Bled Fest 2018
BLED FEST 2018
Sponsorship and Vending Opportunities May 26, 2018
We did it again. 2017 was another banner year for BLED FEST. Every year, as we’re cleaning up the old school building the event takes place in, we ask ourselves “Can we really do this again next year?” Then we do. And it’s always incredible.
Returning to the Hartland Performing Arts Center for the 11th year in 2018 (and 14th year overall), BLED FEST takes place in the building where I attended high school 20+ years ago. The main stage is in the cafeteria where I used to eat lunch. There’s a stage in my old geometry classroom. It’s a realization of the music video from Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. No barricades. Stages popped up in every possible spot throughout the building. Kids banging their head, singing along, like they daydream about in class every day. It’s hard to describe.
And in 2017, we spent a lot more time realizing that in the current political and social climate, Livingston County, Michigan needed a burst of diversity. We put out a call to host more acts that featured women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community. We didn’t meet every goal we had, but we certainly took a good step in the right direction.
The festival, which started as a pool party and basement show in a local musician’s rural home called BLED FEST (short for “Big Love’s Educational Festival”), has become an institution for local and regional music fans of all shapes, colors, and orientations. It’s like a one-day, punk-rock summer camp. We’ve hosted such acts as The Wonder Years, Andrew WK, Every Time I Die, Eisley, Trash Talk, Attack Attack, Modern Baseball, Title Fight, and last year featured an album play from headliner La Dispute, a rare appearance from Michigan-based Bear vs. Shark, and a rowdy set from The Fall of Troy, wrapped into a full day of diverse music spread among 6 stages throughout the building.
In 2018, we want to double down on our call for diversity. The listening habits of youth in 2018 are so diverse, yet a lot of these kids live in an area that is one of the least diverse places on earth. We’re really pushing to put together a special lineup that speaks to everyone, is welcoming of everyone, and is valued by everyone. And as per the usual BLED FEST ethos, we’ll do it 100% substance free for the day.
If your organization would like to partner with us or get involved in BLED FEST in any way, please, don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or (810) 772-9447.
TO DISCUSS SPONSORSHIP OR VENDING OPPORTUNITIES FURTHER, PLEASE CONTACT NATE DOROUGH, FESTIVAL DIRECTOR, AT [email protected] OR (810) 772-9447. BLED FEST
ABOUT BLED FEST
Date: Saturday, May 26, 2018 Location: Hartland Performing Arts Center - Howell, Michigan Attendance: 2000-2500 Performers: 70+ artists, multiple genres, six stages Audience Demographic: Generally ages 13-30, with a concentration of 17-21 year olds Approximately 70% of attendees are from Michigan, but we have a healthy amount of out-of- state and even international attendees as well!
Past performers: Modern Baseball, The Wonder Years, Every Time I Die, Andrew WK, Anti-Flag, La Dispute, Title Fight, Jenny Owen Youngs, The Early November, Modern Life Is War, Norma Jean, Eisley, Bane, Motionless In White, Strike Anywhere, Polar Bear Club, Of Mice and Men, Comeback Kid, Citizen, Diet Cig, Hawthorne Heights, Tigers Jaw, Small Brown Bike, Touche Amore, Kevin Devine, many more.
FESTIVAL REACH Email: 150,000 (combined Fusion Shows + The Crofoot Presents) Facebook: 88,000 (BLED FEST 14K, Fusion 16K, Crofoot 58K) Twitter: 23,000 (BLED FEST 5K, Fusion 7K, Crofoot 11K) Instagram: 17,500 (BLED FEST 2K, Fusion 3.5K, Crofoot 12K)Instagram: 14,900 (1300 BLED FEST, 3200 Fusion Shows, 10,400 The Crofoot)
TO DISCUSS SPONSORSHIP OR VENDING OPPORTUNITIES FURTHER, PLEASE CONTACT NATE DOROUGH, FESTIVAL DIRECTOR, AT [email protected] OR (810) 772-9447. BLED FEST
SPONSORSHIP LEVELS
TITLE SPONSOR This is the title sponsorship for BLED FEST. Microsoft presents BLED FEST 2018. You get the idea. This is your chance to put your signature on an independent music festival. Your investment and assistance will help us create a safe, substance-free place for kids to be themselves and see their favorite bands. Your brand and logo will be exposed to the entire festival community in many different ways.
