5 Cost Saving Steps for Your Next Show

Friday, August 21, 2009 by Mike Taylor

1. Work with People you Trust Over and Over Again

If you are happy with the work that you get from the vendors you use, then don’t shop around for every event just to save a few bucks.  I know that at CTS, the clients that are willing to work with us time and time again are given lots of room and grace.  For example, we’ve had clients come to us and say, “Hey Mike, my budget got slashed and I just don’t think I can afford you guys.  Is there anything we can do together?”  My response is typically, “Of course there is.”  Just because your budget is lower than it was last year doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice the success your event could have by going with second rate companies you don’t trust just to save a few dollars.  If you work with quality companies, stay loyal to them and they will stay loyal to you.

2. How many is too many?

In today’s market, less is more.  I recently attended a festival that had over 10 bands playing in one day.  Needless to say I was done and tuned out by number 7.  It made for a long day just waiting to see the band that I really wanted to see.  Not many people would notice if you were to stretch the day instead of squeezing it.

3. Mobile Stages

I must say that while watching a scaffold stage set up and load in, I was not only amazed at how many people I counted loading in, but in awe at how many people were standing by doing nothing.  If your event is at a 5k to 7k size in attendance then a mobile stage is perfect for you.  A mobile stage has the ability to load in within 2 hours and helps keep labor costs down.

4. Hire a Professional Stage Manager

You may be thinking to yourself, “How does hiring an extra person save me money?”  This one seems to get over looked all the time.  This person may be the most important person to having a successful sound check and show.  The artist depends on being comfortable so that they may deliver the best show possible.  If your show stays on schedule, no one will notice, but as soon as you start running late everyone will notice.  Money spent wisely in some areas will help ensure that you will have an event in years to come.

5. Stay in Constant Dialog with your Suppliers

When working thru pricing, keep your suppliers aware of where budgets are.  As a versatile audio provider, we can design rigs that can be as flashy as a Cadillac or we can bring you a dependable Toyota.  Knowing what world we are stepping into can help save time and effort on the front side of preparation.