A bit of feedback/suggestions

[Sipperana]

Re encores - I was surprised that Modest Mouse finished way earlier than scheduled, yet loads of people started streaming away as soon as they went off stage, so I just assumed they don't do encores. But then neither did Wilco, although they did run up to time. Is there a trend for bands to not do encores now?

Having said that I was (pleasantly) surprised when Wolf People came back on. We were already walking away from the Local, not expecting a band on in the early evening to get an encore, and by jingo they did. Singing Adams also came back on to do one more.

[ilikeboureks]

The theft thing is a real downer. I heard quite a few people at the festival talking about it, I've now read about it on here, and last night on Gideon Coe, 6 Music, someone had texted in saying they had £180 nicked.

Also, my tent and a few others in my group came back to our tents at various times to find the entrance half open, or things possibly in different places. Nothing nicked though. Looks like they must have just been after money towards the end of the festival, making it more difficult to charge them if they got caught.

This must not happen again. No one at EOTR would ever dream of stealing. Just a few more stewards wandering the perimeter at all times, and maybe just checking for wrist bands in the campsite, should put an end to it.

[nuff said]

Yep the thieving was real alright. We were having a get together at geofelgie's flag camp on thursday night when some lads stopped by. I felt the atmosphere change straight away. Someone managed to move them on, but these guys were later nicked. Think I was told they had done about 70 tents.

[nofunnyname]

:angry: Oh I am really sorry that happened to you, thats very upsetting. I don't think that there were security guards at that end this year, I remember in 2008 that they were posted down by the tower which was being refurbished at the time! I think you must be one of the guys from Leeds I met last year - Nofunnyname - ???? I hope it hasn't put you off EOTR sorry didnt see you at all this year

[nofunnyname]

Yep the thieving was real alright. We were having a get together at geofelgie's flag camp on thursday night when some lads stopped by. I felt the atmosphere change straight away. Someone managed to move them on, but these guys were later nicked. Think I was told they had done about 70 tents.

[perfectpassion]

This must not happen again. No one at EOTR would ever dream of stealing. Just a few more stewards wandering the perimeter at all times, and maybe just checking for wrist bands in the campsite, should put an end to it.

[wangdoodle]

Three people in my bunch of friends including myself had stuff stolen, but the only thing not recovered was the cash (fortunately not much). I actually know a fair bit of the story as the police held a few of my things as evidence, and I spent a while chatting to them.

Basically the guys broke into the sight on the Thursday night and broke into a load of tents - around 60 was the number I was told. They then stole an empty tent and passed out in it! They were caught by security on the Friday morning, when the owner of the tent tracked it down, found them in it and reported them. As of Friday morning they were arrested and attempts were being made to secure enough evidence to convict them. The suspician was that anything of value was passed to others outside the site, while everything else was scattered around willy nilly - we had stewards and security returning missing items to us as they turned up across the whole weekend! I heard rumours that more tents were broken into on the Friday night too - certainly by Saturday posters had gone up with a mobile number to ring if you needed security. Hopefully next year the security might be a bit more visible.

[seadragon]

Definitely a lot more people there than there have been in my previous 3 visits to EOTR. Had suspected as much based on the campsite seeming a lot fuller, and this suspicion was confirmed when I did a supermarket run on Saturday as the car park was pretty much full. In the past it's been about 2/3rds full tops - but this time it was packed right up to the top of the field. I'd guess about 8000 people there.

[nuff said]

I'm confused about this and that several people thought it was busier than usual because I didn't get that feeling at all.

Also, wasn't it capped at 5000 tickets? I kind of remember a thread that Sofia started last year asking for opinions on incresing it to 6000 tickets (which I'm sure she said was the site capacity?) and no-one thinking it was a good idea

Or am I just imagining that?

[wackojackohighcliffe]

Re encores - I was surprised that Modest Mouse finished way earlier than scheduled, yet loads of people started streaming away as soon as they went off stage, so I just assumed they don't do encores. But then neither did Wilco, although they did run up to time. Is there a trend for bands to not do encores now?

