97 replies to this topic

[ark]

Whatever the other guy said, I really dont think the admin of efestivals should demean himself to the level or retorts that is going on.
Stop already.

[rseamer]

ark, on Mar 27 2008, 07:14 PM, said:

Whatever the other guy said, I really dont think the admin of efestivals should demean himself to the level or retorts that is going on.
Stop already.

Ha, I was quite enjoying all this bitching (only joking)

Well folks, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating this year won't it ? Lets see how ticket sales do....

Alas I'm an ex Guilfester who for the time being won't be returning (Latitude for me last year and Blissfields this year on the Guilfest weekend) but never say never.....after all I've had some great times at Guilfest...

[Tugger2k]

rseamer, on Mar 27 2008, 07:57 PM, said:

Ha, I was quite enjoying all this bitching (only joking)

Well folks, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating this year won't it ? Lets see how ticket sales do....

Alas I'm an ex Guilfester who for the time being won't be returning (Latitude for me last year and Blissfields this year on the Guilfest weekend) but never say never.....after all I've had some great times at Guilfest...

i also was enjoying the bitch fest!!

but seriously, i do think to a certain point guilfest has shot itself in the foot this year.
when your competing against O2, Blissfields & Cornbury all on the same weekend they had to come up with a better line up than this.
festivals are never about the headliners alone, but when push comes to shove when there are so many festivals happening on the same weekend all within about an hour's travel between them, and your competing against the like of fatboy, morrisey, wonder stuff, paul simon, kt tunstall, the whip, roni size, counting crows (something for absolutly everybody there) you simply have to come up with a stronger line up than the levelers (anybody who really wants to see them will be going to beautiful days - as i am, or any number of the numerous gigs their doing this year), blondie (hands up anybody in the country who HASNT seen them) and a cover band then you have to SELL the festival.

the organisers of the three other festivals must be cartwheeling round their respective offices!!!!

[eFestivals]

Ock, on Mar 27 2008, 06:51 PM, said:

This is ludicrous and untrue.

sorry, but it's not - Oz Pink Floyd do a huge arena tour nearly every year before xmas, taking in more arenas than your average arena tour band does at a ticket price higher than your average arena tour band charges, selling them all out. Just because that has obviously passed you by doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

Edited by eFestivals, 28 March 2008 - 08:06 AM.

[eFestivals]

Tugger2k, on Mar 27 2008, 09:44 PM, said:

when your competing against O2, Blissfields & Cornbury all on the same weekend they had to come up with a better line up than this.

it's horses for courses.

Wireless is a non-camping fest, and disjointed so it's unlikely that many people will go to all nights of it (actually, based on previous years, it's unlikely that many people will attend full stop, it's sold quite poorly in previous years) - so a very different beast to Guilfest.

Blissfields is another very different beast - the acts are of a far lower level to Guilfest, and aside from people who desperately want to see one or more of the bands they have, the Guilfest line-up will be a generally more attractive line-up (remember, there's still masses to be announced) for people who are attracted by a line-up in general.

Of those you mention Cornbury is the most similar. But it has just two music stages (perhaps a third [it's a few years since I've been], but with bands no one has heard of), and doesn't have any extras as Guilfest has, and has a very different atmosphere (going to Cornbury? Iron yourself some shirts and get those brown nylon slacks out ).

While what Guilfest has announced so far might not grab you (and I'm perfectly aware that it won't grab everyone), Guilfest has now pretty much sussed its target market, and is good at booking bands for that market. While it might not sell as well as last year for a variety of reasons (including the competition of other local-ish fests on the same w/e), I don't expect it to have problems selling in general (unless there's going to be a general downturn this year for a number of smaller fests, which after last year's weather is possible along with the festival fashion having peaked - if this is going to happen then it's still going to be a while before that becomes clear).

Edited by eFestivals, 28 March 2008 - 08:07 AM.

[Tugger2k]

eFestivals, on Mar 28 2008, 08:06 AM, said:

Of those you mention Cornbury is the most similar. But it has just two music stages (perhaps a third [it's a few years since I've been], but with bands no one has heard of), and doesn't have any extras as Guilfest has, and has a very different atmosphere (going to Cornbury? Iron yourself some shirts and get those brown nylon slacks out ).

i already have mine ready, along with my champagne glasses and special strawberry and cream spoon!!   

