Music festivals: a high-risk business | FT Film
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- čas přidán 15. 09. 2021
- Festivals were already a precarious business, but after a record year in 2019 the coronavirus pandemic brought outdoor events to a halt. The FT talks to organisers, bands, and stage hands to find out whether they can bounce back.
#musicfestivals #arloparks #hotchip #sistersledge #elderisland #glastonburyfestival #standoncalling #latitudefestival #britishsummertime #festivals #music #lollapalooza #boomtownfair #wildernessfestival #coachella #strawberriesandcream #standon #womad #alextrenchard #livenation #liveevents #albatorriset #Ålesund #daðifreyr #livemusic
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This is very good analysis. I've been a Live Music Concerts/Festivals organiser for over thirty years. True, it's not for the faint hearted.
But I do also think that the world NEEDS Music. Music lifts Spirits, makes life better.
Farmers too go through huge risks, so do other people in life.
Greetings from Uganda 🇺🇬️
An old mate of mine is a founding member of the Outlook, Horizons, Dimension and a couple of other summer festivals. But the same crew also put on regular nights in several UK cities. That's a proper business plan, spreading risk and maximizing the productivity of all employees. Resting all your hopes on one festival seems like madness to me.
They're *trash* , they don't pay any of their "workers", it's all on interns and volunteer basis. They get paid on food and t-shirts.
There are two kinds of people. Settlers and conquerers. Conquerers must have low environmental foot mark but big sociologic impact on their tours. Settlers or in this case capital city spirits must built with rocks and stones, but have only moderated influence on society.
@@RaulBaracus you make it sound like they dont choose to be there or something lol
We are looking into going into cultural festivals
yup in america we have insomniac events and they are thriving providing EDM raves galore.
I organize festivals in Montreal and it’s definitely the hardest, craziest and most stressful thing you can ever do but I still love it
check out fyre festival documentary for a good laugh on what not to do...in 6 months.
@@jumpingjeffflash9946 just me, watched it a few times when it came out lol
Respect! I personally would not be in a music festival since it doesn't vibe with me but I can imagine the stress that comes with it. Probably only 2nd to a wedding planner for a bridezilla.
Stevie I'm in Montreal I'm a PM, summer is coming lets work together! Got some ideas. Ping me
Can you give us some tips? We’re trying to get into the business
Any IB students here getting ready for paper 1? :D
i’m scared
Any1 else here for Ib case study?
The sad reality of the events industry is that you need to have the capital to be able to sustain a few losses, because it's impossible to guarantee success, especially in the UK where the weather plays a massive in role in how much money the bars and other traders make. It's the main reason why all of the major festivals are done by companies like AEG and Live Nation.
So true
All the radio stations are now owned by similar faceless corporations. Eventually they become stale and people give up with them.
@@Andrew-rc3vh that's the spirit! :D
Zombie Turds Goto Music Festivals - The enablers of this ugly entertainment industry.
Some More Ugly Facts? in terms of Carbon Emissions (CE)
★ Average CE of High-Profile DJs = 53.5 tons per year (@25 return flights every year)
★ Average CE per audience (in EU / North America) = 20.3 tons per year
★ Average CE of Music Festival running +10000 watt sound system = 220 tons per day
★ Average CE of Music Festival running +20,000 watts sound system = 450 tons per day.
★ Average Waste Generation of medium capacity festival = 2300 kgs per day
★ Average Waste Generation of large capacity festival = 5100 kgs per day
★ Average CE of a four member band taking 20 flights a year = 208 tons per year.
★ Average water consumption at 5000+ capacity festival = 2200 litres per day.
★ Average water consumption at 20,000+ capacity festival = 8550 litres per day.
Great documentary. Really appreciate all the interviews. Provides wonderful context.
Like what
I also thought the documentary was great. It aged greatly as well.
Zombie Turds Goto Music Festivals - The enablers of this ugly entertainment industry.
