25 replies to this topic

[Flounder]

As previously stated, some good advice above.
there's a few differences between the licenses of the different festivals and I think that is down to location.
Endorse it has its licence - full stop. We can however be taken to tribunal by the council if we break, or they think we have broken any of the conditions. At that point it can go to court, which then involves solicitors etc and gets costly. ALso if the emergency services/council are not happy with the site visit just before the event, then they have the power to suspend the event until satisfied.

Firstly join the Associaiton of Festival Organisers ( AFO) - they are the professional association that have been running for years - costs about £200 and can save you buckets on insurance, advice etc. Its the best thing we ever did.

ALso cost everything fully, have a business plan and have someone/ a couple of people in charge. Co-operatives don't work.
There can be BIG costs involved, which can mean big losses.  Pick your site well, don't rip off other festivals (   )  but get your own niche, talk to other festival organisers. It helps if you have someone on the team who knows the music industry - alternatively you can get in a festival programmer who will book you bands for you ( an added expense, but if you want that killer line-up and its your first year, booking agents won't take you seriously or will fleece you silly). A lot of it comes down to who you know and contacts.

I think starting small is a good idea. The main thing to remember is that none of the festival organisers that I know of have it as their sole source of income.

Good luck.

[Pete_Sellindge]

It all depends on what type of festival you want to create with regards to the costs.  You certainly do need to look at having a good breakeven in the first year though as it is a lot harder to get people to attend a festival than a lot would think.  Additionally, you will have to commit yourself to spending every waking hour of your life on organising it, particularly in the first year.  Most importantly of all, get some good people around you to help who you trust implicitly and spend a minimum of 12 months organising the first event.

I don't claim to be Michael Evis or Vince Power, but if you would like to know more, I'd be more than happy to speak further with you if you PM me your details.

[rhythm2006]

Er, I'm thinking about starting up an international diamond smuggling operation.
Has anyone any ideas?

[doyza1]

I'm thinking of putting on a 1 day event in Glasgow, my friend owns a field so i dont need to pay for the land, do i only need an entertainment licence and then we will be sorted?

any feedback would be much appreciated!

cheers

[snorky]

I'd recommend finding a pub either in the city or a surrounding suburb/village with a big beer garden and holding a day festival. Try and get one rather popular local name (maybe an old contestant on a reality music TV show or one hit wonder) and popular local bands. Keep it small and fun and let it grow. You could even hold it bi-annually

LevellerRich, on Apr 24 2009, 01:57 PM, said:

Licencing isn't a grey area, it's black and white.  You need a licence.

To get a licence you'll need not only the support of the police, but plenty of others, perhaps most importantly the local council's Health & Safety Officer.

Even if your licence is granted, it can be revoked at any time if any of the licencing parties are unhappy with your execution.

Your licence is more important than your line-up...  You could come up with a business plan that could get you U2, but it won't happen without a licence.

I meant more in regards to music genres played and weird local laws. I live in a rather Christian historical city and it's against the law to have a dance floor within the City walls. I also understand it's illegal to play a DJ set consisting of solely Grime/RnB/Trance or a genre the police feel may encourage violence or drugs.

[Medina]

Flounder, on Apr 27 2009, 12:40 PM, said:

don't rip off other festivals

Sound advice!  I've just turned-down two bands I was offered because I know Endorse It have already booked them for a week later... and we're only 40 miles apart.

Flounder got in first... and I wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley in Dorset (or cricket field in Wimborne) if I booked the same bands as him.

I value my limbs!