What To Do and What Not To Do at a Beer Festival

The sun is starting to shine some warm rays and that means Beer Festival Season is starting.  We have been to several beer events and have learned a lot about what to do and what not to do at the events.  This post will dive a little deeper than “make sure you drink enough water” or “eat before attending the festival” (which will still be included), so you can be fully prepared to be the best attendee, volunteer, vendor, or organizer you can be.

Attendees To Do:

• Do line up a designated driver before the event.  You will be drunk by the end, so be safe.  Most events give free or discounted admission to designated drivers.
• Do eat before you arrive at the event.  Make sure your stomach can handle the amount of beer you will be consuming.  Most events allow you to have pretzel necklaces or other snacks.
• Do bring a pencil so you can make notes on the beers you like.
• Do arrive early if you want to try the unique beers.  Even if the vendors have certain tapping times for special beers, they may tap early and you won’t want to miss out.
• Do drink plenty of water during the event.
• Do rinse your glass between beers.  You don’t want the flavors of a sour beer intruding into a lager.
• Do try new things!  What’s the point of the event if you just drink the same old boring stuff?  Most events release a list of vendors and beers before the event, so check it out and make a plan.
• Do mind the line:  get your beer and get out of the way.
• Do be respectful of your surroundings, other people, volunteers, and vendors.
• Do wear sunscreen and bring sunglasses if it’s an outdoor event.

Attendees Not To Do:

• Don’t wear perfume or cologne, but if you must limit it to one spray.  It’s a beer event, you want to be able to smell the unaltered aroma of the beer.
• Don’t be rude.  Everyone is there to celebrate beer and have a good time, so don’t be that person that ruins everyone’s good time.
• Don’t stand in the middle of a walkway or sit and talk to the vendor if there’s a huge line.
• Don’t cut in line.  Whether waiting for the event to open or in a beer line, others attendees deserve to try the beers just as much as you do.
• Don’t smoke cigars/cigarettes too close to the beer line.
• Don’t drunk drive.  I’m not going to get too preachy here, but it’s just stupid with all the options that are available.  Uber, taxis, limos, designated drivers – be responsible.

Volunteers To Do:

• Do learn about the event.  You may just be an unpaid volunteer, but attendees will still rely on you to answer some questions.
• Do learn about the beers, especially if you are volunteering as a server.  Attendees are going to assume you work for the brewery, so act like you do!  I’m not saying go become a Master Cicerone®, but having some knowledge on the beers you’re serving will help the attendee connect with the brewery better.
• Do be mindful of how much you pour.  There will be some people that are there to just get drunk, but most people want to try as much as possible.

Volunteers Not To Do:

• Don’t get drunk while you’re working.  One or two tasters is probably okay, but if you’re wasted how are you going to be able to discuss the beers you’re serving?  Or be able to understand what the attendee wants to try?
• Don’t show up late to your shift or not show up at all.  Organizers and other volunteers rely on you.
• Don’t wear perfume or cologne.  This is more important for volunteers and servers than attendees.  People want to smell the beer and not you.  You are promoting a product, so promote on how it’s supposed to be and not with altered aromas.
• Don’t smoke cigars/cigarettes while your serving or too close to the beer line.

Vendors To Do:

• Do know about your beers and products.  All of them.  Attendees may already know your brewery and beer lineup, so be prepared to answer questions about all of your products.
• Do know about your distribution to the area.  If you’re not from Kansas City, that’s fine, but if someone loves your beer and you’re unsure if it’s available for purchase, you may have just lost a customer.
• Do have some fun promotional giveaway items.  Beer lovers love beer supplies.  Coasters, bottle openers, buttons, magnets, coozies – they’ll use it so it’s a win-win for everyone.
• Do keep promises.  If you have a special timed tapping list, keep to it.  Don’t disappoint people who have waited by serving your special beers before the time promised.
• Do teach your volunteers about your products and how much to pour.  You don’t want to be running out of beer halfway through the event.

Vendors Not To Do:

• Don’t get drunk.  You are representing your company and, even if you’re beer is the most amazing in the world, people will be turned off if you’re being belligerent.
• Don’t be offended if someone doesn’t like your beer.  Not everyone has the same style, but don’t be a jerk about it.  If you’ve made it to a beer festival, obviously a lot of people do like your beer.  Just smile and say, “I’m sorry it’s not your style.  Thanks for trying it!”
• Don’t be unoffended if someone doesn’t like your beer.  If you have a “I don’t care what you think” attitude, it makes people think you don’t have passion for your beer at all.  Just smile and say, “I’m sorry it’s not your style.  Thanks for trying it!”

Organizers To Do:

• Do have a brewery/beer list on your website at least a few days before the event.  Attendees want to know what to expect and may want to make a priority list.
• Do promote individual breweries and vendors on social media.  It doesn’t take a lot of effort, but it means a lot to the businesses to reach people they may not be able to through their own sources.  It also gets attendees excited for the event.
• Do have a list on the event’s website about what attendees can and cannot bring.  Cameras, backpacks, snacks, water, animals, designated drivers, etc.
• Do think about lines in terms of the layout.  You don’t want one beer line to collide with another.  There should also be a good flow for people to get in line, get out of line, and enjoy the event.
• Do have designated smoking areas that are away from the vendor tables.
• Do have water and keep it filled/flowing.  Attendees want to be able to rinse out their glasses, have something to refresh their palate, and keep hydrated.
• Do have security.  If attendees don’t follow my tips from above, some may get too drunk and not be able to stay in a social environment.
• Do provide information on transportation and designated drivers to make pick up/drop off easy.
• Do have fun!  You’ve worked hard putting together the whole event and here’s the payoff.  Do your duties of the day, but make sure to enjoy what you’ve accomplished!

Organizers Not To Do:

• Don’t oversell.  No matter how great your event is, a lot of people will be turned off if there are lines that take over 5 minutes to get one beer.
• Don’t allow kids, even babies.  Not only should they not be there because it’s an adult event, but many attendees come to adult events to be away from kids and babies.

Want to know all of the beer festivals for the 2015 season?  Click here.