Some More Ugly Facts? in terms of Carbon Emissions (CE)
★ Average CE of High-Profile DJs = 53.5 tons per year (@25 return flights every year)
★ Average CE per audience (in EU / North America) = 20.3 tons per year
★ Average CE of Music Festival running +10000 watt sound system = 220 tons per day
★ Average CE of Music Festival running +20,000 watts sound system = 450 tons per day.
★ Average Waste Generation of medium capacity festival = 2300 kgs per day
★ Average Waste Generation of large capacity festival = 5100 kgs per day
★ Average CE of a four member band taking 20 flights a year = 208 tons per year.
★ Average water consumption at 5000+ capacity festival = 2200 litres per day.
★ Average water consumption at 20,000+ capacity festival = 8550 litres per day.
Nice interesting piece. Big thank you to everyone evolved in putting on festivals so that we can come along and have a great time! ❤🎉
any ib business management students watching this for paper 1?
me too!!! Good luck
Never back down never what
Yep, good luck lads
Live in the US and worked about 6 festivals this summer while living in my van. So grateful to have been even a small part of what they do.
This is very good analysis. I've been a Live Music Concerts/Festivals organiser for over thirty years. True, it's not for the faint hearted.
But I do also think that the world NEEDS Music. Music lifts Spirits, makes life better.
Farmers too go through huge risks, so do other people in life.
Greetings from Uganda 🇺🇬👊🏿🖤❤️
@@stanvanillo9831 thank you 👊🏿❤️🖤
Hello! I’m very interested to hear about your experience working with such a large organization such as Live Nation. I read that you were from Uganda, but were you made aware of the Astroworld tragedy that took place in Houston, Texas by Live Nation? How have they been acting since that?
@@senna3812 Greetings. I'm not affiliated with Live Nation, I've been doing the festivals independently.
You’re so right about the world needing music. I can’t imagine a life without it
The show will go on.
Well done Standon - great small festival & interesting video to get an insight into the covid impact & tight margins.
Great film, Standon Calling is brilliant little festival to attend.
Long live festivals! Patron for life. Music is the answer
I love small and non mainstreamish concerts & festivals.
Ever heard of Nelson ledges ?
I prefer listening to music at home lol
Zombie Turds Goto Music Festivals - The enablers of this ugly entertainment industry.
Some More Ugly Facts? in terms of Carbon Emissions (CE)
★ Average CE of High-Profile DJs = 53.5 tons per year (@25 return flights every year)
★ Average CE per audience (in EU / North America) = 20.3 tons per year
★ Average CE of Music Festival running +10000 watt sound system = 220 tons per day
★ Average CE of Music Festival running +20,000 watts sound system = 450 tons per day.
★ Average Waste Generation of medium capacity festival = 2300 kgs per day
★ Average Waste Generation of large capacity festival = 5100 kgs per day
★ Average CE of a four member band taking 20 flights a year = 208 tons per year.
★ Average water consumption at 5000+ capacity festival = 2200 litres per day.
★ Average water consumption at 20,000+ capacity festival = 8550 litres per day.
I just discovered this and it’s such an helpful documentary.
Amazing, thanks for the hard work!
I am grateful for this content
Really appreciate hearing the numbers and percentages
I love music festivals especially Tomorrowland from India 🇮🇳
Thanks for this.
Shout out to Montebello Rockfest Canada, the best festival I've ever been to.
I'm on the side of festivals, but I would suggest use of a source other than the Association of Independent Festivals for an estimate of the contribution to the UK economy and employment. Perhaps HM Treasury or the Department for Culture, Media and Sport?
Otherwise, fascinating report. Really excellent!
I suppose during the pandemic, you would have to assure customers they can receive a full refund if they test positive for COVID-19 (ahead of the event) to prevent them attending while carrying the virus; which would then necessesitate a doubling or tripling of the standard ticket prices to offset expected losses. And, of course, few people in festival-going demographics could afford that.
Lostwoodz Entertainment, in Montana had experience throwing 3 Electronic Music Festivals in the Flathead. A lot of legal foot work had to be done. Founder Paul Amundson had a vision to bring other compassionate artist together and share thier music with all from around the world. Much support from family and friends made it all happen with little repercussion. Much love to all artist and fans that came to Perspective. Love Mahdrey.
