Basing the lineup on crowd size / barrier pressure

[sjseabass]

Is it me, or have the organisers this year literally put the bands in the order of the size of crowd they think they'll get (with the probable exceptions of The Cure and At The Drive-In) rather than the actual stature of the bands, and at the expense of having any real 'curveball' acts in there? I just think it puts far too much onus on who's big in NME / Kerrang / on Radio 1 in that particular year, and how bad a clash with bands on other stages they had, and is the reason for what I think is a weak undercard this year, and the amount of repeats (can't do placements based on crowd size if they haven't played before!). I mean, MB has mentioned barrier pressure at Mumford and Sons and bands like that before, hasn't he? I can only think that's what's caused BBC and Vaccines being catapulted to the top of the main stage, Two Door Cinema Club co-headlining the NME off the back of an old album despite playing both previous years, etc...

[mrtourette]

I don't understand what's so surprising about them putting bands in order of who they think will be the most popular. I do agree that it appears a bit short-sighted to assume that just because a band gets a big crowd one year that they'll get the same the year after, but I doubt they're that stupid. I'm sure they'll have taken other things into consideration before coming to the conclusion that they'll get a big crowd again (both TDDC and The Vaccines have continued to receive heavy support from NME, remained reasonably high profile and have new albums due soon). They might not be right but there's more to it than "they got a big crowd last year so they'll get a big crowd this year".

Even if they booked a load of bands that hadn't played before there would still be a lot of research into the possible place, it wouldn't be a case of having no previous information so just throwing them anywhere on the bill and see what happens.

I do agree that maybe they'be gone too far that way, which would explain BBC and Crystal Castles being repeated a lot and finding themselves in odd slots this year. I guess they see them as bankers and not as risky as introducing a new act in the same place, especially when major festivals are struggling for inspiration this year.

Edited March 19, 2012 by mrtourette

[RichieParf]

I totally agree that its why they've been doing it, but I find it odd. Surely if Two Door had the biggest crowd last year then most the people that want to see them will have already done so. It makes no sense at all to me!

[RichieParf]

Where did I say that? My point is that if 20,000 saw the Vaccines last year then theres probably 20% that wouldn't see them this year because they've seen them once and thats enough for them. Its why a lot of my friends have stopped going, they've seen everyone on the bill before. People will watch the same bands again and Vaccines are obviously in high demand but with someone like BBC i'm not sure the demand will be quite as high as last year, although they'll get a bigger crowd due to the convenience of being on mainstage.

[RichieParf]

Where did I say that? My point is that if 20,000 saw the Vaccines last year then theres probably 20% that wouldn't see them this year because they've seen them once and thats enough for them. Its why a lot of my friends have stopped going, they've seen everyone on the bill before. People will watch the same bands again and Vaccines are obviously in high demand but with someone like BBC i'm not sure the demand will be quite as high as last year, although they'll get a bigger crowd due to the convenience of being on mainstage.

[SoTheSagaBegins]

Where did I say that? My point is that if 20,000 saw the Vaccines last year then theres probably 20% that wouldn't see them this year because they've seen them once and thats enough for them. Its why a lot of my friends have stopped going, they've seen everyone on the bill before. People will watch the same bands again and Vaccines are obviously in high demand but with someone like BBC i'm not sure the demand will be quite as high as last year, although they'll get a bigger crowd due to the convenience of being on mainstage.

[Vieuphoria]

Since playing last year BBC have released their 3rd album which charted at 6th, higher than the previous 2 did and had a sold out UK tour. Their popularity and demand will have certainly increased from last year IMO.

[mrtourette]

But The Horrors had a number 4 album and a sell out tour. But they don't warrant 3rd main. Let alone BBC.