Well from one who has been around Airshows all my life, and currently organises Sywell Airshow. DONT DO IT!!!!
But then again after every one I do I say NEVER AGAIN! and I do it again and again.:)
We hold Sywell every other year, mainly because it is alot of work and as I do it for nothing I carnt afford to loose the time every year.
Sywell is a charity show raising money for the local Air Ambulance but as an Airshow participant as well I know Aircraft cost money, and contary to popular belief most people who opperate aeroplanes are not rich people! Therfore we still pay our participants, many do us very good deals but we still pay.
We have the big asset that Sywell Aerodrome ltd bank rolls the show, that means they pay for everything. When all costs are then taken out whats left goes to the AA. Last year we gave them £30K. the year before £8K, the year before we broke even and the Aerodrome still gave the AA £5K. The two years before that we made a huge loss that the Aerodrome covered, and still gave something to the AA. Without that financial backing Sywell Airshow would be a non starter!
We have a completely volunteer commitee who organise the show, they give up alot of there free time to do it. The Aerodrome also provides us with alot of administration help.
It is now an established show and has a following who expect it every other year, we hope it appeals to the enthusiast and the family as well.
What I will say is you dont need another Legends, It has to have wide appeal and it has to entertain. Gate price is important, to much and they wont come, but to little and you wont make any money.
I was amazed that last lear we charged the same gate price as two years before, £12 for a non stop 3 hr Airdisplay and still some people complained! You carnt please every one all the time!
My head would say dont do it but my heart always says yes.
Your first big hurdle is finding financial backing, without that Its gona be a struggle!
Good luck, as an Airshow Participant we need all the Airshows we can get!:D
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