Broadstairs 2009

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: Dead Horse
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 03:00 PM

To answer John Barden, Yes. The bands and their equipment are a higher priority when it comes to transport.
Richard, £500 a week for minibus hire!
Get me a dozen. We can clean up in a fortnight and spend the dosh on season tickets.
And REGULAR passengers dont exist. There are PEAK passengers who may travel regularly, but nearly all buses you see (and you see 'em if you look for 'em, Melodeonboy) are running near empty MOST of the time. Peak journeys on a route like that envisaged would be a one way traffic operating to capacity for only one or two trips, and if scheduled, would be obliged to run even if there was no call for it.
The Isle of Grain service, which you are familiar with, has standing room only at peak times, but runs empty at most other times.
Hence big gaps between vehicles during non-peak periods.
It still doesn't make ends meet without HUGE subsidies from a cash strapped local government, so how do you expect a struggling folk festival to accept it as an added expense?
I think you would have more luck in trying to convince Broadstairs Borough Council to install a tram system from camp to beach, or mebbe the fondly remembered mechanical hephalump like the one that used to exist further along the coast. At least it would be white which would appeal to the racist folk police :-)
I think you are all flogging a dead horse when it comes to improving transport - and I takes that personal, I does.

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: romany man
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 01:45 PM

and no doubt so it shall remain cuz,

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: The Barden of England
Date: 10 Jan 09 - 04:00 PM

Please read 'that to possible' should read ' that the possible'
John Barden

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: The Barden of England
Date: 10 Jan 09 - 03:57 PM

I agree - every 10 minute for a bus (or minibus)is totally unreasonable. But note, the artists have a minibus as a given. What about the people who pay? Are they of a lesser status?
I would dearly love to love my local festival, but we 'lesser mortals' it would seem need to appreciate that to possible seems to be impossible. Would that it wasn't.
John Barden

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 10 Jan 09 - 12:27 PM

I don't think that a minibus shuttle or three would be that expensive.

It's fuel, insurance, and capital costs.

A week's hire on a minibus will be about £500. You'll need 5 named and agreed drivers acceptable to insurers and to the hire company - volunteers are free. A bus will do about 15 to the gallon and the round trip is not more than 5 miles, so that's fuel costs of under £2 per trip. Let's be real pessimists and assume the allocated insurance cost is going to be £200 for the week for the van.

15 seater van - running at half capacity (8 people) £1 each way for the trip, round trip revenue £16 deduct fuel cost amortise £14.

Say it runs every half hour 9 am to 2 am. Is that 36 trips? Amortise £504 per day - 7 days that's £3,500 - less hire of £500 less insurance of £200 - err - profit of between £2,500 and £3,000 per minibus for the week.

If it runs every half hour regular as clockwork people will use it. The reason they don't use existing bus services is that they have no idea whether they will turn up at all or if so when. And AFAIK you have to walk most of the way up the hill to find the bus-stop, which is by the town hall.

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: melodeonboy
Date: 10 Jan 09 - 12:17 PM

Dead Horse: Your knowledge of transport systems far outweighs mine, but wouldn't a minibus or two be financially feasible if they were driven by volunteer stewards and each passenger charged a reasonable amount (£1, £1.50?) for each journey? Couldn't it merely be an extension of the exisiting service which is provided for artists etc., yet raising its own revenue? I would have thought that a simple service just from the car park near the Neptune to the camp site would be a good start, and would solve the problem for most people.

I wasn't aware that there was already a fairly frequent bus service running near the camp site. I've seen the bus stops but not the buses!

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: GUEST,dillie - the Broadstairs appreciation societ
Date: 10 Jan 09 - 11:16 AM

I agree with what you say about Travel and what not for Broady Deadhorse...
Even if you go to Broady during the summer when the festival isn't on, its hard to park - the loop is a great bus service that runs into and out of the town. This aside, the parking is always going to be a problem in a town so beautiful and attractive to tourists...

