This summer, Jamie Gominger will spend time with us as our super intern! Jamie is well-traveled, has experience in the political field and countless nonprofit organizations. We are rather excited to have her on our team! She’ll offer support with public relations and content; and one of her roles will be blogging weekly about trends and topics within our industry. This week, she brings you a recap of her latest Bonnaroo experience! 

Behold: Bonnaroo, where more than 85,000 campers spend four days in music festival heaven.  With 150 stellar performances, 700 acres of farmland (aka The Farm), and countless activities, it’s no wonder this festival is ranked among the worlds best year after year.  As a recent public relations graduate, I knew that there had to be some pretty genius stuff going on behind the scenes.  I decided to see what the hype was about, and here’s what I learned:

 1. Use your resources.

When there are 10+ stages, 700 acres of land, and thousands upon thousands of eclectic people enjoying the festival in their own unique way, it’s impossible to capture it all.  That’s why you’ll see a lot of user-generated content on Bonnaroo’s Instagram account. It’s a great opportunity to show their followers first-hand reviews of some Bonnaroovians’ experiences.

 

2. Get creative with the branding.

When I say Bonnaroo’s PR team is creative, I mean it with every sense of the word.  This year, they sent out the wristbands in a Bonnaroo-style cereal box with ‘Roo, the festival mascot.

3. It’s all about incentives.

Teva, one of Bonnaroo’s sponsors, had an Instagram Vending Machine that exchanged Instagram posts for T-shirts, coffee mugs, and other sweet prizes.  What a fantastic way to get people motivated to talk about your product!

4. You’ll love it.  No, really. 

The Bonnaroo team knows you better than you know yourself.  You’re gonna love it, really, they tell you. Their website states in all caps, “FOUR OF THE BEST DAYS EVER” and use slogans like “A Vacation for Your Soul” and “Radiate Positivity” (which is necessary when you’re camping in the middle of summer in Tennessee).  They even sell Stay True ‘Roo bracelets to help you remember the magic that is Bonnaroo when you’re sitting in your cubicle wishing you were at The Farm.

5. More than just the music

What’s the big allure when it comes to Bonnaroo? Think about it…you’re paying for tickets ($325), camping supplies, and transportation, cold showers, overpriced food, and if you want a case of water, that’ll be $30.  Not to mention, you’re guaranteed to wake up every morning drenched in sweat, free of charge! But the PR team at Bonnaroo sells people on the fact that it’s about the experience.  The Farm is a mini-city equipped with a post office, daily newspaper, its own radio station, morning yoga sessions, and so much more. Their website describes the experience as “An escape into Excitement. Music. Art. Discoveries. Trees. Fresh Air. Green Grass. A mini film fest. Friends (Old / New). Adventure. Overwhelming happiness.” The list goes on and on.

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Each year, rookie and veteran Bonnaroovians alike await for the glorious week in mid-June when they can return to The Farm and take in the good vibes.   Similarly, I’ll be anxiously waiting to see how inventive they are next year!

Have you had any memorable experiences at any special events recently? Or have you seen some creative PR tactics that you’re dying to share with the world?  Comment below!