Capacity increase

[Infinite Jest]

Thursday night meetup at the cider bus?

[bennyhana22]

Is this an official forum-geeks-meet?

Fat Buddha - you joining us for a drink? we will form our own little group of specialness

For those of you wondering what we all look like... I am small, blonde, blue eyed and 25 - I will be disguised as an older person

[bennyhana22]

Thursday night meetup at the cider bus?

[Better Late...]

Seems entirely appropriate, IJ

Ben

[perfectpassion]

I am willing to meet ANYONE for a drink. I am, essentially, a messageboard whore.

Edited August 4, 2011 by perfectpassion

[Infinite Jest]

Just a suggestion and happy to be over-ruled ...assumed the bus would be by the Tipi, enabling an easy mix of socialising and band-watching and drinking....but I guess it could have moved, right?

I will be wearing my Wilco t-shirt. Assuredly.

[geofelgie]

IMPORTANT NOTICE Ben has officially LEFT the country...

[perfectpassion]

I was thinking we should all pretend that Other Lives have now been moved to the slot where Paper Cinema now is....thus ensuring they are on at same time as OR and Mogwai....

[Sipperana]

I'm laughing at the fact that people think the festival is getting "too big" at 8,500 people. There's an additional main stage (though admittedly no Local stage), and plenty of camping room, and the distance between stages will be pish compared to most fezzies. As long as the spirit of the festival isn't lost, why shouldn't a couple of thousand extra people be allowed to enjoy it as well?

It's a shrewd move on the part of the organisers anyway - they want to keep the festival fresh, and are conscious that they get a lot of early bird sales from people returning every year. It's possible for the crowd to become stale too, so additional fresh faces could do the festival some good.

The cruch could come next year, if the pressure to increase capacity further forces a change of venue, as they've always said they'd be very reluctant to move away from LTG.

[baroquepop]

As an EOTR newbie I shall endeavor not to take up too much space ;-)

I wonder how many newbies will be there because of Joanna Newsom? If so, from my experience of her gigs, aggro is unlikely :-)

Edited August 8, 2011 by baroquepop

[GeordieMartin]

I'm laughing at the fact that people think the festival is getting "too big" at 8,500 people. There's an additional main stage (though admittedly no Local stage), and plenty of camping room, and the distance between stages will be pish compared to most fezzies. As long as the spirit of the festival isn't lost, why shouldn't a couple of thousand extra people be allowed to enjoy it as well?

It's a shrewd move on the part of the organisers anyway - they want to keep the festival fresh, and are conscious that they get a lot of early bird sales from people returning every year. It's possible for the crowd to become stale too, so additional fresh faces could do the festival some good.

The cruch could come next year, if the pressure to increase capacity further forces a change of venue, as they've always said they'd be very reluctant to move away from LTG.

[airwaves]

Size - samall - has been an appeal to me, but, also the setting of the Garden Stage.

When / as the line-up was announced I was thinking in particular how great it would be to see / hear / watch Mogwai and , especially, Joanna in the Garden Stage setting. Now I am totally unsure what the setting will be, other than it won't be the Garden Stage.

Worried of Devon

[Sipperana]

Well, if the setting of a show by a Scottish post-rock band is all you have to worry about then you're a lucky person.

[perfectpassion]

As an EOTR newbie I shall endeavor not to take up too much space ;-)

I wonder how many newbies will be there because of Joanna Newsom? If so, from my experience of her gigs, aggro is unlikely :-)

[perfectpassion]

I have been thinking (dangerous I know) about what Sippers, GM and Airwaves have said. And I agree with you Geordiemartin! Not sure why you should think other peoples concerns are "funny" Sipperana?

Its actually 10,000 people Sipperana

Its the sense of "community" that by increasing capacity may be eroded, and the thefts and in some cases increased loutish behaviour last year that has worried me. On the whole it is still for people who LOVE music and show care and consideration for others, I hope, and not people who just want to talk and drink!

Whilst Simon and Sophia put on a great festival and yes they need to make a profit, I hope that this year will be trouble free. I feel like I bought into a "small intimate festival" that is now not quite so small and intimate. Not sure why they needed to be so coy about the increase in capacity.

So looking at the facts, what have we now got for the increased revenue....

No increase in the number of acts/bands

An extra stage yes, but fewer bands per day playing the main stages. this means that the gaps between the bands have increased so that it would be pretty miserable to stand at one stage for say a whole evening.

