First Friday Entertainment

First Friday ( & Night Market) Entertainment Selection & Performance Policy

1. Purpose

First Friday is a recurring downtown community event designed to support downtown businesses, attract visitors, create pedestrian activity, and provide an engaging community experience.

Entertainment is programmed as one component of the overall event experience. Unlike regular Farmers Market entertainment, First Friday may include larger musical groups, featured entertainment, DJs, interactive performers, and entertainment specifically selected to complement an individual event theme.

The purpose of the entertainment program is to:

  • Enhance the overall atmosphere of First Friday;
  • Support the theme and programming objectives of each event;
  • Encourage pedestrian activity throughout the event footprint;
  • Create an engaging experience while supporting downtown businesses and vendors;
  • Provide appropriate entertainment at designated locations; and
  • Allow specialized or one-time entertainment when it directly supports an individual First Friday theme.

First Friday is a programmed event. Its entertainment program is not intended to function as an open-mic program or general public performance forum.

2. Entertainment Categories

First Friday entertainment generally falls into two categories:

A. Regular First Friday Entertainment

Regular entertainment consists of performers whose style and format are appropriate for multiple First Friday events throughout the year.

Examples may include:

  • Solo instrumentalists;
  • Singer/instrumentalists;
  • Duos and trios;
  • Acoustic groups;
  • Small bands;
  • Jazz ensembles;
  • Local musicians; and
  • Other live entertainment compatible with the general First Friday environment.

Regular entertainers should provide music that contributes to the atmosphere without unnecessarily interfering with vendors, businesses, pedestrian circulation, or other programmed activities.

B. Theme-Specific or Special Entertainment

First Friday themes may justify entertainment that would not ordinarily be selected as regular or recurring First Friday entertainment.

Theme-specific entertainment is selected because of its direct relationship to the programming objectives of a particular event.

Examples could include:

  • A church or community bell choir for a holiday-themed First Friday;
  • A Mardi Gras or New Orleans-style band for a Mardi Gras-themed event;
  • A DJ for a dance, decade, or other theme where recorded music is integral to the programming;
  • A cultural music or dance group associated with a particular cultural celebration;
  • Carolers or holiday musicians for a holiday event;
  • A marching, drum, or brass ensemble for an event where that style supports the theme;
  • Character performers or specialty entertainers;
  • Dance groups;
  • Demonstration performers;
  • Larger bands or ensembles; or
  • Other specialized entertainment directly related to an individual event’s theme.

Selection for a theme-specific engagement does not mean that the performer’s genre, format, or type of entertainment has been adopted as part of the regular First Friday entertainment program.

For example, a Mardi Gras band may be selected specifically because its music supports a Mardi Gras-themed event. That selection does not mean that Mardi Gras music is the preferred musical format for First Friday generally or that the group will be booked for unrelated First Friday events.

Likewise, a bell choir selected for a holiday event may be particularly well suited to that event without being appropriate for recurring monthly entertainment.

3. Theme Connection

When entertainment is selected specifically because of an event theme, there should be a reasonable connection between the entertainment and the announced theme or programming objective.

Market/event staff should be able to identify that connection when making the booking decision.

Theme-specific selections may consider:

  • Relationship of the performance to the announced event theme;
  • Contribution to the intended atmosphere or experience;
  • Type and size of performance appropriate for the designated location;
  • Audience and anticipated attendance;
  • Compatibility with other scheduled programming;
  • Ability to operate safely within the event footprint; and
  • Budget and programming needs.

Theme-specific entertainment may therefore differ substantially from month to month.

4. Live Musicianship and Recorded Music

For regular musical entertainment, live musicianship is preferred.

Musicians should generally play an instrument as a substantive component of their performance. Singers performing primarily to prerecorded karaoke or canned backing tracks are not preferred for regular First Friday musical bookings.

However, unlike the Farmers Market entertainment program, First Friday may intentionally hire:

  • DJs;
  • Specialty vocal performances;
  • Performers incorporating recorded music;
  • Dance groups using recorded accompaniment; or
  • Other entertainment formats

when that format has been specifically selected as part of the programming or theme for an individual event.

