Sidmouth Stewarding

Subject: Sidmouth Stewarding
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jun 05 - 08:40 PM

Mr Barden believes that the "Guests" are not doing Sidmouth because of no free tickets.
Would you still go with or without paying for your ticket?.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Stewarding
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 26 Jun 05 - 02:26 AM

Well I'm sure many like myself could not afford to go to most festivals without some form of subsidy. Were I ever inclined to go to Sidmouth festival proper (as opposed to sitting in a fringe event all day) then, the answer would have to be no, I couldn't go to Sidmouth if I personally had to pay for a whole ticket.

Of course, everyone is now going to jump on me saying I'm not a supporter of the festival because I don't go to the staged events.... Tough titty. There are some people in this world who can afford full ticket prices plus extra for a weeks' food, enough beer to float the Armada and still put in the buckets that go round. Then there are those who can't. I do not fall into the first category.

I have been to Sidmouth several times as performer, punter, guest and day tripper, I've even been there when the festival hasn't.... I loved every bit of every time I spent there (except possibly some of the queueing for the toilets on the campsite) and if I had the chance, I would go again... Alas, two festivals a month is totally beyond my means. The only way I shall make it is if I can bum a free bed nearby and come in as a day tripper.

LTS

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Stewarding
From: Dave Earl
Date: 26 Jun 05 - 02:41 AM

Check the website.

There is a reqest for stewards.

Ask the contact what the organisers can offer in return for Stewarding.

Dave Earl

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Stewarding
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 26 Jun 05 - 03:48 AM

Don't worry Liz,

Nobody who really cares about Sidmouth is going to jump all over one who supports Sidmouth, and does all that is within her means to keep it going.

I have said elsewhere that I fall into that bracket which is described (understatement of the year) as low paid. The cost, to me, of my yearly visit is having to spend the other two weeks of my summer holiday sitting at home, and I consider it a price worth paying.

Let's face it. You can only do what finances allow, and that applies to everything, not just Sidmouth.

Anuone who thinks that stewarding is an easy way to get a cheap deal has, IMHO, lost the plot. It is in fact the only way to be there for a lot of less well off people, and involves considerable hard work, as well as the possibility of missing some of the events you want to attend because of duty conflicts.

What the fringe haters tend to forget is that the fringe is not a separate entity outside of the festival, but part of the whole experience.

It plays its part in bringing in the people who spend money, thereby allowing the festival to continue year after year, and the music and dance on the seafront, and around the town give the whole scene an ambience quite different than other festivals.

Cut off the fringe and you have a smaller Cambridge.

There has been too much aggressive argument about this year, and it must have been counter productive to some extent. I would like very much to see an end of the demonisation of supporters by those who wish for a flop, and an end also to the angry responses from supporters (I have been part of that at times, I'm ashamed to say).

Let's just forget it and go enjoy ourselves. and put into it all that we are able. The rewards will come next year and hopefully many more years in the future.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Stewarding
From: Dave Earl
Date: 26 Jun 05 - 03:56 AM

Yes Liz,

What I said earlier was not intended to decry those who for the best of reasons cannot get to all they would wish to.

Maybe my earlier posting was a bit curt but there are some limited benifits available to volunteer stewards this year if you wish to make enquiries.

Dave

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Stewarding
From: The Barden of England
Date: 26 Jun 05 - 05:31 AM

I do believe it's one of the causes, that's true, but I don't see the need for such vitriol against the Sidmouth Folk Week because of that. I do however sympathise with the people who have done a sterling job over the years in Stewarding the many festivals I'm lucky enough to be able to attend, whether as a paying individual or as a paid performer. I applaud and thank you all for giving of your time.

We all know the circumstances that has led to Sidmouth being different this year, but without giving it a chance, then what hope for it or things like the Lancaster Maritime Festival for example. Don't forget either, that Beverley survived because the fringe insisted on carrying on, and now Mrs. Casey is involved there, so well done. So many Councils have pulled the plug on funding that we are being marginalised. We can't blame the organisers for that - we can only blame the people we vote into power (like the EDDC).

As a last note, just look at the 'Glastonbury Grrrrrr' thread and you will find that even the sound men don't get paid there, and that one's being hugely backed and advertised by the BBC!
John Barden

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Stewarding
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 26 Jun 05 - 06:43 AM

I was a steward for many years for the first week setting the campsite up for all the campers,i even got a street with my name on it till last year.Not sure if they will be namimg the streets or not this year.
I am not going to steward for personal reasons and most people that i know from catters to Sidmouth goers know why and its not because of the not getting a free ticket system.
I steward Main campsite for 16 years and loved every minute of it.
I would like to thank every steward who did the first week with myself and husband that includes MBS Lynne and EPN and Alan White who is in charge of the Bulverton campsite once more.
Scooby

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Stewarding
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Jun 05 - 12:32 PM

I have steward many festivals but never Sidmouth.I gather Sidmouth this year is not giving alot away for example if you steward the main campsite you get in free other example is if you do the LNE you can get in the LNE free.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Stewarding
From: MBSLynne
Date: 26 Jun 05 - 01:00 PM

Back to the old days Yas...EPN and I are doing first week on the campsite again. Should be good...and we are getting more than just free camping. Believe me, while we obviously can't get a free season ticket, since there aren't any season tickets, what we ARE getting in return for stewarding makes it well worth doing! it will make it the cheapest Sidmouth we've had in years!