So - I guess that while the festival is set on a hill, and the transport into town can be a problem for some, it's ALWAYS been like that... As far I can see, Broadstairs has been on a hill for some time.
in fact, over recent years there have been some great improvements. If you explain to organisers that you are stuck for a lift - pop into the shop etc, speak to people down the pav, they will try their hardest to help you out. I steward and work in the shop and am forever sorting out buses for the less able / mummies and babies / knackered and drunken where possible....In fact, i've been struggling with my heart for the last few years and the drivers always work hard to manage the bands/lifts etc where possible...

Looking at possible expansion of this system, is unlikely to be financially viable as Deadhorse explains above -

Here's a suggestion for those who hate the idea of paying for a ticket - volunteer!!!! It's a great team, we have a grand old time of it, work hard and play hard all week. I've stewarded at most festivals over the last 8 years (since turning 18) and I'd say this is one of the best teams to be part of.

I have no written to the organisers about this - I have spoken to one of them recently about how the festival is going - and appreciate the massive task they have in making themselves marketable in a very difficult climate, but I think that the continued support of those who visit just as a 'fringe' goer and the season ticket holders, volunteers etc, will continue to come together and make this festival a great one year on year.

this comment I disagree with: (by romany man)
sadly from what i see and hear broadstairs is fast outgrowing its organisers, its no longer a week of music dance and merriment but a vast milk cow that needs feeding year on year, the way its fed is by seemingly pushing out those that have been coming for years, getting as much as possible comercially (which is ok if ploughed back in the following year) and generally providing as little as possible for those regulars for as much as possible.

1) the festival is a registered charity, where did you get this idea of the festival being some money making enterprise - it needs to make money to continue - and year on year this gets more expensive -and this will only become more difficult as the recession takes hold.
2)as the late denis manners, who died on 2nd Jan (RIP Denis) who was the founder of Towersey festival said in an interview with Derek Schofield - festivals have to roll with the times and change to remain viable. His festial had started as a tiny event with a few visitors, to being one of the largest contained site festivals there are. Still brilliant, just different.
I would say that yes, while the festival has changed, and may not appeal to those absolute traditionalists, in order to keep providing some of this, they must provide some of the wider appeal stuff.
3)The concerts last year included some really trad stuff - cara dillon, Tim Van Eyken to mention a few..the singing is still as good as it was in the neptune as it was when I was three and was made to play in the garden while my mum and dad went for a sing...the session in the Nelson is wicked...its not worse than Sidmouth etc for Sessions - but it is a different festival - and cannot carbon copy other festivals - we don't have the same pubs, the same landlords and the festival organisers can only put on what the pubs are agreed to putting on in their pubs - the Wrotham Arms is a great example of a pub providing a great atmoshpere (and beer I am reliably informed) and great service during the festival and all year round for the traddy types :0) woop!

So - All in all, I do not want to belittle comments made about the festival which do not share my positive point of view - but I do think that having worked at the festival for the last four years - you do get to recognise the massive efforts that go into making the festival what it is - and you also feel it in your aching feet at the end of a long shift - but it's not long before landing in the Neptune for a sing, or dancing with my side on the seafront, or yomping up the hill to a concert that i'm back into the swing of things, thankful that this festival, run by local people for everyone's enjoyment in a part of kent that is so beautiful is still on every second week in August.

Roll on August!!!!!!!!!
Charlotte
xxx

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 10 Jan 09 - 10:52 AM

Go on Dead Horse, I thought your weapon was your north and south - open it and in they all fall!

