Glasto = Too Commercial?

[incident]

as far as I remember it didn't have any properly commercial links until the early nineties, tho I could be wrong with that.

It did of course have its good causes partners prior to that, tho as they're not commercial organisations I'm excluding them.

[paulo999]

I think some of the criticism is just sneering, as has been mentioned earlier. I've seen people on other forums saying things like "I don't want to go to a festival plastered with corporate logos". When challenged, they admit they haven't been for years, but have this imaginary idea of what it's now like.

Last year, during the slow ticket sales, it was a particularly easy target. People in that mindset could at last say "Ha! Look!". And then, with the event itself, they went silent. And on the particular forum I'm thinking of, possibly in the face of world-beating early sell out, they've not resurfaced.

Then there are of course the more realistic people, such as the people on this thread. They know it's changed, but don't wildly exaggerate. Last year my then GF chatted to a couple who'd been going for 20 years. Yes, it was wilder in the old days they said, but they liked it as it is now. They could still do what they wanted to do, but the scary stuff had thankfully gone.

[coolethan]

It is commercial - it's a product after all - we pay our money and we get our weekend. We get our Guardian guides and our Orange ponchos (although haven't seen them for a while ) and our (really, really, really rubbish) Millets potato pegs. We buy horrible lager from various stalls and we watch the tv footage and bought the dvd but considering the fact that the only adverts I see there are for WaterAid and various other charities I really don't feel like I'm being attacked by The Man.

The superfence has changed the vibe for many but IMO turned the festival into a better experience due to lack of over crowding - as a result the festivals future re licensing is a lot more secure.

Commercial? yes. Too commercial? no way.

[Mardy]

you know, I had a big break, between 95 and 2007. When I went back, yeah it felt more organized, more professional, and a bit more commercial, but I took my girlfriend, who'd never been before, and one of things that impressed her most was all the uneccessary, extra stuff that is there, that doesn't need to be; the flags, the painted bins, all the little details that led her to say that it's clear that profit os not the primary motive, they could save loads by cutting corners here and there. But they don't.

And thnking about it, yeah, maybe she's right. I piss and moan about it not being as good, but you know for the size it is, yeah it needs a certain level of professionalism, it's gone past a sort of shambolic amateurness, and unfortunately, if you want big headliners and a fence and it to be licensed and plenty of toilets (and one of the things I've noticed is that there's loads more toilets and much less pissing/shitting up against, well, pretty much antything) then you have to accept a certain amount of commercialism.

I still think the balance is on the right side of the line, despite obviously, some movement.

[paulo999]

Good points.

Even in recent years the loos keep getting better. The new monster bank of Portaloos near the Pyramid were great. Never waited more than a minute, if at all. And as you say, commercial festivals often don't bother. I heard stories of 1 hour queues elsewhere last year. You'd think that with their sponsors, people would get a more luxurious experience, and yet the opposite seems true. Ticket holders simoultaneouslt advertised at, and otherwise forgotten, all in the same space.

There's been mistakes at Glastonbury obviously. Coaches in 2007 for example, but these things do get fixed and generally GFL does look after it's punters.

[Funkfarley]

Stumbled across...

/index.php?showtopic=96089&st=0">http://www.efestivals.co.uk/forums/index.p...=96089&st=0

Interesting read....not much changed then I guess...

[Alcatraz]

It's not too commercial in the sense that It's whored out as advertising space like all the other major festivals in the UK.

As previously mentioned, it's commercial enough to maintain itself and i have no problem with that

[Boris]

I think if anyone Orange are a bit too in yer face at Glasto. I know they provide handy charging points, but they really do stick out like a sore commercial thumb.

[mrfunk]

I think if anyone Orange are a bit too in yer face at Glasto. I know they provide handy charging points, but they really do stick out like a sore commercial thumb.

[Sawdusty surfer]

Talking of McD's i would love to see a McD's put an outlet within the festival...........................

[Funkfarley]

disappointed nobody rose to that bait

[TheBoyInTheBubble]

I think if anyone Orange are a bit too in yer face at Glasto. I know they provide handy charging points, but they really do stick out like a sore commercial thumb.

