I was asked to write an update on the Blues and Brews Festival and I had to think a minute. I guess when you’re right there in the middle of an event, you forget that others might be interested in what you’re doing. So, now I get to take a break and talk about what has consumed most of my winter and spring!
The festival is going great. We’ve got all the rentals finally dialed in – I have learned that while I might think of a great idea in my mind – apparently rental companies don’t visit my mind. And if they do, it’s really quite expensive. So, Jennifer and Pat are constantly reminding me how this is a first year festival and I need to start sloooooowly. Thankfully my buddy Bob and my other buddy Kaine have assured me that rentals, staging, lighting and sound will meet or exceed my expectations – these guys are the BEST.
Speaking of sound, lighting and staging, I’ve been working with the bands on travel, accommodations, food and drinks for the green room and making sure we have the backline. Lance with AZ Music Pro has been so generous to work with and I can hardly wait to see it all set up and hear that first band play the first note of the first festival. Okay, I got a little giddy on that sentence.
Jennifer is working on vendors and once again, we’ll have amazing arts and crafts vendors and I’ll be working! GEEZ – I have to figure out a way to have my festival and play at it too……….. This is where cloning has potential! Now that all the marketing is hitting, I feel like a bit schizophrenic changing radio stations every few minutes trying to hear a promo spot. KNAU has been amazing, I especially like the lady with the nice proper English voice describing the event – I always smile and feel as though I should have a spot of tea, soon we’ll be giving radio interviews and giveaways on KAFF, KMGN, 106.1 and 93.5. We’re giving away tickets at the chamber events and we’re booking TV interviews as we speak.
I guess the only thing left to worry about is ticket sales and volunteer recruitment. Ticket sales are actually doing better than I expected this far out. I KNEW there were people out there that plan in advance – granted there aren’t 10,000, or the festival would be sold out, we’re getting there. If I divide that by the number of people who fly by the seat of their pants on a daily basis and multiply by every degree over 100 that Phoenix hits in the month of June – yep we should do okay on tickets. Volunteer recruitment I think will be the same way. Very few people plan their summer volunteering commitments unless they’re music aficionados or involved with the actual charity putting on the festival. Right now I’ve got my interns working on volunteer goody bags for all those wonderful people who come out and work to make this festival a success, so while I ask you to volunteer – I give you swag and I feed you – OH, and you get into the festival for FREE! So, buy tickets, volunteer, bring money for vendors and be ready to have FUN IN THE SUN! Summer is here people and in Flagstaff we only get a few months, so make sure every day is filled with happy!
Deb