Warm weather’s finally here, and you want to spend time outside soaking up the sun. Rather than host a house party, why not surround yourself with great music, your favorite people, and feel-good vibes? You’ll have the perfect chance to enjoy all three when you throw a concert in a park.
Park concerts can be as simple or elaborate as you want them to be. Invite a handful of your closest friends for an intimate performance, or pack the park with the entire community. Of course, if you’ve never hosted a gathering of this scale, you’ll enjoy better results with a bit of guidance.
Make an Equipment List
If you have a band in mind for your concert, ask what equipment they need. For instance, they may need a stage for maximum visibility, a power generator for electronic equipment, and lights for continued visibility when the sun goes down.
Consider supplementary tools and equipment, too. For instance, camping headlamps come in handy if you suddenly lose power after sunset. Bright headlamps also provide a hands-free light source, which could allow for faster equipment break-downs and set-ups.
Don’t forget about off-stage equipment and necessities. Attendees need access to facilities if the park doesn’t have public restrooms. Even with public restrooms in the park, you may need to rent port-a-potties if the concert lasts a few hours. Think about bringing extra trash cans, even if the park has some to make clean-up easier.
Have a Budget
Before mulling over bands or venues, create a concert budget, so you have a solid starting point for everything else you need. You may care about having fun with friends and family and listening to music more than anything else. If so, host a free concert and ask attendees for donations to cover whatever money you invested in the event.
Other items to add to your budget include refreshments, location reservations, equipment rentals, and event workers. Receiving sponsorships or donations from local businesses could help keep the budget under control.
Hire a Band
What kind of music do you and your attendees want to hear at the concert? Perhaps you’re in the mood to chill out to some downtempo grooves, or maybe you’d rather fill the park with the head-nodding beats of deep house music. Once you’ve nailed the genre, it’s time to hire the band.
Think about what kind of band you have the budget to hire. Also, consider special accommodations the band may have. They may want specific equipment, or they could want a meal before or after their performance.
Aside from the budget, the audience also dictates the band you hire. If you invite a group of metalheads to a jazz concert, there’s no guarantee they’ll have the time of their lives listening to a five-piece jazz band.
Lock-in the Location
Once you have a band and guest list, reserve space in the park quickly. Think about the number of people you invited while thinking about how much space you need to spread out and enjoy yourselves.
Do you want to host your party in an undeveloped park? If so, factor in the rental cost of restrooms, water fountains, and trash cans.
Consider Security Fencing
Concert security does not always mean people with folded arms in black shirts surveying the area. You may need security fencing to keep guests away from the DJ booth, or there may be private or off-limits areas you want to cordon off with barriers.
If you plan to host a large park concert, security fencing is a must. Use security barriers and fencing to guide attendees through concession stand queues and prevent confusion.
A park concert’s a great way to enjoy the season and make wonderful musical memories. Keep these tips close at hand as you plan.
