1 major change

[goldfishboy]

4 minutes ago, Trunks1993 said:

2019 felt half as busy as 2022. I’m hoping 2022 was just an anomaly (I.e. 1st fest post-covid blip)

aren't the numbers the same this year tho

[Barneym]

Rather than try and reply to everyone with a quote.

I do think 2022 felt busy but part of that was the number of people who brought kids who don’t normally which I think was a direct result of the cancellation and people not wanting to give up tickets. It was the first one back so I am sure more people who can find a way in by knowing someone etc also added to the numbers. I won’t queue for things and we went to the Temple on the Thursday so I think it all depends on timing and perspective 

re it being a good day and ok night festivals I couldn’t agree less. I would not go to Boomtown or something similar and my mates certainly wouldn’t but I love the fact I can watch bands and then go out until 6am afterwards, I just don’t think that mix exists elsewhere. I have some knowledge of the late night program but normally just go where we can and have a great time plus I learn loads from people on here in the electronic chat (thanks all)

the best change they could make would be to get a 6am licence for SH but we all know that can’t happen, oh and make the sound better at Arcadia as I think it’s so sh*t I just won’t go to see things there anymore 

[Detective McNulty]

tarmac the lot. no mud.

[fullfathom5]

Beans on Toast to open the Pyramid Friday morning.

Oh, and a monorail.

[Xeph1995]

13 minutes ago, Skip997 said:

About 10 years ago a friend of mine went to his first Glastonbury. Very quickly he said "this is a very white, middle class event".

Tbf most festival are just that though, I've been to a fair few different ones too. 

Edited June 12, 2023 by Xeph1995

[Trunks1993]

6 minutes ago, goldfishboy said:

aren't the numbers the same this year tho

official numbers are yes. However, there were a lot of people without wristbands last year....

[Skip997]

Just now, Xeph1995 said:

Tbf most festival are just that though, I've been to a fair few different ones too. 

Yea it's pretty much across the board now, even events that used to be very culturally diverse are becoming much less so.

[4AssedMonkey]

In much the same theme as many on here, my issue last year and concern for this year is the size of the crowd and how they are managed/spread out over the site.  2022 was a planning disaster in a way with some of the pinch points created.  Not sure if increased numbers was the problem, or if it was just badly planned (Sugababes/Wet Leg etc.) or if there were just more coked up dickheads about but something was different and gave me some of my only negative experiences in 10 Glastos.

The SE corner also needs it's strangeness back.  It's now just a string of dance venues and hugely over subscribed.  2009-11 it was gloriously weird, performative, unexpected and I really miss that aspect.

[goldfishboy]

1 minute ago, Trunks1993 said:

official numbers are yes. However, there were a lot of people without wristbands last year....

not disputing this (i wasn't there) but what are we basing this on

[sprocketrocket]

To try to change it from crowding, how about 

- Not to reveal the lineup until we're on site. 

No even better - not to reveal the line up until each day

 

[4AssedMonkey]

1 minute ago, sprocketrocket said:

To try to change it from crowding, how about 

- Not to reveal the lineup until we're on site. 

No even better - not to reveal the line up until each day

 

Just reading that gave me anxiety.

[Skip997]

Just now, sprocketrocket said:

To try to change it from crowding, how about 

- Not to reveal the lineup until we're on site. 

No even better - not to reveal the line up until each day

 

I'd love this for more than just the possibility of reducing overcrowding, but I think it would positively change the demographic.

[Superscally]

13 minutes ago, goldfishboy said:

aren't the numbers the same this year tho

...and wet will make any busy issues worse.

[stuie]

26 minutes ago, Xeph1995 said:

Disperse the SE corner and spread the venues round the site in different smaller locations would be an idea. 

Theres no need for all that stuff to be crammed into one space anymore. 

There absolutely is a reason for all that stuff to be in the SE corner... it's the furthest point away from the settlements. 

[09matthewsw]

1 x Churnup - type secret set on one of the main stages each day. No other secret sets. They irritate me generally as a lot of my festival prep is looking into rumours of who it could be incase it turns out to be someone I would be gutted to miss, but usually turns out to be someone I have no interest in seeing. i.e Green Day rumours in 2022 which turned out to be Ezra 😩 with that being said, I have loved all the Churnup talk (it’s Pulp, btw) in the build up and it got lots of people excited which has been great to see! 

