How to Avoid a Music Festival Disaster

How to Avoid a Music Festival Disaster  

Putting your business name on a music festival can give you great exposure. But as we’ve seen in real life examples, this can also backfire greatly. Take the case of the Fyre Festival in the Bahamas, which was promoted as a luxury experience but turned into a disaster. Abby Ohlheiser reported for The Washington Post that headliner band Blink-182 and others canceled just before the event, many of the tents for the event were not set up by the time guests arrived and other significant problems occurred. What should have been great publicity for the organizers turned into the wrong kind of exposure.

Obviously, you don’t want your company's name associated with a disaster. So here are some tips on how to avoid a music festival disaster and create a successful experience instead.

Work With an Experienced Team

It’s essential to have an experienced team working on a large event like a music festival. You either need your own experienced team or to work with a production partner who understands the nitty-gritty of how a music festival works and what is needed, down to every detail. Foremost, you need a strong management team who can organize and execute the event plans, with a system in place for potential problems.

Focus on Practical Needs

Putting on a music festival is not just about the music and the marketing. There is a lot of background work that needs to be done – and done right. You need to ensure you have the necessary power for the specific event, as well as access to water and proper management of waste. An experienced team will think about potential problems and make sure the logistics are capable of working out in the earliest stages before moving forward with a particular venue or the rest of the event planning. Event professionals told BizBash that they probably would not have continued with the Fyre Festival's location, at least not before consulting local professionals.

Start Small and Take It Slowly

Apparently the Fyre Festival planning started a few months before the event, and organizers ran out of time. Professional organizers take much longer to plan an event of this scale, beginning the process at least a year in advance. The Fyre Festival organizers also went full speed ahead with marketing, while event professionals normally would perform a soft launch in the beginning and try to gradually build interest and a reputation. By taking more time, you also have the chance to test your site, learn and grow in the industry and work on fitting your tactics with the right audience.

Be Prepared to Cancel

Sometimes you simply cannot get an event to work out. Planning and proper management will generally prevent the need to cancel an event but you need to realize when canceling is the only answer. Event professionals told BizBash that the Fyre Festival organizers should have canceled when they knew they couldn't fulfill their marketing promises.

When you perform proper planning and work with event professionals, you can prevent a music festival disaster and create an event that successfully promotes your brand.

Reel It IN!

What better way to kick off the Miami International Film Festival than with an event designed to add fun and intrigue to the venue before it even begins? Miami Dade College presents Reel It IN! - the kickoff party hosted on March 3, 2016 for those who want to party with a head-up on what the festival has to offer. The festival runs from March 3-14, 2016 and is sure to add a few surprises. Designed like a movie studio, the festival will have hosts and hostesses dressed like individuals from different movies as attendees go through each “scene” designed by sponsors and other vendors. Free acting classes, a forum, and clips from movies will be shown on the big screen. There will be a meet and greet session for celebrities and filmmakers, and a 2 minute pitching contest for those who think they can conjure up the thoughts for a movie in a quick instant.

A food station filled with foods from all over the world will be set up in the food court, with selections named after famous movies. Local performers will get the party started with a rendition of Dance Fever that will get the audience involved.

Designed to be a venue for the film industry and individuals who are interested in becoming a part of this world, there will be an entire section devoted to introducing workshops and events of interest to this crowd to assist in putting those important elements on their schedule for the week. This event draws hundreds of people every year with major celebrities. A VIP area will be available for those actors and actresses who will be making an appearance throughout the duration of the festival.

In the center of the room will be a life-sized version of the GEMS award, which is the mid-season festival. Designed to remind the crowd of the additional festival later in the year, applications for GEMS will be available at this event.

Tickets for this even go on sale in January, 2016 through Miami Dade College and Ticketmaster.

Previous sponsors for this event include the John S. & James L. Knight Foundation; Lexus; Miami-Dade County; Comcast, American Airlines; Telemundo 51; Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority; Miami DDA; HBO and HBO Latin America, and a host of other sponsors. Sponsorship opportunities for 2016 are still available.

