Smaller festivals being cancelled

[llcoolphil]

In 2009, they manage to relocate their 10,000 people festival from Cornwall to Kent in just 2 weeks due to a huge f$%k up with the council & planning. This proves that new small/medium festivals are doing well & I have never seen so many around. It's getting difficult to choose which ones to go to.

[PastCaring]

yes - fair point.

Remarkable really.

According to the Guinness book of Records they are "the most successful duo in UK music history".

Words fail me.

[Flounder]

There's all sorts of thing going on behind the scenes in 2011/12 that are a threat to the industry. PRS is under review, police are wanting large amounts of money to attend events ( not Endorse it thankfully) , fuel prices soaring- you have to run a tight ship in order to survive and that takes a lot of time, knowledge and commitment. For some it may just not be worth it so can take a fallow year, for others they need to trade as there are continued expenses throughout the year and it's an ongoing commitment.

Localauthority run events do draw away punters from festivals- there is only a certain amount of money that people have for spending on entertainment, particularly at

the moment.

There's a couple of tricks that keep festivals exciting,alive, and mpst importantly in business, but you have to know

your stuff in order to implement them. For small events it isn't just about the bands. There's still a few dodgy run events around, but few and far between in comparison to latter years. However I would predict that the free party scene is making a comeback, which again may threaten events..... Or not- we may benefit

[llcoolphil]

let's not forget, in all the excitement, that the Pet Shop Boys are absolute turd.

How they headline anything at all is beyond me.

Thanks.

[Kowalski]

In your opinion, but the many thousands (infact a very packed field) who enjoyed their headline performance at Glastonbury last year on the Other Stage would disagree

[ampersand]

pet shops boys are a stain on music and british culture.

how anyone can admit to liking them along side the words 'guilty' and 'pleasure' baffles me.

Edited January 29, 2011 by ampersand

[thetime]

pet shops boys are a stain on music and british culture.

how anyone can admit to liking them along side the words 'guilty' and 'pleasure' baffles me.

[ampersand]

been a fan of psb for 20 years, and they are fantastic.

[jump]

pet shops boys are a stain on music and british culture.

how anyone can admit to liking them along side the words 'guilty' and 'pleasure' baffles me.

[thetime]

[ampersand]

People who in live glass houses really shouldn't throw stones.

It baffles me how anyone could like Take That, X Factor winners & Simply Red.

[si_t]

Im embarrassed for you

Edited January 31, 2011 by si_t

[llcoolphil]

“llcoolphil”?

Edited February 2, 2011 by llcoolphil

[5co77ie]

and here goes another after 38 years:

http://www.efestivals.co.uk/news/11/110208b.shtml

I think what's happened here will happen to many festivals with cash flow problems from poor early bird sales.

[Medina]

Thankfully my own earlybird sales for the Wickham Festival are very healthy but, yes, your're absolutely right 5co77ie, cash-flow is an increasing problem for many smaller festivals as artists and suppliers want payment in advance but ticket agencies won't release ticket monies until after the event has been held.

I'm very sorry to see Trowbridge cancelled this year, for the first time in 38 years I believe. I've attended most of the last 20 or so Trowbridge Festivals. It's always been one of my favourites with great music and a very relaxed, friendly atmosphere. The organisers, the late (and very much missed) Alan Briars and Dave Newman, were top-class blokes and Alan's wife Christine who has continued organising the Festival has also worked tirelessly to produce a first-class event.

It remains to be seen how many other small festivals are cancelled but I suspect, for many, it's going to be a difficult year.

[grumpyhack]

The Trowbridge Pump has just been cancelled. It would have been its 38th year so you can't blame lack of organisational experience or known reputation.

I suspect that uncertainties with the economy, the prospects of job cuts and redundancies, mean that people are fearful of committing in advance.

A few years ago the Association of Festival Organisers commissioned a study into competition to festivals. The thinking had generally been that the main competitors to music festivals were other festivals - e.g do you go to Glastonbury, Reading or V? But they found that the main competitor was cheap foreign holidays. The spending decision for many was do you spend a week in a muddy field in Britain or a week in the sun?

For people with kids the family holiday will probably come first and the festival will be seen as the second holiday and a bit of self indulgence. If you can't make two forward commitments then number two will drop off the advance booking list.

[Ringo_Spar]

A few years ago the Association of Festival Organisers commissioned a study into competition to festivals. The thinking had generally been that the main competitors to music festivals were other festivals - e.g do you go to Glastonbury, Reading or V? But they found that the main competitor was cheap foreign holidays. The spending decision for many was do you spend a week in a muddy field in Britain or a week in the sun?

For people with kids the family holiday will probably come first and the festival will be seen as the second holiday and a bit of self indulgence. If you can't make two forward commitments then number two will drop off the advance booking list.

[Medina]

I think people will be a bit more choosy as to which festivals they go for. Value for money will become increasingly important. Travel distance and costs may also become a greater factor in determining which festivals to attend. Newer festivals will find it hard to get established and smaller festivals will (as 5co77ie said earlier) find cash flow to be an ever-increasing problem.

It's very sad news about Trowbridge. One of my favourites for many years.

[grumpyhack]

But there has been research in the last couple of years that have found that the economic situation is making people consider the camping - and festival - route as a cheap holiday choice.

I think the first point stands up ever greater, as the economic situation bites harder coupled to the increasing choice in the festival market. On one hand you've got decreasing disposable incomes, on the other hand, a greater number of festivals to chose from than ever before. The size of the market is perhaps reaching capacity, with the result that some events will fall by the way side.

[Flounder]

The Trowbridge Pump has just been cancelled. It would have been its 38th year so you can't blame lack of organisational experience or known reputation.

I suspect that uncertainties with the economy, the prospects of job cuts and redundancies, mean that people are fearful of committing in advance.

A few years ago the Association of Festival Organisers commissioned a study into competition to festivals. The thinking had generally been that the main competitors to music festivals were other festivals - e.g do you go to Glastonbury, Reading or V? But they found that the main competitor was cheap foreign holidays. The spending decision for many was do you spend a week in a muddy field in Britain or a week in the sun?

For people with kids the family holiday will probably come first and the festival will be seen as the second holiday and a bit of self indulgence. If you can't make two forward commitments then number two will drop off the advance booking list.

[grumpyhack]

I've worked at Trowbridge for the past few years and was bitterly disappointed at the news. It's a great little/medium sized festival, extremely well organised and very family friendly. Now a big gap to fill in my calender. Any suggestions for something within about 100 miles of Cardiff in July would be appreciated.

[grumpyhack]

Its a damn shame about the Pump, but I suspect that reasons behind its postponement are not just what is generally hitting the whole of the country.

There is a festival 15 ish(?) miles away on the same weekend that costs £35.

[Witneyade]

and here goes another after 38 years:

http://www.efestivals.co.uk/news/11/110208b.shtml

I think what's happened here will happen to many festivals with cash flow problems from poor early bird sales.

[Witneyade]

I've worked at Trowbridge for the past few years and was bitterly disappointed at the news. It's a great little/medium sized festival, extremely well organised and very family friendly. Now a big gap to fill in my calender. Any suggestions for something within about 100 miles of Cardiff in July would be appreciated.

[Medina]

Looks like the Oxford Folk Festival in April is the latest to be cancelled.

A pity as it had a fine reputation with those who attended.

I very much hope it will return in 2012.