Arranging an event as large as the Made in America Musical Festival can prove to be difficult, as there is a possibility of internal conflicts or challenges due to a large number of involved people and organizations (Fitch and Holt 187). However, careful planning can help to avoid these issues. First, Gwynedd Council outlines the basic procedures for notifying the public of the event: “The first press releases should be sent out 6 months before your event, the next 3 months before and then follow-ups 2 months and 1 month before” (p. 9). Therefore, the first notification about the festival should be made at the beginning of March, with follow-ups in June, July, and August.
Secondly, it would be necessary to coordinate the event with Philadelphia’s Office of Special Events (OSE), which ensures that all events obtain the necessary permits, insurances, and agreements in advance and provides security and EMS coverage of the events. For instance, the PIO might be required to obtain a street closure permit and a special events agreement, as well as an agreement with the Fire Department to ensure full EMS coverage of the festival (“Applications”). To coordinate all the visiting celebrities, it is crucial to contact each press agent to discuss any questions regarding safety, security, and other requirements of the celebrity. Once all the information is obtained, the PIO has to contact the Office of Special Events to ensure that appropriate measures to fulfill the requirements are taken by the festival’s security team. Overall, festival planning involves many steps and stages that are crucial to the success of the event, as well as to the safety and security of all visitors.
Works Cited
“Applications.”PHL Office of Special Events, 2017, Web.
Fitch, Bradford, and Jack Holt. Media Relations Handbook for Government, Associations, Nonprofits, and Elected Officials. 2nd ed., TheCapitol.Net, 2012.
Gwynedd Council. Festival & Event Planning Toolkit. N.d., Web.