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: Dead Horse
Date: 10 Jan 09 - 10:21 AM

I keep hearing folks warble on about buses!
They dont come cheap y'know.
To run a service of 10 minute frequency over a route that takes at least 20 minutes to run would require THREE minibuses going at full tilt.
That is the hire of three vehs and three drivers.
This would be quite seperate from the vehs required to take bands + kit to their venues.
As Band times are more or less all the same, that means another one veh + driver at least.
Running a passenger service to the Pavillion would be a definate no no. on account of the difficulty of access, waiting, and turn around.
I am sure the police would not allow a scheduled run involving such a route.
A simple circular run, from campsite to Queens Road & return via Bandstand/trade tents would probably involve a frequency of more like 20 mins if only two vehicles were allocated, with a stand time of just 5 mins each end.
Logistics is one thing, paying for it is quite another.
Your local bus service is heavily subsidised, the camp buses are paid for by season ticket money.
There are fairly frequent bus services from Queens Rd that go by the camp site, but who uses them?
As for Security, that aint cheap either.
I baulk at paying the amount I do now, without adding another £100 to my season ticket price.
I would much rather just keep moaning about the long uphill walk, and be ready to employ my martial arts expertese (I am deadly with a house brick) :-)

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: Kev The Clogs
Date: 09 Jan 09 - 07:16 PM

:-) you two! Can I suggest both of these options to my boss?! Certain to be sacked if I did :-) Am composing my letter to organisers this weekend. Never dear Rafflesbear, I may be a little low on volume at moment, I'm just taking it all in before I have "my say" :-) Kev

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Jan 09 - 06:16 PM

Useful as a spit for roasting, inserted according the Roman (or was he Greek) author Euripedes (and you buy me a new pair).

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: romany man
Date: 09 Jan 09 - 04:46 PM

inserted where rb, they would be better up the chimneys or down the mines, surely, or am i just old fashioned, national service and all that,

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Jan 09 - 08:54 AM

Poor bugger works for a pittance "teaching" children who would be better off hit with large Border sticks...

Or longswords

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: GUEST,Rafflesbear
Date: 09 Jan 09 - 08:47 AM

disappointing that there's not more activity on this but cllr aside (thank you for your kind comments but the logic was fairly simple)there seems to be just the three of us posting at the moment

are you out there Kev and would you care to join us ? - or have you popped your clogs ? :-)

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: Cllr
Date: 09 Jan 09 - 08:25 AM

Continued from last post IN fact anybody who takes time to write to organisers in a challenging and positive way is to be congratulated.
cllr

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: Cllr
Date: 08 Jan 09 - 06:51 PM

Rafflesbear,

I have never been to broadstairs but i just wanted to apllaud your approach by taking comments here and taking them to organisers in a constructive way, whatever the results in this specific case its sets a fanatastic example of not just talking about on this forum but taking action,
well done,
cllr

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 08 Jan 09 - 05:17 PM

I too have had communication. I was waiting for confirmation that I was free to post it here.

I agree that all those here with views on how to improve Broadstairs should email the organisers. There are three email addresses on the link provided above.



It's always a shame when good things become less good. Broadstairs has improved in one respect - more singing venues - but there are still not enough, that's why they are rammed.

I don't use the site showers, but I gather they have become a less exciting thermal cycle and sometimes provide water at a constant temperature now.

On the other hand, there used to be acoustic music in the town centre pubs, and it used to be possible to go into such pubs and start singing and playing (after checking with the landlord of course). Then there are the other worries I have mentioned above and no point in repeating myself.


But there again I bitch about Sweeps every year too. However I LOVED Deal this year.

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: GUEST,Rafflesbear
Date: 08 Jan 09 - 04:31 PM

Indeed Richard - you have it.

I have been to BFW twice - 2007 and 2008 and have really enjoyed the festival on both occasions. It suits me. Apparently there are those with Greater Expectations (get the Dickens reference? :-) )

The whole town is a kaleidoscope of music, dance, sea, sand, sun (?), history, friendship and spectacle - and then I turn to Mudcat and find out that there is another view of it and I feel sorry for those who were in the same place as me at the same time and who were so disappointed with their experience that they would not wish to go back again.

So I think that I shall try to lend a hand and see if we can approach the organisers to resolve some of the issues - no use just bitching on Mudcat. And I find that for my pains I get a lesson on what it used to be, what it's like elsewhere and where I may have got it wrong.

