questions about running a fest

Hi. Last year I ran the Harry/Draco/Severus fest called hds_beltane. It was fun and I believe it went well. It could have gone better, of course. That's true of everything.

I'm looking forward to doing it again. So I'm hoping for advice. I'm particularly appealing here to people who've run successful fests. Got any brilliant advice for me?

For example, I would love to know how to insert a section of clippable html formatted text for folks to use to sign up, like hd-holidays did. I have no idea how to do that, however.

I would be very interested in knowing who has been banned from other fests for non-participation, as well.

Mostly, though, I'd like any information people feel like passing along. If I already knew whatever you have to say, well, that just reinforces the importance of it, now doesn't it? :D