Search Me... (Part Two)

 The point of my story is that Judi and I had just missed visiting one of the best events of the year, and it was in our own backyard! This year had been special because it was the 100^th anniversary of powered flight in Canada! When I had looked earlier the previous month for festivals and event to visit that weekend, this event had not shown up on any of my usual festival and event sources! As a result, I am sorry to say, we missed it! Unfortunately, this happens all too often! Festivals and events are missed because they are not listed or easily found on the major festival and event source guides. This is one of the reasons we are creating our NEW Festival Finder search engine. We want to make sure that all festivals can be found. We know that this is a lofty idea, because it is going to take the co-operation of festival and event organizers. However, I do believe that it is possible to list the majority of Ontario’s festivals and events. Right now Judi has accumulated a list of over 1,000 festivals and events. There are reportedly over 5,000 in Ontario, so there is still a long way to go, but we are hoping through research and persistence and a little luck that we will find most of them by the end of the year. So once we have the search engine up and running (hopefully by mid-to-late August) we hope you will to go onto it and try to find your favourite festival or event. If you don’t, please let us know so that it can be added to our list of events.

Search Me… (Part One)

On our way back home from an event, we traveled along Highway #2. We reached Trenton at about 4 o’clock in the afternoon. Just as we reached the eastern outskirts of the city, we heard a roar overhead! There were two jets zooming above us! With Trenton Forces Base close by, we didn’t think much about it. However, just as we approached the Base, police diverted us north on a side road. We wondered if there had been an accident. As we drove up the road, a number of cars had pulled off to the side of the road. People were standing there, looking upwards, with binoculars to their eyes. I simply thought that they were simply watching Air Force planes take off and land. My father and I had done that many years ago at Toronto International Airport. Thinking nothing more, we followed other cars on the detour. We traveled north and then turned west and continued until we reached another road that took us south again and back to Highway #2. Just as we came parallel to the Base, hundred of people started to cross our road! The Trenton Air Show was now over!

(To be continued - Part Two)

Government Funding…

 Ever wonder why some festivals or events are awarded government funding, while others are not! Gary and I visited a festival in eastern Ontario and this topic was discussed. Many festival organizers, who have not received funding, may feel that it is not about what you have but who you know in the government. Having talked to a number of people about this subject, I just don’t believe that this is true. Too many festival and event organizers feel that they deserve funding just because of who they are or where they are located. This attitude just doesn’t cut it! Both the federal and Ontario provincial governments have developed great programs to help both new and established festivals financially. All that they ask is that organizers submit detailed business-like applications. After all, isn’t an organized professional plan what you need to hold a well-run successful event! If you were to apply for a business loan from a bank, they wouldn’t give you a loan just because you’re a nice person or you know the manager! They give loans based on the probability of success! So, why shouldn’t governments do the same! Festival and event funds are not unlimited. This being said, it stands to reason that the monies being given out need to be awarded to festivals and events with the best chance of success. My advice to any festivals or events looking for government funding, “don’t fight the system”! It is a losing battle! Instead, embrace the process and use it to plan and produce the best event possible! And, who knows, you’ll likely increase your chances of receiving government funding! Good Luck!