Great piece, we need more of this for the entertainment industry focused on North America if possible!
Zombie Turds Goto Music Festivals - The enablers of this ugly entertainment industry.
Some More Ugly Facts? in terms of Carbon Emissions (CE)
★ Average CE of High-Profile DJs = 53.5 tons per year (@25 return flights every year)
★ Average CE per audience (in EU / North America) = 20.3 tons per year
★ Average CE of Music Festival running +10000 watt sound system = 220 tons per day
★ Average CE of Music Festival running +20,000 watts sound system = 450 tons per day.
★ Average Waste Generation of medium capacity festival = 2300 kgs per day
★ Average Waste Generation of large capacity festival = 5100 kgs per day
★ Average CE of a four member band taking 20 flights a year = 208 tons per year.
★ Average water consumption at 5000+ capacity festival = 2200 litres per day.
★ Average water consumption at 20,000+ capacity festival = 8550 litres per day.
Great video.
Great video. Here in Chile we have a few imported festivals (Lolla, Womad), but I just realized watching this video that our version of UK's summer festivals are the free, one day "festivals" that throw the municipalities in the summer, specially in elections season. Is one of the two big income sources for the musicians and music workers (the other being the national festivities in september). I wonder if people accustomed to attend free concerts would be willing (or even able) to pay a commercial festival.
Chile NEEDS more festivals. Antes de la pandemia hacíamos caleta de festivales, ahora con cuea queda el Lolla y Creamfields. Y todos en Stgo, por cierto. Y carísimos.
I LOVE in Business, because he is almost over the place and everywhere,A lot of Business to help country Progress, Watching your channel in Philippines 💞
very telling, thanks for you comment man :)
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If you guys ever need an Event Manager, I have been 2IC for the Skyfire/Skyshow series in Australia. Good doco. Informative.
This is a business and all things need to be taken into account. Personally I support it as I understand the motivation and support the entertainment industries wherever I can.
Zombie Turds Goto Music Festivals - The enablers of this ugly entertainment industry.
Some More Ugly Facts? in terms of Carbon Emissions (CE)
★ Average CE of High-Profile DJs = 53.5 tons per year (@25 return flights every year)
★ Average CE per audience (in EU / North America) = 20.3 tons per year
★ Average CE of Music Festival running +10000 watt sound system = 220 tons per day
★ Average CE of Music Festival running +20,000 watts sound system = 450 tons per day.
★ Average Waste Generation of medium capacity festival = 2300 kgs per day
★ Average Waste Generation of large capacity festival = 5100 kgs per day
★ Average CE of a four member band taking 20 flights a year = 208 tons per year.
★ Average water consumption at 5000+ capacity festival = 2200 litres per day.
★ Average water consumption at 20,000+ capacity festival = 8550 litres per day.
Beautiful
Yes night is celebration,either summer or winter,we must not take this away
Good tip for festival organizers, contact artists or their managers directly, NOT their labels.
I would imagine that branding plays a MASSIVE role in the success of a festival business. The music acts, the marketing, the tents, the stage designs, ticket sale platfrom, even how long the lines are to get in... will all add or subtract from the brand. Why has A
Nah. Probably money or connection to book A list bands. Imagine you try to Brand it with unknown nobody artists....
@@sebastian3004 i dont even know what Howie was talking about....or 'imagining'.
I puked a little
Nice video.
I miss my festival days. My college roommate and I would go to a rock festival in Ohio every year. Unfortunately we both had to give that lifestyle up after careers, houses, and kids entered the picture. Good times though!
Rock on the Range
@@dllocke2 Yes indeed!
Kids? Na bro just do it and go hard
Zombie Turds Goto Music Festivals - The enablers of this ugly entertainment industry.
Some More Ugly Facts? in terms of Carbon Emissions (CE)
★ Average CE of High-Profile DJs = 53.5 tons per year (@25 return flights every year)
★ Average CE per audience (in EU / North America) = 20.3 tons per year
★ Average CE of Music Festival running +10000 watt sound system = 220 tons per day
★ Average CE of Music Festival running +20,000 watts sound system = 450 tons per day.
