Publishing Music Festival Guides and Tips for New Festival-goers.

Every music festival organiser is trying to attract new festival-goers to their events and each year millions of people attend their first music festival. Organisers should do their utmost to make the ticket purchase experience smooth and easy but this must be followed up with comprehensive guides and tips for those new to a particular festival. 

For anyone attending their first music festival the prospect of spending several days away from home on a festival site can be daunting. Fortunately, most organisers publish comprehensive guides and tips for anyone new to the event which can make new attendees feel more comfortable with a greater understanding of what to expect. Technology has made the publishing of guides and tips easier with information readily available on the event website, social media channels and mobile Apps. A structured and engaging guide can offer practical advice and helps build excitement for a more enjoyable event experience. 

Packing Lists. 
There are a plethora of guides and advice easily found on any online search about what to pack when attending a music festival. These guides can be quite generic and organisers should provide packing list guidance that relates specifically to their event. Typical packing lists will include tickets, ID cards, comfortable clothing appropriate for the expected weather conditions, earplugs, mobile device chargers and battery packs, reusable water bottles, sunscreen, ponchos, hats and sunglasses for example. 

Travel and accommodation Preparation. 
Most festival organisers provide comprehensive guidance on travel and accommodation for festival-goers and should as a minimum be included as a link in the guidance for new attendees with the general advice to book early. Organisers will push for lower carbon footprint options when providing information about travel which will include the use of public transport and most will have deals with coach, bus and train providers. Transparent pricing and booking processes will help ticket buyers navigate the public transport options. For new festival-goers choosing to use a car organisers will recommend carpooling along with on-site parking options. Accurate maps and festival site locations are essential along with recommended routes. As with transport options organisers should provide a link to their information on accommodation options in their guides. A comprehensive guide to different accommodation types must include details on what festival-goers can expect with each option. The accommodation choices may vary between a simple camping pitch and glamping or VIP options with tips on what to expect when considering toilet and bathroom facilities. 

Festival Site Navigation and Planning. 
A large-scale music festival site can be a confusing and intimidating prospect for someone new to a music festival. Guides should include details on what to expect when entering a festival site, the location of gates, how ticket scanning operates, the use of RFID wristbands and what security checks to expect. Organisers will usually provide detailed site maps in the form of a downloadable PDF file or as part of a dedicated mobile App. This ensures that new festival-goers can easily find camping zones, toilets, food and stages. New festival-goers will be encouraged to use the festival App because it will usually contain information about artists and schedules allowing them to plan their visit in line with artists they want to see.  

Rules and Regulations. 
There are always numerous rules that only apply to music festival sites so it is vital that new festival-goers understand what is and is not allowed on a site. Organisers always publish details on prohibited items which will include glass, illegal substances and weapons for example. In addition, there will be rules regarding behaviour on site which may include use of vapes and smoking do’s and don’ts plus expected camping zone behaviour and the use of camping stoves for example. In an effort to implement their sustainability objectives organisers will also publish rules and guidance regarding the use of single use plastics and the correct method of waste management and disposal. 

Health and Safety. 
Organisers want new festival-goers to have a great experience and they will always prioritise the wellbeing and safety of attendees. Advice on keeping property secure is useful because incidents of theft can be difficult to completely eradicate. Processes for reporting theft or physical assaults should be published and easy to follow including the location of festival staff help pitches, local police and dedicated safe zones. In addition, many organisers publish tips for staying hydrated in high temperatures and how festival-goers should protect themselves from strong sun. Guidance on the location of medical facilities along with emergency procedures should be easily accessible in guidance for new festival-goers. 

For festival organisers planning their next 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 viarami via Pixabay

<< Back to articles