Reading License 2010

[mrtourette]

Thanks to the freedom information act and an inquisitive person called M Grogan the license for last year's Reading is online:

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/reading_festival_licensing_20112#incoming-195726

As it was only signed off on the 21st it's unlikely this year's is done yet but some of it's quite interesting:

Curfew for live music is midnight.

Melvin Benn’s middle name is John.

FR must take ‘reasonable steps’ to ensure no alcohol is brought onto the site after 18:00 on the Sunday.

Earliest site can open is 14:00 on the Wednesday, must be clear by midday on the Monday.

FR must provide CCTV coverage of the arena entrances/exits and the area in front of the main stage and the R1/NME stage, which must be monitored at all times and access to the council must be given at any time.

Nothing to be sold in glass containers and FR must ‘take such steps as reasonably possible’ to stop glass containers coming into the arena.

A pass-out system should be in place after 20:00 on the Sunday to ensure that only the original owners of a wristband can get back in after that time.

The capacity in 2009 was 78,500 ticket holders and 4,999 guests, in 2010 82,000 ticket holders and 4,999 guests and in this year 85,000 ticket holders and 4,999 guests.

Early-entry ticket holders must be limited to 20,000.

FR must have more security in the campsite on the Sunday night to ‘prevent any malicious damage that may occur on the final night of the event’.

At all times there must be a spotter at the main stage to monitor crowd sways or surges, with at least two if the band ‘is known to have a lively crowd’.

FR must put up signs to discourage crowd-surfing.

The camping area must be enough to accommodate every weekend ticket holder at a rate of two per tent (so if 50,000 weekend tickets were sold then they must plan to accommodate 25,000 tents).

The main stage must face the farmland to the west of the site for the purposes of noise distribution.

The continuous sound level must not exceed 107 dB(A) and the peak sound pressure level must not exceed 140dB (don’t really understand the difference tbh).

All pyrotechnics have must be approved by the council.

FR must take ‘all reasonable steps’ to ensure there are no campfires or bonfires on the site after 20:00 on the Sunday, including ‘the equipping and training of identified stewards and security personnel to deal with small scale fires’.

Annoyingly there’s nothing about tent capacities, although separate plans for temporary structures need to be submitted nearer the time. Apparently any enclosed tent/marquee needs to have to maximum occupancy declared on the outside, although I don’t know if open-sided tents count as enclosed.

[jump]

"FR must take ‘reasonable steps’ to ensure no alcohol is brought onto the site after 18:00 on the Sunday."

I've never heard of that before. I's imagine it's soley for the campers or does it also apply to the bars too?

[mrtourette]

I checked back, there should be a "by festival goers" in there.

Also on the subject of alcohol:

The responsible person shall ensure that no alcohol is dispensed directly by one person into the mouth of another (other than where that other person is unable to drink without assistance by reason of a disability).

[rexclark]

"FR must take 'reasonable steps' to ensure no alcohol is brought onto the site after 18:00 on the Sunday."

I've never heard of that before. I's imagine it's soley for the campers or does it also apply to the bars too?

[jump]

Just read it again and spotted this...

"At all times there must be a spotter at the main stage to monitor crowd sways or surges, with at least two if the band ‘is known to have a lively crowd’."

I wonder if FR go through all the bands and mark them as lively or not lively?

[mrtourette]

I wonder how long someone will come on and say that FR should fight these crazy rules which are clearly set out just to stop us having fun. Damn council Buzzkillingtons.

[Rudzkii]

The responsible person shall ensure that no alcohol is dispensed directly by one person into the mouth of another (other than where that other person is unable to drink without assistance by reason of a disability).

... What? Could someone explain the logical reasoning for this? Only thing I can think of is date raping/spiking?

[rexclark]

The responsible person shall ensure that no alcohol is dispensed directly by one person into the mouth of another (other than where that other person is unable to drink without assistance by reason of a disability).

... What? Could someone explain the logical reasoning for this? Only thing I can think of is date raping/spiking?

[sweet and tender hooligan]

Just read it again and spotted this...

"At all times there must be a spotter at the main stage to monitor crowd sways or surges, with at least two if the band ‘is known to have a lively crowd’."

I wonder if FR go through all the bands and mark them as lively or not lively?

[glasto-worker]

The responsible person shall ensure that no alcohol is dispensed directly by one person into the mouth of another (other than where that other person is unable to drink without assistance by reason of a disability).

... What? Could someone explain the logical reasoning for this? Only thing I can think of is date raping/spiking?

[Mega Ross]

Some of these rules are fine and fair enough.

