I heard this country song by Glen Campbell while walking through an airport recently. It conjured up an oddly specific image in my mind. I envisioned the Marlboro man but Elton John-style; all glitz and glam with sequins on his hat yet rugged, fit, and tan. When in the world would there be a need for someone to look like this? Maybe this guy would be going to a rodeo in Vegas, maybe this guy just won the rodeo, or perhaps this guy is the rodeo clown. As I was having these embarrassing thoughts, I swear someone resembling my figment sauntered by. I’m telling you, an airport has some of the best people watching. At any rate, I’ve never planned a rodeo event and it got me thinking about what it might take to pull one off.
The rodeo is a sport dating back to 1888 involving a series of riding and roping contests born out of the time when real American cowboys roamed the wild west. When the cowboys finished driving their cattle down the trails, they would gather and compete to show off their skills and aim to earn the unofficial title for best bucking-horse rider, roper, and more. As railroads and fences began to hem them in, the sport became a formal program of entertainment. The early versions of these events were simply exhibitions of skills and not the modern competitions that we’ve come to know today. Different feats of daring and skill have come and gone over the years based on trends and safety issues.1
As I was doing some research, I quickly realized that coordinating a rodeo is a feat not to be underestimated. Not only are you dealing with people and adrenaline, you’re also dealing with livestock. Venue selection is complicated by the need for animal holding pens, return alleys, arrow pens, and bucking chutes. Then add to that arena-style spectator seating, service vehicle access, and enough parking for all of those trucks. And, there’s not enough room in this blog to even begin talking about the number of safety measures that need to be put into place at every stage of a rodeo.
Some tasks on a rodeo event planning task list include vetting suppliers who rent and build the arenas, pens, and bleachers; engaging standby medical staff, rodeo clowns, emcees, and food vendors; and coordinating details with a full production team. Besides the usual event checklist there are items to rent such as lighting trees, generators, porta potties, tents, trailers, ticket booths, and more.
Most events coordinate ticket sales, advertising, event themes, volunteer needs, sponsorships, merchandise vendors, and the usual suspects but I can only imagine the additional demand for permits, safety protocols, emergency action plans, risk management assessments, and safety inspections that are required to successfully open for business.
As the announcement to board my plane called me back, I realized that all my vision of this Rhinestone Cowboy did was send my mind racing down a rabbit hole of imaginary event planning as it normally does in my spare time. I decided that those who plan rodeos have a special gift and it must take more than an army to accomplish, it must take a village. If I ever found myself being asked to organize one, I think I would tap my network of professional planners and graciously beg out.
Who has worked on a rodeo before? I am fascinated and would love to hear your story. Share it here or please send me an email!
Pass this blog on to others who plan events and let’s see how many people we can get to like it!
- Encylcopedia Britanica. (2023). Rodeo. https://www.britannica.com/sports/rodeo-sport
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