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Would like advice from festival organizaers!

Posted by Kevin M. Kraft on January 9, 2011 at 9:59am in Fests and Concerts: Organizing and Promoting

Hi Everyone,

 

As I am well on my way to securing a time and place for Kansas City's first cigar box guitar festival, and I have NO experience doing such a thing, I would like to hear from successful festival organizers, with whom I can consult during this daunting process. If you have experience and knowledge I could glean from you, please contact me here, so I can reach you.

 

This is both exciting and a bit frightening!

 

- Kevin

 

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Replies

  • Kevin M. Kraft March 10, 2011 at 7:12pm
    Wow, Chickenbone, thank you for the great advice. It was well-timed, too!

    ChickenboneJohn said:

    As organiser of the UK Cigar Box Guitar Festival I'll give you my perspective.

     

    The venue is critical - choose somewhere that is used to putting on music events such as regular folk/blues/jazz clubs and evenings, whether that's at a pub, music bar, arts centre or whatever.  You'll benefit from the "regulars" dropping in to see what it's all about, and you can take advantage of their networking, publicity and practical skills of just being around music events on a regular basis. My first fest was at a music bar, 2nd one at an arts centre...3rd one...well, it won't be announced until 18th March, so I can't tell you!

     

    Keep it manageable - better to sell-out a small bar with 50 covers and have to put up the "house full" signs than having 40 people rattling around a venue that will take 300.

     

    Keep your exposure to financial risk to an absolute minimum - that means doing a deal with the venue so that you get it for free or for a favorable ticketprice split. Call in favours for PA system, featured players, printing, publicity etc.

     

    There's lots of other things to take into considerations - but a) venue, b) manageability and c) minimising financial risk are the key factors. It will be hard work, and it will be nerve-wracking, but if it works, it will all be worth it.

     

    Chickenbone

  • ChickenboneJohn March 10, 2011 at 2:59pm

    As organiser of the UK Cigar Box Guitar Festival I'll give you my perspective.

     

    The venue is critical - choose somewhere that is used to putting on music events such as regular folk/blues/jazz clubs and evenings, whether that's at a pub, music bar, arts centre or whatever.  You'll benefit from the "regulars" dropping in to see what it's all about, and you can take advantage of their networking, publicity and practical skills of just being around music events on a regular basis. My first fest was at a music bar, 2nd one at an arts centre...3rd one...well, it won't be announced until 18th March, so I can't tell you!

     

    Keep it manageable - better to sell-out a small bar with 50 covers and have to put up the "house full" signs than having 40 people rattling around a venue that will take 300.

     

    Keep your exposure to financial risk to an absolute minimum - that means doing a deal with the venue so that you get it for free or for a favorable ticketprice split. Call in favours for PA system, featured players, printing, publicity etc.

     

    There's lots of other things to take into considerations - but a) venue, b) manageability and c) minimising financial risk are the key factors. It will be hard work, and it will be nerve-wracking, but if it works, it will all be worth it.

     

    Chickenbone

  • Kevin M. Kraft January 10, 2011 at 4:44pm
    Thanks so much! I'll be in touch.

    StumbleCol said:

    "Hi,

    I have been part of the team organising The Cambridge Folk Festival in the Uk for 20 years now. I used to be the Site Crew Boss and am now a manger in Arts Marketing for the local Council, who run the event. Regulation will be different here from there, so I do not know how much help I can be, but if you think of anything, give me a shout ! There is more than 100 years experience of event organisation in our office !!!

    Col

  • Kevin M. Kraft January 10, 2011 at 4:44pm
    Thanks. You'll definitely hear from me again!

    Skeesix said:

    Hi Kevin,

    I have a lot of experience via my local blues society. Feel free to pick my brains.

    Skeesix

  • Skeesix January 9, 2011 at 6:03pm

    Hi Kevin,

    I have a lot of experience via my local blues society. Feel free to pick my brains.

    Skeesix

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