Non-profit Group Creating a Festival

Hello Hip Forumers! :daisy:

I am posting this thread in hopes to find good people who would want to share their knowledge on what it takes to put together a small scale music festival. And by small scale I mean around 1000 people in attendance. This is our goal but we also expect maybe as less as 500 attending.

First off, we are a non-profit, and we have the option of getting grants. Though it seems the deadline for most these grants in my province (Saskatchewan) has passed, and wont be open until October.

This is a first go at making a festival for the whole group, which is comprised of 4 directors and around 5/6 steady members. We are very much in the beginning stages of it all. So !
I'm wondering, what kind of funding does it take to put on a 3 day festival, with two stages (One main Stage & one for electronic and smaller acts), Vender booths, and all other necessities such as bathrooms, and first aid facilities. (That's a loaded question, I know)

We want to promote self sustainability, and permaculture at our event and really want to take the "Do-it-yourself" route, and as cheap as we can do it.

So any information you have that would help with the above mentioned plans, please share, and id really love to discuss this with some experienced minds out there ! Thanks a bunch

 

I know these people. Read about their festival. It's quiet complicated.

http://alchemyburn.com/content/event-reports

 

Complicated is good :2thumbsup:

I need something to rack brain on to get this thing in motion,

Thank-you

 

I hope it helps and good luck with it!

 

Thanks a lot for the concern, and mentioning some really important things needed in putting something like this together. Your help is really appreciated.

3 days is ambitious, so were thinking just aim for one, or two for our first event, but in the future we'd like to work towards it being three days.
The majority of the group, including myself are new to this. But they are an excellent crew with great ideas, and 100% willing to put their time and energy into it. We do have one fellow who has experience though, he puts together various events and parties across Canada. He is a busy guy, and has agreed to help us as much as he can.

Non profit here means:
"A non-profit corporation is a legal entity separate from its members and directors formed for purposes other than generating a profit to be distributed to its members, directors or officers as dividends. While, a non-profit corporation can earn a profit, the profit must be used to further the goals of the corporation rather than to pay dividends to its membership. Non-profit corporations are formed pursuant to federal or provincial law."

We shouldn't have a problem getting sponsors as we have already had decent support from local businesses in our recent fundraising events.

We have leads on some land we might be using, all private property and free of charge (or somewhat free anyways). And as for a stage, I've seen flatbed trailers work, and happen to know where I could find one. For power I assume we'd be needing a generator, really not sure what kind? or what works best ? I imagine a few generators would be needed.

This is all stuff we are really thinking about, we can already see these things take time, mainly because there is so much you need to cover first. were working on it though.

We have a lot on our plate, especially since were trying to juggle Festival plans, while working on fundraising events happening each month. also we recently acquired a garden that some of us in the group feel may help our cause, But I think gardens take a lot of work, that's probably unnecessary.

Well thanks anyway, you've mentioned some really important stuff we need to be thinking about, and we'd really like to get an estimate on what this sort of event is going to cost to put together soon so we can really build a stronger plan, and you've definitely brought up some things we haven't even discussed yet. Would you have any links or books that have any good information on setting event like this up? I'm finding it hard finding good info online, and I'm sick of seeing "15 steps to make a music festival" haha.

 

"Somewhat free" land. One expense is insurance. and its a big item of overhead.

What is the purpose of this festival? Publicity or profit?

(The 3 day event I work on is starting next week, so I'm not really available until 15 may)