John K Posted September 24, 2009 Report Share Posted September 24, 2009 Looking at different festivals for next year, and wondering just how big or small they all are. Glastonbury is obviously gargantuan, but what's an average sort of size? 10,000? 20,000? How many do you need to get a proper festival feel? There seem to be a lot of smaller festivals cropping up, but just how small are they? Would it be possible to add the ticket numbers to the festivals listing? Just a thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magic42 Posted September 24, 2009 Report Share Posted September 24, 2009 Well I'm proud to say that I have one of the smallest ones you can find! It's not the size it's what you do with it! We were still able to fit in four stages and a great range of music/dance/workshops/stalls/food/bars. Everyone who came said they had felt totally entertained, looked after and part of a community. I think you should be asking if some of the large events have the "proper festival feel", filthy camp sites, terrible beer, queuing for everything, not being able to see the acts properly on a stage miles away is that the sort of thing you meant? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rseamer Posted September 24, 2009 Report Share Posted September 24, 2009 Well I'm proud to say that I have one of the smallest ones you can find! It's not the size it's what you do with it! We were still able to fit in four stages and a great range of music/dance/workshops/stalls/food/bars. Everyone who came said they had felt totally entertained, looked after and part of a community. I think you should be asking if some of the large events have the "proper festival feel", filthy camp sites, terrible beer, queuing for everything, not being able to see the acts properly on a stage miles away is that the sort of thing you meant? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treacle Posted September 24, 2009 Report Share Posted September 24, 2009 Everyone is different I guess. In the past couple of years my favourite festies have been Bearded Theory#1 and Alchemy both of which had 500 people there. Superb atmosphere I agree with you comments about the litter problem. Some people have no respect for themselves or others around them When we left Alchemy on Monday the campsite was spotless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Flip Posted September 25, 2009 Report Share Posted September 25, 2009 Everyone is different I guess. In the past couple of years my favourite festies have been Bearded Theory#1 and Alchemy both of which had 500 people there. Superb atmosphere I agree with you comments about the litter problem. Some people have no respect for themselves or others around them When we left Alchemy on Monday the campsite was spotless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul ™ Posted September 25, 2009 Report Share Posted September 25, 2009 Everyone is different I guess. In the past couple of years my favourite festies have been Bearded Theory#1 and Alchemy both of which had 500 people there. Superb atmosphere I agree with you comments about the litter problem. Some people have no respect for themselves or others around them When we left Alchemy on Monday the campsite was spotless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flounder Posted September 25, 2009 Report Share Posted September 25, 2009 It is what you do with the size that counts. I didn't queue once at Glastonbury, had brilliant beer and cider and a generally nice time. I went to a smaller one later in the summer and was bored at times by the entertainment, had to queue etc. Some people want huge, others want small and the rest don't give a monkeys as its more about the particular event. For me its the particular event. I'd have to be paid top dollar to got the likes of Reading. I prefer the smaller ones, but unless you know what you're doing, they can become quickly boring. At Endorse it a few years ago , I was speaking to the frontman of one of the bands who collared me and said how much he loved the festival. I asked him why and his reply was.. "I dont drink or do drugs, so I get bored easily at festivals. At Endorse it there is always something going on that is worth going to see - I'm never bored" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beamends Posted September 25, 2009 Report Share Posted September 25, 2009 I'd venture it's horses for courses. Returning to Glastonbury after a 25 year gap I was quite horrified to see what it has become - a venue for stag party types (which is fine for those that want that, no argument there). It was fantastic on Wednesday and Thursday wandering round and chilling out, but by Saturday night it was more like a Hanley - not my thing at all (though again, no problem with people who want that). The obsession with who is headlining and such probably says a lot...... Like the OP, having now revisited Glastonbury, I felt I wanted something a bit more back to basics, I looked around and stumbled across Bearded Theory. It seems, not having been yet, to be what I would like - people having fun, not really caring who's on etc. I'll find out in May! I'm not saying other festivals are good or bad, I don't know, but Bearded Theory looks like it's all just a bit of fun. Just my 2p. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul ™ Posted September 25, 2009 Report Share Posted September 25, 2009 I'm not saying other festivals are good or bad, I don't know, but Bearded Theory looks like it's all just a bit of fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
