I like that they created synergy between two areas of downtown. Was nice to see that many people walking over such a large area. But I can see the argument for having them be on different weekends as well.
What struck me though is now that I have spent more time in other cities around the world, what I saw during Mayfest/Blue Dome, the busy streets, the vendors and food, music, etc. would just be another average day. What we saw this past weekend shouldn't be anything special, it should be the way downtown is most days… except busier with more people and on more streets than just a few.
That's what it could be like if we develop our core well. Every day would be a festival day full of energy, life and interesting things to see and do. Regardless of whether you want to live in the midst of it, or out in the quiet burbs and occasionally come in to enjoy it.
What can be difficult in our current stage of development is when there is a festival in one part of downtown, the other areas may be quieter than usual. I know during the Friday and Saturday of last years Center of the Universe Festival, we were as dead as if it had been a Sunday downtown. 80,000 people downtown, but you could hear crickets chirping on our side lol. Btw, just signed up to be a vendor at this years festival.
Even Mayfest doesn't do much for us, though everyone is only one block over lol. Our sales are only a little bit more than an average Friday-Saturday would be for this time of year, however we are consoled that we do get a lot more people in the shop, aka a lot more people discovering us so it is good advertising. (had numerous people say our shop was the neatest thing they found at Mayfest
) But, we would much rather Mayfest be where it is versus moving to the Brady Arts, for then it would not even be similar sales, but would be another dead weekend that would hurt us (there are only so many weekends in a year). Also have noticed that sales the days before festivals are slower than average. For instance this Wednesday was super dead and that is usually a decent day for us. Will have to run the numbers to see if the festival over all is a plus or not. Likely a wash to small decline for the week, but getting better exposure for the long run.
First Fridays also hurt our sales, and now that the East End is doing Second Saturdays, that too is starting to decrease sales during that weekend. I keep thinking that the Deco District needs to do something once a month as well. Wonder if it would be better to tag onto First Friday's and or Second Saturdays or do a different day entirely? Whatever it is you do it takes a lot of extra work, coordination with other shops/restaurants, and promoting to pull it off well.
