Diary of an Event Manager – Preparing for the Brentford Festival
Linda Massey on how work has already started for this year's event
Linda Massey
March 21, 2024
I am always amazed when I write this piece (gone are the days when I used to have the time to write once a month) just how time flies. To think that the first Brentford Festival was 19 years ago and that I am still at the helm, it is somewhat mind-blowing.
Volunteers come and go but I am proud to say that not only are there some very loyal team members, but we have also welcomed some new people this year, some with even more experience than I can claim to have.
There are always new challenges and this year I am required to completely re-write our Event Manual to comply with industry standards but also to go back to school to obtain a personal licence to enable us to continue to run bars on the premises (that is the pavilion building and the park). All this is a little daunting, but I am on a mission.
I am delighted to say that we have opened the booking system on our website already having made a few changes based on last year’s experiences. Having recently had volunteers take around postcards (see below) to other events, applications are steadily coming in.
I note that performers who could not get booked on the stage last year have already started applying. We have been receiving compliments about the excellent music choices last year. Who would have known that the vehicle carrying all the equipment to the event blew up on the motorway in the morning of the festival? It was amazing how musicians and the MC rallied around borrowing equipment – as they say, THE SHOW MUST GO ON.
I will aim to write again in a few months to update what is happening.
Linda Massey
Event Manager
eventmanager@brentfordfestival.org.uk
The Brentford Festival takes place on Sunday 1 September from noon to 6pm in Blondin Park
The 2022 Brentford Festival
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