st00ka Posted September 25, 2009 Report Share Posted September 25, 2009 I guess that they are just different experiences this year I've done big Benicassim, Sonar and small Y-Not, Supersonic. Moseley Folk and have enjoyed them all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John K Posted September 25, 2009 Report Share Posted September 25, 2009 (edited) Interesting replies, thanks. I hadn't heard of Blissfields, but it sounds like one to add to next year's list - it's quite local for me too which is a bonus. How small is it? Is Alchemy really only 500? Looking at the listings Bearded Theory was 500 capacity in 2008 then "slightly increased" (!) to 1500 this year. Can you really have a festival with only 500 people? Isn't that a fete? Edited September 25, 2009 by John K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabid Posted September 25, 2009 Report Share Posted September 25, 2009 Interesting replies, thanks. I hadn't heard of Blissfields, but it sounds like one to add to next year's list - it's quite local for me too which is a bonus. How small is it? Is Alchemy really only 500? Looking at the listings Bearded Theory was 500 capacity in 2008 then "slightly increased" (!) to 1500 this year. Can you really have a festival with only 500 people? Isn't that a fete? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beamends Posted September 25, 2009 Report Share Posted September 25, 2009 Trust me, Bearded and Alchemy definitely weren't fetes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
st00ka Posted September 25, 2009 Report Share Posted September 25, 2009 Can you really have a festival with only 500 people? Isn't that a fete? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airds Posted September 25, 2009 Report Share Posted September 25, 2009 Can you really have a festival with only 500 people? Isn't that a fete? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul ™ Posted September 25, 2009 Report Share Posted September 25, 2009 Blissfields was around 1500 I think.. am sure I will be corrected if wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magic42 Posted September 25, 2009 Report Share Posted September 25, 2009 Blissfields was around 1500 I think.. am sure I will be corrected if wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5co77ie Posted September 25, 2009 Report Share Posted September 25, 2009 Looking at different festivals for next year, and wondering just how big or small they all are. Glastonbury is obviously gargantuan, but what's an average sort of size? 10,000? 20,000? How many do you need to get a proper festival feel? There seem to be a lot of smaller festivals cropping up, but just how small are they? Would it be possible to add the ticket numbers to the festivals listing? Just a thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John K Posted September 25, 2009 Report Share Posted September 25, 2009 Thanks for that. I had no idea that Reading and V and the other big corporates were that big. I'm liking the sound of small more and more. I've never really seen the point of watching a band on a screen from half a mile away anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Betsy Posted September 26, 2009 Report Share Posted September 26, 2009 Absolutely spot on, on the Monday of alchemy, everyone left our little campervan field spotless, just a wee pile of tied up litterbags and nothing else, really refreshing after some I have been to this summer!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BT Rich Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 (edited) Interesting replies, thanks. I hadn't heard of Blissfields, but it sounds like one to add to next year's list - it's quite local for me too which is a bonus. How small is it? Is Alchemy really only 500? Looking at the listings Bearded Theory was 500 capacity in 2008 then "slightly increased" (!) to 1500 this year. Can you really have a festival with only 500 people? Isn't that a fete? Edited September 28, 2009 by BT Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rufus Gwertigan Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 Thanks for that. I had no idea that Reading and V and the other big corporates were that big. I'm liking the sound of small more and more. I've never really seen the point of watching a band on a screen from half a mile away anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alchemy Festival Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 Alchemy was licensed for 3000 people but we didn't sell out and had around 1400 people onsite including bands and staff. Intend to keep it at 3000 to try keep the same atmosphere! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rseamer Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 Oh it is, you will love it :angry: As for size, I guess it depends on the festival too.. 2 of my fav festivals out the 10 I went to this year were Blissfields and Bestival.. both different ends of the scale but both excellent in what they did Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahNatBenAmy Posted October 1, 2009 Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 And I thought it was because I was at both Paul You need to move down south for the summer !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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