★ Average Waste Generation of medium capacity festival = 2300 kgs per day
★ Average Waste Generation of large capacity festival = 5100 kgs per day
★ Average CE of a four member band taking 20 flights a year = 208 tons per year.
★ Average water consumption at 5000+ capacity festival = 2200 litres per day.
★ Average water consumption at 20,000+ capacity festival = 8550 litres per day.
Woo Luminosity 2022 here we come
We will all recover in 2022! Power
not all of us, sadly
They should hire Rain Stoppers from Asia. It worked every time, in Myanmar it cost less than 10$ to book them.
00:00 i’m the weirdo jumping and clapping haha
my toxic trait is thinking I could organise this
Hello guys, I’m watching this because I am from mexico and in my local region there is no such thing as music festivals. Sometimes we get artist coming to local fair events but no live music festivals. I feel people will appreciate something like this since I know people enjoy this type of events but have to travel really far in order to go to one (which involves extra costs for them). I have a team whom I plan to start one. No big thing you know. Just something small like a “party” and see where it all goes from there. I am not afraid to lose my money. I believe and have faith in this in the hope that it can strive for years. Any tips from any organizers?
if at first you don't succeed.... keep going. and try to include the local community, they are a stakeholder as well.
Start small, find out local musicians or near local and talk with them and spread the information using fliers or social media, if you can convince them find a small venue see what happens, good luck
research "DIY festival organizing", there's some valid lessons for first timers in the underground free music scene. Or grassroots organizations, benefit festivals, etc.
Some people love to help set up in exchange for tickets
There are small festivals, like Dream fields was last week, EDC mexico, Vaivén, Bahidora... But yes there needs to be more parties, more Berlin type of night life
(Physically) volunteering to build a festival borders on self harm. In just one month i can’t feel my big toe, i’m bruised all over and can’t sit still at night due to back pain. Wouldn’t miss it for the world tho. It’s like living in a village you’re building from the ground up
From what I know in the US most companies don’t make their money off of big festivals but of everything else going on through the year. Festivals mostly make you well known.
Maribou State... nice booking
I will say this: Let's all go to the next Standon Calling and make it shine. We will buy tickets, buy many cups of beer and steaks and give out free hugs. You are the best. We love you Standon!
I like it overall
You can choose for one of the above gifts
I will love to connect with great event industry creators
Nobody was putting on benefit concerts for those that put on the benefit concerts.
this is sad, i feel them
interesting insight
Didn't realise all of them are as badly organised as FYRE on netflix lolol
"entrepreneurs"
lots of ventures in creative industries start as passion projects, and just a few of them remain around to get the routine and experience for running smoothly
a couple long standing festivals have managed that, for example Brutal Assault
then again, it was the 25th one for them this year, so it"d be strange if it didn"t run well at that point
I love working festivals, but would never trade my well paid cushy albeit boring job for the uncertainty of full time festival life.
Mind telling me a couple of your experiences working them? I’d like to this summer and I could use some insight. Thankyou
My dilemma is I don’t have a well paid cushy albeit boring job 🥲 so it’s either full time event or starve
Want to avoid Covid restrictions in order to join lively activities
whats the track starting on 13:16 ?😊
"the son of viscount trenchard" 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
When a festival is canceled during the middle of the day due to weather or other events, do ticket holders get any type of refund?
likely not, they'll have disclaimers printed on the tickets saying as much
Depends on the event. Multi day events may not but single day events typically will refund or reschedule
So 'fairly independent' means literally owned by the royal family...
quit complaining and start your own festival then.
I don't know for sure but I have the sense that I grew up in a hayday of festival at least in the musician niche that I'm most interested in, Christian rock. There was no other way to figure out about the music. We have a great local radio station for Christian music but outside of the Friday Night Rock Jam at the time, you found out about new bands from shows, your friends, and record labels. It's a little different now. CZcams can find bands that you like for you.
PS. Dadi (don't know how to type it) is awesome. He rocked Eurovision the other year.