[Swindlebiscuit]

I'm confused about this and that several people thought it was busier than usual because I didn't get that feeling at all.

Also, wasn't it capped at 5000 tickets? I kind of remember a thread that Sofia started last year asking for opinions on incresing it to 6000 tickets (which I'm sure she said was the site capacity?) and no-one thinking it was a good idea

Or am I just imagining that?

Edited September 15, 2010 by Swindlebiscuit

[Infinite Jest]

It didn't feel any more crowded than previously to me.

As for bands not playing to time, that's happened over the past few years. I'm not quite sure why.

Agree about the parents, but luckily it's none of my business...

I thought the fest was definitely improved this year. One thing might be to have a 'no sitting' zone at the main stage - as someone upthread suggested.

[clareandguy]

Re. encores: I'm so bored with them, and dislike the ritual fakery of the walk off stage followed by the inevitable return. Down with encores! Let a set end where it ends.

Guy.

[ann1849]

After loving EOTR last year me and the boyfriend were left disappointed this time round. There definitely seemed to be more idiots around in general, despite the majority of lovely friendly people. Not helped by the group of 8ish who decided to camp surrounding our tent and keep us awake til nearly 6 every morning shouting and generally being inconsiderate to everyone within a 20m radius.

We were also shocked to discover a hastily erected line of tape and a sarcy parking notice on our car which read "Good work - you've managed to block the fire route. Move your car. Go home." We had parked on the end of a row but so had a number of other cars. There was still a wide track left and nothing to say otherwise. A simple "Please move your car" would have sufficed - it certainly changed our perception of a lovely friendly festival.

Also where were the wash stations this year? As others have said a few more showers would have been great too. I also agree with the comments about the bars, it often just wasn't worth the queue. Similarly we tried again this year to see some comedy but it's always been full! A great shame, especially when acts as well known as Russell Howard are performing.

I think that's enough whining for now anyway! And despite the disappointments there were still some great moments for us this year - Low Anthem on the garden stage, Charlie Parr, Caitlin Rose, the Mexican food and cider bus. Loved the new Tipi layout too.

Oh yeah, and bring back the ribs...

[Elfy]

Re. encores: I'm so bored with them, and dislike the ritual fakery of the walk off stage followed by the inevitable return.

[seadragon]

Then I came across this Feb 2010 eFests interview with Simon Taffe again today:

http://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/endoftheroad/2010/interview-taffe.shtml

"Well, we were profitable last year, not hugely so, this year will be profitable. It's quite difficult, you have to sell out, to be profitable, but it can be done. We realised we could have sold more, we had 6,000 there last year, and we sold out in the first weekend in August, we could have sold 10,000 tickets."

[Better Late...]

Am I the only person who thought it was darker around the site at night ? While I applaud the organisers keeping as green as possible in terms of energy use, speaking as someone who was generally going to and fro between stages and campsite alone late at night/early in the morning I found a few areas just a touch too shadowy for comfort; and other than in the immediate vicinity of the stalls themselves, it was too dark in the central area to find and recognise friends I might have joined up with.

[perfectpassion]

I'm confused about this and that several people thought it was busier than usual because I didn't get that feeling at all.

Also, wasn't it capped at 5000 tickets? I kind of remember a thread that Sofia started last year asking for opinions on incresing it to 6000 tickets (which I'm sure she said was the site capacity?) and no-one thinking it was a good idea

Or am I just imagining that?

[barrydavis]

I will have to add my two peneth on the subject of the thievery onsite.

We were also victims of said crime.

We got robbed on Friday night whilst we (me, my wife and our 2 & 7 year olds) all slept.

I awoke Saturday morning to find the zip half way open on our (large) tent and my wallet left open on my jeans.

It transpired they had taken £100, my Iphone & my camera!

I reported the crime to security who said they had 50 thefts by that point, most of them happened on Thursday.

I also reported the incident to the police.