Nor do I understand the view that it is a cash cow. In the two years I have been to one tented event, the rest I have got for the price of the drinks I would have bought anyway and a few quid in a tin where I could just as easily have got away with a few pence if I felt really mean

The singarounds are free, the pub gigs are free, the morris is free, the bandstand is free, the prom is free, the torchlight parade is free, the camaraderie is free and I'm sure that this is not all. I do not feel that I have been ripped off - how can I ?

Really the one big thing above all was the security breakdown at the campsite and that was bad. Richard and I have written - I think anyone with an opinion should do so and quickly as I have been told that there is a committee meeting next week that will look at these issues. Let's see what comes from that

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: romany man
Date: 08 Jan 09 - 04:24 PM

what points didnt know bears had points, and what they get up to in the woods is up to them,

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 08 Jan 09 - 11:17 AM

RM - I think Rafflesbear was ruffling his feathers (Do bears have feathers? How do they wipe off them what they do in the woods? Enquiring minds want to know) about the fact that I disagreed here with some of his points.

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: romany man
Date: 08 Jan 09 - 10:57 AM

well here we go, raffles dont get so wound up, everyone has a voice and an opinion, im not a happy bunny by nature and other reasons, but im happy to see that broadstairs is being discussed and all views are welcome here, sadly from what i see and hear broadstairs is fast outgrowing its organisers, its no longer a week of music dance and merriment but a vast milk cow that needs feeding year on year, the way its fed is by seemingly pushing out those that have been coming for years, getting as much as possible comercially (which is ok if ploughed back in the following year) and generally providing as little as possible for those regulars for as much as possible. it still seems to be clinging to the, well you are not part of our apprieciation society so you dont count, attitude. i dont mean that in a derogatary way but in a constructive way. broadstairs is a lovely venue and brings much needed income to the town, sadly however there are those that really dont give a damn for those who are not part of the in crowd, be they folkies, dancers whatever, but more importantly the paying public,
rb is stating facts as many others did after last year, sadly in one particular case the respodee was slated and berated unmercifully, simply for his own opinion,
your email to jo sums up quite a few points and i wish you well with the results, however i will not be holding my breath as to the result. im really glad that points are being brought into the open and discussed a slnging match solves nothing, lets hope for some more people trying to help out and sort the problems.

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 08 Jan 09 - 03:49 AM

Merely a matter of focussing one's fire.

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: GUEST,Rafflesbear
Date: 08 Jan 09 - 03:40 AM

perhaps I shouldn't have bothered

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 07 Jan 09 - 07:01 PM

Rafflesbear - I was not aware of the bogs - but yes, paddling in crap is wholly unacceptable.

As to folk - on the first Friday last year, I finished up in a karaoke bar because there was no folk anywhere at all. You can't move on to what is not there.

Disability drivers - if they park and camp on the end field, not the first school field, they can (as they should be permitted to) come and go as they please.

As to singarounds, maybe you have not been a Broadstairs visitor for very long. Broadstairs has never had the pub sessions that I hear so much of from Sidmouth. Every session has been closed down instanter at the end of the allotted time - until the Wrotham Arms. That has simply functioned as overflow. It is not a problem of oversuccess. It is a problem of undercapacity.

It also sounds as if you don't remember the old school sessions - where one had to get smuggled in by a friend if one was not a camper. Room after room of small crowded sessions where the booked guests were vying to outperform each other and the paying guests had to play above themselves (and did) to stay in the game.

And I'm not even a hard-core long-term Broadstairs person.

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: GUEST,Rafflesbear
Date: 07 Jan 09 - 06:37 PM

Here's my e-mail

Dear Jo

You may be aware that the Mudcat Folk Discussion Forum is currently discussing the Broadstairs Folk Week under the thread 'Broadstairs 2009' and a lot of the posting at the moment is a continuation of the fallout from the 'Broadstairs 2008' thread where quite a number of people were expressing misgivings.

