Posted by Mary Temple on Friday, January 22, 2010
I have been contacted regarding starting a Bluegrass/Old Time Festival in the city I live in. I have not committed to anything yet. Does anyone have specific experieces to share about the 'start up' stages? Perhpas things to watch out for, include, not include, etc.?
4 comments on “STARTING A FESTIVAL”
TopCat Says:
Friday, January 22, 2010 @2:33:10 PM
Sorry I cannot help. But you'd be much better off posting this as a new thread in the other banjo-related or off-topic subforums. Far more people will see it and respond. Few people get to see the blogs apart from those on your friends list or who catch it when it is on the "new" list for a little while. Good luck.
Mary Temple Says:
Saturday, January 23, 2010 @12:07:36 PM
Great idea. I'm going to do that. I'm on the 3+ year plan on this so haven't taken it too seriously yet. There is a lot on the internet about the subject but I'm sure there will be great info that will come out of this site. Thanks for taking the time to make this good suggestion.
Gordy Ohliger Says:
Monday, January 25, 2010 @3:11:06 PM
Go into it with your eyes open. Standing firmly on the ground, with power, adaptibility and heart. Somewhere along the line you will learn that this is a business venture, if you are not informed with oodles of practicallity then you will be bit.
Sure you love the music, but you must have a strong practical business sense and commmunication skills as you will be dealing with others that don't particularily care about the music to be presented....suppliers, truck drivers, motels, legal people, agents, media, the city and county, security, hanger-ons, stary-eyed friends that clog it up.
Does this sound brutal?
All of this and more will materialize. I have run my own business since I was 23, and put on a number of concerts, dances and small festivals ...believe me; stuff will happen, and all you have to do is make everyone happy.
The plus side is; you can make it happen! You CAN CREATE a magic event. Contact the folks at major and small festivals that you like. Everyone likes to talk shop. Be friendly and to the point. The directors will help you with all kinds of info/shortcuts and watch-out-for-that-tree! stories.
Delegate authority. Break-up the work. Have a dedicated team.
Have short term and long term goals.
Note that the last four months before opening day are going to be hectic. Do it now.
Include all age groups in your festival.
Well, that's my quick two-cents..
It's going to be so cool to look over a smiling laughing, dancing crowd and know that you helped to make this day!
Mary Temple Says:
Tuesday, January 26, 2010 @7:06:37 PM
I appreciate your imput. It will surely take a large team effort and of those with great desire to make it happen. Practical business sense, yes; communication surely a very key aspect. Thanks for the good info...brutal? Maybe, I don't know anyone who can make everyone happy. But you sound like you've come close. Thanks again.
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