Finding Balance in Uncertain Times
...from all of us at FestivalNet.com to all of you.

It is our sincerest hope that you and your loved ones remain healthy as this pandemic rages and then runs its course. But health isn’t the only concern. Artists, crafters, food vendors and entertainers...our community...depend on groups and gatherings to make a living. And, these are the very things which are being cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19.

The combination of social distancing, self-quarantine, concern for loved ones and economic impact makes for extraordinary stress during these already difficult times. The Centers for Disease Control says how you respond to the pandemic can depend on your background, the things which make you different from other people, and the community you live in. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in both adults and children.

image: harli marten

Things to Consider Before Your First Show
By Sam Wilson for USA Moving Reviews

How to Find Companies That Are Interested in Sponsoring Events
By Stephen Kim for bizzabo.com

Sell to those who want what you’re selling! Though obvious, people often overlook this fact when the need for buyers becomes urgent and overbearing. This kind of tunnel vision is particularly true for event organizers looking to secure event sponsors.

image via aranxa esteve

The approach should not be to indiscriminately search for potential partners but to find companies who are specifically interested in sponsoring events. It’s a subtle yet significant difference. By focusing solely on companies willing to sponsor events, the search process becomes targeted and in turn yields more favorable results. 

There are dozens of organizations in the USA which regularly award cash to serious artists, allowing the recipients to focus entirely on furthering their music career in some way. And unlike loans, they don't need to be paid back.

Sounds too good to be true, right? Wrong! These funding opportunities are out there for the taking, but they're very competitive. You'll need to research which ones are a good fit for you, find out when the deadlines are, and set aside plenty of time for the application process, which can be intense.

15 Smart Ways to Invest in Your Art Career (Plus 3 More That are Free!)
By Alicia Puig for Empty Easel

You’ve probably heard the saying “you have to spend money to make money,” right? But, when you’re just starting out, having slower than normal art sales, or trying to find work, it’s hard to allocate funds to professional development. 

 The good news is, investing in your art career doesn’t always require you to spend money. Setting aside some time to work specifically on business and administrative tasks can be incredibly helpful and yield great results.

5 Ways to Boost Food Truck Sales Using Social Media
From blog.goodfynd.com

According to smartinsights.com, there are over three billion active social media users. 48% of consumers are more likely to buy from a responsive brand. 46% of consumers are more likely to take advantage of promotions offered through social media. If you’re not sure how to leverage the power of social media to improve your business, we’re here to help!

1. Hashtags

A hashtag is a way of categorizing social media posts and making your content viewable to audiences that you may want to attract. It's used within a post on social media to help those who may be interested in your topic, and they can find you when they search for the keyword or specific hashtag.

image: merakist

A great way to harness the power of the hashtag is to do a little research on which hashtags are popular or commonly searched. The top five hashtags on Instagram right now are #instagood, #photooftheday, #food, #igers, and #lifestyle. Including one of these relevant to your post may help boost engagement with your content on Instagram. But these alone won't do the trick. You need to be tuned into which hashtags are popular in your area. 

1. Influencers

According to pixlee.com, a social media influencer is someone who has established credibility in a specific industry. They have access to a large audience and can persuade others by virtue of their authenticity and reach. Their followers trust them and their taste. A stamp of approval from an influencer boosts your food truck's credibility.

Engage the Senses with Your Booth Display
by Carolyn Edlund for ArtsyShark

The # 1 Tip for booking gigs opening for NATIONAL ACTS
By Tim Charron | How to Book Gigs 

Are you a band or a singer-songwriter with the talent to open for national acts but don't know how to get these gigs?

Are you frustrated because you know your act is good enough but you can’t get a hold of the national act, their label, their manager…

Get The Most From Your Stage
By Greg Whiting with The Sound Guys

As you're planning your event, here are a few steps you can take to maximize the entertainment value of your stage.

1) Allow time for strike and set

Even with a professional, two person crew (average for most festival/fair stages), it usually takes 15 minutes to get one act off, and the next artist ready to start. If you’re scheduling each act for 1 hour, their set will actually only be 45 minutes. 

image via Igor Stakov

Also, communicate! Knowing what acts are coming up, and being prepared for them will help the crew to be prepared.

2) Rent a backline

Setting up and micing a drum set takes a good bit of time. Many production companies offer rental of a drum set and/or bass guitar amplifier. If all of the acts know they’re required to use what is provided, it will minimize set up time.

Crafting Emails to Potential Sponsors Which Get Replies
By Daniel Mendelson | Bizzaboo.com

Don't expect to secure a deal just by writing an email alone. You're starting a conversation, not signing a deal.

So, as you write, keep in mind the end goal: beginning a conversation and ultimately scheduling a meeting to discuss the sponsorship opportunity.  The email should focus on value, be an articulation of shared objectives and audiences, and have a tone and language which elicits feelings of partnership.

image via Sergey Zolkin

Research 

It’s critical for constructing the most effective cold email to potential sponsors. First, find out everything you can about the sponsor’s company. Focus on values and marketing objectives. Then, think about how your event can further these values or objectives.

How to Successfully Sell Your Art at Holiday Markets 
Steff Metal for Empty Easel

How to Get Good Publicity for Your Art 
Nicole Wensel for Empty Easel

There are certainly the traditional routes (galleries, for example) but oftentimes those paths are strung with red tape—what if there was a more empowering way?

Here are a few suggestions for ways that you can begin to gain more exposure for your work through good press and publicity:

4 Ways Musicians Can Use An EPK
Dave Cool for bandzoogle.com

You can think of it as your interactive artist resume, where anyone interested in your music can find all the information they need in one place. You can use your EPK to help you get more press, more gigs, and come across as a serious artist.

Since your website is the first place people go to learn more about you and your music, you should host your EPK there. So, how exactly can you use your EPK to help your career?

10 Easy Steps to Finding Event Volunteers
Sydney Dawes for Bizzaboo.com

Finding unpaid help is challenging! But, take heart, this list of tips will help you find and retain volunteers for your next event...and, the one after that.

1. Set up one-on-one meetings with potential event volunteers

If possible, avoid relying only on announcements to find event volunteers. It’s very easy to ignore or say no to an email or newsletter sitting in your inbox.
Start off by trying to recruit coworkers. You can compliment them on something they excel in, and then point out volunteers with that skill set are needed for your event. Describe what their responsibilities would be, while also mentioning the benefits of being an event volunteer.

In your follow up email, letter, or phone call, provide a more detailed job description of the volunteer role, along with details on your event.

image via Perry Grone

2. Utilize volunteer databases

Although one-on-one meetings are more personal, sometimes gathering volunteer commitments from people you know is just out of the question. If that's the case, you can try finding event volunteers through software platforms like Volgistics, VolunteerSpotan or VolunteerHubonline. These platforms provide users with information on thousands of skilled volunteers, as well as resources such as application forms, and schedules.

Boosting Your Food Truck's Menu Profitability
By Richard Myrick for Mobile Cuisine 

Your menu's pricing is the most important factor in determining profitability. It's what generates 100% of the revenue for most food vendors. So, it's critical that you invest time in developing a definitive strategy to build menu profitability.

image: Valerie Elash

Gather data

The first step is to know your current menu offerings: how many of which items you're selling, at what time and what location. Use point-of-sale data to understand demand for items and how the product's volume compares to its overall profitability.

Know your costs

Not all of the items on your menu are created equal... in profitability. Unless you know exactly what you're paying for each dish, you won't really know your money-makers, which items you should suggest more often, the items on which you should raise prices, or which items you might consider dropping altogether. A good first step in figuring out your real costs is to update your inventory list with accurate, current prices.