Need advice shooting people outside..

[who me?]

Having never really shot people, I am going to spend a long weekend with a bunch of people at an RV rally out in the sun.
I will take any advice regarding shooting out in the midday sun. I figure I will be at the mercy of harsh light and extreme contrast as well as faces in the shadows of hats. I also know the one about shooting with the sun at my back and not the subject's back. But any other advice regarding exposures and so on is what I am looking for.
I would appreciate any helpful advice from those that have done this.
Also, I probably will be shooting with my new 24-85 F3.5-4.5 about 90% of the time.

Thanks

[Titus213]

Study up on fill flash.

[Phil V]

I never really followed the advice to shoot with the sun at your back. To be frank it's bo770x, if you want all your photo's to show people with dark eye sockets and squinting then keep the sun to your back.

If however you want to show relaxed faces and possibly some interesting lighting, rim lighting or 2/3 lighting, then forget all that tosh. Think about fill flash, but look for the nice spots in the shade first.

[*MOMOFAIRFORCEBRATS*]

i shoot with the sun to the subjects back and expose for the face. just watch the eyes and get at an angle where the open sky in front of them reflects- i would rather blow out the tip of the hair then loose the eyes.

[scarroll27]

I would generally not recommend shooting people anywhere. Maybe you could shoot birds, elk, cows, etc. My dad told me I could only shoot things I was going to eat....Ha ha ha! This is my lame attempt at humor. I couldn't help myself.

[who me?]

All, thanks for the help. Forgot about fill flash. I will have to revisit my camera manual and I will try to practice before I shoot this weekend.
scarroll27, I like the humor attempt, it didn't bother me at all. I do the same thing on slow days...I am never sure if it appreciated though.