I have to say that my own experience of the festival has been wholly positive and I am looking forward to going again this year. I understand that organising a festival this size is a mammoth undertaking and I sympathise with your need to sign up sponsors in very difficult economic circumstances and wish you luck

I have actively encouraged those who are complaining on the influential Mudcat website to take their grievances directly to you rather than continuing to write complaining letters to the discussion forum declaring that they will not be attending this year and putting a damper on the festival before it happens

I hope that this will help you to address their legitimate concerns and get many of these folk stalwarts back on board well before the event so that we are all able to look forward to a brilliant 2009

The main concerns as I understand them are as follows

1 - security at the campsite - although not personally affected I can see that the events of last year were totally unacceptable and that the friendly community on the campsite can only exist where there is no fear of intrusion and thuggery from any source. Could you please reassure us on this matter

2 - safety within the town at night - this is a public order problem which becomes a festival problem when it starts detering festival goers - is this one where you need to work closely with the police ?

3 - overcrowding at singaround sessions - sounds like a problem of success to me - would it be possible to run more such sessions or identify premises which would be willing to accept ad-hoc singarounds? - I reckon you would still get high numbers at the established and most popular venues - Wrotham Arms and Lord Nelson but this appears to be a big concern for many. I think we all still want the atmospheric venues so a school gym would probably not cut it

4 - the loos at the campsite clogged up and ran out of fluid well before they were maintained

5 - disabled people would like to be able to park at their camp pitch - considering the number of cars driving across the grass anyway this doesn't seem a big ask

6 - a number of people have complained that many of the bands in the pubs have been anything but folk bands. This is one where I am not sure I agree with the complainers - there are so many things going on in town that personally if I found a pub putting on music I did not like I would just move on to the next. Also alternative venues for locals not interested in folk should help distract them from worrying about the 'folkies' - however this is one of the grievances that keeps appearing

7 - a bid one is the lack of simple cheap transport from the campsite down to town and back - it appears to be a real sore - no point driving down because you won't be able to park when you get there. I know that others have made more elaborate suggestions but the simplest solution that I can think of is one vehicle constantly shuttling between the campsite and the bottom of the High Street throughout the day. Perhaps you could sell books of tickets in advance?

I am a real fan of the Broadstairs festival - it's location in a beautiful seaside town, the variety of pubs and other venues, the busking on the prom, the bandstand, the jetty, the fish and chips, the sheer number of events packed into the week - and it hurts me to read people saying they won't be going this year largely because of the issues I have outlined above. I have put faith in your ability and desire to correct many of these problems once they are communicated to you and have suggested as much to the Mudcat community. I would really appreciate your comments and plans for making 2009 safer and better so that we can persuade the doubters to give it another chance, to come along and to get the same enjoyment from it as I have

thanks for all your efforts

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 07 Jan 09 - 06:18 PM

Ah, so not only did you not mean that, BB, you meant nothing at all?

There must be a song about cider in there somewhere...

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: BB
Date: 07 Jan 09 - 04:59 PM

Simply, Richard, I hit the submit button instead of the one to take me out of the page. Yes, I know one is at the bottom of the page and the other's at the top, but me brain's not what it was...

I'm glad that someone's actually going to the powers that be with their thoughts. If they don't know how people feel, they won't make changes. They may not anyway, but at least it gives them a chance.

Barbara

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 07 Jan 09 - 01:46 PM

Feel free to use and if wishing adapt my text.

I'd have been really choked if any little toerag had damaged any of my cherished Volvos.

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: romany man
Date: 07 Jan 09 - 01:44 PM

well done rb, im still composing a snail mail, as one of those whose caravan was damaged in the mayhem, with no come back and an expesive repair afoot (still not fixed too expensive) i think ill just get another tourer, i just hope others will follow the lead, but i think many will just sit back and let people like your good self do the donkey work, then moan if nothing goes their way. well lets hope for a sensible outcome and much participation.