[blackplanet8]

eFestivals, on Mar 28 2008, 07:47 AM, said:

sorry, but it's not - Oz Pink Floyd do a huge arena tour nearly every year before xmas, taking in more arenas than your average arena tour band does at a ticket price higher than your average arena tour band charges, selling them all out. Just because that has obviously passed you by doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

          This is true,but i can only speak about the MEN show where franz ferdinand virtually sold out a full arena and APF only opened part of the arena and even in that part opening did not open all the tiers--so your details do not give the whole truth--but after saying that they do sell out large venues at a big price and of the 3 headliners will put on the best show.
             I do agree Guilfest targets its audience well and has a loyal following and considering the restrictions on space and opening times and i assume on budgets has achieved miracles to still keep achieving its good attendances and long may it continue.

[sifi]

Ock, on Mar 27 2008, 06:51 PM, said:

This is ludicrous and untrue.

They have sold out the Brighton Centre.  That holds four - five thousand, and is the same place that the Killers played last year.

I'm seriously thinking about to Guilfest now, because of this.

Edited by sifimaster, 28 March 2008 - 03:10 PM.

[Little Chief]

eFestivals, on Mar 28 2008, 08:06 AM, said:

Blissfields is another very different beast - the acts are of a far lower level to Guilfest, and aside from people who desperately want to see one or more of the bands they have, the Guilfest line-up will be a generally more attractive line-up (remember, there's still masses to be announced) for people who are attracted by a line-up in general.

Er, what exactly does this mean?  Lower level?  Is this really open-mindedness?  It seems more than a little odd that you feel it is okay to make snide remarks about a small, not in it for the money festival just trying to give people a great weekend for a reasonable ticket price!   Given that we need more help selling tickets against new and old corporate giants in it for the money on the same weekend (bear in mind we never changed our weekend like everyone else has and specifically chose a weekend not to clash with Guilfest because it was usually later), isn't it the likes of Blissfields you should be supporting!  In some ways, I wish we could sell 25,000 tickets as it would give us a bigger artists budget but that's not what we are about.  Vive la difference!    

Also, Mercury Music Prize winner Roni Size /Reprazent and Mercury nominated Mobo Award winner, internationally renowned and respected jazz artist Soweto Kinch is hardly lower level either.  That's not including all the other up and comings, establishing, and different types of music we'll have going on.  

I have no beef with any other festival, even if they aren't my cup of tea so feel these sort of comments should be retracted as they are very unfair and unnecessary.  Plus, we still have lads more artists to announce that will appeal to the truly open-minded!  

and    at this!

Edited by Little Chief, 28 March 2008 - 05:12 PM.

[eFestivals]

Little Chief, on Mar 28 2008, 05:07 PM, said:

Er, what exactly does this mean?  Lower level?  Is this really open-mindedness?

It's simply the truth, of a comparison of the profile, sales and knowledge of the bands - it's no comment on "good" or bad".

Little Chief, on Mar 28 2008, 05:07 PM, said:

It seems more than a little odd that you feel it is okay to make snide remarks about a small, not in it for the money festival just trying to give people a great weekend for a reasonable ticket price! Given that we need more help selling tickets against new and old corporate giants in it for the money on the same weekend

You say "snide", I say "truthful". Or are you trying to claim that Blissfields is as appealing with its line-up as (say) Glastonbury is?  That would have to be the logical conclusion of the argument you're putting forwards here.

Is Guilfest in it for the money? Nope. How many times has it gone bust and taken Tony's bread and butter living with it? Tony is in it for the love of it, no different to what you say your motivation is.

Little Chief, on Mar 28 2008, 05:07 PM, said:

(bear in mind we never changed our weekend like everyone else has and specifically chose a weekend not to clash with Guilfest because it was usually later)

You can only make your own choice of date; you have no right to claim any date as "yours". Guilfest had its reasons for changing dates, just as you had reasons for attempting to be a different w/e to Guilfest. That's simply how it goes (if you want to start down that tack, then you should be tackling the many newer fests that chose the same w/e as Guilfest and not Guilfest ).

Little Chief, on Mar 28 2008, 05:07 PM, said:

isn't it the likes of Blissfields you should be supporting!

no, eFestivals should be supporting all fests on an even and fair basis. This is what eFestivals tries to do, and based on what a festival offers, not how big its marketing budget is or (like some other websites) how much money a fest stuffs in our pockets (we don't take money from festivals AT ALL to give them a higher profile - whereas most other websites do payola).

Little Chief, on Mar 28 2008, 05:07 PM, said:

Vive la difference!

absolutely - which is precisely why I said Blissfields was a different beast. I was comparing the profile of the headline acts, nothing else.

Little Chief, on Mar 28 2008, 05:07 PM, said:

Also, Mercury Music Prize winner Roni Size /Reprazent and Mercury nominated Mobo Award winner, internationally renowned and respected jazz artist Soweto Kinch is hardly lower level either. That's not including all the other up and comings, establishing, and different types of music we'll have going on.

