Many people dream of running their own festival. If you’re the sort of person who likes to throw a big party, your thoughts are likely to turn to moving up a gear or two. Putting on a festival is no mean feat; however, the rewards are plentiful – even in post-pandemic times. Here are the basic things you need to consider if you are thinking about hosting a festival:
1. The site
A festival site needs careful thought and choosing the perfect place might take some time. You may well have the land already; in which case you’ll need to ensure there are plenty of access points and enough space for camping along with the main arena. Bear in mind that if the weather is less than perfect there is a good chance that your land will get churned up with traffic coming and going, so it is a good idea to put rubber matting down or similar for the routes around the site which will be used the most.
2. The legalities
You’ll find that for any event with 500 people or more in attendance (to include staff and artists) you will need to adhere to large event legalities. You’ll need a license, along with the correct paperwork for selling alcohol, if you plan to do that. There will be insurance to take into account too, so speak to someone who is already experienced in running festivals as they will be able to guide you through the process.
3. The costs
Putting on a festival will cost you a lot of money, so you need to be organised and prepare a budget so that you can keep things on track. There will be plenty of hidden costs along the way, so include a healthy slush fund for unexpected bills. Work out a ticket price that will cover your expenditure, and factor in a contingency plan if you don’t sell out. Don’t expect to make money straight away – your first festival may well make a loss, but you’ll have something to build on for future events. Breaking even should be viewed as a massive win at this stage!
4. The toilets
The best festival will be ruined by inadequate toilet facilities, so prioritise this as a very important thing to get right. Portaloos or mobile hire units are the way to go here, and make sure you work with a reputable company that will deliver on time and empty them regularly.
5. The weather
We all know that the British weather cannot be relied upon! So, when you are planning, make sure you factor in plenty of sheltered areas (this is good both for wet weather and also shade if you’re lucky enough to get a heatwave). It is better to expect bad weather and be pleasantly surprised, than to be counting on warm and dry weather. You’ll find yourself obsessively checking forecasts which can get very stressful!
At Wight Events Toilet Hire we can take at least one stress off your plate. Our brilliant loo hire service is perfect for festivals of any size. Give us a call and we can talk you through your options.
