Crowd control issues

[The Nal]

8 minutes ago, Crazyfool01 said:

so cut 20k and put prices up yeah ? 

Im hoping its one of the reasons they've had to increase the price. They'e had to have realised it was far too busy this year. When theres 30/40 inutes queues for food from 11am to 9pm everywhere its too busy.

Never seen that before at the festival.

[Crazyfool01]

Just now, The Nal said:

Im hoping its one of the reasons they've had to increase the price. They'e had to have realised it was far too busy this year. When theres 30/40 inutes queues for food from 11am to 9pm everywhere its too busy.

Never seen that before at the festival.

We will see but I’d imagine they need to maximise the numbers from a business point of view . I honestly didn’t find it too busy personally … but I didn’t go to any of the talked about sets somehow I must have avoided the busy food vendors too 

[leath02]

10 minutes ago, The Nal said:

Im hoping its one of the reasons they've had to increase the price. They'e had to have realised it was far too busy this year. When theres 30/40 inutes queues for food from 11am to 9pm everywhere its too busy.

Never seen that before at the festival.

Food queues were worst I've seen (at any festival), but also learnt to be strategic about when to buy - ie - not in the middle of peak eating times and not inbetween two acts where there's a large movement of people

Wasn't ideal, but could be avoided in part 

Edited October 18, 2022 by leath02

[chazwwe]

57 minutes ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

Is it even poor programming?

Big acts playing small stages or anyone who's even vaguely noteworthy on the Thursday are always going to be stowed - in which case you either need to go early for a good position, accept a bad position if you dont want to spend ages waiting or swerve it entirely.

I'd hate to see them lay off surprises or secret sets because some people cant figure out the above 3 courses of action for themselves.

Bastille shut down that whole side of the festival for an hour before they even came on. This then led to people being directed backwards and into on coming crowds trying to get in. That's poor programming. When an artist effects the area next to where they're playing. 

[Supernintendo Chalmers]

The current mood of this website pretty much reflects that of the country generally at the moment. Seems like even the thing that provides an escape to the pressures of the outside world is no longer immune to that pessimism seeping in.

I know it'll be ok when we get there, but it's going to be a long eight months if these discussions are typical of what lies ahead.  

 

[dotdash79]

24 minutes ago, The Nal said:

Im hoping its one of the reasons they've had to increase the price. They'e had to have realised it was far too busy this year. When theres 30/40 inutes queues for food from 11am to 9pm everywhere its too busy.

Never seen that before at the festival.

There were a lot less food vendors than in 2019, also the vendors that were there some were struggling for staff so it took longer to get served.

[GeezLouise]

 

1 minute ago, Supernintendo Chalmers said:

The current mood of this website pretty much reflects that of the country generally at the moment. Seems like even the thing that provides an escape to the pressures of the outside world is no longer immune to that pessimism seeping in.

I know it'll be ok when we get there, but it's going to be a long eight months if these discussions are typical of what lies ahead.  

 

I'm not sure that's fair. I've always been very positive at every Glastonbury and when talking about every glastonbury I've ever been to but last year felt borderline dangerous at certain points (park/arcadia) and I think it's fair to ask if other people experienced similar concerns. 

The acts were amazing, the headliners top-tier, the areas of the festival are great, the SE corner is absolutely mental in the best way, the healing fields are just....the most amazing experience.  However, despite all those positives, the overcrowding was a real issue that affected the experience and it's okay to say that and see if it's post-COVID anxiety or if it's an issue with the festival that should be raised via official channels. 

[Crazyfool01]

3 minutes ago, Supernintendo Chalmers said:

The current mood of this website pretty much reflects that of the country generally at the moment. Seems like even the thing that provides an escape to the pressures of the outside world is no longer immune to that pessimism seeping in.

I know it'll be ok when we get there, but it's going to be a long eight months if these discussions are typical of what lies ahead.  