2:47 John Cusack
What happened to Alex is how the prison system should work. He made a mistake, got punished and a chance to reform and now he’s back as a productive member of society. I just wish we could extend that sort of fairness to our POC members of society
No, prisons shouldn't be there for punishing people for mistakes. People shouldn't be locked in somewhere to learn from their mistakes.
@@roothik I'm sure there's more than a few victims out there who would disagree that criminals shouldn't be locked up at the very least.
@@roothik 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
Yea no thanks POC are uncivilized who hate their country. Be much better off n their homeland quit simping for ppl who hate u . Try to grow up n b a man
he seems like an ok guy but im sure being released back into your viscount family is helpful in avoiding reoffending
FT's first example of a high-risk business is a Viscount, "a British nobleman ranking above a baron and below an earl," using his aristocratically titled lands and palace to throw a party and charge admission, and then *MANAGING TO GET THROWN IN PRISON FOR NOT PAYING THE PERFORMERS*. And then getting out, and throwing another one, because he STAKED ABSOLUTELY NOTHING on the outcome; He has lost none of the means. He's just some rich partyboy who wants to party and has zero consequences for failure.
Open a new restaurant on mortgage LOC debt sometime why don't you.
Doesn't suck to be him. Why are you mad? Did you want him to start a textile company, instead? Join the clergy?
@@matthewburris769 I'm not mad at him. I'm mad that FT considers this a high-risk-of-failure occupation whose entrepreneurs we should lionize, and it brings in a failson crook who managed to turn zero downside risk into prison time. Like taking some time to praise the Primitive Skills movement for how they have reminded society where we come from, and how much risk they undergo in survival situations, and then interviewing the Unabomber as a meritorious example.
@@TrogdorBurnin8or festivals cost millions to produce. So, only the richest can produce them. Would you rather Standon Calling didn't exist because the guy who puts it on is a trust fund baby?
I'm an event planner and I don't do weddings or outdoor music festivals. I might do a wedding for the right amount a money (way more money than anyone should be willing to pay) but there's not enough money in the world to make me do an outdoor music festival.
What kind of events do you plan ?
Do you have LinkedIn or some other platforms to connect with?
Why don’t festival organizers rent out abandoned mall /out let malls and have it indoors
you want to put people and deafening sound together in an abandoned building?
Whole sector lost so many good people
I hope people in the sector will try new things, maybe smaller scale, with more inclusion for local forces.
Musical Artists almost always make absolutely nothing from album sales. The profit they make from sales go towards paying off their advance from the label which pays for music videos, living expenses whilst writing and the studio expenses. If they're making about 4-8% from their album sales and advances can range from £5k to £1m you can do the maths. Even the biggest acts in the world are perpetually paying off their advances. From what I've heard in the music industry even Ed Sheeran hasn't made any money.
That's not really entirely true at all. They make money, they just don't make MONEY, and F you MONEY is what they mean when they say they're not making any. BTW, the biggest acts in the world, aren't getting advances. They're fulfilling contracts. Want MONEY? Write the songs, become a sought after producer. This isn't the 70's anymore. No one is worshipping a guitar player any longer.
@@matthewburris769 lol no, they're just greedy. also touring is tiring, it's a carrer, lol. s/o les bénévoles mdr
been a pro for nearly ten years and never had more than 2k euros advance. made a bunch of albums that have done well. made a few flops. toured and made money. defs have toured and lost money. i had a seven piece band so touring was actually subsidised by our album sales!!!! after covid though i moved into doing music for different art forms like dance etc. the margins were already so tight after brexit and the pandy just underlined the lack of sustainability. im sure the youngens will work it out x
13:30 note to self.
I love smaller festivals anymore. They all used to be a lot more about the music and the people and now the larger ones are about corporate greed and have none of the true magic they used to have.
I still owe 35k on a festival my father put on 15+years ago
yikes! How is that your financial responsibility though?
@@machupikachu1085 he took out a loan against our family property for the festival, we lost money on the Festival, then he passes away a week after. I still pay every month for a 3 day festival back in 2008
So I guess 14 years.... Feels like forever
@@wildhorsemusic1111 oh man. I'm sorry to hear that! If I ever make it out your way, beers are on me.
