Who said we were dead???? - folk draws audiences

Subject: BS: Link - Who said we wuz dead???????
From: Billy Suggers
Date: 27 May 03 - 10:21 AM

See

http://www.newaudiences.org.uk./news_story.asp?id=1

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New research into folk festivals

The report – commissioned by the Association of Festival Organisers (AFO)presents the first national research undertaken in this area, showing that folk festivals attract large audiences and have a significantimpact on local economies.

Around nine out of ten attenders are tourists, spending more than £76 million a year on tickets, travel, accommodation in B&B’s and hotels, as well as other spending, both during and after events.

Folk audiences are also loyal – 76 per cent come back again – and diverse: People see festivals as accessible, family-friendly events. Nearly one third of groups attending a festival include at least one child and most attenders felt that festivals represented good value for money, an important consideration for most families.

The report also dispels a common prejudice that festivals, `will be dominated by middle-aged men’. More than 45 per cent of attenders were under-35s and more than half were women.

Festivals are big, growing, and very accessible, as AFO General Secretary, Steve Heap, from the AFO pointed out: `Folk is no longer, if it ever was a minority event. This report celebrates its position as an historic part of our national heritage, a hobby, a passion, an industry and clearly a source of entertainment for thousands of people’.

The research is already having an impact. Bridgnorth’s local authority grant increased from £2,000 to £10,000 when the report’s findings were published. The report will help to bring about new relationships with key organisations in the cultural tourism industry, folk and festival sectors.

The report will be discussed at the industry launch on 13 May at the Royal Festival Hall.

For more information contact:

The Association of Festival Organisers,
PO Box 296, Matlock,
Derbyshire, DE4 3XU.
Phone: [phone]
Email [e-mail]
web www.afouk.org

Down load the entire report (PDF)

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Article copy-pasted from the link cited above.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: BS: Who said we were dead???????
From: Gervase
Date: 27 May 03 - 10:33 AM

...and many thanks to those Catters who helped compile the report by giving freely of their time at Sidmouth, Towersey and a number of other festivals last year when I was one of those stewarding and charged with getting the raw material together for the report on behalf, and who attended the later focus groups (though, knowing some of those who took part, shurely shome mishtake with the word 'focush'!)
If you're staging a folk-related event, download the report and bring it to the attention of any would-be sponsors - it makes a powerful demographic/economic/social argument for supporting folk events and dispels a lot of stereotypes.

Subject: RE: BS: Who said we were dead???????
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 27 May 03 - 10:47 AM

I just returned from the 51st annual Florida Folk Festival, and I did not see a single dead person there. I did see large numbers of children, teenagers, young adults and older adults of white, black, Asian, Hispanic and American Indian ancestry. In other words, there was something there for all types of people and they all came.

As long as festival organizers keep diversity in mind when planning and booking for festivals, they will draw a diverse crowd. If, as has happened with many American bluegrass festivals, they narrow their scope down to what will appeal to a specific crowd, then that's the crowd they'll draw. Go to a bluegrass festival and try to find a black person. If you do, he's probably in the concession area selling hamburgers.

Bruce

Subject: RE: BS: Who said we were dead???????
From: MMario
Date: 27 May 03 - 11:03 AM

Quite an impressive document!

Subject: UK festival and event organisers take heart/heed..
From: Gervase
Date: 28 May 03 - 04:18 AM

Sorry, retitled the thread because I thought it worth bring to more people's attention - particularly anyone in the UK trying to get an event off the ground who might be faced with the sort of inertia and reluctance typical among those who've never experienced a folk festival.
So click here for the Arts Council site or here for the AFO's page with some explanation as to how it was compiled.

Subject: RE: Who said we were dead???? - folk draws audiences
From: GUEST,Peter from Essex
Date: 28 May 03 - 07:17 PM

If only they all came to the clubs for the rest of the year.

Subject: RE: Who said we were dead???? - folk draws audiences
From: SeanM
Date: 29 May 03 - 07:10 PM

I'm definitely in support of the thread title. Our little group draws an average of at least a couple hundred per show at our current event (four a day, weekends during the 7-week renfaire we play at), and we've drawn at least that many if not more during the off season at "real" gigs at pubs and restaurants.

The market's there. It's just (thankfully) not under the exploiting thumb of the major industry.

Yet.

M

Subject: RE: Who said we were dead???? - folk draws audiences
From: GUEST,VINCE
Date: 30 May 03 - 08:10 AM

Quite right Pete from Essex. I think we've bin down this road before but........I think everyone connected with the folk/contempory music scene either as organiser, spectator (audience), floor-singer, semi or full-time professional, should take note of Bee-dubya-ell's comments up above. Maybe (just maybe) the 'folk-clubs' and pub sessions, where many of those performing at festivals start out, would then thrive more than they do at present in some areas. Diversity and, more important, tolerance is the key.

I get a bit sick of the old contempory versus traditional or accompanied versus un-accompanied arguments. There's room and enjoment in all these forms. Folk clubs/sessions are a great appetiser for the festivals........In my 'umble opinion!