The typical marketing mix for this event includes 500+ color posters distributed at lifestyle, college, high school, and music-related special destinations throughout the state of Michigan, 150,000+ color handbills passed out at concerts and special events throughout the area, constant social media pressure, including paid ads, and multiple blasts to our various email lists, totaling over 90,000 subscribers between Fusion Shows and The Crofoot Presents. This will also include top branding on all website and social media headers, and top billing on our sponsors page on our website, with link to company website and full company profile.
In addition to top branding on all print media, you’ll have the first option for creative marketing ideas at the event. We want to activate you in as many ways as possible, both leading up to the event, and at the festival itself. This package also includes 4 prime vending locations within the festival, which can be grouped together in the key visible location inside the event’s Vendor Village, or can be spread throughout the building.
Rate: Please inquire for rate - Only 1 available
COMMUNITY PARTNER Last year’s “Community Partner” sponsorship made possible a room where we hosted four fantastic discussion panels, covering topics from mental health and diversity, to helping bands be successful. This year’s community focus will be on community service. BLED FEST fans will be given the opportunity to win free tickets by participating in public service cam - paigns, aimed at bringing the community together in the name of live music. This sponsorship will help pay the expenses of some of those campaigns and allow us to broaden the impact we have on the community beyond just the one day of the festival.
Rate: $1000 ($250 of which will be donated to a charitable organization who the festival believes best used their involvement in the festival to make a difference) - Only 1 available
STAGE PARTNER The stage partner package allows you to have the naming rights on one of the festival’s six stages. You will not have any control over who plays on the stage, but it will be heavily promoted as the “Your Brand Here” Stage in weeks leading up to the festival, as well as promoted onsite on the schedules that are provided for all of the festival’s attendees. This package includes a large banner hanging over the stage, identifying it as yours, along with your logo on the bottom of all printed materials and on our website and social media headers, mentions on our social media and mailing lists, along with an 8-foot table in our Vendor Village, and 4 working passes to the event. This is the perfect package to provide your company maximum visibility at the event without needing the budget to be the “Presents” sponsor.
Rate: Stage A or B: $1000 / Stage C or D: $700 / Stage E or F: $500
TO DISCUSS SPONSORSHIP OR VENDING OPPORTUNITIES FURTHER, PLEASE CONTACT NATE DOROUGH, FESTIVAL DIRECTOR, AT [email protected] OR (810) 772-9447. BLED FEST
SPONSORSHIP LEVELS
LABEL PARTNER Designed for record labels who are featuring artists on our festival lineup, this package will considerably raise the visual profile of your artist at BLED FEST, both leading up to the event and at the festival itself. The package includes the label’s logo added to all printed materials, and on our website and social media headers, along with inclusion and link on our sponsors page on the festival website. Also included are multiple social media posts across our networks, a band-specific e-blast sent to our mailing lists. In addition, the festival staff will hang any vendor-provided materials at the festival, throughout key visible locations, to include banners, posters, etc, and we will include any provided items (demos, stickers, pins, patches, flyers, etc) in VIP packages. Includes an 8-foot table in our Vendor Village, and 2 working passes to the event. Rate: $600
BAG SPONSOR Put your branding on (and inside) the bags used to check in bands and VIP ticket buyers. This is a cool opportunity to reach the 70+ bands that come from all over the country to perform at BLED FEST, along with approximately 100 VIP package buyers. Your logo will be on one side of a canvas bag, with the festival logo on the other side. Your logo will also be included on all printed materials, and on our website and social media headers, along with inclusion and link on our sponsors page on the festival website. This will also include the ability to put (sponsor-provided) product or literature inside the bags. Great for music, food, and beverage brands trying to reach tastemakers in various art communities. Includes an 8-foot table in our Vendor Village, and 2 working passes to the event. Rate: $500 - Only 1 available