The Miami International Film Festival was designed to bridge cultural understanding and encourage artistic development and excellence by provoking thought through film. By bringing the best of world cinema to Miami, the Festival presents the city and the film industry with a singular platform that fosters creative and technical talent.

How to find the Perfect Event Space

What makes a good event space for one event is potentially disastrous for another event. Various venues are suitable for different purposes. Can you imagine a religious convention in a place that serves alcohol? What about a business conference in a venue that hosts a football match? There are a number of factors to consider before making a decision on where to host an event. From location and amenities to capacity and budget, an event planner should have all these factors evaluated before deciding that a venue is perfect for the event.

Soho Studios is the premier event space in Miami that features 70,000 sq ft of trans-formative space for events. Be sure to connect with the team of experts at Soho Studios to help you plan your next event.

Amenities List Request

An event planner should ask for the amenities list from several facilities’ managers before settling on one venue to host his event. Most event organizers will require amenities such as disabled access, parking, proper accommodation, availability of catering services, rooms available among others. What is important here is to ensure that the amenities available at the venue suit the needs of the guests expected to attend the event. Finding the perfect event space may be a herculean task, but an event planner should not compromise more than 10% of his expectations of a venue where they intend to host a successful event.

Actual Visitation of the Venue

Before you confirm the venue as suitable for your event, you should to make an actual physical visitation. Most people will say their facilities are fit for human habitation but it is important to confirm in person that there are no issues with the venue, such as unkempt grounds, poor plumbing, limited available restrooms, and other small issues that are cannot be determined without a visit to the venue. Make sure that all your venue requirements are in order before you commit your money and success of your event to the venue.

Catering

If the facility has in-house catering services, how efficient are they? What is the menu on offer? Is the menu appropriate for your guests? If the facility does offer catering services, can they recommend a solution? Are there restaurants near by that would work? Is the food in the restaurant within the realm of your budget?  These are just some of the questions you should ask yourself as far as your event attendant’s daily food rations are concerned. Find the perfect event space for your event in terms of catering.

Budget

One of the cardinal rules in business is to stay within your budget no matter what. However, this rule may not be very friendly to event organizers. Your budget maybe too small that affording decent event space may be out of your reach. You are better off not hosting an event, than hosting an event in a shabby facility. True, your targeted market may not be well off or might not mind, but this directly reflects on your ability to sponsor decent events. Finding the perfect event space should be a priority for any event organizer. Anything short of this looks, at best, unprofessional.

Google Glass and the future of event planning

People love attending great events but often, once they are there, think little about all the hard work that has gone into preparing the site and elements for the big night. However, planning your event requires a wealth of organization skills to promote a successful date. On the competitive scene of South Florida, just acquiring a venue in Miami that meets all your needs takes a true commitment to parsing the value of each one that is available. Having a good team around you will only go so far if you do not have things in order for yourself.

Using event planning tools is vital in today’s connected world of social media and mobile technology. People look to their smart phone for updates regarding the topics that interest them and these numbers are only going to rise. As time goes by more technology is becoming integrated to this "internet of things" such as our cars, watches and TV. Soon many of us will be walking around with a collection of tools that enable us to perform tasks that otherwise would have taken a desktop computer. In some cases there is no prior equivalent product on the market.

Google Glass is a new offering from the tech giant that has been getting a mountain of press over the last 6 months. The question is, how can it help manage your date at an event space in Miami? Well, first this is a wearable technology too! They are essentially Internet capable glasses. So, as opposed to hawking your cell phone all the time, interrupting conversations or becoming totally distracted by a new email message, we can have a constant flow of data that is directly in view at all times. While some people might imagine this to be the next step towards Borg singularity it just might be the tool you have always wanted as an event planner or event promoter.

Event Planning with Pinterest

If you are in the event planning industry and are not yet using Pinterest, you are missing out on a powerful tool. Pinterest is a valuable resource in helping get your word out on conferences, film festivals, music festivals and other events you may be planning. It is also great resource to exchange ideas.