 

Yeah absolutely this … hopefully once ticket sale is done people can focus on getting excited once again … and the negative shit can slowly dissapear … plenty of that in life at the moment we don’t need more of it than necessary on here 

[Respectfatfrog]

This year was the first year I have taken my daughter (8) so saw it through slightly different eyes, it seemed more crowded on the Wednesday and Thursday even slightly dangerous if one big crowd push happened but by the main days it seemed to calm down slightly when everyone had something to do rather then smaller stages. Just my 2p worth that this year was the limit 

[Supernintendo Chalmers]

6 minutes ago, GeezLouise said:

 

I'm not sure that's fair. I've always been very positive at every Glastonbury and when talking about every glastonbury I've ever been to but last year felt borderline dangerous at certain points (park/arcadia) and I think it's fair to ask if other people experienced similar concerns. 

The acts were amazing, the headliners top-tier, the areas of the festival are great, the SE corner is absolutely mental in the best way, the healing fields are just....the most amazing experience.  However, despite all those positives, the overcrowding was a real issue that affected the experience and it's okay to say that and see if it's post-COVID anxiety or if it's an issue with the festival that should be raised via official channels. 

I think you've misunderstood my point slightly. I'm not being critical of the need to discuss the issues that are being raised, the two running themes of the past 24 hours (rising costs and since this morning the resurrection of the crowding issues) are huge factors that need to be addressed, particularly the latter, it's just an observation that there's a noticeable difference in the atmosphere on this site recently, and the attitude towards GFL, which is reflective of the general mood outside, and for obvious reason. It's not quite the universal Glasto love-in that it used to be. 

For what it's worth, I raised my concerns on here prior to the festival this year when I discovered that they were accommodating an extra 'x' thousand punters. I respect everyone else's experiences but I can only speak as I found, I only encountered two occasions where those additional numbers were obvious (one which was particularly dangerous), both on the Sunday. The increase was a mistake. For numerous reasons, I hope that the increase in ticket price means that they can return to 2019 levels, but I doubt it. I think those numbers are here to stay, unless the local council prohibits it. 

[Skip997]

2 minutes ago, Supernintendo Chalmers said:

The increase was a mistake. For numerous reasons, I hope that the increase in ticket price means that they can return to 2019 levels, but I doubt it. I think those numbers are here to stay, unless the local council prohibits it. 

Am out of upvotes, but you're completely correct.

 

[stuie]

14 minutes ago, GeezLouise said:

 

I'm not sure that's fair. I've always been very positive at every Glastonbury and when talking about every glastonbury I've ever been to but last year felt borderline dangerous at certain points (park/arcadia) and I think it's fair to ask if other people experienced similar concerns. 

The acts were amazing, the headliners top-tier, the areas of the festival are great, the SE corner is absolutely mental in the best way, the healing fields are just....the most amazing experience.  However, despite all those positives, the overcrowding was a real issue that affected the experience and it's okay to say that and see if it's post-COVID anxiety or if it's an issue with the festival that should be raised via official channels. 

Of course it is, but we've got someone claiming to have seen knives so people want to know more about that, as it's brand new information to all of us.  And someone who's complaining again but wasn't even at the festival.

 

[Crazyfool01]

2 minutes ago, stuie said:

Of course it is, but we've got someone claiming to have seen knives so people want to know more about that, as it's brand new information to all of us.  And someone who's complaining again but wasn't even at the festival.

 

they also haven't responded to  my post asking if they reported it ? 

[MEGATRONICMEATWAGON]

1 hour ago, Skip997 said:

"Secret sets" are a large part of the problem, mainly because they're not secret.

Yeah, I don't get the secret-not-so-secret sets. Putting huge acts on that close fields and interrupt flows of people, or people missing out on acts they'd otherwise plan to see. Feel like more of a fun thing for the organisers than others.

