In this episode of Festival Soup, host Mike Baxter interviews Glenda Black from TSE Entertainment. Glenda shares her journey from a high school teacher to managing a successful talent booking agency and offers insider advice on booking top talent for fairs, festivals, and rodeos. They dive into the decision-making process, the role of an agency, contract nuances, and the rising popularity of tribute bands. This episode is a must-listen for event organizers looking to elevate their talent booking game and ensure smooth, successful shows.

Key Points:

- [0:42] Glenda Black’s Journey from Teaching to Entertainment

Glenda discusses her background and how she took over her father’s business, rebranding it as TSE Entertainment in 2018.

- [3:01] Why Hire a Booking Agency?

Glenda explains the benefits of working with a professional agency like TSE to save time, leverage industry relationships, and secure better pricing.

- [6:15] Budgeting and Audience Considerations

A key part of booking talent is understanding your audience and working within a budget, considering the type of event and target demographic.

- [8:05] The Offer Process and Booking National Acts

Glenda breaks down the official offer process, emphasizing the importance of booking headliners first and using an expiration date for offers.

- [9:45] Navigating Contracts and Riders

Contracts often come with non-negotiable clauses like bad weather policies and stage requirements, but many other elements of the rider can be discussed or modified.

- [16:15] Advancing the Show: Essential Communication

Glenda explains the importance of clear communication between event organizers and artists to ensure logistics like ground transportation, meal plans, and meet-and-greets run smoothly.

- [22:12] The Growing Popularity of Tribute Bands

Tribute bands are a budget-friendly and popular option for events, allowing attendees to enjoy familiar songs and iconic performances from acts like The Beatles and Taylor Swift.

Quotable Moments:

- [2:36] "I left teaching and didn’t know the first thing about booking, but I grew up in the music world. It was a great fit, and I haven’t looked back." – Glenda Black

- [9:03] "Always put an expiration date on offers; it keeps the process moving and avoids limbo." – Glenda Black

- [21:23] "If the artists are fed well, they will remember that more than anything else." – Glenda Black

Links Mentioned:

• TSE Entertainment: https://tseentertainment.com/
• Texas Festival and Tourism Consulting: https://texasfestivalandtourismconsulting.com/

Thanks for listening to Festival Soup! If you're new to booking or looking for ways to streamline the process, make sure to visit TSE Entertainment's website for more tips and insights. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for more expert interviews, and leave us a review on your favorite platform!

In this episode of Festival Soup, host Mike Baxter sits down with Jessica Bybee-Dziedzec of S Saffire, a leading player in the event ticketing tech space. They discuss how online ticketing, reserved seating, and cashless payments have revolutionized the festival and event industry. From small-town fairs to major state festivals, Jessica shares insights on overcoming resistance to new technologies, the growing importance of cashless transactions, and how presale tickets can boost event profitability.

Key Points:

- [0:40] - Introduction to Online Ticketing

Mike welcomes Jessica Bybee-Dziedzec from Saffire. They dive into how her company grew from a small team to an industry leader by focusing on event websites and online ticketing.

- [3:43] - Serving All Sizes of Events

Jessica highlights the variety of festivals they work with, from the small Mosquito Festival in Clute, Texas, to the large San Diego County Fair.

- [5:33] - Shifting to Online Ticketing

Discussion on how even smaller festivals are embracing online ticketing, with many customers now expecting to purchase tickets in advance.

- [6:11] - Benefits of Presale Tickets

Jessica explains the advantages of selling tickets in advance, including year-round revenue and reduced day-of logistics.

- [10:53] - The Return of QR Codes

QR codes have made a comeback, and Jessica recommends using them everywhere—from parking lots to grocery stores—to drive ticket sales.

- [15:06] - Real-Time Ticket Payments

Unlike many third-party platforms, Saffire ensures ticket payments go directly into clients' accounts the same day.

- [17:16] - Going Cashless at Events

Jessica discusses the move towards kiosks and cashless gates, highlighting the benefits in terms of security, staffing, and reduced fraud.