Pinterest works as a digital pinboard, or bulletin board, that allows you to post photos and ideas and ask for suggestions. It not only can help in marketing your event online, it also adds more fun and creativity into your event planning.

In addition it is a great way to share photos of all your events and build excitement for future events!

With Pinterest, you can direct visitors to your blog, drive users to your website or other social media channels and engage them further. It is a visual social media tool that is based in creativity, but by its very nature allows for some subtle, and perhaps not so subtle, online marketing.

Pinterest allows you the ability to showcase hotels, the venue, vendors, speakers and entertainment that may be a part of your event. Like all social media it is about sharing, and sharing is good when it comes to getting the word out about your event. Don’t forget the networking aspects of Pinterest. You can widen your contacts of like-minded individuals and share contacts and concepts. It is sort of a LinkedIn for creative people.

If you are searching for a superb location for your next event and are considering venues in Miami, contact us at Soho Studios. With a word-class client list that includes Evian, Ford Motor, Absolut, and Puma, we have the experience to assist you in all aspects of your South Florida event. Soho Studios is over 65,000 square feet of event space Miami utilizes for photography, video, conventions, meetings, conferences, art shows and even some of Miami’s famous parties.

Contact us today and let us help you take your ideas from concept to completion. We are Soho Studios, Miami’s premier venue located in the trendy Wynwood District, home of Art Basel Wynwood.

Commercial Photography in Miami

Miami, Florida has become a Mecca for photographers and agencies looking for just the right backdrops for their work. It offers the intensity of a diverse metropolitan area, yet is just minutes away from sand, palm trees, and crystal clear blue waters. Miami photo shoot locations offer photographers in Miami the ability to create using everything from multi-million dollar mansions to the faces of hard working street vendors.

More and more commercial photographers are discovering Soho Studios as one of the best Miami venues for professional film and photography. Soho Studios offer over 65,000 square feet of versatile space. It is large enough to shoot a fleet of cars, yet it can be intimate enough for a lingerie campaign.

Located in Miami’s trendy Wynwood District, Soho Studios provides the exclusivity and privacy needed for photo and video sessions involving even the biggest names in the entertainment business. In circumstances where confidentiality, security, and privacy are critical, the team at Soho Studios can deliver.

If you are considering a commercial photography location, need space with the capability to provide remarkably diverse backdrops, or are even producing a music video, consider Miami, Florida and Soho Studios. We are South Florida’s premier photography studio, music venue, and convention space facility. We offer event space Miami and South Florida utilizes for a variety of projects, meetings, and shows. We have been transformed into party venues Miami is building its reputation on. Our world-class clientele includes names like Absolut, Puma, Ford Motor, Evian and American Apparel and many more.

Have an idea or concept? Contact the team at Soho Studios. Our network of South Florida vendors and suppliers can help you facilitate getting your commercial photography project done at the highest of levels. Our experienced staff can offer you the assistance to deliver your project to the most uncompromising of standards. There are photography studios in Miami…and then there is Soho Studios. Versatility, experience, and responsiveness. For commercial photography in Miami, choose Soho Studios.

Event Blogging

Blogs are not just reserved for people who want to rant about their favorite sports team or give their two cents on the latest political scandal. A blog can also be a useful tool for promoting your event. It is the perfect way to engage people and make them feel like they are part of the action.

An event blog is because is the perfect way to build relationships with people who are attending your event. Writing blog posts lets you share important information and create a strong buzz for your event. If you are at one of the best party venues Miami has to offer, for example, you want people to be aware of why your event is there and what is going on at your event.

When you start creating content for your event blog, an important guideline to remember is to keep it personal and conversational. Engage your followers with content that will matter to them. One way to promote conversation is to open up a comments section for blog visitors. It can serve as a message board where you can answer questions and respond to feedback from your followers.

