Could a second weekend work?

[michael eavis' beard]

Wouldn't a second festival mean they'd also have to invent a second summer solstice?!

[wweerr208]

Wouldn't a second festival mean they'd also have to invent a second summer solstice?!

Every one is talking about a 2nd festival after the date the existing one!

no rules to stop it from happening before the existing one so it would encapsulate the summer solstice!!

yaay even better

[DeanoL]

GFL would easily sell out on +1 weekend for little extra investment, there may be different headliners (of which I wouldn't watch) market stall holder would make more money for a little extra money, since their vans are setup

It would have to be different acts all the way down the bill, it's a huge ask to get anyone to do two weekends on the trot, and there are 1000s of acts all on the small stages... it's doubling the work for the bookers too.

Also I'm not convinced that the actual demand is twice the number of tickets available. We always get the 7 times as many registrations as tickets, but that doesn't mean everyone is trying.

[guypjfreak]

I keep seeing this mentioned (off the forum) and Coachella's dual weekend thing being brought up to scoop up all the demand for tickets but COULD a second weekend of the festival with all the same acts work? The first difficulties that spring to mind would be only getting broadcasting revenue for one weekend and, of course, the cleanup after weekend one, but could these things be hypothetically worked around? Would an untelevised second weekend besmirch Glastonbury or would people throw that aside and actually enjoy being at that one instead?

I'm not lobbying for this; I just found it an interesting concept that I'd never heard mentioned for Glastonbury before today.

no chance old son

[wweerr208]

It would have to be different acts all the way down the bill, it's a huge ask to get anyone to do two weekends on the trot, and there are 1000s of acts all on the small stages... it's doubling the work for the bookers too.

Also I'm not convinced that the actual demand is twice the number of tickets available. We always get the 7 times as many registrations as tickets, but that doesn't mean everyone is trying.

I understand what your saying, but to be honest your underestimating the effect of glastonbury! assuming all the 1000's of acts had to be replaced. i'll bet that there would be another 1000 to 2000 acts replacing them, but that wouldn't really happen because once glasto gets known to to have two weekends - that would be the norm. In fact I would suspect other festivals copying - seriously do these "acts" have a special hair washing weekend that co-incidences with the GREATEST ACT on EARTH as to not perform again.... I think not (may be a few - to begin with)

as for the demand! well only See tickets would more knowledge on that, but from my 15+ years of going to glasto I hear more and more people wanting to experience it, and the ticket sell out times back this up (obviously it does not prove it, but that would have to be built into the risk model or cost (to do stuff) vs the amount people need to attend.)

I recon the number of tickets needed to be sold to cover the basic infrastructure improvements would be very very low (since they've improved it so well), yes it would be a risk but in my opinion tis a no brainer!

hell, I'd invest in this venture, which is also another avenue..

[Fiona5260]

Def doable.Glasto the earliest it could also be the latest. The cows work around the festival. So it could have a date first week in September.the schools might be started back but colleges arent

[Bisque]

It would make the whole time less special & bands play a lot around Europe in June/July

[wweerr208]

I grew up in the uk with the "It can't be done attitude" and "it'll never work"

FFS lets grow some balls and push the bloody boundaries of whats possible

[wweerr208]

It would make the whole time less special & bands play a lot around Europe in June/July

yes it would ave a slight decrease in the fact glasto is a bit bigger and missed a bit - tbh that what I like about glasto

oh - like bands wouldn't bend over backwards to play glasto! and btw I listen to about 3 bands per festival, and I recon 30-40% do the same

[Bisque]

oh - like bands wouldn't bend over backwards to play glasto

Not twice during a busy euro fest/stadium schedule+the extra effort put into Glasto sets.

Not a major factor...the BBC wouldn't cover two weeks of Glasto either even if BBC3 was still going.

[frostypaw]

I think there's a misunderstanding about the two events. Coachella is such a different beast and where it's held is very different from the villages and farms of the Pilton area

Is simply not feasible

[monkey1989]

horrible idea would spoil the magic

[DeanoL]

I understand what your saying, but to be honest your underestimating the effect of glastonbury! assuming all the 1000's of acts had to be replaced. i'll bet that there would be another 1000 to 2000 acts replacing them, but that wouldn't really happen because once glasto gets known to to have two weekends - that would be the norm. In fact I would suspect other festivals copying - seriously do these "acts" have a special hair washing weekend that co-incidences with the GREATEST ACT on EARTH as to not perform again

No, they have day jobs, families and better paid work... I'm not talking about acts that play at 2pm on the John Peel stage, I mean acts that play 3am in the morning in some tiny tent somewhere for no money. Hell, half of them have to buy their own tickets, so if the idea is you can only go to one weekend or the other, it's literally impossible.

[incident]

Really, really bad idea. Way too many reasons why this wouldn't work, or even be considered for a second.

1. The Festival massively underpays acts (relative to other events), and gets away with it in part because the event is seen as special and gets the bands massive media coverage. A second weekend would double the workload for the bands, while massively diluting the benefit they'd see out of each performance. You'd inevitably get a less attractive line-up, which would ultimately led to lower demand for tickets. Pretty soon, neither weekend sells out.

2. Glastonbury isn't just a few tents, burger vans, and a some musicians, it's genuinely astonishing how much goes into it. There'll be something along the lines of 60,000 people on workers & performers tickets this year, and as always there'll still be some areas saying that they need more. One of the main reasons Glastonbury is so great is that you've got a lot of people who throw everything into making it that good. I suspect for some of the key people, especially the ones doing the more interesting stuff, adding a 2nd weekend would cause them to walk away entirely. I think it's pretty certain that adding a 2nd weekend would lead to a much more vanilla event.