Increase however in merch stalls and Comedy

And Joanna Newsome as the headliner, which Sippernana I think you were not a big fan of this announcement.

It was the increase being reported in rumours that upset people rather than it being stated "up front". I am sure that however many tickets are available it would have sold out, because it is such a lovely festival, and there would still be people "wanting tickets". Next year will be interesting because of the lack of Glastonbury.

In the absence of Ben I am going for the "longest post award"

Edited August 11, 2011 by perfectpassion

[Joe_the_Great]

And what exactly do Simon and Sophia suppose to do? The extra interest/demand justified the increase in capacity I think. It wasn't a jump from 5000 to 10000. It was more a steady increase over each year. If they kept the capacity the same for each year then tickets would have sold out even earlier. Then what next, if you can't afford a ticket before December, you are not coming? All sound too elitist to me. Maybe they should keep increasing the capacity to a point they can split that into 2 festivals a la Reading/Leeds.

And I don't buy into the whole making extra money thing either, who to say they are not employing extra staff/security etc?

[shoebox]

Hi Baroquepop... Do you think people have come just because of Joanna Newsom? Lol re the aggro, although if people are shouting to their mates instead of watching/listening to her I think Shoebox might get a bit angry!

[perfectpassion]

I don't think I said that they were making extra profits, I think it is a huge challenge to put on such an event and I take my hat off to them for making it so sucessful. I know in early years that they made a loss, and I imagine getting the balance right is very difficult. It is not something I would like to undertake. I have nothing but admiration for them.

My point was that I hope the festival retains its specialness and spirit of community and that we can ensure it remains friendly and safe.

I fail to see how selling out early is "elitist" what about Glastonbury?

Edited August 11, 2011 by perfectpassion

[GeordieMartin]

Yeah, i don't think it's a lot to ask that they tell us about capacity increase so we can decide whether we still want to go or not. Don't even know where the woods stage is yet which would be give us something else to have a discussion about ;-) and i'm still peeved that it looks like everyone is forced to watch Joanna Newsome as there is nothing else on at that time. Why?

[duckonastick]

Yeah, i don't think it's a lot to ask that they tell us about capacity increase so we can decide whether we still want to go or not. Don't even know where the woods stage is yet which would be give us something else to have a discussion about ;-) and i'm still peeved that it looks like everyone is forced to watch Joanna Newsome as there is nothing else on at that time. Why?

[perfectpassion]

Ha Duckonastick is that really you??? So you are coming this year!

Its not moaning, its informed discussion. And yes I may not be so perfect, i am a hypocrite

Edited August 11, 2011 by perfectpassion

[GeordieMartin]

I guess everyone here who's moaning went to the first one back in 2006.

It would be rank hypocrisy otherwise.

No one is forced to watch anything at anytime.

It's a music festival, not a compulsory fascist rally!

[seadragon]

I have been thinking (dangerous I know) about what Sippers, GM and Airwaves have said. And I agree with you Geordiemartin! Not sure why you should think other peoples concerns are "funny" Sipperana?

Its actually 10,000 people Sipperana

Its the sense of "community" that by increasing capacity may be eroded, and the thefts and in some cases increased loutish behaviour last year that has worried me. On the whole it is still for people who LOVE music and show care and consideration for others, I hope, and not people who just want to talk and drink!

Whilst Simon and Sophia put on a great festival and yes they need to make a profit, I hope that this year will be trouble free. I feel like I bought into a "small intimate festival" that is now not quite so small and intimate. Not sure why they needed to be so coy about the increase in capacity.

So looking at the facts, what have we now got for the increased revenue....

No increase in the number of acts/bands

An extra stage yes, but fewer bands per day playing the main stages. this means that the gaps between the bands have increased so that it would be pretty miserable to stand at one stage for say a whole evening.

Increase however in merch stalls and Comedy

And Joanna Newsome as the headliner, which Sippernana I think you were not a big fan of this announcement.

It was the increase being reported in rumours that upset people rather than it being stated "up front". I am sure that however many tickets are available it would have sold out, because it is such a lovely festival, and there would still be people "wanting tickets". Next year will be interesting because of the lack of Glastonbury.

In the absence of Ben I am going for the "longest post award"

[fardo]

I live near the festival site and know some of the stewards who will be there. The official documentation from the organisers (which I have seen) states capacity this year 12,500.....

enjoy!!

[perfectpassion]

Sigh! Thanks for telling us and welcome fardo