Clare Goodchild
Despite the pressures , Goodchild says she is optimistic about the 2023 season , which will see the company worth with a number of new event clients .
Independent festival Black Deer ( 20,000 ) took place in 2022 having been postponed on three occasions during the pandemic . The event ’ s co-founder Gill Tee says the backlog of artist commitments meant marketing the same artists who had already been promoted over the previous years , but all the hard work and perseverance was worth it : “ The joy we felt to finally open our gates , after such an horrendous time , with the amazing backing of our loyal suppliers , our teams , and our investors , was off the scale .”
She agrees with Lord , that the next couple of years are not going to be plain sailing : “ The biggest challenge is financial , it ’ s going to be very hard to balance the books . The answer , in order to keep afloat , is to rethink the festival content , make changes that are necessary for the survival of the festival , and tread water for the next couple of years , as long as you can get help financially to do so .”
One of the most difficult balancing acts will be increasing ticket prices to reflect inflationary pressures while still making them affordable and realistic for consumers .
Says Lord , “ The first thing you cut when your income is hit are the luxuries , when you go to a festival or other event it is a luxury , so it ’ s going to be a tougher sell this year ,
Black Deer Festival
“ In 2023 and 2024 it ’ s going to be a matter of holding your nerve . I think we ’ re in for a rough ride .” –
that combined with there being absolutely no let up on supply chain cost rocketing .”
Frustration has been aired by suppliers that some festival operators set a ticket price and go on sale before talking to them about whether their prices will need to be raised in the year ahead . On the other side of the fence , production company heads have called on suppliers to cease demanding 100 % payments in advance , to provide more transparent costings and to stop leaving operators in the lurch by pulling out of projects
Sacha Lord , Parklife co-founder
Gill Tee at the last minute . Says Tee , “ I am aware that the supply chain is a problem , but if you work hard as organisers to treat your suppliers well and find a compromise , they will move heaven and earth to help you get over the line .
“ It ’ s all about respect and loyalty . Suppliers do not want to see operators go out of business , as that is not in their best interests , but we have to be realistic and cannot expect them to finance the festival by not making any profit within their own business .”
Tee , whose wealth of experience in the festival business includes her having been behind the launch of the first 100,000-capacity Party In The Park at London ’ s Hyde Park , and later working with Vince Power to launch The Hop Farm festival . She is among those who are calling for a documentary or media campaign that clearly demonstrates to consumers the immense hard work , expertise and expense that goes in to making major events such as festivals a success .
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