Edited June 12, 2023 by 09matthewsw
Typo

[Dejalves]

13 minutes ago, sprocketrocket said:

To try to change it from crowding, how about 

- Not to reveal the lineup until we're on site. 

No even better - not to reveal the line up until each day

 

11 minutes ago, Skip997 said:

I'd love this for more than just the possibility of reducing overcrowding, but I think it would positively change the demographic.

Would this have much of an effect? People don't know the line up in November yet tickets still go in minutes. What do you think the demographic might change to, less mainstream?

Edited June 12, 2023 by Dejalves

[Skip997]

2 minutes ago, Dejalves said:

What do you think the demographic might change to, less mainstream?

Hopefully

How many "bucket listers" would take the chance that there would be no Elton Johns or Maccas.

[Detective McNulty]

29 minutes ago, 4AssedMonkey said:

In much the same theme as many on here, my issue last year and concern for this year is the size of the crowd and how they are managed/spread out over the site.  2022 was a planning disaster in a way with some of the pinch points created.  Not sure if increased numbers was the problem, or if it was just badly planned (Sugababes/Wet Leg etc.) or if there were just more coked up dickheads about but something was different and gave me some of my only negative experiences in 10 Glastos.

The SE corner also needs it's strangeness back.  It's now just a string of dance venues and hugely over subscribed.  2009-11 it was gloriously weird, performative, unexpected and I really miss that aspect.

Agree SE corner feels almost generic now 

[gfa]

1 hour ago, goldfishboy said:

this may be controversial but i would make the festival run across multiple weeks. each ticket is valid for one week of glastonbury, and the site would be evacuated each monday to make way for the next lot

Just not possible - they can't even run it every year as it is due to disruption (and the land - but feel like thats a lie anyway, every other fest can do it yearly)

[stuie]

8 minutes ago, Skip997 said:

Hopefully

How many "bucket listers" would take the chance that there would be no Elton Johns or Maccas.

Why would you want to change the festival so drastically? 

It's the biggest stage in the country - of course there's going to be mainstream artists on it.

If you don't want mainstream, don't go to the biggest festival and it's biggest stage. 

[Skip997]

Just now, stuie said:

Why would you want to change the festival so drastically? 

It's the biggest stage in the country - of course there's going to be mainstream artists on it.

If you don't want mainstream, don't go to the biggest festival and it's biggest stage. 

As I'm sure you're aware I hardly ever go to the Pyramid.

Fortunately there's loads of non mainstream acts on.

Not all mainstream acts are poor, just the majority of them.

[amfy]

It’s interesting for me to see a number of people saying that if it’s as crowded again this year it’ll be their last. That’s pretty much where we are with it too.

I remember being there in 2000 which was the festival that nearly closed it down pre super fence and thinking the same thing. I used to love the feeling of space and freedom but it’s gone. Every pathway is packed, everyone feels busy. The vibe isn’t the same for me. 

That said , it’s still an amazing event and a great festival for those that didn’t know how it was before, but for me it doesn’t really feel like Glastonbury any more. I’m there for what it used to mean to me rather than what it means now. So it may be that my time to hand my torch over has come.

I heard Dale, who went for the first time last year, win his tickets in Radio 1 and he clearly loves it as much as I ever did. I loved his excitement and happiness. I think the energy that people have for it as a new experience is as strong as ever. 

I’ve adjusted before and changed with the festival and maybe I will again, but I have my doubts and I think I am now happier at festivals that give me the smaller different bits of Glastonbury now, rather than this monolith that is everything at once. It’s hard to let go though! 

[Skip997]

2 minutes ago, amfy said:

everyone feels busy

1 minute ago, amfy said:

 It’s hard to let go though! 

More or less exactly how I feel.

Superb post.

 

[Skip997]

8 minutes ago, amfy said:

it doesn’t really feel like Glastonbury any more.

8 minutes ago, amfy said:

The vibe isn’t the same for me. 

This

Not entirely sure it's the numbers that are putting me off.

I'm due on site on Saturday and TBH I'm still in two minds about going.

Edited June 12, 2023 by Skip997

[chazwwe]

1 hour ago, Nice hymer said:

Like a Walking Dead herd these days.

Ditch the one-way system and ditch the distopian future vibe.

More colour, more chaos, more happy vibe please!

Completely agree on this. Make the area bigger and have them link together more. I'm looking at what boomtown does with some of their micro venues. The dystopian feeling is getting boring and tiring especially when day to day life isn't much different.