It depends on the measure for 'lower'. In profile and sales (which is what I was talking about) it's beyond doubt that Blissfields has lower acts than Guilfest. Blissfields even recognises this fact by having a lower sales target (and which you've said you'd like to be higher if you could have a bigger bands budget ... now surely you wouldn't book acts only of that same level with that bigger budget would you? ).

C'mon, don't go getting all unreasonable.

[Little Chief]

Quote

It's simply the truth, of a comparison of the profile, sales and knowledge of the bands - it's no comment on "good" or bad".

As a lover of music, sales is perhaps not always the best indicator of music quality for some.  I give you James Blunt!

Quote

You say "snide", I say "truthful". Or are you trying to claim that Blissfields is as appealing with its line-up as (say) Glastonbury is?  That would have to be the logical conclusion of the argument you're putting forwards here.

Is Guilfest in it for the money? Nope. How many times has it gone bust and taken Tony's bread and butter living with it? Tony is in it for the love of it, no different to what you say your motivation is.

Not trying to say Blissfields line-up is or isn't more appealing than Guilfest.  That is a matter of opinion only.  I'd say they'd appeal to different people.  Wouldn't even bring Glastonbury into it as no-one can compete with them for breadth.  There seems to be some misunderstanding going on here as I don't think we compete with Guilfest.    

Not saying Guilfest are in it for the money at all and I am very sorry if it came across that way as it was in no way meant.  We met Tony along with other festival organisers at a conference and we know he is not in it for the money.  Seemed like a great guy.  As for our motivation, our ticket price is the best indicator we aren't in it for the money!  

Quote

You can only make your own choice of date; you have no right to claim any date as "yours". Guilfest had its reasons for changing dates, just as you had reasons for attempting to be a different w/e to Guilfest. That's simply how it goes (if you want to start down that tack, then you should be tackling the many newer fests that chose the same w/e as Guilfest and not Guilfest ).

Agree on not having a right to a date so I'll drop anything there.  Other newer festivals are probably more Guilfest's competition anyway seeing as we still remain small and cheap by comparison.  

Quote

no, eFestivals should be supporting all fests on an even and fair basis. This is what eFestivals tries to do, and based on what a festival offers, not how big its marketing budget is or (like some other websites) how much money a fest stuffs in our pockets (we don't take money from festivals AT ALL to give them a higher profile - whereas most other websites do payola).

Fair enough, then why make 'truthful' remarks about a festivals quality when quality is so subjective!  I am pleased you don't take money as we have a shite marketing budget as we have spent it all on our rubbish line-up

Quote

absolutely - which is precisely why I said Blissfields was a different beast. I was comparing the profile of the headline acts, nothing else.

Fair enough.  I'd actually prefer to see Roni over Blondie, or even the Levellers (again, music taste difference) but I'd quite like to see Oz Pink Floyd because the others won't play together.  

Quote

It depends on the measure for 'lower'. In profile and sales (which is what I was talking about) it's beyond doubt that Blissfields has lower acts than Guilfest. Blissfields even recognises this fact by having a lower sales target (and which you've said you'd like to be higher if you could have a bigger bands budget ... now surely you wouldn't book acts only of that same level with that bigger budget would you? ).

Fair enough on sales now but we have some artists that could go on to do well, and quite a few that already do.  Not on the same level but that's not what we are trying to do.  

I actually like quite a lot of the bands we book, which is why we do

In terms of bigger budget, I'd like to be a trustafarian and be able to throw £1m every year at the line-up and sell tickets for £30   

Also, lower sales targets has everything to do with the amount of money you have to throw at it in the first place because someone has to be liable if things go tits up.  Plus, small festivals offer something different, which is cool for some, not for others.  

Quote

C'mon, don't go getting all unreasonable.

I am always 'fair' (I've used it enough times above) and reasonable

I love Guilfest.  Let's all get along!

[eFestivals]

Little Chief, on Mar 28 2008, 06:09 PM, said:

As a lover of music, sales is perhaps not always the best indicator of music quality for some.  I give you James Blunt!

as I said, it was no comment on "good" or "bad".

Little Chief, on Mar 28 2008, 06:09 PM, said:

I'd say they'd appeal to different people.

exactly - but as more people will be familiar with Guilfest's headline acts, they'll be more appealing to more people.

Little Chief, on Mar 28 2008, 06:09 PM, said:

There seems to be some misunderstanding going on here as I don't think we compete with Guilfest.

I don't think you do either - as I said in my original post where I mentioned Blissfields, they're different beasts. I was responding to a person who did think of them competing.

Little Chief, on Mar 28 2008, 06:09 PM, said:

Fair enough, then why make 'truthful' remarks about a festivals quality when quality is so subjective!

I didn't make any comment on quality, just the level (profile, sales) of the headliners.