Others, the risk assesment is the equivalent of those bikers who wouldn't go to japan for fear that levels of radiation equivalent to a few transatlantic flights might kill them...

It's over protectiveness by people who fulfilled their role a long time a go, if all the useful rules are made why is mr dullington in health and safety going to lay down and take redundancy? They should re negotiate, everything has room for leverage, it seems all so very british to shut up, ignore whats going on and let the man shaft you and slowly take away your freedom.

Music is all about freedom, if a festival organiser doesn't understand that then what hope do we have?

Don't really get why the 6 oclock beer curfew is a big thing, bring plenty of beer on site to drink sunday evening or just get shitfaced at the arena bar.

[mrtourette]

I wonder how long someone will come on and say that FR should fight these crazy rules which are clearly set out just to stop us having fun. Damn council Buzzkillingtons.

[glasto-worker]

its a bit like a full UK driving licence .

its dead simple if a person does not pass the driving licence examination they don't qualify.

its irrelevant if the person does not agree with the red tape .

FR does not have any choice - they have to meet all the conditions or they cant open.

[Mega Ross]

Edited July 24, 2011 by Mega Ross

[rexclark]

The council would happily pull the plug on the fest. Yes it makes them money but I'm certain if the festival started flouting the rules they'd kill it without even thinking. This is the way it is and wether we like it or not we just have to live with it.

[glasto-worker]

I did read those posts, who shuts up because of some close minded naysayers? Voice your opinions whether people agree or not.

Bloody women, man up a bit and stick to your convictions.

FR can negotiate with the council, the council wants the festival there as it is a source of income for the town. FR want the festival to be there to turn a profit.

This gives them both leverage, good negotiators walk away on top, it's nothing like a driving licence because the way in which you obtain the licence is completely different.

And I'm of the opinion most red tape is conjured up by timewasting middle management bastards with an unneccessary job, a massive drain on our taxes. It makes it infinitely more difficult for people with incredible minds full of great ideas to turn a profit or benefit the world.

I'm sure much like the pancreas, at one point these people had a use when people lost arms working on the railway, but now (and especially considering most jobs nowaday are service industries) totally f**king useless and taking up space.

And if you lay down and take it you're part of the problem, ask nicely, if it doesn't work, make life difficult for someone and you'll get results. - This is a double edged sword, inevitably the stronger party with the best negotiation skills comes out on top.

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

I did read those posts, who shuts up because of some close minded naysayers? Voice your opinions whether people agree or not.

Bloody women, man up a bit and stick to your convictions.

FR can negotiate with the council, the council wants the festival there as it is a source of income for the town. FR want the festival to be there to turn a profit.

Edited July 24, 2011 by thesecretingredientiscrime

[mrtourette]

I did read those posts, who shuts up because of some close minded naysayers? Voice your opinions whether people agree or not.

Bloody women, man up a bit and stick to your convictions.

Edited July 25, 2011 by mrtourette

[jump]

I had to stop myself from laughing at some Mega Ross' ranty lines. But I have to ask what exactly do you think FR should to "make life difficult" to get whatever they want?

And if you lay down and take it you're part of the problem, ask nicely, if it doesn't work, make life difficult for someone and you'll get results. - This is a double edged sword, inevitably the stronger party with the best negotiation skills comes out on top.

[nofunciona]

Mega Ross is gonna throw a fire extinguisher off The Oracle shopping centre in Reading. That'll get in the news!

[Banana Co]

I did read those posts, who shuts up because of some close minded naysayers? Voice your opinions whether people agree or not.

Bloody women, man up a bit and stick to your convictions.

FR can negotiate with the council, the council wants the festival there as it is a source of income for the town. FR want the festival to be there to turn a profit.

This gives them both leverage, good negotiators walk away on top, it's nothing like a driving licence because the way in which you obtain the licence is completely different.

And I'm of the opinion most red tape is conjured up by timewasting middle management bastards with an unneccessary job, a massive drain on our taxes. It makes it infinitely more difficult for people with incredible minds full of great ideas to turn a profit or benefit the world.

I'm sure much like the pancreas, at one point these people had a use when people lost arms working on the railway, but now (and especially considering most jobs nowaday are service industries) totally f**king useless and taking up space.

And if you lay down and take it you're part of the problem, ask nicely, if it doesn't work, make life difficult for someone and you'll get results. - This is a double edged sword, inevitably the stronger party with the best negotiation skills comes out on top.

[Funsty]

I wonder if FR go through all the bands and mark them as lively or not lively?

[Benj]

I had to stop myself from laughing at some Mega Ross' ranty lines. But I have to ask what exactly do you think FR should to "make life difficult" to get whatever they want?