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 07 Jan 09 - 01:30 PM

I have emailed as follows:

Over at the Mudcat (www.mudcat.org) on the thread "Broadstairs 2009" suggestions are being made about how Broadstairs might be improved for 2009

Broadly they fall into three categories: -

1.        More "Folk":
(a)        Particularly in pubs - the bands put into pubs tend towards electro-midatlantic-celtic.
(b)        More participatory folk - at Sidmouth for example there are MANY song sessions and tune sessions in different venues, often on all day, each with their own acoustic style.
(c)        Adding the Wrotham Arms was good, but it was rammed beyond movement in there in 2008 - the demand is still there for more space for participatory folk music.
(d)        The campsite sessions, once the high point of the festival, seem to be failing - probably because the main schoolroom is too big and soulless, which could be improved with screens, mood lighting, and suitable cafe style table and seat layout. How about a session gazebo so that even smokers could take part (I don't smoke myself)?

2.        Security and safety:
(a)        There were apparently several nights of clockwork orange mayhem on the campsite. I didn't see it because I had left due to pressure of work.
(b)        The "main drag" is becoming a safety hazard with urban yoof threatening festivalgoers and bottling pub operators. Signage, lighting, and the occasional security personnel could assist festivalgoers to circumnavigate that area, either along the promenade or via the car parks and allotments inland, and see 3 below.

3.        The moan most frequently heard I think is the absence of a regular minibus service from defined start points. No-one would mind a fare of a quid to be picked up from near the main drag and ferried up the hill to the campsite, and down would be nice too. If Cambridge and Ely and Sidmouth can do it (sometimes free), so can Broadstairs. I'd suggest three services, one from the end of Queen's Road (every 5 minutes in peak periods), and one going the pretty way (every 10 to 15 minutes in peak periods), Nelson Place, Crow Hill, Lindenthorpe Road, Baird's Hill, Sowell St., St Peter's Road, and a third from the Wrotham Arms (every 10 to 15 minutes inpeak periods) up the back way, then all go front entrance, back entrance and round the field to the taps. The services could shrink to one from Queens Road after say 1.30 am stopping at 3 am.

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: GUEST,Rafflesbear
Date: 07 Jan 09 - 12:16 PM

the organisers e-mail addresses are shown on this page contact the organisers

Kim Headley to comment on the music/dancing and Jo Tuffs for the security, buses etc - there is even a convenient form with 'complaint' in the drop-down box. Please write - we don't want just one lone voice

Staying positive Norcsalordie are back again

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: romany man
Date: 07 Jan 09 - 05:22 AM

ok before this decends into the old who said what who did this or that, a very good idea is for all those concerned follow raffles idea and write to the organisers, just to see what happens, dont let this thread become a negative lets all try and make a positive move to help the organisers instead of berating people for honest personal opinions, then perhaps the machine can be guided in a multi faceted direction, it will be impossible to make any festival all things to all persons, but surely if voices of concern a raised the machine must listen. go on folks give it a try. i know many many people will not be going to broadstairs this year, but hey lets hear what they have to say before making the final decision.
Ok raffles as you say many locals think its great, thats a positive but sadly many attendees dont, thats a negative , both side have to be looked at and understood, the glass is not always half full as it can also be half empty, thats a fact. the old well nothing happened to me, therefore all is well with the world is just one factor, things did happen in the negative so thats the balance. i dont think anyone is deliberatly slagging broadstairs , but as you say writing to the organisers is a very good start.