This was our first time at EOTR, we have been to Glasto, Latitude, V, The big session, Green man etc etc and have never seen any trouble.

We met many lovely people at EOTR & both me & my wife agree it's a great festival however, the lighting seemed inappropriate especially in the family camping (where we were) it seemed very bright but at such an angle and distance that it plunged pretty much all of the family camping into inky blackness.

There was no obvious security patrolling the family camping until Saturday night (and then that was stewards with torches, bless 'em).

It seems such a shame so many thefts happened at such a relatively small festival, it really did spoil our experience of something we had been looking forward to for ages, we left Sunday afternoon having no stomach for anymore.

All this said Iron & Wine was excellent and I really enjoyed Caribou.

We will probably return next year, but hide all our stuff in the bottom of sleepng bags..

Edited September 16, 2010 by barrydavis

[magick melvin]

Well said Better Late - too much forcing little kids to listen/dance to mummy or daddy's favourite band going on, even when it was clear the kids just didn't want to be there. Also very annoying the times I saw a parent lift a toddler onto their shoulders when right in the middle of a crowd - nice for all those stuck behind them!

[cheesehead]

@barrydavis

I'm sure the thieving was upsetting, and it seems pretty much everyone who wasn't careful was a victim this year (all our neighbours were).

These people were pretty brazen - they tried our tent and when busted simply said "sorry, wrong tent - awesome festival!" and went on their way. From what I saw, at least some of the thieves were identified by Friday morning, but they simply put their rucksacks full of swag over their shoulders and walked out of the site over the back gate, while some volunteer stewards asked them sweetly to please come back and have some tea and talk about it. What can the festival do? More lighting and/or aggressive security will add to the ticket price, detract from the atmosphere, and make very little difference.

It does rankle that we have to accept thievery as a given, and it's easy to be wise after the event, but keeping your wallet, phone and camera in your pocket/bag is easy enough and it worked for us.

[Maoster]

You miserable so and so! I was one of those lifting my son onto my shoulders on several occasions because, being only eight, he doesn't have much chance of seeing anything unless he is hoisted up sometimes. He absolutely loves live music and festivals and I think it's only fair that he occasionally gets to see the stage as we all do and from the middle of the crowd rather than right at the back. I only do it for 10 minutes at a time though so it's hardly the heinous crime that you are implying.

[barrydavis]

@barrydavis

I'm sure the thieving was upsetting, and it seems pretty much everyone who wasn't careful was a victim this year (all our neighbours were).

These people were pretty brazen - they tried our tent and when busted simply said "sorry, wrong tent - awesome festival!" and went on their way. From what I saw, at least some of the thieves were identified by Friday morning, but they simply put their rucksacks full of swag over their shoulders and walked out of the site over the back gate, while some volunteer stewards asked them sweetly to please come back and have some tea and talk about it. What can the festival do? More lighting and/or aggressive security will add to the ticket price, detract from the atmosphere, and make very little difference.

It does rankle that we have to accept thievery as a given, and it's easy to be wise after the event, but keeping your wallet, phone and camera in your pocket/bag is easy enough and it worked for us.

[ilikeboureks]

This whole theft thing has really got me down. It's so un-EOTR. I'm pretty sure that we can all help iron it out for next year, without having to significantly increase security (at a hefty cost!) or building a Glastonbury style wall (also at a hefty cost!).

There should be some king of neighbourhood watch thing. Everybody should make a point of getting to know all their neighbours if and when they see them. That way they'll know if they see anyone unfamiliar going in their tents that they should report them.

Also, next year people should simply not leave anything valuable in their tents, and maybe put a small padlock on. I always use a padlock at bigger festivals, and really don't like the idea of having to do it at EOTR, but it's an option.

No need for any drastic measures, just a bit more vigilance. I think now it's happened once, we wont see this again at EOTR.

[ilikeboureks]

By the way that was meant to be 'kind of neighbourhood watch thing', not 'king of neighbourhood watch thing'. Although the latter could also be interesting.