WRISTBAND SPONSOR Everyone that attends BLED FEST wears a wristband all day for entry, as proof of purchase, and this wristband can be branded with a special message on a 6” x 0.75” space on the face of the wristband. A great way to promote a new record or product, to 2500 people. This will include artist, VIP, and general admission wristbands. Your logo will also be included on all printed materials, and on our website and social media headers, along with inclusion and link on our sponsors page on the festival website. Includes a 8 foot table in our Vendor Village, and 2 working passes to the event. Rate: $500 - Only 1 available
ARTIST LOUNGE SPONSOR Have a product or service that you’re aiming at musicians? Come get up close and personal with over 70 artists from around the country in the Artist Lounge (named after your brand). It will be a quiet, comfortable place for artists to escape the craziness of the festival, get a drink or a snack. In addition to naming rights for the lounge, we’ll exclusively fill the room with any branding materials that you provide, email each artist with a rundown of your product or ser- vice, and allow them to make an appointment with a representative of your company to find out more! After the festival, we’ll send a follow up email to all artists on the bill along with contact info for someone they can reach if they’re interested in more information! Perfect for tech start- ups, recording studios, record labels, etc. Rate: $1000 - Only 1 available
TO DISCUSS SPONSORSHIP OR VENDING OPPORTUNITIES FURTHER, PLEASE CONTACT NATE DOROUGH, FESTIVAL DIRECTOR, AT [email protected] OR (810) 772-9447. BLED FEST
SPONSORSHIP LEVELS
MOBILE APP SPONSOR BLED FEST’s mobile schedule app is a unique platform that allows smartphone users to make a customized festival schedule, to make sure they’re seeing all of their favorite artists! This sponsorship features a 150x75px, clickable advertisement on the mobile app, which launches about 2-3 weeks prior to the festival, and receives thousands of clicks. Your logo will also be included on all printed materials, and on our website and social media headers, along with inclusion and link on our sponsors page on the festival website. Includes a 8 foot table in our Vendor Village, and 2 working passes to the event.
Rate: $500 - Only 1 available
HANDBILL SPONSOR Each year, we distribute 15 to 20,000 physical handbills at local concerts and special events throughout the state of Michigan, and this sponsorship gives the sponsor the entire other side of the handbill to feature your product or service. Flyers are 4”x6”, printed on recycled paper with soy ink, and distributed for the 3-4 months leading up to the show. Each sponsorship covers one box of 5000 flyers. Includes a 8-foot table in our Vendor Village, and 2 working passes to the event.
Rate: $400
NON-PROFIT OPPORTUNITIES
If you are a non-profit organization, we want you to be able to take advantage of any of the packages listed in this document at a discount. In some cases, we may even offer you free vending space and other involvement, if your organization is in support of promoting diversity, building, mental health, empowering youth, supporting victims of abuse, teaching music, or rallying against discrimination and violence. If this describes your organization, please contact me directly at [email protected] or (810) 772-9447 to come up with a creative idea for involvement.
TO DISCUSS SPONSORSHIP OR VENDING OPPORTUNITIES FURTHER, PLEASE CONTACT NATE DOROUGH, FESTIVAL DIRECTOR, AT [email protected] OR (810) 772-9447. BLED FEST
VENDING OPPORTUNITIES
VENDOR VILLAGE SPONSOR This sponsorship includes naming rights to the very popular Vendor Village, an area that contains merchandise tables from all 70 bands playing the event, along with national and local record label, clothing companies, and other vendors. Throughout the venue, we will print considerable signage and banners pointing festival attendees to the Vendor Village, and leading up to and inside the area itself, your company will be allowed to hang any marketing materials you’d like. Your logo will also be included on all printed materials, and on our website and social media headers, along with inclusion and link on our sponsors page on the festival website. Includes a 8 foot table in a prime location in the Vendor Village, and 4 working passes to the event.
Rate: $750 - Only 1 available
FESTIVAL VENDOR Have a product or service you’d like to sell or spread the word about at the festival itself? This package includes an 8-foot table in our Vendor Village, along with 2 working passes to the event.
Rate: $250 for the first table, $100 for each additional table
FOOD VENDOR Throughout the festival site, we offer a variety of affordable food options. We aren’t 100% sure if we’ll have the permits needed to do food trucks this year, but we want to consider all options. If you have the ability to serve food in a mobile setting, contact us to discuss.
Rate: Flexible! Flat rate or percentage. Contact us to discuss!
TO DISCUSS SPONSORSHIP OR VENDING OPPORTUNITIES FURTHER, PLEASE CONTACT NATE DOROUGH, FESTIVAL DIRECTOR, AT [email protected] OR (810) 772-9447.