In the last decade, there has been a sharp rise in the number of festivals that have popped up around the world. The most established events like SXSW in Austin, Texas, and Coachella in Indio, California, are already well-known brands that easily manage to attract large crowds every year, but starting a music festival from scratch is a tough task.
Having no previous experience in the music industry might make you feel like you are at a huge disadvantage, but the fresh point of view you can bring to your business if you are a starter is important, says Sofia Genders, co-founder of UK Festival the End of the Road: “Sometimes, in the early days, I felt that this lack of experience was a problem, but in hindsight, I feel that it allowed us more freedom in doing things our own way, more freedom in finding new solutions and approaching issues with a fully open mind. In a lot of ways, it was a strength, rather than a hindrance”.
The guide below will help you be clearer about what starting your own music festival involves.
Surround yourself with good people
Starting your own music festival will rarely be your venture alone. In the process you will meet individuals who share your same vision and want to be a part of it or want to contribute to your project. Whether they’ll be giving you a hand or be involved 100 percent, make sure the people that you end up working with are all committed to your idea and are the right people.
Be passionate
As Rumanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci once said “enjoy the journey and try to get better every day. And don’t lose the passion and the love for what you do”. It is a well-known fact that being passionate will be an important contributor to your success. You will, no doubt, face obstacles in your entrepreneurial journey and these will only be overcome if you strongly believe in what you do.
Cater for the needs of the festival-goers
In order to build a popular music festival, you will not only need to programme acts that will be attractive enough for your audiences, but you will also need to make sure your audiences feel safe in the festival surroundings. Having proper guidelines in place and making sure the staff you employ are familiar with these will ensure your festival meets the appropriate health and safety standards. These can be achieved by making use of an air ambulance service, for instance.
Get some investment
Since festivals take some time to start being profitable (experts put this at the 3 to 5 year mark), it is important to have some money in place to fund the first years of your venture. Unless you have some strong savings in place or are willing to start saving big way, it is advisable to reach out to friends and family for them to support your idea at the initial stages.