Little Chief, on Mar 28 2008, 06:09 PM, said:

Fair enough on sales now but we have some artists that could go on to do well, and quite a few that already do.  Not on the same level but that's not what we are trying to do.

that's little different to so many festivals - Guilfest and very many other festivals have a great history of booking acts in their early days that go on to much bigger things; this is where I think festivals excel, as a way of introducing people to music they wouldn't otherwise give a chance to.

Anyway, I'm glad we've cleared that up.

[Peridot]

eFestivals, on Mar 27 2008, 11:44 AM, said:

the problems for overflowing toilets were limited to the entrance and just the entrance. The only time a person would encounter them was on entering or leaving.

Oh, that's okay then  

It'd been fun catching up on this thread. Having had a few quid extra in this month's paypacket, I've just been booking up my festivals for the summer.

I've gone for the ones where I won't have to wade through piss every time I enter and leave the arena.

For those of you going to Guilfest I hope the organisational problems are sorted out and you come back to give me encouragement to give it another chance in the future.

If not then I look forward to the amusement of new apologies for the one festival that for some reason appears to be beyond criticism.

Have a happy summer folks ... here's hoping for lots of sunshine  

[jacketspud]

I had my flyer through the door - today -  and looking at it even if we wanted to go we couldn't now well not in our trailer tent - NO caravans now  in the campervan area and so no trailer tents I'm guessing?  Will be going to Blissfields instead anyway so not worried.

[DeanoL]

Have to admit, after doing Guilfest for the past 7 years I am seriously considering dropping Guilfest and trying Latitude this year as the line-up just doesn't appeal and even the comedy tent seems to have gone down hill in the past few years and just doesn't have the quality of acts it used to have (sorry Neil!).

[eFestivals]

DeanoL, on May 14 2008, 09:56 PM, said:

the comedy tent seems to have gone down hill in the past few years and just doesn't have the quality of acts it used to have (sorry Neil!).

It gets bigger names each year. I'll agree that 'bigger names' doesn't necessarily mean 'more funny', but they're certainly not getting less funny.

[Johnny Echo Echo]

Hi Everyone!

Well its been nearly a year and I was amazed to find this thread at the top of the pile after all this time!

I`m also mildly amazed to find such a cyber bitch fest going on in the middle of it. What the hell happened there?

I meant what I said last year and still stand by the original posting, but after all this angst I think I`ll change my mind and bloody well go this year!

Oh I hear Radio 2 won`t be sponsering it this year, wonder why?

[ade]

Quote

Oh I hear Radio 2 won`t be sponsering it this year, wonder why? [/size]

Because the deal we had with them came to an end last year and they have pulled out of most of their live music events, including the Cambridge Folk Festival.

[bazjam]

I go to Guilfest every year and although i do agree that the overall line up quality has dipped in the last few years i find it hard to understand why people are so down on last years festival. Myself and the people i go with all agreed that last year was one of the best for a few years. And the toilets situation while not good, was nowhere near as bad as people are saying and i've seen far worse at other festivals.

And despite being under impressed with the headliners, this years line up is starting to look the best and most diverse in years with the likes of Brian Jonestown Massacre and British Sea Power.

[DeanoL]

eFestivals, on May 15 2008, 08:53 AM, said:

It gets bigger names each year. I'll agree that 'bigger names' doesn't necessarily mean 'more funny', but they're certainly not getting less funny.

It's true that it tends to get a bigger 'name' each year - Milton Jones, then Junior Simpson and now Howard Marks this year. The headliners get bigger each year and tend to be your more theatre show comics than club circuit comics. But honestly last year, looking at that line-up, it looked like most of the budget was spent on Simpson (who I don't think is actually that good, but he's certainly a name) and then the rest was whatever could be got with what was left - I felt the comedy on Saturday last year was really quite bad, though Sunday was far better.

But in years past there'd be one or even two circuit level headliners a day eg. 2004 with John Moloney, Pierre Hollins, Hils Barker, Mitch Benn, Steve Gribbin, Howard Read and Wilty all on. Admittedly Friday this year is pretty good but I can't make it until Saturday so that's sort of moot for me.

I also get that in terms of selling the festival it's better to have one big name that your average joe might have heard of, than a bunch of bigger circuit names that they won't of.

I just have a certain affinity for the tent given watching a whole bunch of stand-up there in 2002, something I'd never done before other than seeing Bill Bailey live once, set me off on a path of comedy fandom that has seen me take on the role of comedy promoter, performer and professional critic at various points since. So personally for me it's sad to see it going in a direction that I'd rather it didn't. That and it's not the same without Martin Davis MCing on a Sunday afternoon

Edited by DeanoL, 19 May 2008 - 03:48 PM.