Is multi-taking a good thing?

As festival planners, we know the story all too well. There are a million tasks, both large and small that must be performed to make our event exciting, yet orderly. So we have to move at what feels like the speed of light. With the advent of technology, the sense of urgency is even greater. We have all of the s0-called productivity tools, making the expectation for immediacy even greater. But is working faster and multi-taking always a good idea? I recently attended a workshop that explored the cost, in loss of focus and wear-and-tear on the body, of multi-tasking. Are we really saving time or costing ourselves this precious commodity? Read the attached article from the workshop presenterhttp://www.kimberlymedlock.com/docs/What_You_Should_Know_About_Multi-Tasking.pdf to learn more.

We can sell you the entire seat, but you'll only need the edge!

The 11-day Fiesta San Antonio celebration is home to some of the largest parades in the state. To help local non-profit organizations raise revenues from the massive crowds that gather to watch the parade, the Fiesta Commission allows these groups to rent parade route folding chairs to create viewing areas.

"Walk your parade route and figure how many chairs will fit in each block. We limit to three rows of chairs that start from the street curb (row 3) and set up two other rows closer to the parade," said Fiesta Commission Executive Director Chuck Blische.

Nonprofits sell seats for $10 each and pay the Fiesta Commission a $2 per chair licensing fee. Each non-profit is assigned a specific area in which they rent the chairs and perform set-up and take-down. In San Antonio's case, the price of chair is set by city ordinance.

"We print and distribute parade tickets. People really appreciate having a place to sit during the parade that they can just leave behind," said Blische.

Do you have a great idea to contribute to the TFEA Blog? Send it to pennyreeh@ktc.com.

The Customer is Changing...Are You?

In 2010 the United States will be conducting a new census and we will all have the opportunity to look at the emerging demographic trends. While this data provides us with a snapshot of our population, it also tells us a great deal about who our festival customer is; and more importantly, how they are changing.

One thing is certain - Texas is growing. According to the Texas Data Center and Office of the State Demographer, the state's population is projected to grow to 35.8 million by 2040, which is an increase of more than 71 percent over the 2000 census count. This means more potential attendees for Texas festivals and events. But what do these new customers look like?

Demographers predict that Hispanics will outnumber Whites by the year 2020. Texas has been a "majority-minority" state since 2004, meaning that combined minority populations outnumber the white population. Other such states include Hawaii, New Mexico and California.

Understanding changes in the ethnic mix of our state is critical knowledge for our events. What programming changes to attract these growing, and potentially-lucrative, audiences are needed? How can the event maintain relevance and gain awareness? Do these audiences present sponsorship opportunities?

State demographers also predict the number of residents over the age of 65 will double by 2040. The percentage of Texans age 65+ remains slightly lower than the national average, but remains significant. How will our festival attendees interests change as they age? Are our events prepared to be more accessible to an increased number of attendees with special mobility needs?

Another significant change in our state's population will be the continued shift from rural to urban areas. Between 2000 and 2005, 11 of Texas’ “metro” counties – counties with one or more urban areas – saw population increases of at least 20 percent, while 93 non-metro counties experienced losses. This may mean greater population density and proximity for some events. But attracting these customers may also be more competitive as urban populations present more entertainment venues.

Soon we will see the latest numbers and put these predictions to the test. But the real test lies in how prepared festivals are to understand the information and use it to grow their event?

Penny C. Reeh - Owner, Indigo Resource Group and TFEA Executive Director