Our nation’s capital is a small area with a high concentration of many demographics; no wonder it’s a prime location for street teams and promotional events. But be careful, no metropolitan area has more contradictory rules and regulations for special events, depending on where you are. Some areas are the jurisdiction of the state, some county, some federal, some parks. On one sidewalk, your Brand Ambassador could have all the permission he needs to play music, distribute premiums and share your brand with people. Then as soon as he crosses the street, the Secret Service and Metropolitan Police Department are ready to shut him down.
For very obvious national security reasons, there are lots of different agencies and departments involved in permitting your D.C.-area event. The good news is that these groups are very event-savvy because they do this sort of thing all the time. Here is a non-exhaustive list of different agencies and departments that may serve as stakeholders when you bring your brand into town:
- Metropolitan Police Department
- Department of Parks and Recreation
- DC Emergency Management Agency
- Mayor’s Special Events Task Group
- Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
Of course, depending on where you are and what you are doing, there are plenty of other groups that will need to know about it. If you need help planning your next D.C. area promotional event and you’d like some more information give us a call!