3. Traffic. Not just the impact of however many thousands cars, but run it on adjacent weekends and you'd have most people leaving at the same as a large number of others arrive. The majority of workers these days will arrive on the Monday, and as mentioned that's not a small number.

4. Who really wants to attend a festival on Worthy Farm starting on June 27, 2007?

The truth is, the Festival as it is has already stretched the limits of what the site can take, and what the locals will tolerate. I'd advise anyone who thinks this idea is even remotely viable to spend some of the 2015 festival talking to some of the people that help to make it happen. I doubt you'll find many, if any, of them who think that it's either possible or a good idea. Better yet, work the festival and observe first hand how much effort goes into making the festival happen.

[geoffboycott]

I think there's a misunderstanding about the two events. Coachella is such a different beast and where it's held is very different from the villages and farms of the Pilton area

Is simply not feasible

This definitely. IMO as a local, huge fan and regular attendee to the festival, extending or doubling up on the festival would cause a lot of hassle for people in the area. I think sometimes people forget it's not just a magical rural area which we all feel connected to for a week in June, it's also a hard working farming community plus lots of people who are trying to go about their non related daily business, commuting and working in various sectors, not everyone benefits from the cash brought in by the festival. The lead up and packing down has quite an impact which extends several weeks before and after. That should not be forgotten.

Edited October 6, 2014 by geoffboycott

[Sawdusty surfer]

From my own experience and observations.

Many crew are completely broken by the Tuesday after the festival. If they were asked to go through it all again the following weekend?

No way.

[eFestivals]

I keep seeing this mentioned (off the forum) and Coachella's dual weekend thing being brought up to scoop up all the demand for tickets but COULD a second weekend of the festival with all the same acts work? The first difficulties that spring to mind would be only getting broadcasting revenue for one weekend and, of course, the cleanup after weekend one, but could these things be hypothetically worked around? Would an untelevised second weekend besmirch Glastonbury or would people throw that aside and actually enjoy being at that one instead?

I'm not lobbying for this; I just found it an interesting concept that I'd never heard mentioned for Glastonbury before today.

it's been mentioned loads and loads - every year sincxe it became an instant sell-out.

The simple answer is that it's a non-starter. There's just no way it will be allowed to happen by the local authorities, as the disruption on the one weekend is so huge to those who live locally.

[ian the worm]

From my own experience and observations.

Many crew are completely broken by the Tuesday after the festival. If they were asked to go through it all again the following weekend?

No way.

This. Running the thing to get it to the highest standard takes its toll. The second week would be slack and run more ineffectively.

[LondonTom]

oh - like bands wouldn't bend over backwards to play glasto! and btw I listen to about 3 bands per festival, and I recon 30-40% do the same

Yes thats why the main stages are always packed out, cause just under half the festival crowd listen to 3 bands per festival??

Mad idea, it works for Coachella, but thats a lot more like say Reading/Leeds or both V festivals just on two different weekends and its not in the height of the festival season. (A lot of European bands seem to take the opportunity to put a US tour around the two dates.).

As said aside from the disruption it causes to locals so much goes into Glastonbury that is unique I'd doubt it would be possible to have the same experience we get now by splitting it into two weekends. There are just to many parts of it that would all need to be able to do the 2nd weekend. Either that or we end up with a leseer festival.

Edited October 6, 2014 by LondonTom

[funkyuk]

How abouts gates open monday 9am, main stages start Wednesday? There must be loads of bands who can do a weds / thurs "big stage" slot rather than being booked at a festival gig elsewhere in the world?

[siblin]

One of the problems with an event the size of Glastonbury, with the following it has is that plenty of us would want to go to both events so it wouldn't really solve the problem!

It wont happen.

[wweerr208]

How abouts gates open monday 9am, main stages start Wednesday? There must be loads of bands who can do a weds / thurs "big stage" slot rather than being booked at a festival gig elsewhere in the world?

I like the idea, but it won't solve the crazy over demand for tickets

at the risk of being shot down again! what about and the idea of cut down 'mini' glasto - say with no main stages and just a few areas open before the main one. not sure sure exactly I mean by a cut down version, but I recon something good could be put together to sell some tickets and take the pressure of the main festival!

Edited October 6, 2014 by wweerr208

[frostypaw]

I like the idea, but it won't solve the crazy over demand for tickets

at the risk of being shot down again! what about and the idea of cut down 'mini' glasto - say with no main stages and just a few areas open before the main one. not sure sure exactly I mean by a cut down version, but I recon something good could be put together to sell some tickets and take the pressure of the main festival!

Why would that have any effect whatsoever on the main festival's demand when it's a totally different event?

[ian the worm]

I like the idea, but it won't solve the crazy over demand for tickets

at the risk of being shot down again! what about and the idea of cut down 'mini' glasto - say with no main stages and just a few areas open before the main one. not sure sure exactly I mean by a cut down version, but I recon something good could be put together to sell some tickets and take the pressure of the main festival!

Like the current Thursday?

Which is quite mad for all as the smaller venues get full up very quickly as you have ~200k on site with no "arena" style entertainment.

[iwalker]

Never going to happen for a multitude of reasons. Seems a bit churlish to mention this on the back of a 25 minute sell out but it was only 2008 that it didn't sell out.

I am always a bit sceptical of suggestions millions of people go for tickets. Without any statistical evidence to back this theory, I reckon you have about a 50% chance of getting a ticket which puts the amount of people wanting them at 250,000.