Lower standards

[formed a band]

Seems like people are reporting a lot of poor behaviour, pissing in the stonebridge bar, stewards being attacked, ques being pushed into more than ever, general disrespect and animal behaviour with bins and toilets etc.

did this glastonbury attract a lower standard of attendee? There seemed to be much younger crowd, more scensters, more people just not behaving in a very glastonbury like way, any reasons why do people think.?

In 2010 by the way as we were leaving we noticed someone had done a massive shit in park home, just in between a few tents.. There it was, why? That's the only other time I've been so appalled

[themuel]

I thought the crowd seemed older this year, but I agree, the litter situation was awful.

After The Stones I did a litter pick of everything in a 10 metre radius of me and the way people looked at me it was like I was completely insane.

One guy even said to me, you shouldn't be doing that mate people get paid to.

[marcwilson87]

Along with beards and tattoos, Glastonbury is all the rage at the moment. No idea if that has any bearing on the number of jerks, but there seemed to be many more than I experianced at previous glastonburys. Luckily, they all seemed squeezed into the Silver Hayes/Arcadia area. I ended up spending my spare time in the Fields of Avalon and Greenfields area. People seemed much nicer there.

[formed a band]

I'm going to revise that, there was an older scene as a whole but perhaps hoards of youths there for acts like Rita ora, Azelia banks, dizzee etc, overall though its not ages I'm commenting on

[pie_and_a_pint]

There was an awful lot of litter in certain areas of the site, and virtually none in others. It's easy to guess which areas (and after which acts) had most litter and which had virtually none

Edited July 1, 2013 by pie_and_a_pint

[Lentus]

Spent most of my time in the green fields, avalon and west holts which seemed good to me. I noticed a lot of hipsters but like has been said they were all concertrated to one area and certain acts. Something really needs to happen about the litter, black list peoiple caught dropping it. Its really not hard to pop it in a bag till you find a bin. PIsses me off.

[TomfromStroud]

I genuinely think things continue to get better. The toilets seemed better to me and the litter situation whilst still not ideal is so much better than it used to be. People actually bag their rubbish in the campsites now, and I repeatedly saw people walking out of camp with bags to put in litter areas. I think the arenas for the big gigs will always be a mess but if it can be kept to just that, as it seemed to be that's a real improvement on how it was ten years ago.

I am, however, aware that I have made this point on here before and people have rounded on me to tell me I'm simply wrong.

One other point is that there were loads of young people there. When I first went in 1999 everyone was older than me, but now, 14 years later quite a few of them seem a bit younger.

[The Nal]

Things are getting better. Crowd was older this year then the Beyonce year. Those kids didn't come back.

Shangri La at night was messy though. A lot of coke, Ketamine and MDMA around this year. A lot.

[Morse Code]

Seems like people are reporting a lot of poor behaviour, pissing in the stonebridge bar, stewards being attacked, ques being pushed into more than ever, general disrespect and animal behaviour with bins and toilets etc.

did this glastonbury attract a lower standard of attendee? There seemed to be much younger crowd, more scensters, more people just not behaving in a very glastonbury like way, any reasons why do people think.?

In 2010 by the way as we were leaving we noticed someone had done a massive shit in park home, just in between a few tents.. There it was, why? That's the only other time I've been so appalled

[coljwood]

I seemed to attract idiots all weekend. Especially for The Rolling Stones, that hour between Primal Scream and Rolling Stones was one of my least enjoyable of the weekend.

I had a genuine interest in watching Elvis Costello and Primal, so was camped in the same spot for most of it. Then a group of idiots turned up, to the point where it was unbearable. They were arsing about in front of us while Primal Scream were on, not even watching the band. We decided that it would be a lot to put up with for another few hours so picked a better spot for The Stones. Then, the same sort of thing happened. Another group of idiots appeared to the right of us, who to be fair did seem to enjoy The Rolling Stones, but there was the pissing on the floor and over people in front of them, about 6 people doing it about 3 times each throughout the show. They also broke out into a fight on 3 occasions, all between members of their own party, and this is while The Stones were still on.

Add to that the amount of people sitting down as the crowd was building for The Stones was the most inconvenient thing of all time. It's difficult to move around as it is, so please get up of the floor...

I just don't see why people can't just find their spot, watch, sing, dance, have fun, without actually pissing people off. The one saving grace is that there was a group of Brazilian girls in front of us that genuinely seemed to be having the time of their life.

Edited July 1, 2013 by coljwood

[formed a band]

It's the savagery......

And do people still do the horse!?

[Rodbull]

Can,t be doing with people who leave litter. How have these people been brought up? Lazy b stards. We where in cv west and a guy who had his van by the entrance left his tent up full of rubbish and drove off.? The bins where about 50 yards away and he didn't even have to cart the gear anywhere as his van was there. Some people.

Oh and someone took a crap in the men's urinals. Hilarious

[r_eg]

Over the five years I've been going to glasto I completely agree that there has been some glimpses of lower standards and I don't think it can be blamed on age.

The group I go in range from 24-27 and we don't have the 'I don't give a shit' attitude.

I was SHOCKED at the amount of rubbish after the stones. I walked passed the pyramid around 7am and couldn't believe it. Ill upload a picture later if I can.

During Portishead about 20-30metres back lots of people just talked through the set and quite loudly may I add. One girl even pushed passed us, turned her back on the band and chatted to her friends. Well played to the person who shouted shut up!

When the band finished a group of about five girls barged passed this older gentleman nearly knocking the poor guy over!

