bike festival
Anne Thomas
Posted 2012-06-07 17:27 (#1015)
Subject: bike festival


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Posts: 319
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There is a bike festival in Inverness on Saturday
http://invernessfestivals.com/winter08/blog/index.php?entry=entry12...
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Wendy map
Posted 2013-05-07 12:23 (#1262 - in reply to #1015)
Subject: Re: bike festival


Regular

Posts: 53
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Wonderful event altogether but a few reflective comments on the Bikefest here.

Richard Robinson's below:-

Hi all, I suggested we note our thoughts about what worked and what
didn't, so here are mine (and Jean's):

1. Overall, it was incredibly successful. Great to see such a wide
range of people and ages at a TBI initiated event. The range of
activities offered something for everyone and as far as I could tell
(I was holed up in the Marquee some of the time) the scheduling etc.
worked well.
2. The main attraction was really good (though I had to look away at
certain points). The commentary was also very good and made a show
of it. They weren't cheap but without them I suspect the whole
thing would have been a bit low key with a lot less people.
3. The car parking seemed to work well and the marshaling seemed to
work - always a worry.
4. No comments on the presentations indoors or the bike pillow as I
didn't really see them.
5. The layout in the field was a little congested - given the kids
moseying about on bikes, the mobility scooters, etc., it would have
been good to have the display team further into the field. Marking
out areas in advance might be useful guidance to those setting up.
6. The entrance/survey approach didn't really work and neither did the
raffle. We may have got things back to front here: We could have
sold numbered programmes and had a prize draw based on them. This
would have necessitated closer control of the entrance to make sure
people knew about them. We could have done the surveys by wandering
round the field and accosting people. They are less stressed and
preoccupied once they're inside, and more likely to respond. I
think the surveys have to be filled in with an interviewer if we're
going to get reasonable return rates.
7. We only just had enough TBI volunteers, which was disappointing (I
assume we didn't turn down any offers?). There isn't much chance of
TBI ever making much money at this type of event unless we have the
people on the ground. It also puts a lot of pressure on the
organisers if they have limited back up.
8. The PA system was a real bonus for reminding people of what was on
and where.
9. The school did very well in raising funds. I heard they made £1000
or so, though they are very experienced and have a slick
organisation. Best not mention the burger van, but they got a good
deal: all the profits. Franchising is a neat way of getting stuff
done without putting in much volunteer effort.
10. The marquee was brilliant. It provided shelter for a wider area and
created a sense of place.
11. The weather was probably ideal. People were OK outside but also
wanted to go inside. April is pretty risky though, and the site is
exposed, so if we did it again would a later date be better? More
competition, maybe, which is not good.
12. I think it was important to create a division of responsibility
between Million Miles and TBI, and as far as I can see that worked.
Interested in your views about that, but with any event I think we
have to have key organisers focusing relatively narrowly on the
success of the event, and, as a subsidiary aim, a TBI group making
the most of it from TBI's point of view.
13. Signage and PR seemed pretty much impeccable though I did hear of a
few people who didn't know about it. Some people are just hard to
reach. I imagine we covered MFR? What more can you do.

That's probably enough.

Richard

And Kenny Fraser's

it was a fun day! The wind certainly made things a bit more
difficult! Here's a few thoughts if they're of any help...

* The stunt team, kids courses and inflatable looked like a huge
success! Because it was such an active day on that front, it seemed
to me that people weren't really interested in stopping to fill in
questionnaires or going indoors to watch presentations, important
though these may be to the project awareness. Too much adrenaline
everywhere else!

* The programme, questionnaires, sponsor/stallholder advertising
leaflets, project info etc could maybe all have been consolidated into
one A5 'pack' which people could have popped into a pocket or handbag
to take away and look at again properly after all the excitement. You
might have got a better response to the questionnaire if people could
post these back, maybe with an incentive eg post-event raffle ticket.
I know this would have taken a fair bit of envelope-stuffing though.
Also avoids offering programmes to those who already had.

* Don't think anyone spends 25p on a raffle ticket these days.
Everyone who bought from me spent between £1 and £5 in multiples of
£1. Take a note of ticket numbers, names and phone numbers on a
separate sheet, significantly reduces overall scribbling - you only
eventually need this for people who aren't around at the draw anyway.
Apologies for not following protocol, resulting in scramble... I did
ask several times when and where the draw was but only finally heard
from Marion's announcement.

* The info tent could have been a raffle stand instead, with
pictures/notices of prizes, easier admin if people are coming to you,
avoids duplicate selling too. Didn't really function at all as info
tent, I found myself mainly programme-offering - lucky because due to
lack of briefing would not have known much more than the average
punter! Hope the tent is repairable!

* A broader overview of the day, duties and essential info would have
been more helpful at the start.

That's all! Very successful day though?


Kenny

And finally . . . Sarah and Jim Grant's
I am so glad that the Bikefest went so well. It was a massive undertaking and organisational feat. Well done and congratulations to all the team that planned and organised everything. You were asking for feedback. Weather and wind you cannot do much about but perhaps the gazebo tent could have had some screw in tent pegs to hold it down though maybe it is better just to take it down when the wind gets too high. If you were wanting an accurate count of entries in the future perhaps other corners of access would need to be blocked off. Although the rough count was about 400 - 500 I think realistically it was nearer 600 to 650 at least. Difficult to really judge when same groups were milling back and forth to the centre as well as people slipping in at the sides. A few people were asking how much the programme was and I wondered whether a token charge of 20p or 50p might help towards the printing costs but perhaps being free was good too? Anyway you must be delighted about the response and the day was so successful - you must be glad now not to be thinking about it all the time.

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