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True, if there is silence, you will never capture the crowd's attention. Same with down time. That's a killer. A good race director will never allow breaks in the action. People won't come back if they feel they didn't get their money's worth.
That's why you need a good PA at events where there isn't any noise. But the engine noise is not the only thing that will capture fans. A good announcer(s) will negate the loss of that noise. A team of announcers is even better.
I would not have believed the crowds that came to that air show Sunday. It took us two hours to get to our home only a few miles away because the parking lot was jam-packed with people. The traffic toward town was at a crawl for over an hour.
There was also a concert and fireworks that evening, but these crowds came 6 hours prior -- just to see the air show.
We spent the entire time analyzing WHY so many tens of thousands of people came to see this event - certainly not the noise. We have PRO races much louder than this 15 miles north that only attract a few hundred. There is also a stock car Speedway 5 miles away but they don't pack near a crowd like this did.
We went to the New Paris Speedway ONCE and will never go back. Nice asphalt track, BUT the place was filthy, the crowd screaming profanities, every other person was smoking a stinky cigarette - made us gag, and the people in the food booths looked greasy and grubby. It was disgusting.....NOT COOL at all. And our family LOVES racing! I was extremely disappointed, especially after the great press and media attention this place gets in our local paper - you'd think it would be fabulous! ($12 bucks a head at the gate). Never again.
So we analyzed all these events, and the two main things that stood out at the air show:
1. A good announcer keeping everyone informed - Constant action - NO LAG TIME, and a few elements of surprise (such as hoisting a car off the ground with a CG helicopter, and then dropping it. Then having a bomb fall on the car for being parked too close to the runway when the owner failed to move it - it was a actually a skit but the kids didn't know that). The "bomb" was actually some pyrotecnics on the ground that blew up right after the aircraft flew over the car. It was a HUGE hit with the fans. It really looked like the jet dropped a bomb on it.
2. The entire grounds were SPIC AND SPAN. Clean and tidy - no drunks, no smoking - and a place you'd want to bring your kids. Ample seating for all to get a good view. They also held a Mustang car show behind the air show viewing area at the same time - for those who don't like continally sitting from 1pm to 10pm. 30-40 giant VIP tents were set up at the other end. Clearly, the comfort of the spectators was high on the list of priorities. The place was loaded with over 200 volunteers (Mostly from the county 4-H clubs and churches) Even the parking area had 20-30 volunteers helping to control the traffic. It was just an all-around good time.
None of us are even a fan of airplanes or flying. But this wasn't all about airplanes -- it was well-thought out entertainment, and it was great. I'll take my family back next year, for sure. Boat racing could definitely pick up on a few tips from this event, as it would work well in that genre as well.
Our town only has 11,000 people, but 28,000 came to the show.
Here's what our local paper had to say:
“This is wonderful for the people,” said Walter Kay, Bristol, attending the air show for his third time. He stressed the program was a great family event.
“It’s my first time here. I like this. It has been years since I have seen an air show,” said Jon Caldwell, who moved to the Kay home from Utah this week. He is married to Walter’s granddaughter, he said, and is self-employed in the computer business.
“It’s interesting. I have never been here before,” said Stan Schrock. He said he has spent time at Fresno, Calif., where there are shows, war re-enactments and reunions, so he has seen them before.
But this day he spent with his 3-year-old grandson Mason, whose father is a Goshen firefighter and worked Saturday.
“It’s a great thing for a grandfather and grandson to do together,” Schrock said.
“We’re having fun,” said Mearl Martin, Goshen, who attended with his family of four. “It’s a great show.”
He said it is the fourth show his family has attended and they planned to stay for the fireworks. “It’s definitely a fun show.”
“It is a great experience,” said Boyd Smith, Goshen, at the show Saturday. He pointed out the “quality aircraft” and military machines both on the ground and in the show. He explained his interest is also sparked by the fact that he is working on his pilot’s license.
“Wow,” was the one-word comment from Jim Miller, Goshen, a military veteran and air show fan, as he raced to meet his brother, Skip, who held space for their folding chairs.
Amber Garhart, Bristol, said she and her family have been to the show three or four times. “We love it. We come here every year,” she said, and her daughters wanted to stay for the fireworks.
Arlin Slabach, Goshen, had been to the show before and said he has seen the aircraft before. But he was at the Goshen program to see the crowd and the fireworks.
Norman Otto, Shipshewana, said, “I like it a lot. It is pretty good.”
Sharkey pointed out Saturday that the crowd size may mean the Freedom Fest may be one of the largest one-day events in the state of Indiana. The board of directors of the non-profit organizations may meet again soon to discuss whether there will be another show in 2006.
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