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: GUEST,Rafflesbear
Date: 07 Jan 09 - 02:05 AM

I don't know why you think I'm not listening

I said I was lucky - I certainly wouldm't have wanted to be involved in the unpleasantness but there were people, myself included, who had a great, incident-free festival

I'll ask again - have you written to the organisers about your experiences and have you had replies? I can't write to them because I have nothing to write about other than to say it was great

Also if you want to understand further the feelings and concerns of some locals then google daveandchrisuk - you will also find locals who think it's great

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: romany man
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 07:45 PM

sadly already no ones listening, perhaps the old you talk i listen but wont hear, syndrome is in effect, the fact that people are talking about last year is because this year has not happened yet. however to say that you missed the trouble, and people went home due to the bad weather, ok yes perhaps so, but again i can only speak for myself when i sais i knew many people who went home due to the two nights of trouble from outsiders on the campsite. not went home due to bad weather, bands are booked for this year, maybe so but are they following the same pattern as last years, for example one band even said well as its folk week we will sing a folk song we learned, sorry, only one song. the landlord being bottled was just an asside not an issue, no one has control over yobbish behaviour and we all know that,

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 05:51 PM

Er - what did you mean?

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: BB
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 11:49 AM

Sorry, didn't mean to do that!

Barbara

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: BB
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 11:48 AM

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: melodeonboy
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 09:51 AM

"It would appear that there are issues that need addressing but that doesn't mean that the whole festival is flawed"

Quite!

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: GUEST,dillie - of the broadstairs appreciation soc
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 09:26 AM

Hello again

just wondering why you are still all talking about last year and regurgitating your misgivings from the last festival instead of in fact suggesting improvements or being positive in a way such as other posters on here...I agree some things could be improved, (security WAS improved by the end of the week) but talking about how one local fool bottled a landlord in the context of the festival etc is a bit wide of the mark.

The fesitvals organisers do listen and I can prove it - we have loads of bands coming to play this year (yet to be announced to the general public) that the paying customers and the general public requested during/before/after the festival last year. Improvements will be made where possible - of course they will.

there is some really positive news about the festival this year such as the fact that Spiers and Boden and Glorystrokes are booked to play, and also the fact that i have booked a whole week of glorious sunshine via the internet shopping site 'sunbay' so we're guaranteed sunshine all week. (that last bit might be a teensy lie)

if you really were unhappy then do stay away, but we plan to have a jolly old time of it. Some of the week last year was a little bit fraught with issues, but that is nothing on the year my tent got nicked in sidmouth, or the 'glorious' weather at 'wetby' folk week.

I do hope you have a great time at the other festivals this year, and hope to see you there, but in times like this, when everyone finds themselves in straightend circumstances, I find a bit of positivity goes a long way.

this is not to belittle your comments or in any suggest that what you have to say is not valid. If that's what you think, then fine. Each to their own. I just think there is much to be had from what is a lovely festival, in a gorgeous town in a part of Kent that is traditionally less advantaged than other areas and needs our ongoing support to make 2009 a brilliant year.



Happy new year.

Charlotte x

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: GUEST,Rafflesbear
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 09:21 AM

I missed a lot last year obviously no trouble whatever - ok perhaps I was lucky but I would be surprised if a number of the early departures were not down to the high winds and rain - I found myself helping at least one camper to stop their tent disappearing towards Margate

There doesn't seem to me to be anything wrong in principle with the festival. Maybe with the sun shining the downsides don't seem so far down and the upsides seem higher

It would appear that there are issues that need addressing but that doesn't mean that the whole festival is flawed

Each year is an opportunity to do better than the previous year and as Barbara suggests in her post the best action is to contact the organisers - Have you done that and did you get a reply ?

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: Kev The Clogs
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 08:49 AM

Bravo Ken - you KNOW that is what I am saying now and what I was saying last year. Hopefully, my comments, your comments and increasingly, others' comments will now be looked at and listened to instead of being derided.

