A festival generally speaking runs a day or more and consists of various entities, usually under a particular category or industry. For example, the fest known as Celebrity Strategy features panels and performances each day over the course of a week or so.
Elements could also include music groups, movies, art work and more.
One of the biggest challenges that festival producers face is getting acts or elements that will be attractive and interesting to their audience and who help to offer an incentive for a customer to purchase a ticket.
What some people do, especially a producer early in their career or who don’t have a base, is to first put into place as a talent someone who they know or can otherwise get more easily.
Then when they get their first sign up, they either leverage relationships that person has or pursue next those who want to be a part of a program that involves the first signer.