Incorporate visual and audio elements into your posts. Include video or podcast interviews with any notable guests in attendance. Post lots of photos of the event to your blog and the activities leading up to it. This will make the event come alive and it will generate interest from blog visitors. People are drawn to big events with lots of hype. Throwing everything but the kitchen sink into the event blog will make it feel like a big deal to them when they check out the latest post.

Internet access is important in event blogging. Make sure your chosen venue is equipped with high speed Internet to handle what you will need to make your blog run smoothly. Your event blog will add another dimension to the event and make it an unforgettable experience.

Miami Film Month

For movie buffs in the Miami, Florida area, the annual Miami Film Month is a highly anticipated time of year. The Miami Film Month means a variety of film festivals from around the world and with a variety of different themes, fun art venues to watch the movies, and fun activities with very affordable prices.

During the Miami Film Month, fans are able to visit any one of a variety of art cinemas and event spaces in Miami and watch films for just six dollars, with the exception of certain special events and the Miami International Film Festival. The films are playing at a variety of locations. For example, many people enjoy the SoundScape at New World Center. This venue was designed by architect Frank Gehry, who was even awarded the Pritzker Prize. This venue features a 7,000 square foot projection wall and audiences can watch concerts, movies, and video art free of charge during this special movie month.

Throughout the month film lovers can watch movies falling into a variety of categories. There are festivals that focus around a particular group or culture such as the Brazilian Film Festival of Miami, European Film Festival, Miami Israel Film Festival, and the Women’s International Film Festival. There are also other groups and causes that organize festivals such as the Miami & the Beaches Environmental Film Festival, Miami Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, and the Optic Nerve Film Festival. Finally, there are also festivals for specific genres, such as the Miami Short Film Festival. All of these various categories allow film lovers to watch a variety of cinematic art and appreciate unique movies from around the world. It is an opportunity to have exciting cultural experiences without leaving Miami. There are also a good number of high profile movie premiers during the festivals, which can be exciting for those who enjoy the entertainment culture.

Miami is always an exciting city for residents and tourists alike. The Miami Film Month, however, is a special period. Film buffs flock to the city to enjoy the reasonable prices while watching amazing movies.

Miami International Film Festival

Get ready for world-class culture, glitz and fun: the 30th annual Miami International Film Festival. This year, the festival is the U.S. premier for 117 feature-length films and 12 shorts from more than 40 countries. The film festival calendar plays out from March 1-10, at various Miami venues.

Diverse genres are represented in the list of films. Fans of political intrigue will enjoy No, an Oscar-nominated Chilean film about an advertising executive plotting against Chilean dictator Pinochet. If comedy’s your preference, try Mental, starring Toni Collette as a woman caring for five girls after their mother suffers a nervous breakdown. For goose bumps, watch the psychological thriller, Sanitarium, featuring Malcolm McDowell as a psychiatrist whose patients never get well.

The Miami International Film Festival (MIFF) showcases Miami’s cultural diversity, vibrant international arts scene and spirit of renovation -- nowhere more evident than in Soho Studios’ own Wynwood neighborhood, a warehouse district turned arts center.

MIFF History

The MIFF is the crème de la crème of film festivals in Miami. The Film Society of Miami launched the event in 1984 to promote cultural understanding on a global stage.

Since 1989, the MIFF’s home has been the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts, which began in 1926 as the lavish Olympia Theater. The center is one of six screening venues in 2013.

The MIFF awards cash prizes to films receiving the highest marks from judges. Filmmakers who don’t make that cut benefit nonetheless from international exposure.

Filmmakers from more than 60 countries have submitted their work to the MIFF since 1984. The 2012 festival attracted more than 70,000 people.

Other Events

Watching topnotch films is just one part of the MIFF experience. Strut your fashionista creds on Opening Night, at the DuPont Building, Miami’s famous Art Deco skyscraper. Three judges will scope out the crowd to find the best-dressed man and woman. Winners will receive a $1,200 gift certificate from Osklen boutique.

Or you can always sample the food and spirits at the Freedom Tower, site of the Pyrat Awards Night Party, while you learn which films won awards.