[Skip997]

Just now, MEGATRONICMEATWAGON said:

Yeah, I don't get the secret-not-so-secret sets. Putting huge acts on that close fields and interrupt flows of people, or people missing out on acts they'd otherwise plan to see. Feel like more of a fun thing for the organisers than others.

And why are they often on The Park, which has access issues anyway you approach it.

[MEGATRONICMEATWAGON]

8 minutes ago, Skip997 said:

And why are they often on The Park, which has access issues anyway you approach it.

Yeah, Radiohead in 2010 (I think) was on the Park. Ridiculous booking of a headliner sized band playing on the smallest of the main stages. Pulp in 2011 (I think!?)

Killers in 2017 was another one in the JP Tent. Headliner playing on the 4th biggest stage.

Closing down fields and then the backlog of people who can't get in then get turned away into oncoming traffic isn't mystical or whimsical or fun, it just creates problems.

Edited October 18, 2022 by MEGATRONICMEATWAGON

[Zoo Music Girl]

1 minute ago, MEGATRONICMEATWAGON said:

Yeah, Radiohead in 2010 (I think) was on the Park. Ridiculous booking of a headliner sized band playing on the smallest of the main stages. Pulp in 2011 (I think!?)

Killers in 2017 was another one in the JP Tent. Headliner playing on the 4th biggest stage.

Closing down fields and then the backlog of people who can't get in then get turned away into oncoming traffic isn't mystical or whimsical or fun, it just creates problems.

I think they were both 2011 (Radiohead and Pulp), one Friday and one Saturday.

[Skip997]

Just now, Zoo Music Girl said:

I think they were both 2011 (Radiohead and Pulp), one Friday and one Saturday.

I remember the Pulp one. I had advance warning as I was working on the Glade crossroads, it was chaos, having to close multiple access points and redirect 1000's.

[Zoo Music Girl]

Just now, Skip997 said:

I remember the Pulp one. I had advance warning as I was working on the Glade crossroads, it was chaos, having to close multiple access points and redirect 1000's.

Pulp one was great for me as we were there for the act before (Graham Coxon I think). Radiohead we stupidly attempted to trek over once it had started and couldn't hear or see anything. It was raining too.

[rgill3]

9 minutes ago, Skip997 said:

And why are they often on The Park, which has access issues anyway you approach it.

Think certain acts got put on stages too small for them this year as well.

I got stuck in the queue/bottleneck for McFly or Scouting for Girls (can't remember which one it actually was) on the way up to the acoustic from by Greenpeace. Was a mistake heading that way but was still chaos with people being sent back and then 4x that many people trying to get in the opposite way.

Had to ask a member of staff to let me cut through an area between stages.

 

I agree overcrowding was an issue, but also poor planning and staging factored into crushes and crowding in certain areas - if that makes sense.

[rgill3]

Ah I see people were making similar points as I was typing out my statement.

[MEGATRONICMEATWAGON]

2 minutes ago, Zoo Music Girl said:

I think they were both 2011 (Radiohead and Pulp), one Friday and one Saturday.

Ah okay. Foggy memory now.

What I do rember though was it raining, thousands turning up, pushing anywhere they could to get a spot, and churning the hill into a mudslide. When some couldn't get a good spot/hear, it became very unpleasant.

[Zoo Music Girl]

1 minute ago, MEGATRONICMEATWAGON said:

Ah okay. Foggy memory now.

What I do rember though was it raining, thousands turning up, pushing anywhere they could to get a spot, and churning the hill into a mudslide. When some couldn't get a good spot/hear, it became very unpleasant.

Yeah the Radiohead one was carnage for anyone further back. Pulp was sunny.

[dotdash79]

I think next year will be a lot more different and a lot better for organising, loads of festivals had issues Primavera had large issues with crowd movement, and even Bearded Theory had issues.

[Punksnotdead]

I've seen knives at Glastonbury before. Indeed, someone stabbed a hole in my tent while I was in it one year! We know that there are numerous tent thefts every year, so it's no surprise to me that some of the little bastards are carrying knives!