Air Show in a Box · Step 3

Call for Acts Builder

Before anyone promises a performer a slot, ask the market one question in public: who does air shows, and what do you bring? Fill in the form and the notice writes itself.

Why post a call for acts

It gives the director a real menu. Acts, aircraft, dates and prices in one place, instead of whoever someone met at a convention.
It is your market research. When the director picks an act and only one performer offers it, the responses are the evidence. That is the "basis for the decision" the file needs.
It keeps the commitment where it belongs. Performers answer the contracting office, not the project officer. The director may not book performers without the contracting officer.
The manual already points here. It says to consider a public request to identify a variety of demonstrations.

Three out of four act awards on record were not competed or drew a single offer. A call for acts does not change who can fly a MiG-17. It changes whether your file shows you looked.

1 What kind of notice

Sources sought. Market research only. No award comes from it. Use this first, early, to build the menu. Request for quotations. You can award from the responses. Use this when funds and dates are firm.

2 The show and your office

Show name

Installation

First show day

Show days

Practice or arrival dayUsually the day before the first show day.

Expected attendance per day

Contracting office

Point of contact

Email for responses

Responses due

3 What the director is looking for

Tick the kinds of acts and services you want responses on. Leave it broad on the first pass. Narrowing comes after you see who answers.

Theme or specific interest (optional)A theme describes what the show needs without naming a performer.

4 What you ask each performer to send

Each item is there for a reason. Untick only what does not apply.

5 Your notice

What happens after responses come in

Log every response. Performer, aircraft, price, dates available. The copy button below gives you a blank log. The list of sources that expressed interest becomes part of the file.
Hand the director the menu. The director picks the lineup. The commander approves warbird participation.
Sort each pick by funds. Warbird or civilian act decides appropriated or NAF.
For each pick, look at how many performers offered that act. One: document the single source. More than one: you have quotes to compare. Step 5 writes the documentation.
Check each price against what other bases paid in Step 4.