Many musical events end up as a flop regardless of the effort the organizers put into it, while others are effortlessly successful. While some festivals sell out in the twinkle of an eye, others witness numerous cancellations. Have you ever wondered why this is? The reason is simple – the successful planners knew the essential areas to channel their energy, and the unsuccessful ones were busy focusing on the wrong things.
It might be challenging to determine whether a festival will succeed from the beginning. However, there are several telltale signs that indicate whether it will be enjoyable or disastrous. Find out what factors make a successful music festival as you read on.
- Location
When many organizers plan locations for their music events, they tend to think about ambiance alone. However, while beach scenes and picturesque mountain views matter, they’re just a part of what makes a location ideal for a music event.
More than the aesthetics, you should host your event in a place that’s highly accessible to production trucks and fans. Another crucial consideration when choosing the location of your music event is an open area with many production routes. This helps to avoid severe traffic jams or bottlenecking.
- Date and Time
Planning your music festival to clash with another significant event for the same target audience is a no-no. It’s the same thing when you fix it at curfew time. If you want to have a successful music show, you should carefully consider the date and time besides finding the ideal location.
Another essential thing to consider when planning the date for your event is the climate. The weather radar may have other plans even when a spring or fall date appears ideal on the calendar.
- Marketing
Marketing is one aspect of music performance planning that you must never take for granted. That’s because a lot depends on how much publicity the event has. Even the best-planned music festival with the perfect lineup and the ideal location/dates can fall flat if no one is aware of it.
So, do your research and find out what marketing strategies work best for your event. Make press releases, post quality content on social media, and do every other necessary activity to ensure that people know about your festival.
And do not underestimate this point: making a cool event is only half the battle. You also need to spread the word about it correctly so that your work is not done in vain and your efforts are appreciated by the guests.
- Logistics and Planning
It’s important to dedicate enough time to planning the details of your big event if you want it to be successful. You must ensure everything is in order, from approvals to licensing applications and everything in between.
Damage control is essential to the success of upcoming events. So consider all the potential pitfalls that could arise during your event and tackle them as early as possible.
It is a good idea to hire an experienced manager who will be responsible for all organizational aspects. The success of the entire event depends on organizational details, so consider finding an experienced manager if your budget allows.
- Safety and Hygiene
Organizing a music festival shouldn’t be all about making a profit. You must also ensure that your invitees get the experience of their lifetime. Besides ensuring that the performers are worth their salt, this also means caring for their safety and health.
So focus on creating a safe and secure environment for fans by organizing security, EMTs, signages, etc., for them. Also, ensure that there are handwashing stations, clean restrooms, food, water, etc.
- Budget
Financial planning is a huge part of organizing a music festival. That’s especially because your spending decisions will heavily influence how the festival is represented. So, be sure to employ savvy financial controllers to oversee all aspects of revenue and spending. You should also know what planning areas require more financial attention than others.
- Organizing Staff
Finally, you must ensure that you’ve employed the best hands for every aspect of the planning. Experience counts here because the success of your music festival can greatly depend on the quality of the organizing team. The event’s success or failure will be influenced by its every function, from artist curation to operational and logistical administration.