Simon Says....

[hendo (Dave)]

As a slight aside, interesting to see Cambridge Folk Fest advertising hard……

Doesn't it always?

Not usually this late…..

[YaBB Master (Colin)]

Look we are all getting ancient and not inclined to sit in a field.

That and Fairport seem to have a short memory for the unpaid work here.

Not actually the lads, but the management.

[iandiddams]

If they had the courage to put on a "fire sale" - e.g. as of now, all tickets £100 per person, get the punters in, get it sold out, then I might consider coming. Total fantasy scenario, though...

I'd be royally pissed off if haveing coughed my cash ages ago, which helps cash flow, somebody who left it to the last few weeks could get it at a reduced rate. And that aside all that says is "next year, dont buy tickets when  they go on sale, wait until the last fortnight and grab a bargain..."  next result is much fewer tx sales, bigger panic, possible early cancellation though woeful ticket sales.

Assuming of course there is a 2025, which im beginning to seriously doubt given Simon's message and the general trends of festivals collapsing.

[iandiddams]

2) The cost. The elephant in the room. Now, I appreciate as per Simon's statement the cost of everything has gone up stupidly, but a weekend at Cropredy has become very expensive. It was an essential part of my year when tickets were £45-£75 for the weekend, however at today's prices (currently £245 including 3 day camping) it suddenly becomes a serious luxury item.

Many large festivals are indeed that ball park - Bearded Theory set us back a similar amount for example.  Those prices of course reflect the size of the acts playing of course, amount of kit, costs of staging etc etc . Everyone has to make a living and these prices are undoubtably fair.

two weekends ago we went to a 3 day festival, 1000 tickets. two stages a two minute walk (if that) apart. Non stop music 11 hours a day. £4 a pint form the on site brewery. Two of us with campervan - campsite 5 minutes from the arena...  £171 including ticket fee. In a few weeks another similar set up festival and size, 2+CV £225. The bands aren't "as big" - but they are/will be excellent, with their own strong following. And of course the fees etc all reflect that - which is reflected in the cost.

Its easy to see how many would be tempted by such smaller, cheaper festivals.

thats just the way it is.

[iandiddams]

How many years now have people been saying they don't go for the acts, but to meet all their friends that have survived the year? That isn't a sustainable business model, in my opinion.

There isn't a "like" button, so LIKE. bang on.  Especially given even in the last few years the number of festivals has increased hugely. Not just mega enormous blockbuster festivals (and I include Croppers in that!) but smaller, bijou and other music specific festivals. There cannot be a weekend between end of may and early September that wouldn't have a choice of several festivals across the country of all genres and sizes. Its a very crowded market all chasing festival crowd and their £££.

[hendo (Dave)]

2) The cost. The elephant in the room. Now, I appreciate as per Simon's statement the cost of everything has gone up stupidly, but a weekend at Cropredy has become very expensive. It was an essential part of my year when tickets were £45-£75 for the weekend, however at today's prices (currently £245 including 3 day camping) it suddenly becomes a serious luxury item.

Many large festivals are indeed that ball park - Bearded Theory set us back a similar amount for example.  Those prices of course reflect the size of the acts playing of course, amount of kit, costs of staging etc etc . Everyone has to make a living and these prices are undoubtably fair.

two weekends ago we went to a 3 day festival, 1000 tickets. two stages a two minute walk (if that) apart. Non stop music 11 hours a day. £4 a pint form the on site brewery. Two of us with campervan - campsite 5 minutes from the arena...  £171 including ticket fee. In a few weeks another similar set up festival and size, 2+CV £225. The bands aren't "as big" - but they are/will be excellent, with their own strong following. And of course the fees etc all reflect that - which is reflected in the cost.

Its easy to see how many would be tempted by such smaller, cheaper festivals.

thats just the way it is.

I have said elsewhere that small fests are my main interest these days , so I’ll try not to be dull and it is a pleasure to be chatting on this site again…..
So . Between the Trees.
1000 people fest and some acts I know and a lot I don’t,
Weekend ticket ( Fri Sat ,Sun ) £150
Thurs ticket , limited to 500 people, £20
Camper van £50
Awning £25
Booking fee £12.50.
Total £257.25
You pays yer money and you take a risk on ‘new to you’ bands.
Incidentally I see Glastonbury is costing £65,000,000 to be put on this year….l.

[hendo (Dave)]

 

2) The cost. The elephant in the room. Now, I appreciate as per Simon's statement the cost of everything has gone up stupidly, but a weekend at Cropredy has become very expensive. It was an essential part of my year when tickets were £45-£75 for the weekend, however at today's prices (currently £245 including 3 day camping) it suddenly becomes a serious luxury item.

Many large festivals are indeed that ball park - Bearded Theory set us back a similar amount for example.  Those prices of course reflect the size of the acts playing of course, amount of kit, costs of staging etc etc . Everyone has to make a living and these prices are undoubtably fair.

two weekends ago we went to a 3 day festival, 1000 tickets. two stages a two minute walk (if that) apart. Non stop music 11 hours a day. £4 a pint form the on site brewery. Two of us with campervan - campsite 5 minutes from the arena...  £171 including ticket fee. In a few weeks another similar set up festival and size, 2+CV £225. The bands aren't "as big" - but they are/will be excellent, with their own strong following. And of course the fees etc all reflect that - which is reflected in the cost.

Its easy to see how many would be tempted by such smaller, cheaper festivals.

thats just the way it is.

