How much is too much

[googlebrain]

i have been going to festivals, mainly reading, since 2003 when tickets were quite modestly priced for what was on offer. i cant help but feel that with the constant increases and lack of improvment that we are bein taken advantage of by uk fesivals. if you venture into europe for example you can go to see the same artist for a fraction of the cost.

so when do we say enough is enough? when do we declare we will not continue to fill there greedy pockets. for the price of a festival in the uk one could go on a nice sunny holiday abroad, or visit a international festival. surely we as the festival goers will stand up for ourselves eventually, wont we?

my sister told me she went to reading in the 90's and tickets were still in double figures not triple. now im aware that icreases in prices are natural but when if ever will they be capped. when will the festival revert to being about the music and not the money.

i for one will be takin my hard earned money elsewhere this year as i refuse to line there pockets anymore and i urge as many of you as possbile to join me as in my humble opinion enough is enough!

[jump]

Why are you posting this again?

[Dave The Hedgehog]

I think it's true in a way, isn't it?

2 to 4 million people are likely to be laid off in the new year with all of the recent government cutbacks (because that'll make the economy better) - cost of living is going up, people are downsizing to make way for essentials rather than luxuries...

But then if you think about it, how many people with other commitments actually go to festivals? For the most part, you get kids and students. Kids get their parents to pay for it. Students use their grants. Those (16 to 18 year olds) who fall between and are eligible for employment don't have debts to worry about or financial arrangements to commit to because they live at home. Other people save up cash over the course of the year and do as I did last year and stay within Britain for holidays (if you can afford them) instead of going abroad or whatever, and then use what they have left to get tickets as a means of treating themselves. Then the others who can't afford it simply don't go.

Those who go to festivals are people with the money to spend to go to them. It's not essential - even a holiday isn't essential. It's a luxury.

Yes there are the ethical questions you can ask but ultimately you just have to contemporise your attitudes and understand that - in a world where the music industry loses billions monthly, festivals are one of the main ways for them to generate income now, and unfortunately they aren't going to change their ways for people who want smaller ticket prices so you either accept the fact that for every one of you there are 5 others prepared to pay, or go to free festivals and see bands you don't really want to see.

You can make a point of going to free festivals with the attitude, "the greatest bands have to start somewhere!" but the fact is, you want to see the best bands on the planet and you know you do otherwise you wouldn't be complaining about it.

[googlebrain]

I think it's true in a way, isn't it?

2 to 4 million people are likely to be laid off in the new year with all of the recent government cutbacks (because that'll make the economy better) - cost of living is going up, people are downsizing to make way for essentials rather than luxuries...

But then if you think about it, how many people with other commitments actually go to festivals? For the most part, you get kids and students. Kids get their parents to pay for it. Students use their grants. Those (16 to 18 year olds) who fall between and are eligible for employment don't have debts to worry about or financial arrangements to commit to because they live at home. Other people save up cash over the course of the year and do as I did last year and stay within Britain for holidays (if you can afford them) instead of going abroad or whatever, and then use what they have left to get tickets as a means of treating themselves. Then the others who can't afford it simply don't go.

Those who go to festivals are people with the money to spend to go to them. It's not essential - even a holiday isn't essential. It's a luxury.

Yes there are the ethical questions you can ask but ultimately you just have to contemporise your attitudes and understand that - in a world where the music industry loses billions monthly, festivals are one of the main ways for them to generate income now, and unfortunately they aren't going to change their ways for people who want smaller ticket prices so you either accept the fact that for every one of you there are 5 others prepared to pay, or go to free festivals and see bands you don't really want to see.

You can make a point of going to free festivals with the attitude, "the greatest bands have to start somewhere!" but the fact is, you want to see the best bands on the planet and you know you do otherwise you wouldn't be complaining about it.

[thetime]

prices will keep going up, as long as festivals sell out or keep selling well.

if they can get away with charging a grand a ticket they would.

my first festal was glastonbury 97 and it was something like 70 odd quid. they were the days, no need to camp on your computer hours on end on ticket release day, quality lineups, not as many dickheads.

I used to be able to justify the price more in them golden years than I can now, rose tinted glasses and all that.

[thetime]

There are soo many fests in europe that have similar or better line ups and they are a fraction of the cost. Rock am Ring is excellent value for money, gettin all or most of the headline acts from brit fest in one place

[Dave The Hedgehog]

Agree with everything you said. My only point im tryin to make is...

[thetime]

Well, metaphorically speaking you can protest against fuel prices all you like but irrespective of your attitude people will still be driving cars tomorrow purely and simply because they can, most because they have to.

The difference is, nobody 'has' to go a festival but the way society works people are made to feel as if they have to; as if it's essential, the same way an advert on telly tells you that buying a television or Xbox game is essential and you are inadequate without it or it will make you and your life better in some way.

At at the end of the day it's a choice and most people go - not because of the social one-up-manship but because they genuinely want to pay money to see some of the best bands on the planet play at an outdoor festival, and to soak up the atmosphere of the place. It's sad that people are prepared to cough up this admittedly large sum of cash but so long as they have the desire to do so, I don't really think there's much of a way to stop them and I don't think the music industry will be quick to relent in allowing them to spend it.

[stylishkids]

On the subject of ticket prices, I recieved an e-mail from festival republic today advertising Latitude which had a clear point in the writing

Purchasing tickets in this pre-sale means you won’t be hit by the VAT increase or the rise in ticket prices for 2011 –

a saving of at least £10 per ticket!

Now since its the same company as R+L, I'd guess that theres a good chance that they'll be applying a similar increase to R+L. With the wording in the e-mail, I'd guess they haven't decided on it yet but am hoping that they don't take the piss with the increase. I understand they have got price increases themselves and It's going to be at least a tenner but I'm hoping thats its not over that or if it is, not much more. Otherwise I think I'll just be at Glasto.

[thetime]

On the subject of ticket prices, I recieved an e-mail from festival republic today advertising Latitude which had a clear point in the writing

Purchasing tickets in this pre-sale means you won’t be hit by the VAT increase or the rise in ticket prices for 2011 –

a saving of at least £10 per ticket!

Now since its the same company as R+L, I'd guess that theres a good chance that they'll be applying a similar increase to R+L. With the wording in the e-mail, I'd guess they haven't decided on it yet but am hoping that they don't take the piss with the increase. I understand they have got price increases themselves and It's going to be at least a tenner but I'm hoping thats its not over that or if it is, not much more. Otherwise I think I'll just be at Glasto.

[Dave The Hedgehog]

makes european festival even more attractive.

[moz4pm]

i'm not really fussed, i'll do what i do every year, buy a ticket on ebay the week of the festival. I got my ticket for 125 quid this year