Thinking about starting a new festival

Subject: Folklore: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: GUEST,tight fist
Date: 30 Apr 08 - 08:24 AM

Hi
I'm thinking about starting a new folk festival in Yorskhire somewhere. What do people think? Should I just do it or form a committee?
green fields

Subject: RE: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: Dave Hunt
Date: 30 Apr 08 - 08:42 AM

For goodness sake WHY??? Too many festivals already, and your potential customers only have a limited amount of cash so will tend to choose the tried and tested, well established festivals. I don't know if you realise the enormous amount of work entailed in running a festival - even a small one is extremely time consuming, and offers little reward. Been there - done it!
Dave

Subject: RE: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: nutty
Date: 30 Apr 08 - 08:45 AM

It depends on how much money you have to spend ...............

If you have an unlimited amount of money for artists or if you are eligible for a large amount of lottery funding

If you have local authority backing and are not restricted by cost of venues

If you are appealing to a folk population that have lots of money to spend

If you are not bothered about what effect your festival might have on smaller more established festivals

Then go ahead .... the world is your oyster.

If you have to think about any of the above ... tread carefully

Subject: RE: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: nutty
Date: 30 Apr 08 - 08:48 AM

I should also have added .........

If you can cover security and insurance AND PRS costs.

Subject: RE: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: greg stephens
Date: 30 Apr 08 - 08:53 AM

Well, most people will be quite negative about this idea, as evidenced by the prvious posts. But, you could look at it another way. Firstly, a lot of folk festivals are folding at the moment. So people are deducing it is a lousy time to start a festival. But the other viewpoint is: folk festivals are folding, so the organisers would seem to be getting it wrong in some way. Therefore, get in with your new idea, and get it right, and you will pick up the audience who are leaving the failing festivals. Both viewpoints have elments of truth in them.
As they say, there's always room at the top. So, would I start a new festival now? Not on your nelly! But if I had a brilliant idea, well, that's another story.

Subject: RE: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 30 Apr 08 - 08:55 AM

You forgot to ask for a booking Greg :)
Giok

Subject: RE: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: selby
Date: 30 Apr 08 - 09:16 AM

Go for it you will never know and always regret not having a go. If it fails you had the courage of your convictions and if it succeds well done but one things for sure you will never know until you try.

Commitees in my experience don't work have helpers by all means that work for and support you,descions when starting something new are best left to one person and again whatever the result its yours.

One more peice of advice think carefully of when and where and go for it.
Keith

Subject: RE: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Apr 08 - 09:55 AM

If you've never been involed in organising one before (not clear from your posting)why not offer your services to an existing festival and learn the trade that way first. You might have the talent/ability/foresight or whatever is needed to refresh an ailing festival and keep it from going under. Just a thought!

Subject: RE: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: The Sandman
Date: 30 Apr 08 - 10:17 AM

consider sponsorship.
join the efdss,this will enable you to get cheaper insurance,and they will appreciate your support,they too might be able to give you advice.
dont form a committee.
have a good look at dates of other festivals.in the north
start small and build up, start with a one day festival .
dont book Dick Miles.

Subject: RE: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: GUEST,Betsy at work
Date: 30 Apr 08 - 11:24 AM

Hiya Tight Fist,
Maybe the whole concept of the "Festival" is about to change in that Meets or Gatherings will be more commonplace where people play and sing , join in more, and are in general more part of it all .
Maybe the BIG Concert(s) scenario has had its' day.
If there are no concerts - then there are no performers fees and accommodation arrangements, ticket costs, hire charges for halls, costs of adverts, administration paraphernalia, insurances, security on the doors, etc. etc. etc.
I presume in this "piece" that PRS charges insurances etc. will already held /covered by the Pubs.
In related threads there is clearly a demand for those who like the Big Concert Festival, however, there are those who do not.
Time after time I read about people who want to be with like-minded souls to play, sing or just listen and enjoy.
So Tight fist I suggest you locate a town / large village / which has plenty of large pubs who are experiencing a lack of trade, and bounce your idea off the Landlords of the Pubs about starting an unpaid "festival".
The not highly unexpected question from the Pubs will be - "What's in it for me?" You say, your pub will be full of good humoured people and your beer & food sales will prosper for the period, and, in answer to the probable question - "What's in it for you?" you presumably get a (let's say) great weekend of song, music good natured drinking and craic on your own doorstep.
Ideally if you could have a separate pub for Musicians, one for Singers/Musicians and maybe one for unaccompanied singers etc.
If the local community council want to involve the locals with (say ) a Ceilidh / Barndance - let THEM fund it.
People are always mentioning in these pages about the possibility of camping /caravan space so if the facilities are there, albeit simple, it would be a big plus.
Tony Leonard has been trying this type of approach at Staithes, but it may not survive if it gets too crowded with non players/singers who are just turning up to see what people are "up" to.
Anyway Tight Fist, all the foregoing is a bit fanciful, as I would think the venue(s) would need to start small and gradually acquire its' own natural following over the years - I don't think it could start BIG.
So, it's all a bit Utopian, but, I hope it gives you food-for-thought and also other parties who are contemplating embarking on a similar sort of venture.
There was something else I was going to say about new festivals, but I've temporarily (or perhaps conveniently) forgotten ..............

Cheers,
Betsy

Subject: RE: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: Mr Happy
Date: 30 Apr 08 - 11:27 AM

Me & the Fiends've been having a DIY do every Easter for the last few years, camping & craic with chums from all over in the Pique District!

Subject: RE: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: Mr Happy
Date: 30 Apr 08 - 11:32 AM

p.s.

I think this thread's really a wind-up!

