"Developing a Festival” - Plan Implementation

  The following are possible festival committees. The size and scope of each committee will depend on the festival’s management. Each committee is led by a committee chair. Each chair oversees his/her committee and reports to and is a member of the Festival’s Board of Directors.

16.   Municipal Liaison Committee

Keeping in regular touch with town officials and town staff is very important. This committee makes sure that the lines of communications are open at all times. This committee can head off potential problems before they become a problem.

17.   Community Relations Committee

Many festivals get themselves into trouble by assuming that their community is going to fully support them. In reality this rarely happens. You may get the town fathers on side, but local residents, business leaders, other events, etc. may not like your plans. It is important to start early in getting potential opponents identified and then on side. You may think their concerns are frivolous and unimportant and not worthy of your consideration. If you do, you will be wrong and none response will likely come back to haunt you. A little community relations in the beginning will be well worth the effort.

18.   Amenities Coordinating Committee

This committee looks at other community attractions and amenities and finds ways to include them into the festivals overall scheme. Visitors, especially if they are coming from far away, need a place to eat and possibly a place to sleep. If they plan to stay in the area for awhile, they may be looking for other things to do and see. The more you can tie your festival visitor to the community, the more likely the visitor will come back again. This committee is also responsible for putting discount packages together for visitors. Again, anything a festival can do to attract visitor is worthwhile.