I have said elsewhere that small fests are my main interest these days , so I’ll try not to be dull and it is a pleasure to be chatting on this site again…..
So . Between the Trees.
1000 people fest and some acts I know and a lot I don’t,
Weekend ticket ( Fri Sat ,Sun ) £150
Thurs ticket , limited to 500 people, £20
Camper van £50
Awning £25
Booking fee £12.50.
Total £257.25
You pays yer money and you take a risk on ‘new to you’ bands.
Incidentally I see Glastonbury is costing £65,000,000 to be put on this year….

[Andy]

If they had the courage to put on a "fire sale" - e.g. as of now, all tickets £100 per person, get the punters in, get it sold out, then I might consider coming. Total fantasy scenario, though...

I'd be royally pissed off if haveing coughed my cash ages ago, which helps cash flow, somebody who left it to the last few weeks could get it at a reduced rate. And that aside all that says is "next year, dont buy tickets when  they go on sale, wait until the last fortnight and grab a bargain..."  next result is much fewer tx sales, bigger panic, possible early cancellation though woeful ticket sales.

Assuming of course there is a 2025, which im beginning to seriously doubt given Simon's message and the general trends of festivals collapsing.

Pearl Jam London gig prices have apparently been cut drastically to try and get an audience in, with no refunds for those who've already spent £100 or more extra to the current pricing.

[Shane (Skirky)]

Incidentally I see Glastonbury is costing £65,000,000 to be put on this year….l.

And I also note that some bands are turning it down because of the awful appearance money they are being offered.

[iandiddams]

Pearl Jam London gig prices have apparently been cut drastically to try and get an audience in, with no refunds for those who've already spent £100 or more extra to the current pricing.

Thoroughly unimpressed.

And as i said earlier all that says to me is "don't buy tickets early next time and wait for a discounted rate". Which then becomes a self defeating circle from the promotion perspective surely.

[Shane (Skirky)]

Pearl Jam London gig prices have apparently been cut drastically to try and get an audience in, with no refunds for those who've already spent £100 or more extra to the current pricing.

Thoroughly unimpressed.

And as i said earlier all that says to me is "don't buy tickets early next time and wait for a discounted rate". Which then becomes a self defeating circle from the promotion perspective surely.

Exactly this.

[Tasha]

Incidentally I see Glastonbury is costing £65,000,000 to be put on this year….l.

And I also note that some bands are turning it down because of the awful appearance money they are being offered.

indeed and some on the minor stages have to have purchased a ticket in order to get access to play! Something i hadn't realised until a band I know were unable to play as not all of them had managed to purchase tickets!

[iandiddams]

indeed and some on the minor stages have to have purchased a ticket in order to get access to play! Something i hadn't realised until a band I know were unable to play as not all of them had managed to purchase tickets!

WTAF?!

name and shame !  If known etc)

[Lubiloo (Lorna)]

Pearl Jam London gig prices have apparently been cut drastically to try and get an audience in, with no refunds for those who've already spent £100 or more extra to the current pricing.

Thoroughly unimpressed.

And as i said earlier all that says to me is "don't buy tickets early next time and wait for a discounted rate". Which then becomes a self defeating circle from the promotion perspective surely.

Exactly this.

How rubbish that would be, to buy tickets then find them being flogged off cheap. Let alone that if someone then couldn’t go, they wouldn’t recoup their costs by selling tickets to trusted people, like we used to on here, if the last ones were being flogged off at cut-prices.

[Dan O.]

For the reasons stated above, this is why my idea of a "fire sale" is, to quote myself, a "total fantasy scenario" - unworkable and unfair.

However, the elephant is still in the room.

Being aware that the cost of goods and services, acts, portaloos, staging, crew, etc. has increased vastly, and that £250 is a ballpark average price for a festival ticket nowadays will not suddenly, magically make that sum of money available to me to be able to afford a ticket !

[Tasha]

indeed and some on the minor stages have to have purchased a ticket in order to get access to play! Something i hadn't realised until a band I know were unable to play as not all of them had managed to purchase tickets!

WTAF?!

name and shame !  If known etc)

Many of the smaller stages are separate from the main Festival and independently run. So apparently unless you’re on the Pyramid Stage or one of the main stages, you have to work out how you’re getting in even if you have the gig. The Stage was The Rabbit Hole.

[David W]

So lets say in the worst case scenario - by the end of June not enough tickets sold for Cropredy 2024 to be solvent.

What decisions are made:

• Hope that the walk ins push it over the edge
  
  Cancel and refund everyone, '24 is the finale
  
  Take the hit and '24 is the finale

Then if option 2, the least likely I accept but still an option,  what is the impact on Cream of the Crop, Brasenose Fringe etc ... does their insurance cover cancellation of the main festival?

DW

[Nick Reg]

Surely if folks dont like the line up a reduction wont make much difference to attitudes. I wouldnr pay £50 to see say The Kaiser Chiefs but if they reduced it to £25 it would make no difference.

[Will S]

No, but if they are wavering about attending because of cost, it might make a difference. Not that, for other reasons, which have been expressed by others, I think that it is a workable solution.  And indeed is more likely to hack off those committed fans who have bought their tickets at full price.

[hendo (Dave)]

No, but if they are wavering about attending because of cost, it might make a difference. Not that, for other reasons, which have been expressed by others, I think that it is a workable solution.  And indeed is more likely to hack off those committed fans who have bought their tickets at full price.

But…..
The costs of producing a fest are fixed …..reducing ticket prices means you may get bums on seats but you may still end up with a deficit!