Cheers!
@@machupikachu1085 that would rock, we got some awesome breweries in Michigan:) ✨✨✨🎶🎶🎶
I attended 1 festival in 2022 and never going to another one. I hate portaloos, and I starved because they didn't have enough food stalls so there were long, winding queues. Every artist beside the headliner were awful-fine you can't really compete with Florence and the machine but still.🤦🏾♀️🙄 I'm sticking to normal venues from now on
I have help set up stage and lighting at Festival
Travis Scott disagrees, festivals are a piece of cake.
Travis scott is a satanist. For as long as people don't believe in it they will keep on getting away with all the awful things they do
Bad taste
Same with getting views right I mean I see your uploads don’t even have 150 views after a full year lol
it's free money
Was it really a festival if it didn't burn to the ground?
good he had an insurance of bad weather , that's why he was kind of smiling lol
Absolutely discouraging at best. I make music myself but after multiple applications to various music festivals, no response. None! I ask why bother?
What's the song at 5:50?
Think about things - Daði Freyr
@@leonard2794 Brilliant! Thanks a lot!
Exit did well this year
A year's work for organising a couple of milion worth festival.
Well hello from Earth. Most people don't even make a fraction of that working full time jobs all year round.
ummm...that's why it's called high risk.
355k for 11months sign me up
Coming together to see a computer play live
What do you think costs more? Hiring a band of five people, or one guy and a laptop?
If you want to see a full group of people perform - buy their albums and merch, go to a bunch of their concerts, and bring friends!!
Only then can they have the funds to keep the band members on payroll, and not use a laptop. Simple as.
Whats the song playing at 8:36??
Elder Island - Kape Fear
i wish youd say what festival this actually is
Standon calling
It’s all about the money!not one organiser said they were in it for the love of music and bringing the people together!us hippies showed them all yes eavis is hippies that started festival and all free then you landed gentry saw the pound notes and now we have hundreds of festivals every year unless you are a true hippie who used the events to meet family and friends etc but alas if you got cash you can go if you haven’t exclusion
biggest irony/feature, they use the "cool hippies doing drugs and listening to music in fields" to sell Disneyland but with E. it's sad man.
Yeah who can afford a $500 ticket and another $500 for food etc? Seriously! And that's on the low end!
They need to break even on the festivals. It's art for commerce. People need to eat. Relax.
Glastonbury was the first to cancel and it had a cascading effect?? Or….. was it the pandemic that caused cancellations? Didn’t know it was a race. Clearly Glastonbury deserves a gold medal for canceling first lol.
My guy sounds like Boris jhonson
and yet they still haveen't solved the problem of buying more narcan kits
Darwinism takes care of that.
Cooperations took over the festival game. So therefore, it’s now become a waste of money and will not survive for much longer
ummm...that's because you can lose millions in a day? Corporations give festivals a chance to survive. Would you rather festivals didn't exist to spread joy to millions of music fans?
whos here after the travis scott incident
I'm still here.
How can someone make a documentary about the risks of music festivals, and not even mention the debacle that was Fyre Festival. It’s the biggest festival failure of the last 20 years...Just because it wasn’t in the UK???
Yes, it’s about the industry in the U.K. you plonker.
@@ma-moomoo Gotcha. No wonder it sucked so bad. Nobody cares about the UK
Most all business is risky business.
Title is wrong . It should be ‘how are they coping with covid’
Yeah, your CZcams documentary on the subject was far more accurate. Way to show us how it's done!
Why is this UK centered ?
I was going to get sad until I remember the tickets prices and then I went MAD
Travis Scott knows
COVID had no impact on festivals at all. Silly government bans did.
4:20 this is what you wanna hear from someone, that's exactly how the prison system has to work. Understand the mistakes we humans make and become better people. We all make mistakes but the point is to learn from them
Says it’s a multi-million dollar business… then shows a figure of almost 2 billion…
I caught that too 🤣🤣
Tory festivals all these.