Saying this, there were moments of true glasto spirit and I still had a great festival.

Edited July 1, 2013 by r_eg

[argentia]

I have been going since 1999 and since teh fence went up it has shifted from a very sinister crowd to a safer feeling environment. I see various groups - the 'kids' in large groups out to get drunk/stay up all night and generally piss off anyone within the vicinity, the middle class people in their 30s who are acting like they are 18 again and are out to get stoned/drunk and generally piss off anyone within the vicinity and then the older brigade who have seen it all before and are happy to watch the bands and have a drink but not out to annoy anyone. I have noticed the crowd change over time and this year I was fed but with every pissed up group seemingly finding its way either to the side or front of me, often barging their way passed at the last minute. Don't get me wrong there were plently of nice people about but there were also an annoying number of idiots. No doubt you get this at other festivals. Frequenting the greenfields provided the perfect antidote to all of the mayhem but if you wanted to see the big bands there did seem to be no way of avoiding the idiots

[kingmonkey1980]

Bunch of moaning b@stards on here. Noticed that it the build up theres almost a 'Ive been going for 15 years' superiority about some people and they seem to be gathering in this thread. So what if someone sits doen in the build up to the band. I get a bad back so have to do this between bands, I generally get there early and find a decent open space usually well away from the front and sit take the weight off. What pisses me off is people turning up just before the band trying to get closer to the stage trying to step over me when Im chilling out. There has ALWAYS been a load of rubbish at the end of the night, thats why a team of volunteers get a free ticket for going collecting it all before the next day, why would that ruin your festval. Stop worring about other people and try and have agood time, if not dont go and someone more deserving will take it.

[Ruwise]

I don't think any of the people are scary or nasty but there does seem to be a lot of rudeness and a lot of people turning up to acts they have no interest in and just being disruptive to others. I wish there was some kind of etiquette for concert going that people had to adhere to. I loved Chic but it was close to being ruined by the number of people who just kept barging in and out all the way through the set and the large group of people who were dancing around and singing happy birthday twice to one of their friends whilst Chic were playing Let's Dance. Then they started lighting sparklers even though there was a lovely couple with their toddler daughter nearby.

If I really want to be at the front for a set (which I no longer ever do) I would get there in plenty of time. If I'm not sure a band is for me I loiter near the back so I can slope away if I'm not enjoying it but it seems that few others have this level of consideration anymore.

[millionaire]

I didn't see any green police this year?

I agree that the standards were lower this year. People just elbowing you out the way or barging you out the way. Litter I thought was much worse too. I really don't understand those that just stand up and walk away from all the food plates, cups etc. Why do people think it's acceptable behaviour?

Someone did a shit right next to a bunch of portaloos in east CV field too. Disgusting.

Perhaps they should fine people for the unsociable behaviour with the money going to charity.

[Somersetsun]

Can we have 'politeness police'? Make a joke out of it but try and explain some of this to those new to the gigging thing?

I had to sit while waiting for bands. Sorry. But I had to. I even had to sit during some songs. We tried to never be in the way.

Litter - did I read right that it costs over half a million quid to remove the litter? Tell people who may bands that'd book. See them remove their litter.

[little_jim]

What annoyed me more people leaving food on the fields where some of us like to sit! You would look and within a few meters are bins which no doubt would of been passed by the litter bugs in question!

[Grateful Ghoul]

There did seem to be a massive increase in hipsters/scenesters this year, I was fortunate enough to get a decent place for the Stones, but with 5 minutes to go, a gaggle of hipster girls pushed their way in like it was their right and were saying "I have been waiting for this moment for so long".

Two songs in, when they had their Instagram pics and Facebook statuses posted for bragging rights they turned their back on stage and started talking shit and giggling which was starting to annoy everyone.

A few guitar solos and Keith Richards vocals seemed to be the perfect medicine to flush out the scenesters though, as they quickly made their exit.

We all attend for Glastonbury for different reasons and its fantastic to see such vast age demographic on site, but it seemed that many were only there to tick Glasto and The Stones off their bucket list and see what they think will get them more internet points rather than what they truly love.

[Vacant0]

Not something I'd noticed. Think some of you just want to moan.

[funksoulfever]

The one type of person that annoyed me was the tourist whod barge past ya in a busy club or area to get to front then not dance. In nycdownlo there was bout 20 lads on stage just stood chatting or staring and occasiinaly falling over decks.

[pie_and_a_pint]

I didn't see any green police this year?

[Sketchead]

No real complaints from me this year. Few muppets during Dizzee starting fights etc but that's sadly to be expected with an act like that, no matter where we are.

Overall thought the vibe was nice as I found in my first visit in 2011.

[scorp]

I thought most of the jerks were of the posh 'harmless' type rather than the nasty 'look like they'll do you over if you look at them the wrong way' type jerks but yes, lots of jerks!

Worst thing I saw was that someone had taken a shit next to the security tower to the right of the Other Stage on Thursday night and I happened to stand right next to it on Friday morning!

So many people go to Glastonbury now that have no idea what the festival is about. When the screens showed a message from Michael and Emily last night some young air head next to me said 'who are Michael and Emily'? She was harmless enough and pretty as a picture with flowers in her hair and cute little cut-offs but it's seriously making me wonder if that's just how it is now and it may be time to look elsewhere if a different, more thoughtful vibe is what I'm after.

My first Glasto was only 2009 by the way so I'm no veteran but even in that time it's changed so god knows what actual veterans make of it all.