[ToxicJesus]

The Dance Village had a taste of commerciality a few years back when the Smirnoff Ice tent was dumped in the area. They spent a fortune on DJs, very big PA, solid dancefloor, big lights etc and paid a lot of money just to have a presence at Glastonbury, and lots of people had a good time and drunk lots of their vile concoction, surrounded by wall to wall advertising. Unfortunately, they were a complete bunch of tossers to deal with for the festival - they never complied with noise restrictions (for which the festy was fined and Dance Village blamed i believe), their staff were arsey and out of order backstage, and the amount of rubbish they left behind was enormous! Needless to say, when they asked to come back the next year they were denied. Also, a few years back Cream (remember them?) offered a rumoured million quid to run the Dance Village. They were turned down. Commercial interests are desperate to get into Glastonbury and it is because Michael Eavis' is not a greedy man that they are not there in any big way, he should be applauded. Aren't we bombarded with advertising enough as it is? Glastonbury is as commercial as it has to be but without selling its arse to book big acts that charge waaaay too much for playing anyway....blahblah....its still the best festy ever and incredible that it still survives in this day and age pretty much sorta like it used to be maaaan....

[scudetto_boy]

An event of such size has to be broadcasted to the masses. It would be selfish not to do so and a bit of a f**k you to those who couldnt make it. The commercialism is minimal and not quite as in your face as other festivals where it cant be escaped.

[robith]

while I agree with much of the other stuff you say, it's simply a fact that there used to be no commercial endorsements by the festival, and now there's some.

So while it's not gone anywhere near as far as other fests with its commercialisation, it is more commercial than it used to be.

[fur_q]

.... Also, the way you have to buy a ticket is through a completely commercial system, debit cards, internet connections, the lot.

[pie_and_a_pint]

The thing is, yes, there is a certain commercial element to Glastonbury (SeeTickets, the Orange tent, the choice of lager in the bars, the 'big name' bands, The Guardian, the BBC and even, dare I say it, Brothers Cider...). BUT as a festival goer, you don't HAVE to embrace the commercial element (apart from the online booking) if you don't want to! You don't have to charge your phone in the Orange tent, you don't have to buy Carlsberg, you don't have to listen to Lily Bloody Allen... It's perfectly possible to spend the weekend listening to independent bands, eating local food and drinking local ales and ciders or your own home-brew and still have just as good a time.

The point is that Glastonbury gives us, the festivalgoer, the CHOICE to do that, unlike many other 'arena' based festivals, where you can only drink certain brands and listen to certain acts for the whole weekend.

[Staberinde]

The fact that the price has gone up from last year despite the fact it seems a few areas have been cut is a bit galling even to me

[Staberinde]

The point is that Glastonbury gives us, the festivalgoer, the CHOICE to do that, unlike many other 'arena' based festivals, where you can only drink certain brands and listen to certain acts for the whole weekend.

[Paul ™]

You only need to look at the musuem section on GlastoEarth to see how it has expanded in areas over the years, not cut down

[pie_and_a_pint]

Well put. It's amazing to think a lot of other arena based fests don't let you bring alcohol in.

I don't know if I could afford Glasto if I didn't bring me 20 cases of Bass Bitter and a bottle of (re-canted into plastic) whiskey. Don't even mention the 5 different ways I utilise a litre bottle of Baileys

[ToxicJesus]

how the f**k else are you going to buy somthing other than through a comercial system?

[pie_and_a_pint]

Speaking of commercialism.. I do wish that Special K advert would f**k off

[biscant]

Hey all,

There was little ol' me just sitting thinking about the good times to be had and about the festivals I have been to.

Now, there have been, on number of occasions, people who have said that Glastonbury Festival is too commercial and nothing like it used to be.

Well granted, its not quite like it used to be, there is a monorail and everything now (!) but with regards to being commercial??!

I have only ever been to V festival and Glastonbury and in comparison I feel Glasto is nothing compared to V for commercial'ness (I made that up.. ) The year of my last V was the year of my first Glasto and I vowed never to go back as I just couldn't stand the "you can only drink virgin water, virgin coke, carling lager at £5 per pint which you need tokens for first" In my opinion V is a very commercial festival....but then is Glasto selling itself to the BBC??

Just curious as to what people think about this...so please. Discuss.

[Ashaz42]

Glastonbury will become too commercial when it becomes something like Q Festival Glastonbury or Guardian Festival Glastonbury etc.

I'm looking at YOU Carling Weekend Reading and V(irgin) Festival. Not to mention O2 Wireless etc.