Subject: RE: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: GUEST,The Input
Date: 30 Apr 08 - 11:36 AM

:-) Cheeky tightfist!

Subject: RE: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: theleveller
Date: 01 May 08 - 03:27 AM

Well, let's see, there are festivals at Hutton-le-Hole, Helmsley, Beverley, Pickering, Whitby, Saltburn, Filey..... the obvious gap in the market is Scarborough. Why not have a beach festival - it would be easy; all the facilities are there, no need for any marquees or other structures, just maybe a big bonfire. Everything gets cleared away when the tide comes in and when it goes out you just carry on. Hey, you could even have the main stage floating offshore - maybe hire a redundant oil rig.

Just make sure that you put it on at the same time as one or more of the other festivals listed, then you're sure of attracting plenty of publicity.

Subject: RE: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: theleveller
Date: 01 May 08 - 03:40 AM

Better still, why not have one at Sprun Point? That would be the most easterly festival in the UK, and you could compete with Shepley as the windiest.

Subject: RE: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: Banjiman
Date: 01 May 08 - 03:43 AM

The Leveller....Scarborough Seafest (w/e 18th-20th July)....doesn't that count?

I started a weekend minifest last November (The KFFC Winter Warmer Weekend ). Almost like Betsy suggests but with a lot of local & regional bands + a few national names, it sold out the intended 110 tickets, so was succesful within it's own terms of reference.

Doing similar again on November 21st to 23rd (KFFC 1st Big Birthday Bash, all under one roof, indoor & outdoor camping, plenty of hard standing for vans and a good time guaranteed....all this for £20) with:

Last Night's Fun
Mary Humphries & Anahata
Keeper's Fold
Marie Little
Duncan McFarlane & Anne Brivonese
Wendy Arrowsmith
Hamish Currie
Hut People
Brother Crow
Kim Guy
Ian McKone
Jim Potter
Bill Lloyd
Nickie Willis
Tony Levy
Zoe Mulford
Wheezi Anna
Blind Sum'it

Continuous, legendary singarounds, sessions, workshops in a beamed pub (with 3 big rooms!) in a beautiful North Yorks village. Tickets available (pm or email me!) from today, on line sales available in 2 weeks time.

Don't care if the thread is a wind-up, good opportunity for me to tell you about something that is happening!!!

Paul

Subject: RE: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: Gedpipes
Date: 01 May 08 - 04:14 AM

Mr/Mrs Input is making a lot of sense again.
well done that man/woman
Blue skies
Ged

Subject: RE: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: theleveller
Date: 01 May 08 - 04:19 AM

Damn. Forgot about the Seafest. Spurn Point it is, then! But let's have it in winter, for a change. That'll sort the real festival lovers out.

Subject: RE: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: Folkiedave
Date: 01 May 08 - 04:22 AM

Can I just correct one small myth.

Whilst there is a small amount of insurance included in EFDSS membership, this would not help a festival.

I seem to remember when I looked at it - it was limited to an event with less that 200 people. They would not cover any sort of festival as far as an organiser is concerned. End of myth correction.

Shepley festival (personal interest declared elsewhere) only started last year and seems to have been a great success.

With a large number of artists.

Subject: RE: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: theleveller
Date: 01 May 08 - 04:37 AM

Can't see a festival at Spurn attracting more than 200, would the insurance cover being washed out to sea (there is a lifeboat station there, so I'm sure rescue would be immediate)?

Subject: RE: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: banjoman
Date: 01 May 08 - 07:03 AM

Thinking of starting a new festival?

DONT its not worth it. You will get so tied up in all the admin work that you will never have time to enjoy your festival. Let others do the organising and you can just buy your ticket and enjoy
I speak from bitter experience

Subject: RE: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: The Sandman
Date: 01 May 08 - 01:11 PM

Folkie Dave,
The information I was given was by someone who runs a folk festival.,but 200 as you say is your limit,but perhaps for a one day festival which is what i suggested,that should suffice.

Subject: RE: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: SINSULL
Date: 01 May 08 - 09:53 PM

Great idea, TF. You are, of course, funding it yourself?

Subject: RE: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: Ref
Date: 01 May 08 - 09:56 PM

As soon as you do, some of the people in the "Boston NOT Folk" thread will be criticizing your choices of artists!

Subject: RE: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: GUEST,Betsy at Work
Date: 02 May 08 - 09:17 AM

Tight Fist , I suggest that you consult the "Free Festivals" Thread -it could be the future for Festivals , not necessarily all, but a large amount.
When people ask why do we like going to them and what do we expect from them.............. If it is the companionship and being with people who have a similar love of a type of music song and way of thinking , do we need to pay vast amounts of entrance fees to gather together?

Subject: RE: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: Gedpipes
Date: 06 May 08 - 02:51 AM

Well said BAW.
Blue skies
Ged

Subject: RE: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: Folkiedave
Date: 06 May 08 - 03:34 AM

Hi Dick and congratulations on the new record - I checked with the EFDSS insurance people (not the EFDSS) because I needed insurance for a bookstall at a festival.

They were adamant that the insurance is for individuals and affiliated groups (I qualify on both counts) and for small events. Thus for example if a morris team were dancing outside a pub and a piece of stick broke off and perhaps resulted in a minor injury then you would be covered if the crowd was less than 200.

And anyone relying on EFDSS insurance for anything at all other than the above really ought to check and make sure they are covered. It's only public liability and it is now £5 million.

http://www.efdss.org/members.htm

Subject: RE: Thinking about starting a new festival
From: masato sakurai
Date: 06 May 08 - 06:21 AM

There's a previous thread: Advice on running a folk festival.