Melvin Benn Back As Director

[gizmoman]

Benn's back to implement the introduction of vaccine passports/green pass, it's going to take a fair bit of planning, he was one of the first to promote the idea, even before there was a vaccine he wanted to restrict festivals to those whose tested negative. Glastonbury as we knew it has gone.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-52893654

[Miyn]

3 hours ago, found home in 2009 said:

Why is he so hated? Is it just because he became involved around the time the fence went up? Was watching the Lost Vagueness documentary and thought he seemed fairly chilled and reasonable when Roy was going off on one.

I still find it absurd that Melvin genuinely couldn't remember the headliners they had booked for his flagship festival that they were about to announce a couple of days later. That makes me wary of his ability to direct and make decisions, as well as some of his events not being the best run, and I don't agree with some of the decisions that he's made to said festivals over the years.

Saying that, I think Latitude is great and fairly well run - except from a few minor ish things, and will probably be back this year lineup depending.

[stuartbert two hats]

1 hour ago, Miyn said:

I still find it absurd that Melvin genuinely couldn't remember the headliners they had booked for his flagship festival that they were about to announce a couple of days later. That makes me wary of his ability to direct and make decisions, as well as some of his events not being the best run, and I don't agree with some of the decisions that he's made to said festivals over the years.

Saying that, I think Latitude is great and fairly well run - except from a few minor ish things, and will probably be back this year lineup depending.

That's the thing, Melvin isn't a visionary, but his organisations tend to be well run. When he held the licence for Glastonbury, it was still very much Michael (and later Emily's) festival, but was also the period where Glastonbury transformed from a wild west that seemed perpetually on the brink of chaos to one of the slickest, best run festivals about. I don't know how much he had to do with that, but the t's were crossed and the i's were dotted in a way they had never been before.

[glasto-worker]

12 hours ago, stuartbert two hats said:

That's the thing, Melvin isn't a visionary, but his organisations tend to be well run. When he held the licence for Glastonbury, it was still very much Michael (and later Emily's) festival, but was also the period where Glastonbury transformed from a wild west that seemed perpetually on the brink of chaos to one of the slickest, best run festivals about. I don't know how much he had to do with that, but the t's were crossed and the i's were dotted in a way they had never been before.

I have knowing Melvin for 33 years as he was Vince Power's {founder of the Mean Fiddler} main man and I do know he does know what he is doing. It is a surprise to see him back at Glastonbury so it will be interesting to see how it pans out and to find out Why !!! { although I suspect it has something to do with the licence }

[drunk pumpkin]

Will take any direction needed to make sure it happens this year. With a £3m loss last year I’m sure they will be desperate to get it up and running. Other festivals proved last year that it is possible to put on safe events.

I definitely think we’ll have COVID passports as a requirement 

[stt11]

I retweeted a Ticketmaster, ticket sale link, on Christmas Day. It was selling weekend tickets to Reading and Leeds Festivals. They had just become available. Previously, they had sold out completely.

I’m guessing Melivin Benn’s appointment will bode well for Glastonbury tickets in the future. Imagine, Christmas Glastonbury tickets!!!

[Leyrulion]

18 hours ago, gizmoman said:

Benn's back to implement the introduction of vaccine passports/green pass, it's going to take a fair bit of planning, he was one of the first to promote the idea, even before there was a vaccine he wanted to restrict festivals to those whose tested negative. Glastonbury as we knew it has gone.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-52893654

Where have you seen that? 

All the festival Republic events this year were covid pass showing either vaccination or negative lateral flow test.

Is there any reason to think that if there are covid entry requirements that this would be anything other than the current scannable event pass that also has negative test as an option? 

[March Hare]

23 hours ago, Gnomicide said:

😄

Just be grateful no-one has started a thread on the 2021 accounts (published this week, £3.1m loss).

It made it into the Daily Fail. I saw the headline but refuse to click the link 

Edited January 8, 2022 by March Hare

[Avalon_Fields]

On 1/7/2022 at 3:30 PM, Gnomicide said:

😄

Just be grateful no-one has started a thread on the 2021 accounts (published this week, £3.1m loss).

Way higher than I’d have imagined. It that including the government bail-out funds? I don’t quite understand why they’ve got such high liabilities and costs as the festival was cancelled fairly early on?

[incident]

37 minutes ago, Avalon_Fields said:

Way higher than I’d have imagined. It that including the government bail-out funds? I don’t quite understand why they’ve got such high liabilities and costs as the festival was cancelled fairly early on?

