Utility Management for Music Festival Organisers.

The construction of a remote based music festival requires some considerable logistical planning and a key element of this is the provision of utilities like water and electricity. A large music festival can resemble a small town and is essential that the provision of utilities to serve the festival site are well planned and managed.

The type of utilities required will depend on the location of the proposed festival site. Some locations are so remote that everything will need to be brought onto site, conversely some sites may have access to the local infrastructure that could include freshwater and electricity supplies and sewage disposal. Working with local utility suppliers should enable exactly how this may work. 

Remote Site Locations. 
A remote field location will require the installation of generators for electricity and specialist contractors for fresh water supplies and the management of blue, grey, brown and black water (a grading system for how contaminated the water is). Water management suppliers in the UK will need to be compliant with the EU Drinking Water Directive legislated in the UK by The Water Supply Regulations Acts 2000 and 2010. 

Established Event Site Locations.
There are a number of dedicated event sites that host numerous events throughout a year and can be a good choice for a music festival location. Most will have pre-installed water management solutions and electricity supplies. It makes sense to negotiate with the event management company on the costs associated with utility provision as these can be expensive.

Preventative Maintenance and Monitoring. 
Whether a festival site is using an existing infrastructure or bringing in external suppliers a thorough inspection of any installation should be completed by suitably qualified individuals. This will help to identify any areas of concern or potential leaks, suitable arrangements for repair and monitoring should also be agreed. Throughout the course of the festival regular checks of utilities for leaks, breakages or electrical wiring issues should be conducted so that remedial action can be taken. 

Emergency Procedures and Staff Training. 
Electricity supplies present potential dangers if there is faulty wiring than can result in electrocution or fire hazards. All festival site staff will need to be briefed and complete recognised training to fully identify potential dangers along with the appropriate action to take. A comprehensive emergency procedure needs to be established to minimise potential injuries to anyone on site. This can relate to rapid electricity cut off procedures, fire management and turning off water supplies in the case of leaks for example. Most of these logistical plans are completed in partnership with local emergency services who are often on standby for any large music festival. 

Communications. 
Most music festivals employ the use of walkie talkies for on-site staff to communicate about every aspect of running the festival. It is wise to establish recognised call signs for potential emergencies that include the nature of any issues along with the location on site. This ensures that any utility issues can be addressed promptly, and emergency procedures are implemented if necessary. 

For festival organisers planning their events using a software management platform like Festival Pro gives them all the functionality they need manage every aspect of their event logistics. The guys who are responsible for this software have been in the front line of event management for many years and the features are built from that experience and are performance artists themselves. The Festival Pro platform is easy to use and has comprehensive features with specific modules for managing artists, contractors, venues/stages, vendors, volunteers, sponsors, guestlists, ticketing, cashless payments and contactless ordering. 

Image by Holger Schué from Pixabay

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