OVERVIEW
You've got the vision. Now it's time to bring it to life with a team that's done it before, at the highest level.
Our Festival Producing service is your A-to-Z execution engine. From branding to budgeting, booking to build out — we handle the complexity, so you can focus on the experience.
Led by the producers that helped bring SXSW, Forecastle Festival, High Water and more to life.
The design, procurement, and management of your festival vision.
DELIVERABLES
The design, procurement, and management of your festival vision.
From branding to budgeting, booking to build out — we handle the complexity, so you can focus on the experience.
BRAND & OUTREACH
- Branding — a festival identity that's unique, memorable, and instantly recognizable
- PR & Marketing — strategies that amplify your story, build awareness, and convert interest into attendance
BUSINESS
- Budgeting — clarity and counsel to prioritize needs over wants and keep costs under control
- Sponsors & Partners — hundreds of brand deals delivered; we attract, value, and activate partnerships
- Ticketing — platforms, pricing, and digital tools to reduce friction and maximize sales
PEOPLE & PROGRAMMING
- Staffing — the right people in the right roles for efficient, smooth, secure operations
- Programming — a dynamic mix of talent, activities, and attractions for optimal patron time
PRODUCTION
- Concessions — the ideal blend of food, beverage, and retail partners to elevate the fan experience
- Production — site plans to stage plots, structure and precision at every layer of festival execution
A Selection of Clients We’ve Helped Grow
RETURN ON INVESTMENT
Award-Winning Festival Production.
Backed by decades of experience across SXSW, Forecastle, and High Water.
Critical Acclaim
Award-winning credentials from Pollstar, Rolling Stone, Southern Living, and SPIN.
Economic Impact
Over a billion dollars of statewide economic impact from our flagship festivals.
Community Legacy
International reputation and enduring community pride.
Proven Scale
From 50 attendees to 75,000 — festivals that grow, last, and win.
JK MCKNIGHT
Your point of contact — and the experience leader behind AOI.
JK McKnight has spent 25 years in festival development. He founded Forecastle Festival, growing it from 50 people into a 75,000-person destination event and one of America's most critically acclaimed festivals. He later worked with AC Entertainment (Bonnaroo, Big Ears, High Water, Railbird and more). Today, he helps founders design, produce, and grow world-class festivals through proven strategy, specialized expertise, and decades of firsthand experience.
Read JK's full bioFrequently Asked Questions
Our consulting services guide clients through individual festival development phases, while Festival Producing brings all of those phases together. It’s a more hands-on approach that positions our team to lead your festival from vision to venue.
Both. We can help build a new festival from the ground up or step into an existing event that needs experienced leadership, proven systems, processes and production support.
Absolutely. We can integrate with the team you already have in place, support specific roles and responsibilities, fill critical gaps and provide the experience and leadership needed to move the festival toward the summit of its potential.
As early as possible. For new festivals, full-service producing typically requires 12–18 months of runway, giving the team enough time to thoughtfully design, develop and deliver the festival. For existing festivals, 12 months is optimal.
Take your festival to the next stage
Schedule a free discovery call with our team. We’ll assess where you are, where you want to go, and exactly how we can help you get there.