We Know How To Party

We’re throwing a music festival for our third birthday, but how does one even go about putting one together?

- Terence Eduarte

AFTER THE self-destruction of Fyre Festival, unequivocally the biggest failure of the year so far, we’re starting to wonder if the people behind the event actually knew what they were doing when they wanted an exclusive party in the Bahamas.

Because we’re throwing our own for our third birthday—aptly named the Scout Music Fest—on Aug. 5, we asked some event experts about all the important ingredients that go into the recipe of Successfully Throwing a Music Festival. Here’s what they told us.

1. Think up a kick-ass theme

You generally don’t even need to be reminded to do this, as this is what most people will think of first. It’s got to be something creative and engaging, but not overbearing—something people will be game for if they want to be, but also something people can get into with minimal effort if they’re not completely feeling it.

For the Scout Music Fest, the theme we’re going for is ’80s Cali. You don’t have to follow it to the letter, but you’ll find that it’s not something you’ll need to go overboard for.

2. Estimate your budget

The money you’ll need to throw a huge event like this one is important—to make sure that your estimate covers all your requirements. You will need to find sponsors for your event to make things easier (more on that later) but you should also be ready to shell out your own money for the event you’re throwing.

3 Get the right acts for the party