GOA FEST: 2010 :59 Days to go

Not yet official but I am told GOA FEST  is scheduled for  8^th-10^th April 2010 and most likely at the same venue. And I am going to be there. Most likely I will have my team there- quite a few under 30.

Apparently all talks of shifting venue has been trashed after the Luke warm response from young crowd that actually makes Goa Fest what it is. The open venue will not look that great and neither will allow operational freedom in any 3-4-5 star location.

On makemytrip good hotel bookings are slowly popping up signs of few rooms left. Mumbai-Goa flights still at Rs 2010 a decent price and the train reservation currently showing available.

List of categories for awards yet to be announced and I suppose it will take time. There are rumors that they may try final judging at the Venue itself to avoid a 3^rd time scoop by ET.

A small survey done at my end tells me First level memories associated with Goa Fest are  

(1) Beer: Can we do something to ensure that people remember the Brand rather than the category. Will options help- so I remember I drank Kingfisher and not Foster. The 10 bottles per person was great experiment last year and most likely will be continued. As usual after sometime no one will be asking for them!.  But can we ensure enough cold beer

(2) Rain Dance- The activity that draws maximum eyeballs. Scores far better for the sponsor but still not a direct connect with the brand. The ring side view last year was great. Maybe the area deployed for that should be increased.  

(3) Award Nites - Group M and O&M. These two power-hubs do far better than any of the sponsors as Brand recall.  Can we have clarity much before the awards which is better how the points will be counted? I love the way we search for the person who will be coming to collect the award and we should not get to formal to get all the award winners on one side or front row.  

(4) The gesture of subsidizing attendance of under 30. Much appreciated. we must find ways to continue with this even if that means that the paid delegates pay a bit more. There were complains last year on allocation of FREE perks-  can this not be in a ratio of participation. Many an organization that does not have senior level participation is sending huge number of under 30 as a holiday package. We should ban that and only paid delegate’s organization should be allowed under 30 schemes.

 (5) Transport problems – talk to younger people and not who can and do afford cars. We can do something as TAXI in Goa is very costly. Goa is no longer called safe place. We better have better places and people be warned.

(6) Food quality and service. Can be better. Any fast food koint will be welcome

(7) Re-diff shack. Great equity and lot of comments. Great Mr Chauhan.

(8) Surprised PRESENTATIONS join the list only after some aided probing. As it hit so lower in the order, one tried further probing and get to hear (1) Relevance- just getting a  big name is not enough- tell me and bring me Indian relevance (2) Every person / speaker is just trying to sell their company their philosophy. (3)  The space is not really comfortable (4) time lines are not met

As such we have combined advertising and media bodies to become one force and make GOA FEST the final standard in India- but I am really surprised why CRIBS

ADVERTISERS and MEDIA OWNERS are just given the status of sponsors and are not allowed to enter work directly.  Why should an advertiser be dependent on its agency’s decision? Now we know that MacCann has decided to attend but not to enter for awards at the fest. They do have a valid reason; not finding something worthwhile to enter! That is there decision and it should be respected. But why should some client of MacCann who may want to enter work done by MacCann for them be deprived of the chance, just because GOA FEST only accepts entries from agencies.

The creative is owned and is the property of the advertiser post he has paid for the creative (check all agency contract) and in fact it’s an advertiser who can stop best of the creative from getting entered.  More so, as many advertisers have in-house agencies and quite a lot of work is done house, due to the archaic rules its agency who had no role ends up entering. This is real work- fake agency- the other kind of Scam that needs to be checked. If the awards are means of recognition and aimed to encourage we good work, why should that be only at the agency level and not at the client level.

SPONSOR DELIGHT. A subject that GOA FEST need to focus very strongly if we want the Fest to grown in size and for that more sponsorship to come in. No one remembered Main sponsors- forget seminar sponsors. The only items even all time Goa Fest diehards remember are the TOI Towels- Mirchi Rain dance ( was that Mirchi)- Initial year VTV pack in the rooms. If the brands that are sponsoring and not getting enough return- why would they want to come next year.  Most of these are media companies – Pamper them and provide them solution delights.

SUGGESTIONS

Some action that GOA FEST COMMITTEE MAY WANT TO CONSIDER

1. Goa Fest should allow advertiser to enter awards
2. Goa Fest should also give client a representative trophy for the winning entry. And if the Advertiser enters directly the agency.
3. Fix number of under 30 to be funded and announce that number.
4. Fix a ratio for paid and unpaid ( under 30 ) for organizations
5. Allow people who have been participating in Media Quiz, Young Gun etc a direct pass ( if under 30)
6. Have early bird, member and non-member categories for registration.
7. Throw in a full package programme- including Hotel- as most of the shows do
8. Do something that the sponsors get a bit more out of the deals and are treated better. Ie Brand association can be strengthened
9. Respect their representations like any other function
10. Let’s try making conclave a conclave.  Not just a discussion that needs to be finished before the bar can be officially opened.  
11. Limit numbers of invitee for the conclave as per the organizational or individuals strength, importance and Industry standing.
12. Ensure all time wearing of the cards. Last year there were too many non-registered people in the venue.

AMYBE SEND ME A FREE REGISTRATION CARD FOR THINKING ABOUT ALL THIS.