These are the accounts ending March 31st 2021 - so it's likely to include much of the losses for both the 2020 and 2021 festivals.

[efcfanwirral]

22 hours ago, gizmoman said:

Benn's back to implement the introduction of vaccine passports/green pass, it's going to take a fair bit of planning, he was one of the first to promote the idea, even before there was a vaccine he wanted to restrict festivals to those whose tested negative. Glastonbury as we knew it has gone.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-52893654

 

3 hours ago, Leyrulion said:

Where have you seen that? 

All the festival Republic events this year were covid pass showing either vaccination or negative lateral flow test.

Is there any reason to think that if there are covid entry requirements that this would be anything other than the current scannable event pass that also has negative test as an option? 

I can't decide whether I think glastonbury being very socialist driven will make them "lead the way" by demanding only vaccinated + boosted attendees or if they'll just go with whatever the government guidelines are at the time. I think likely the former and probably correctly given the background of the festival

Due to the nature and timing of the ticket sales they'll need to make a decision soon, and I think erring on the side of caution is the best way. 

Edited January 8, 2022 by efcfanwirral

[incident]

11 minutes ago, efcfanwirral said:

I can't decide whether I think glastonbury being very socialist driven will make them "lead the way" by demanding only vaccinated + boosted attendees or if they'll just go with whatever the government guidelines are at the time. I think likely the former and probably correctly given the background of the festival

Due to the nature and timing of the ticket sales they'll need to make a decision soon, and I think erring on the side of caution is the best way. 

Eh?

No chance they exclude a portion of the attendees like that unless they have to.

I'm expecting the exact same criteria as near enough every festival in 2021 used - Negative Lateral Flow the same day or day before, or Proof of Vaccination, or a positive PCR test more than 10 but less than 180 days before. Maybe there'll be a minor tweak to that like tightening up the timeframes a bit (ie Lateral Flow the same day). If it's any stricter than that, then it'll likely be due to government guidance.

[efcfanwirral]

15 minutes ago, incident said:

Eh?

No chance they exclude a portion of the attendees like that unless they have to.

I'm expecting the exact same criteria as near enough every festival in 2021 used - Negative Lateral Flow the same day or day before, or Proof of Vaccination, or a positive PCR test more than 10 but less than 180 days before. Maybe there'll be a minor tweak to that like tightening up the timeframes a bit (ie Lateral Flow the same day). If it's any stricter than that, then it'll likely be due to government guidance.

That's kind of what I'm getting at- government guidance could change between when they have to make the decision (late Feb? when putting the tickets on sale, and the actual festival. Would be easier to plan for the stricter restrictions at that point as there's only one ticket sale 

Either way I know it annoys people talking about covid because people get mean so I'll leave it there! 

Edited January 8, 2022 by efcfanwirral

[Leyrulion]

23 minutes ago, efcfanwirral said:

That's kind of what I'm getting at- government guidance could change between when they have to make the decision (late Feb? when putting the tickets on sale, and the actual festival. Would be easier to plan for the stricter restrictions at that point as there's only one ticket sale 

Either way I know it annoys people talking about covid because people get mean so I'll leave it there! 

Yeah I've said before I'd bet good money they're planning extra space for covid checks at the gate. So it'll go covid-> ticket->wristbands. Once you've got the infrastructure and staff planned for it doesn't really make much difference if they're checking for tests or recent vaccination. .

Wonder if that'll mean more volunteer spaces. 

[efcfanwirral]

41 minutes ago, Leyrulion said:

Yeah I've said before I'd bet good money they're planning extra space for covid checks at the gate. So it'll go covid-> ticket->wristbands. Once you've got the infrastructure and staff planned for it doesn't really make much difference if they're checking for tests or recent vaccination. .

Wonder if that'll mean more volunteer spaces. 

IF testing is somehow an option for non boosted, given the small numbers who'll actually need to use it, I wonder if the answer would be  on site non self administered ones? Then Glastonbury would be doing their bit for encouraging uptake due to the inconvenience of it, but not excluding anyone.

And to keep it on topic Melvin's experiences last year will be crucial for all this 

Edited January 8, 2022 by efcfanwirral

[Pinhead]

Join the dots. They've made a significant loss cancelling twice. They can't afford another cancellation this year if covid is still rife when it gets closer to the build up and will help give confidence to bookings. MB has demonstrated that last year he was able to run a covid pass system for several FR events. Having him on board again will give confidence to the council, perhaps local peope as well who might object. He also has some significant clout, contacts and support in the industry. What influence this gives him over the management or creative aspects of the festival however is anyone's guess as the arrangement is not yet public. I'd imagine he must be expecting some quid pro quo from it though. Also unknown is how permanent the arrangement will be.

