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Anne Thomas |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 319  | There is a bike festival in Inverness on Saturday http://invernessfestivals.com/winter08/blog/index.php?entry=entry12... | ||
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Regular Posts: 53  | 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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