- [26:58] - New Trends and Future Innovations

Fraud mitigation and real-time tracking of attendee behavior are the next big things for event ticketing, including geo-targeted marketing messages for event-goers.

Quotable Moments:

- [5:33] "Even smaller fairs are now seeing that people welcome online ticketing with open arms." – Jessica Bybee-Dziedzec

- [6:33] "Presales are great because they give your event cash flow year-round, not just in the event month." – Jessica Bybee-Dziedzec

- [10:53] "I love QR codes back as a tool! People know how to use them, which makes me so happy." – Jessica Bybee-Dziedzec

Links Mentioned:

• Texas Festivals and Events Association: https://www.tfea.org
• International Festivals and Events Association: https://www.ifea.com
• Saffire Event Solutions: https://www.Saffire.com

Thank you for tuning into this episode of Festival Soup. If you’re planning a festival or event, now’s the time to embrace online ticketing and new technologies like QR codes and cashless systems. Want more festival insights? Be sure to subscribe to Festival Soup on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review. See you next time for more industry tips and tricks!

In this episode of Festival Soup, host Mike Baxter sits down with Kelly Augustine from the Nacogdoches Chamber of Commerce to dive deep into the unique aspects of hosting festivals in historic downtown settings. They explore the Texas Blueberry Festival, its roots, growth, and the benefits of organizing a large-scale event in a small town. From community involvement to the challenges of brick streets and balancing modern amenities with historical preservation, this episode provides a rich discussion on creating a successful, culturally connected festival.

Key Points:

[0:00] – Introduction

Mike Baxter introduces the podcast and the episode's focus on the Texas Blueberry Festival, featuring guest Kelly Augustine from the Nacogdoches Chamber of Commerce.

[1:29] – The Roots of the Blueberry Festival

Kelly shares the origins of the Texas Blueberry Festival, founded by Drs. Patsy and Leon Hallman in the late 1980s to celebrate Nacogdoches’ rich blueberry production and historic downtown.

[3:16] – Festival Highlights

Kelly gives an overview of the festival, which features blueberry pancakes, pie-eating contests, a pet parade, and various family-friendly activities, all while emphasizing the involvement of local businesses and community partnerships.

[5:06] – Challenges and Benefits of a Downtown Festival

The discussion shifts to the logistical hurdles, such as shutting down streets and managing vendor spaces, and how the historic charm of the area makes it all worthwhile.

[12:33] – Managing Power and Noise

Kelly talks about the importance of sound management during the event, balancing generators and electrical hookups to ensure the festival maintains its lively, welcoming atmosphere.

[21:53] – Festival Park Activities

A breakdown of the additional activities held in Festival Park, including petting zoos, car shows, and carnivals, making it a hub for kids and families during the event.

[28:15] – Economic Impact

Kelly highlights the positive economic impact of the festival on the local community, from job creation to increased lodging, dining, and shopping revenues.

Quotable Moments:

[0:01] – "The Blueberry Festival is a true example of a community coming together to celebrate its unique heritage." – Kelly Augustine

[5:35] – "Even the downtown shops have come to embrace this festival because of the traffic it pulls in." – Kelly Augustine

[28:15] – "This festival brought in over $1 million in total business sales for our community—it's supporting local businesses and jobs." – Kelly Augustine

Links Mentioned:

• Texas Blueberry Festival Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TexasBlueberryFestival
• Nacogdoches Chamber of Commerce: https://www.nacogdoches.org/
• Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful: https://www.keepnacogdochesbeautiful.org/

This episode provides a fascinating look at the benefits and challenges of hosting a festival in a historic downtown setting. Kelly Augustine’s insights offer invaluable lessons for anyone planning a community event, especially in small towns with rich histories. Be sure to follow Festival Soup for more festival planning tips and insights, and don’t forget to visit Nacogdoches next June for the Texas Blueberry Festival!