In this episode of Festival Soup, host Mike Baxter sits down with Jeff Krebs of Mesmeric Entertainment to discuss the intricate details of planning successful music festivals, fairs, and rodeos. Jeff shares insights from his 38 years of experience, touching on everything from the importance of infrastructure and strategic planning to booking talent and maximizing sponsorship opportunities. Whether you're organizing a small-town festival or a major city event, this episode provides valuable lessons for creating memorable experiences.

Key Points:

[0:00] Introduction to Festival Soup

Mike Baxter introduces the podcast and his guest, Jeff Krebs, who shares his journey in the festival industry.

[0:55] The Scope of Mesmeric Entertainment

Jeff discusses his wide-ranging experience, working on over 500 events annually, from small local festivals to large, prestigious events.

[3:10] Transforming the Bluebonnet Festival

Jeff explains how he helped revitalize the Bluebonnet Festival in Ennis, Texas, growing it from a small event into a major draw for the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

[8:25] The Importance of Strategic Planning Before Booking Talent

Jeff emphasizes the need to define your event's goals and value proposition before securing musical acts, especially for festivals combining multiple elements like arts and food.

[13:32] The Role of Talent Agents

Jeff advocates for using agents when booking talent, outlining the benefits of professional relationships and the potential pitfalls of going it alone.

[16:17] Maximizing Sponsorships Through Stage Design

Jeff highlights the importance of leveraging stage design and technology, such as LED video walls, to maximize sponsor visibility and engagement.

[20:05] Enhancing Events with Close Proximity Fireworks

Jeff shares innovative ideas like using close proximity fireworks to elevate the audience's experience at the end of each night.

[25:53] The Importance of Vendor Placement

Discussing the strategic placement of vendors to avoid the acoustic impact zone and ensure a better business environment for them.

Quotable Moments:

[3:45] "It’s been interesting to see how the community has found its identity and differentiated itself from the other little rural towns surrounding DFW through their festivals and events." - Jeff Krebs

[13:20] "Sometimes you have to buck the system a little bit and try some different things if you think it's going to bring the audience that you're trying to bring." - Jeff Krebs

[27:17] "Approach it with a fresh set of eyes every single year and say, 'What can we implement that's new, that makes it better for our guests?'" - Jeff Krebs

Links Mentioned:

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

This episode provides a wealth of knowledge for anyone involved in festival planning. Be sure to apply Jeff’s insights on infrastructure, talent booking, and sponsorships to elevate your own events. Stay tuned for future episodes where we’ll dive into topics like new technologies in sound, the art of hosting downtown festivals, and the rising trend of tribute bands.