by sticking with the same name, many of the event's signs, banners, and other promotional material can be used again. Do not overlook these money-saving strategies. Tip: Don't hesitate to contact other established event organizations who have already worked their way through the rules and regulations and know how to avoid the detours and pitfalls. Usually they are more than willing to share their expertise and contacts. Date and Time Timing is another important element to consider when planning an event. What time of year should the event be held to best meet the objectives and purposes for which it was organized? On what dates will the event least conflict with other local programs or those of nearby communities? What other local/nearby programs could be incorporated into (rather than in conflict with) a new event? Three nearby community events may be more attractive to tourists than one. How long should the event last-several hours, one day, several days or more? Choose your date well in advance! Any successful event should be planned at least a year in advance, if possible. Lists of fairs, festivals, and special events are available from the Association of Fairs and Exhibitions, and the regional tourist associations. The sooner you choose your date, the sooner you can start spreading the word about your event. The weather is a key factor and one which you cannot control. However, by playing the averages, event organizers can pick a time with a reasonably good chance of acceptable weather. Look over the weather trends and plan accordingly. From the beginning, set an alternate "rain date" or alternate indoor site in the event that bad weather forces a change. Likewise, a lack of snow for winter festivals also requires a contingency plan. The purpose, theme, name, and date are crucial items for any event, but the committee's work is just getting started once these matters are settled. The budget must be drafted, entertainment planned, and publicity coordinated. The same goes for security, food and beverage sales, and sanitation facilities. These topics and others are discussed on the following pages. Remember the 5 P's of Planning: Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance. First decide what you want to accomplish and then organize. |
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 |
Enter your free listing for your
Festivals & Events, Vendors & Entertainers
Festivals & Events, Vendors & Entertainers