[incident]

57 minutes ago, efcfanwirral said:

IF testing is somehow an option for non boosted, given the small numbers who'll actually need to use it, I wonder if the answer would be  on site non self administered ones? Then Glastonbury would be doing their bit for encouraging uptake due to the inconvenience of it, but not excluding anyone.

And to keep it on topic Melvin's experiences last year will be crucial for all this 

The answer at the FR/LN festivals I went to last year was self administered but (loosely) observed Lateral Flows.

Though a key difference is that those festivals all had 2-3 public and maybe a 1 or 2 other gates that generally each closed overnight, as opposed to the 6-8 public (depending on how you count) and 11-13 other gates at Glastonbury most of which are 24/7 with many crews based outside the fence. So as always the logistics for Glastonbury need to be massively amplified, but that's something that can be accounted for.

[efcfanwirral]

16 minutes ago, incident said:

The answer at the FR/LN festivals I went to last year was self administered but (loosely) observed Lateral Flows.

Though a key difference is that those festivals all had 2-3 public and maybe a 1 or 2 other gates that generally each closed overnight, as opposed to the 6-8 public (depending on how you count) and 11-13 other gates at Glastonbury most of which are 24/7 with many crews based outside the fence. So as always the logistics for Glastonbury need to be massively amplified, but that's something that can be accounted for.

Second wristband for those vaccinated who've been through the gates once presumably? but new test on re entry for everyone who needs one (if allowed at all) 

[incident]

1 minute ago, efcfanwirral said:

Second wristband for those vaccinated who've been through the gates once presumably? but new test on re entry for everyone who needs one (if allowed at all) 

At the FR/LN festivals -

Staff had a colour coded wristband with the colour indicating which testing cycle you were on (as Staff were required to test every 3 days regardless of vaccination status)

Public had no additional wristband - everyone had their status checked on initial entry and then re-checked if they re-entered after the first couple days.

[efcfanwirral]

1 minute ago, incident said:

At the FR/LN festivals -

Staff had a colour coded wristband with the colour indicating which testing cycle you were on (as Staff were required to test every 3 days regardless of vaccination status)

Public had no additional wristband - everyone had their status checked on initial entry and then re-checked if they re-entered after the first couple days.

I guess with the relatively low number of re entries that works 

[grumpyhack]

What if you'tre in the Camper Van Fields - you enter each day, leave when you go back to your van and then re-enter, possibly a couple of times a day.

[Leyrulion]

22 minutes ago, grumpyhack said:

What if you'tre in the Camper Van Fields - you enter each day, leave when you go back to your van and then re-enter, possibly a couple of times a day.

Like they mentioned above, if once you've got a wristband that shows you've had a covid check done, then it's only really an issue from Friday onwards when they could ask those that need to to retest and give them a second wristband for the rest of the weekend. 

Are camper vans separate wristbands anyway? 

But the current covid pass rules allow spot checks rather then checking everyone in certain circumstances (e.g. football matches). So they could just do random checks as you re-enter. 

If I remember rightly the FR wristbands for staff were scannable to check if you'd actually done the test before entry to various staff sections.

 

 

 

[philipsteak]

1 hour ago, Leyrulion said:

Like they mentioned above, if once you've got a wristband that shows you've had a covid check done, then it's only really an issue from Friday onwards when they could ask those that need to to retest and give them a second wristband for the rest of the weekend. 

Are camper vans separate wristbands anyway? 

But the current covid pass rules allow spot checks rather then checking everyone in certain circumstances (e.g. football matches). So they could just do random checks as you re-enter. 

If I remember rightly the FR wristbands for staff were scannable to check if you'd actually done the test before entry to various staff sections.

 

 

 

Supposed to be, but didn't work quite a few times.

[stuie]

2 hours ago, efcfanwirral said:

Second wristband for those vaccinated who've been through the gates once presumably? but new test on re entry for everyone who needs one (if allowed at all) 

Everyone will have codes on their wristbands this year so I guess it will show on the scanners if your covid status has been checked. 

[Leyrulion]

1 hour ago, stuie said:

Everyone will have codes on their wristbands this year so I guess it will show on the scanners if your covid status has been checked. 

Where's that from?