Kev

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: romany man
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 05:26 AM

now now children lets not get into who said what who did or didnt do that, facts are facts, broadstairs last year was a general failure as far as security, value for money,was concerned, thfts damage to property and near misses, (brick through the tent) many people went home early from the campsite i was on due to the problems on site not being addresed, the music within the pubs was not what was expected by many, the closure of the high street and the outside visiting thuggery at that end of the high street, caused untold problems, even one of the landlords was bottled, nothing to do with the organisers i know, but surely someone in the appreciation society should be looking at the things that went wrong , not the things that went right , (there must have been something, sadly i didnt find anything and was glad to go home.) the morris sides are getting fewer, the real trad music was down in the last pub on the high street but you had to walk the gauntlet of the yobs in the now closed high street and yes i can see why it was closed, but most of the thuggery was from outside visitors not festival attendeas, the stalls in the outdoor market are basically all the same, inside the tented market better, sadly again organisors are not looking at whats there for the paying public only, in my opinion whats going into the collective pocket of orgaisation, i hear mutterings at a recent council meeting the mayor is expressing concerns re the festival, in my opinion the festival is heading down the selfdestruct road, and it will become as kev has said one cash cow for a few, so please look at what happened and what is likely to happen if controls are not put into practice ,listen to what is being said by the grass roots who attend year on year, stop polishing your egos and be honest, forthright and please please get back on track, look at sidmouth, witby, etc, lets try and be constructive not get into a general slagging session.

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: Kev The Clogs
Date: 05 Jan 09 - 06:57 PM

Not at all Hoff - no offense taken, as didn't interpret anything you have said as personal. (Not had much to drink). Just "Here we go again" - Red Rag to a Bull time with this little Baby!!!

Kev

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 05 Jan 09 - 06:55 PM

Drinkin again Kevin?

I don't think I was criticising you for that then was I?

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: Kev The Clogs
Date: 05 Jan 09 - 06:21 PM

Broadstairs Organisers - Remember me!!!? I'm the one who last year made many comments about what was not working at Broadstairs 2008!!! I.E lack of transport; lack of security; lack of "Folk"; ecess of prepacked, amplified sameness; hordes of drunken crowds and general rudeness and indifference (just to name a few) What did I get? A whole lot of negative comments from people belonging to the "Broadstairs Appreciation Society" slagging ME off and that I had no right to say them.

WELL, looking at the number of comments that have been made on THIS thread for THIS year's Festival - what do you know???? - They seem to be saying the same things that I got crucified for last year!!!!

Following on from the comment last year, of "If you don't like it, then stay away" - well, you'll be pleased to know - I'm not bothering this year(and there are strong mutterings from a number of others). I'll be lighted with Sidmouth and then catch up on my dirty washing during Broadstairs week.

Do yourselves a BIG favour and start listening to the grass roots. They don't want miracles, they just want VALUE FOR MONEY and to NOT be treated like a year on year Cash Cow!!!

Kev The Clogs (Kevin Tudor) - Proud to be saying what a lot of people are thinking!!

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: romany man
Date: 05 Jan 09 - 06:04 PM

whats wrong with using the minibuses that are always on site in a more productive manner insteads of going to outside companies, will security be looked at. as i know several people who are not going this year due to the damage and headless chicken syndrome of last year.

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: GUEST,Rafflesbear
Date: 04 Jan 09 - 06:37 PM

I've made an enquiry with a local company - I'll let you know if anything comes back

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: romany man
Date: 04 Jan 09 - 06:08 PM

why then where the mini buses already on site last year, not used to their full potential, i did get a lift up the hill once as i remember, we chipped in the hat ithink,

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: BB
Date: 04 Jan 09 - 04:57 PM

Then try writing to the festival office! The artistic director does drop in here occasionally, but it wouldn't really be up to her but to Jo Tuft, the overall festival director.

Barbara

Subject: RE: Broadstairs 2009
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 04 Jan 09 - 10:32 AM

Ideally two minibuses - one from the end of Queen's Road, and the oher going the pretty way, Nelson Place, Crow Hill, Lindenthorpe Road, Baird's Hill, Sowell St., St Peter's Road, then both go front entrance, back entrance and round the field to the taps.

But I still think that the festival itself will have the most "clout" to organise something with local bus companies or radiocab companies.