Fest Forums – Where Great Elbows Rub Great Elbows

Here at OTW, we were delighted to attend the most recent Fest Forums event in Santa Barbara! As per usual, Fest Forums had some exciting speakers, including leaders of some very well-known festivals: Glastonbury, Woodstock, Burning Man and Sundance Festivals!

Fest Forums are events in San Francisco & Santa Barbara to bring together all the folks that make a festival happen: vendors, organizers, and creators of festivals to network, collaborate, learn, share, and get excited about their award-winning festivals! Through panels, workshops, and great social events, Fest Forums are fantastic environments to impart wisdom, learn from others’ experiences, create new relationships, and be inspired.

OTW attended the very first Fest Forums event 5 years ago, and we’ve been hooked ever since. We both provide equipment for the event itself (because that’s what we do!) such as our great Pedestrian Crowd Control Barricades, as well as attend to mix & mingle with all the great festival-makers of the world. Some of our great connections, such as with the Santa Barbara Zoo, were made at these events. Some people love networking, and some dread it (hello, social anxiety!), but Fest Forums have such a great vibe that it can happen organically, whether it’s at a planned session, or happens to be at the bar or dinner afterwards (that just happened to us!). Who doesn’t want to make new friends when you’re having such a great time?

While at first glance, Fest Forums events may look like a great party, under the fun decor and cute mascots (we see you, Tux!), all attendees are getting exceptionally professional advice, information and making valuable connections. In fact, Forbes just named Fest Forums “The Conference for Festival Power Players”.

All in all, Fest Forums events are always a great experience, and we can’t wait for the next one!