SHOW OF HANDS
Set to take place from 22-25 May, Lane says the main ethos behind Show of Hands is taking an audience-first approach. To achieve that, Lane has created a voting system for attendees, enabling them to influence decisions about the festival’ s delivery.
“ Once people buy a ticket, they can log in, propose ideas, and vote on decisions,” says Lane.“ Those ideas get implemented as the festival approaches. This means the festival isn’ t something that happens to people, it’ s something they actively build together.”
He says that as part of the event’ s audience-first approach, the inaugural Show of Hands will not involve sponsors or VIP areas:“ If we’ re truly audiencefirst, that has to apply everywhere. Sponsorship removes choice- your beer, your food, your experience. VIP areas contradict equality.”
“ I want to demonstrate the power of individual choice,” he adds.“ In a world where people feel underrepresented politically, this festival is a microcosm of direct democracy.”
The 300-acre festival site near Bruton has previously hosted several events including Sunrise Festival. Lane says that once the farmer offered the site, he“ jumped at it.”
“ The topography is incredible, with a natural amphitheatre, oak trees, and space to play with light and sunset”, says Lane.“ You can imagine sitting on the hill at golden hour, watching the main stage while hot air balloons drift in the distance.”
He also notes the site’ s strong transport links, describing Bruton as“ receptive, experienced with festivals, and well connected to Bristol, Bath, Cardiff and London.”
Production ethics
Lane and his team will take on production for the festival in-house.“ I’ m coordinating production myself, which has meant early mornings and late nights,” he says.“ We need a large outdoor main stage for headline acts but finding something that doesn’ t break the budget has been challenging.”
ALEX LANE
AUDIENCE TO SHAPE SHOW OF HANDS’ DEBUT
Hailed as a new independent jazz, electronica, and arts experience, the launch of Somerset-based festival Show of Hands is being led by Alex Lane, formerly of Green Man and Truck Festival. Access caught up with Lane to discuss his vision for the event.
Show of Hands will use locally produced food and drink, with bar operations run in-house. Lane says this approach“ means better ingredients, better traders, and tighter control.”
He highlights several key collaborators:“ Max Scott is operations manager; we worked together at Green Man and Block9. Lawrence Walker is the booker and works on Shangri-La. Alex Harvey is the flight director coordinating the hot air balloons.”
Lane says he is open to external production companies working alongside him on Show of Hands but stresses they will have to be the right fit and share the festival’ s ethos.
Independent issues
Being an independent in an industry with huge players such as Live Nation comes with its challenges. Lane says cash flow is the biggest issue:“ We don’ t have backing from major funds, so everything depends on careful planning, personal investment, loans, and ticket sales.”
Lane also notes the difficulty of accessing data, though organisations such as the Association of Independent Festivals have been“ hugely helpful.” He adds that independence brings positives too, citing flexibility and goodwill from artists and suppliers.
“ We’ ve been planning ahead from the start,” says Lane.“ The goal is to create experiences people can’ t see anywhere else.”
While this year’ s capacity is 2,500, the site can accommodate up to 15,000.“ I’ d love to expand to a point,” he says,“ but I never want it to be big. I love the village-like feel.
“ Ultimately, I’ d love people to feel part of the experience from the moment they wake up to the moment they go to bed. That’ s the long-term vision.”
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