A
while ago, Gary and I visited a festival and were disappointed when we found
out the amount of down time we were going to experience if stayed for the whole
event. With this particular festival, they had plenty of activities planned for
the morning and musical entertainment for the evening but not very much
in-between. The type of planning may be acceptable for local residents, but for
out-of-town visitors it is a deterrent. Having an interesting array of
activities and events, strategically scheduled for the entire day/weekend is critical
to a successful event.
When
planning an event, organizers should keep in mind who they are trying to
attract, and then plan the event/festival accordingly. One event (Mississauga
Waterfront Festival) that we visited one year, in my opinion, planned their
activities and event to perfection. They had a wide range of interesting events
that appeal to their target market. The activities and events were planned in
such a way that none interfered with the other. This included timing and just
as important, sound interference. Also, the events were planned in such a way
that visitors could make their way without having to run to make it in time.
This type of scheduling avoids the tension that so often results in angry
parents dragging their children from event to event. Judging the reaction of
fellow visitors, I could see that they also appreciated the efforts of the
organizing committee. Successful festivals always know who their target market
is and how to cater to them.
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