From Mardi Gras and Burning Man to Coachella and Lollapalooza, large scale festivals are often a highlight of the year that so many people look forward to. After many of these festivals had to cancel for the past two years, 2022 is bringing a bit more hope and they are a go! If you are hoping to plan a festival in 2022, we believe it can be done! There are some key things to consider and implement when planning in 2022 to ensure the safety of your festival workers and guests. Wizard Studios has only grown in our capacity to create extraordinarily safe and momentous events, offering spectacular solutions that can safely bring people together to listen to music, enjoy one another’s company, and dance the night away! Here are our tried-and-true tips for creating an unrivaled - and exceedingly safe - festival in 2022!

• Keep it Outside

Festivals are coming back strong in 2022, but to do so, they’re going to have to be outdoors. Luckily, most of the major festivals are normally hosted outside, so it's a good time to follow suit if you’re planning your own festival. Open-air spaces and fresh air has been cited as a deterrent to spreading and catching Covid-19, so keep it as much outdoors as possible.  

What should you do if your event space isn’t conducive to keeping safe during the pandemic? Event producers have a keen eye for figuring out how to reduce crowding and direct traffic so that physical interaction is at an all-time low. That being said, enlisting the help of an event production company like Wizard Studios should be at the very start of your planning process!

• Make it Hybrid

Extend your reach and make your festival go hybrid! A hybrid event is one that uses technology to integrate both in-person and virtual attendees. Event planners and organizers have gotten really creative and found innovative ways to engage in-person guests in addition to those not yet comfortable leaving their homes. Hybrid events allow for the flexibility and reach of a virtual event, but the connection and engagement of an in-person option- truly the best of both worlds! For viewers tuning in from home, offer them an immersive, virtual reality experience that allows them to have autonomy in how they choose to interact with your festival and all of its branches. Offer virtual attendees the ability to jump between hangout rooms, performances, merchandise shops, and everything in-between. Charge for virtual tickets and let the world experience your festival from anywhere!

• Prioritize Safety

We’re not quite out of the woods yet, and even with vaccines and boosters, risk management and mitigation must be your main priority when planning your 2022 festival. 

Before your event starts, check the space (if your festival is indoors) for air quality control and continue throughout the event, as well as making sure the layout is set up for social distancing success. Proof of full vaccination or negative results from a rapid COVID test before entering is highly suggested for both staff and attendees. It’s wise to invest in more health staff, security personnel, and door staff to guarantee all in attendance are checked thoroughly before entering the festival. 

In conjunction with offering plenty of hand sanitizer and face masks, ensure limited capacity by curating the space to ensure people are moving and positioned away from one another, and not towards a specific stage or section. Securing a solo section for food and beverage will limit the space in which people will be unmasked and include signs that encourage or mandate the safety rules. For more help with event safety practices, check out our blog “Risk Management and Mitigation”.

• Trust the Experts

Planning a festival might feel like a lot, but remember that you don’t need to do it alone. For in-person performances, allow Wizard Studios to provide everything from stages and trusses, to lighting and audio to create an event anywhere you need it to be. When you enlist the help of an event production company that is as well-versed in planning live and virtual events, as well as keeping up with all safety rules and regulations set by the CDC, you’re able to curate your festival to exactly what you need it to be AND keep it safe!

People are hungry for fun and safe in-person activities, so follow these guidelines so you can offer an experience that feels both fun and safe for your festival guests! It’s a big undertaking, but one that is vital to a successful festival. If you’re looking for help in this endeavor, entrust in the risk mitigation pros at Wizard Studios. We will plan, assess, treat, and monitor your event from start to finish. We can deliver everything you need, offering deliverable metrics, and ensure your 2022 festival is an amazing celebration! 

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