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putting on a climbing festival

Original Post
mike526 · · schaumburg · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 0

i'm considering putting on a climbing festival this summer or fall and was looking for soem insight from anyone who may have done this before. Questions i have are if its in a state park area do you need to get permission? Getting possible sponsors, to donate gear for a raffle etc? and liability issues if there would be any if its a public climbing area.

any other issues or if you feel it waas worth the time if you have done it before.

mattnorville Norv · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 90

I know for the sponsors/free gear deal its just getting in contact with the companies you want and convincing them that your fest will be a great marketing tool for them along with a beneficial way to give back to the community. Emails and phone calls work as long as they are going to the right person.

With permits, many areas you need one if you have a group over so many people. Talk with the management of the area you want to use.

I am sure you realize the amount of planning and work this will involve so you will be able to pull off a great fest, something that people will want to go to year after year. Good luck

oh and one more thing COLLABORATION (sp?) is key

Owen Darrow · · Helena, mt · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 1,790

Where are you thinking?

Tparis · · Pottersville,New York · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 270

we just started small and made it bigger every year.

Ryan Williams · · London (sort of) · Joined May 2009 · Points: 1,245

No climbing specific festival experience but I've been part of enough other fests to tell you that you have a lot of phone calls to make and a lot of paperwork to file.

Having said that, it really comes down to what you want to do and where you want to do it. Of course the state park will need to be contacted, and they will want to know, among other things, about any revenues that are generated. I'm not sure how it works with a state park, but generally when money changes hands municipal permits and tax filings are required in any city. One good place to start is to do some research on what is allowed in state parks in your state, and more specifically the exact park that you want use. IE, the no power tools rule in wilderness areas (hopefully someone who lives out west can correct me and post the proper name and regulations that I am talking about).

You will also need permission to sell whatever you will be selling. Merch and tickets. Food, drink, alcohol (that's a big one).

The materials you are bringing into the area will need to be approved (tables, chairs, stereo equipment, large vehicles to carry shit, etc).

You need to coordinate with the venue the set up and break down of everything, as well as plans for clean up. This mostly applies to the food and drink part unless you are selling stuff with lots of packaging or engaging in activities that create lots of trash and/or need lots of equipment (like a dunking booth, which you won't have). If you are cooking/cleaning then it becomes more complicated as you have waste water, oil and grease, etc.

Insurance will need to be addressed, but again having the festival in a state park where climbing is regularly permitted will certainly affect this, hopefully in a positive way. At least I'd think you would be less liable than we were in the pickle-fest last year when we dropped pickles out of an airplane onto a public lot.

If you keep it low profile and stick to mostly climbing you can probably skip most of the stuff above.

Oh, and you need a cool name.

Good luck.

Ryan Brown · · Garlic Capitol of the World · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 0
Owen Darrow wrote:Where are you thinking?
West?
Greg D · · Here · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 883

Pick your favorite spot.
Invite some friends.
Climb some rock.
Drink some beer.
Have a camp fire.
No permission.
No permits.
No cluster fuck crowds.

Festival!

Woodchuck ATC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 3,280

Midwest area, I'm guessing you're thinking at Devils Lake?

mike526 · · schaumburg · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 0

Devils lake is where I'm thinking correct. Not sure what time of year i want to do this though.

Woodchuck ATC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 3,280

Summer is crazy and too humid. I'd do fall for sure, like late Sept. or into October at the best. Sure wonder how the DNR there will respond to this idea.

mike526 · · schaumburg · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 0

I'm wondering how the DNR will respond to this also and how to go about contacting them about the idea.

Mike Lane · · AnCapistan · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 880

You'd want to go through all that just for shits and giggles?

Here's some advice. Plan a big-ass party exclusively for climbers in your backyard, just as a test run. Get at least 100 people to show. If after that you still think it would be fun, then take the next step but expect to increase the responsibilities by about 10 times.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
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