The exception exists because of the programming purpose of the particular engagement, rather than as a general relaxation of standards for recurring First Friday entertainment.

5. Vocals and Performance Quality

Vocals may be permitted as part of First Friday entertainment.

Performers selected for paid engagements should demonstrate a level of musicianship, preparation, reliability, and performance ability appropriate for a professionally programmed public event.

Management may request representative recordings or videos demonstrating the type of performance proposed for First Friday.

The sample should reasonably represent the performer, group, instrumentation, vocals, and performance format that will actually be provided.

6. Group Size and Featured Performances

First Friday may accommodate larger groups and more prominent performances than those generally appropriate for the Farmers Market.

Depending upon the event theme, location, and programming plan, First Friday may include:

  • Full bands;
  • Larger ensembles;
  • DJs;
  • Choirs;
  • Dance groups;
  • Cultural performance groups;
  • Specialty acts; and
  • Other featured entertainment.

Certain performances may intentionally serve as an attraction or create an audience at a designated location.

When a performance is intended to attract an audience, management should consider appropriate placement, available space, pedestrian circulation, nearby businesses and vendors, sound projection, emergency access, and other event operations.

7. Sound and Amplification

Amplification may be permitted at First Friday when appropriate for the performer, location, and programming purpose.

Sound levels should be appropriate to the designated entertainment area and should not unnecessarily interfere with:

  • Nearby businesses;
  • Vendor transactions;
  • Other entertainment areas;
  • Announcements or event operations;
  • Pedestrian circulation; or
  • Other programmed activities.

Larger sound systems may be authorized for designated featured entertainment locations.

Performers may not independently increase amplification, add significant sound equipment, or materially alter the approved sound configuration without authorization.

Event management may require reasonable volume adjustments during the event based upon actual operating conditions.

8. Performer Selection

First Friday entertainment is selected based upon the programming needs of the event.

Selection criteria may include:

  • Musicianship or demonstrated performance ability;
  • Compatibility with the general First Friday environment;
  • Connection to a specific event theme when applicable;
  • Type and size of the proposed performance;
  • Appropriateness for the designated entertainment location;
  • Sound and amplification requirements;
  • Ability to perform within the available space;
  • Reliability and professionalism;
  • Suitability for an all-ages public event;
  • Compatibility with other scheduled entertainment and programming;
  • Budget;
  • Need for variety within the entertainment schedule; and
  • Past performance of event agreements, when applicable.

Submission of an application, demo, or proposal does not guarantee selection.

Previous participation does not guarantee future selection.

9. No Expectation of Recurring Engagement

Entertainment is programmed according to the needs of each individual First Friday.

A performer may be:

  • Booked regularly;
  • Booked occasionally;
  • Booked for a particular location;
  • Booked only when a particular theme occurs; or
  • Hired for a single event.

Selection for one First Friday does not create an expectation, preference, or entitlement to perform at subsequent First Friday events.

A performer who is particularly appropriate for one theme may not be appropriate for the programming objectives of another event.

10. Content and Event Compatibility

Performances must be suitable for the anticipated audience and programming objectives of the event.

Performers are expected to substantially provide the type of performance, instrumentation, group size, repertoire, and format represented during the selection process.

Material changes to the approved performance—including additional performers, substantially different instrumentation, significant changes in amplification, or a different type of performance—require prior approval.

11. Event Operations Take Priority

Entertainment is one component of First Friday and must operate within the needs of the overall event.

Public safety, accessibility, emergency access, pedestrian circulation, downtown business activity, vendor operations, and overall event management take priority over individual entertainment engagements.

Event management may reasonably adjust performance locations, schedules, sound levels, amplification, or other operational aspects when necessary to coordinate the event.

12. Administration

The entertainment program shall be administered consistently using criteria related to the programming and operational objectives of First Friday.

Selection of a particular performer, genre, group, DJ, or specialty act for a themed event reflects the programming needs of that particular event and should not be interpreted as an endorsement, preference, or general programming commitment to that genre or performance format for other First Friday events.

Nothing in this policy establishes First Friday as an open performance venue or authorizes individuals or groups to conduct performances within event-controlled areas without authorization from event management.