Crossing the Line…

 At what point do festival or event organizers “cross the line” putting profits (dollars) ahead of value for their attendees? I believe that some organizers eventually loose sight of the things that made their event successful. Most festivals and events in the beginning try to offer more to encourage people to visit their event, but what happens when the event becomes really successful over an extended period? Don’t get me wrong, I am all for events making a reasonable profit. After all, many events these days are managed and organized by non-profit groups and most of the money is put back into the community. For the most part profit allows organizers to gauge the success of their event. Nobody likes to work for nothing! That being said, when do festivals cross the line. I don’t think that there is a definitive answer, but I think this happens when organizers forget what made the event successful and start making poor judgment changes all for the sake of increased profits. This could include canceling popular activities or attractions or reducing advertising budgets. Obviously reducing or eliminating unnecessary items is prudent, but if profit is the only motivator and the event becomes less attractive as a result, I think this is wrong. A reasonable balance must be met. Here is an example of what I mean. I know of one festival that keeps raising its admission fees each year, even though their costs have not increased and they have not added value to their event. The increased fees were only a means to increase their profits. When do they stop? They wanted to prove to their community what great fundraisers they were, but what about patrons. The people who come back year after year to support their event? By only increasing admission fees and not providing anything new, aren’t they cheating those very people? And even worse, won’t this attitude eventually come back to haunt them? If this happens, everyone losses, the community, the organizations receiving funds, patrons, vendors, suppliers and ultimately even the organizers themselves! Raising money for the community is a very worthwhile endeavor, but not at the expense of integrity!

Road Blocks to Success… (Part 2)

Here is an idea to think about! Many festivals and events pay musical performers big money to come to their event! When they come, they give them the V.I.P. treatment. Why do events pay the big money? To draw crowds to the event! That’s the reason, pure and simply. While this may be necessary in some cases, there are other attractions that draw just as many people and perhaps more! I am talking about first class vendors. Why then do some festivals and events treat them like second class citizens? It just doesn’t make good business sense. Yet it does happen, and all too often! What is even odder, we charge these attractions a lot of money for the privilege of helping us draw people to our events! Most vendors don’t mind this, especially the good ones. They know that there could be a good payday for them if the event does well. But they are the ones taking all the chances, so why not treat them with respect, like the V.I.P.’s that they really are! If you want an example of how good vendors affect shows, just ask the organizers of the Buckhorn Festival of the Arts or the One of a Kid Show in Toronto! They thrive on attracting excellent participants. So, why the imbalance? Why do festival and event organizers and government regulators insist on creating so many “road blocks”? If festivals and events are the “backbone” of our communities, we owe it to ourselves to think of the consequences BEFORE we act! After all, community events need good participants more then good participants need the poor communities! 

Road Blocks to Success… (Part 1)

 I was at a festival helping my sister set up her art booth. During the set up I talked to an artist acquaintance who I knew participated in a number of shows throughout the year. I wanted to find out more about these shows and what he thought of them. That’s when we started to talk about the different rules and regulations that organizers and governments threw in the way to prevent festivals and events from having ultimate success. The artist gave me a number of examples of poorly conceived rules that just made me shake my head in disgust! I think the best example of fuzzy headed thinking was the festival that decided to charge vendor participants a fee for parking on their grounds! What were they thinking??!! I’ve talked about this before, but I think it bears repeating, for many events, vendors are the engine that drives people to their event. Why bite the goose that lays the golden egg?

(To be continued in Part 2)

Event Development (continued)

 

“The following is a continuation of my Event Development Series. Several months ago, I started the series with the first section, “Initial Development” The second section is entitled “Research and Preliminary Planning”. Now that you and your team have decided to proceed with the event, it’s time to get serious! As suggested previously, any thoughts and idea are more then welcome!”

Research and Preliminary Planning

Money (continued)

“Monies Needed During the Event”

7.    Miscellaneous: Depending on what you are planning on offering, there could be a number of other expenses. Some examples could include:

·         If you are offering food services, you will need to purchase food in advance or during the event. Unless you have a friendly (and trusting) grocer, you will need to pay for the food at time of purchase.

·         Again, if you are providing food and drinks, you will need to store them in a safe, cool place. Unless your event has access to a free cooler, you will need to rent a cooler. For pop, you will need to purchase ice. All this will likely cost money up front or during the event.

·         If you are serving liquor or are having a “beer tent”, you will need to pre-purchase all your liquor. If you don’t order enough in advance, you may need to purchase extra during your event. All this requires cash.

All in all, there is an awful lot to think about and research once you start down the road of event development! As you progress in your festival or event planning, you will likely find many more areas where money is an issue. However, the more finite you make you research and planning, the better your festival or event will be!