Scaling & Growth

Scaling is just “repeatability with fewer headaches.” Tighten the system, then add volume — not the other way around.

For Festival Directors: Build simple dashboards and clear roles. Chaos doesn’t scale; systems do.

Cadence & Formats

• Decide what repeats monthly, quarterly, and seasonally. Protect downtime.
• Keep the core format stable; change themes or guests to keep it fresh.

Sponsorships (Without Selling Out)

• One‑pager skeleton:
  • What this is (1–2 sentences)
  • Audience (size, type, demographics)
  • Why it’s valuable (outcomes, engagement)
  • Tier options (Supporter, Partner, Headline) with simple benefits
  • Price ranges and contact
• Benefits ideas: logo on materials, short welcome, table/booth, co‑created content, VIP seats.
• Keep it congruent with your attendees; protect the experience.

Team & Roles (Divide to Multiply)

• Owners: marketing, operations, partners/sponsors, finance.
• Write one‑page SOPs: purpose, inputs, steps, outputs, owner.
• Run weekly 20‑minute standups in the 2 weeks before showtime.

Automation & Templates

• Automate reminders, confirmations, post‑event survey, and refund flows.
• Templates: outreach emails, partner blurbs, ROS, check‑in scripts, incident notes.

Forecasting (Simple is Fine)

• Start with your past funnel. Example:
  • Page views → 300
  • Conversion rate → 4–8%
  • Seats → 12–24
• Adjust for seasonality (summer slump), day of week, and lead time.
• Track actuals vs. forecast; update assumptions monthly.

Multi‑City or Bigger Venues

• Pilot in one new location first; use a local partner.
• Vendor list: shortlist 2–3 per category (A/V, rentals, security, insurance).
• Legal/permits escalate quickly — consult local authorities.

Quick Checklist

• [ ] Series calendar locked
• [ ] Sponsorship one‑pager ready
• [ ] Roles and SOPs documented
• [ ] Automations turned on
• [ ] Forecast updated monthly

Where to Next

• Tools and templates: Resources & Tools
• Ops playbooks: Execution & Operations
• Keep demand warm: Marketing & Promotion