Love Lynne
PS I shall now stop reading this thread because it is due to have all the miseries and nasties hit it pretty soon, and I can't be bothered with reading their stuff.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Stewarding
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 26 Jun 05 - 01:26 PM

I will remember our happy times lynne and Ted and Richard been small.Also how you looked after Toby when i had too go to hospital.
Thankyou friend
Scooby,

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Stewarding
From: Crystal
Date: 27 Jun 05 - 04:30 AM

I was asked to steward at Sidmouth, and was told I would get half price camping plus free entry into any concerts I wanted to go to.
Unfortunatly I'm so broke at the moment that the cost of getting there is really more than I can afford, plus I need to eat while I'm there so having to pay for camping, plus all the things I want to go to (I'm not a huge concert fan) makes it too expensive, and I've spoken to others who are in the same boat.
It is a great shame because I'd love to go, I went for the first time last year and really enjoyed it.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Stewarding
From: Bonecruncher
Date: 27 Jun 05 - 09:36 PM

Scooby-Doo you did a grand job when you were stewarding Main Camp Site. Had some fun on the night patrols as well, didn't we?
Yes, stewarding this year can still be worthwhile - ask the organisers.
LOL
Colyn.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Stewarding
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 28 Jun 05 - 04:06 AM

Colyn,
I am not Stwearding for personal reason even though i loved working with you and Alan.We did have some fun with your dogs on night patrol.My reason is nothing to do with the festival,it is something that happened years ago that i can not forget.
Scooby

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Stewarding
From: GUEST,stewart the steward
Date: 09 Jul 05 - 09:03 PM

they've changed their mind about free tickets for stewards, about time too!

http://www.sidmouthfolkweek.co.uk/stewarding.html

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Stewarding
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 10 Jul 05 - 05:10 AM

It's all about money really when you boil it down, I really do think it is too expensive. I think an over ambitious and therefore expensive programme causes a lot of these problems, and it's not just at Sidmouth this happens. Take Cambridge for example Ken Wollard was the entertainments officer for Cambridge council and he had a great deal of backing from them, this lead to his booking acts that no festival in those days could afford. This in turn generates a sort of competition between festivals for both punters and kudos, and leads to better money for performers, an increase in ticket costs,and the demise of some festivals. There are only three reasons for putting on a festival, 1 To make money; ha ha, 2 To promote your venue, 3 Love of the genre. None of these reasons on its own is sole justification for embarking on such a mammoth task without help, if that help was solely logistic and financial help didn't come into the equation, then a festival organiser would have to cut their coat to suit their cloth. Ergo financial backing gives bookers ideas above their station and will eventually lead to the festival costing too much to run. Just imagine what it would cost to run without the volunteers!
Remember Charles Dickens David Copperfield, Mr Micawber I think.

"Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pound ought and six, result misery."

Giok

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Stewarding
From: Blowzabella
Date: 10 Jul 05 - 06:21 AM

Hi Giok - (slightly off topic, in that it isn't about Sidmouth, but please forgive me) - there is another reason to put on a Festival - which is sort of akin to your no. 2 but slightly different - and this is the one that most local authorities have in mind, when they support Festivals. That is - To raise awareness of and gain positive media coverage for the town / district etc of the host authority and to generate economic benefits for the area, encourage people to explore more than just the Festival and perhaps return at other times of the year.

I have been involved for many years with a Festival whose income came from a local authority, supplemented by private sponsors, supporters but the event itself was mostly free of charge to the public. Believe you me, as a booker, I was never in the position of having ideas above my station (whatever my station was / is). The whole thing was considered an ensemble production - including all the performers and production team.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Stewarding
From: GUEST,Sally
Date: 10 Jul 05 - 08:28 AM

I know the 'economic benefits' argument is one of the main reasons why local authorities help fund festivals but it is often very difficult for authorities to work out exactly how great the 'economic benefits' are.

It is easy to say the authority is putting £xxx into a festival.

It is much harder to find out how many extra people stayed in local hotels, spent money in local shops, cafes, petrol stations etc.

End result. Local authority eventually cuts funding because it can only see one side of the balance sheet.

Colyn. I have enjoyed my stints as a steward at Sidmouth for many years but am not coming this year as it just doesn't look like the festival I have enjoyed so much.

I'm doing a couple of days stewarding at Eastleigh instead in return for which stewards get free admission to all concerts, free camping, free t-shirt and free meals - I NEVER got a free lunch at Sidmouth!

Then I'm off to Broadstairs to enjoy myself!

I'll still be thinking of Sidmouth though and I'm sure Colyn, Lizzie, Lynne, John Barden and many others will still have a great time.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Stewarding
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jul 05 - 06:00 PM

they've changed their mind about free tickets for stewards, about time too!

I know other people in Crystal's position who have already made other arrangements for the summer.

The festival will no doubt be a success but on the basis of goodwill built up over the years by EFDSS and Steve Heap and despite the current organisation.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Stewarding
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 10 Jul 05 - 06:00 PM

We will...thank you 'Sally'

Lizzie :0)

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Stewarding
From: GUEST,Curious
Date: 10 Jul 05 - 08:39 PM

Are any of the Lizzie's who post on mudcat offering to help with stewarding this year?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Stewarding
From: Bonecruncher
Date: 10 Jul 05 - 10:05 PM

Guest SALLY
Thank you for your positive comments. You will be missed at Sidmouth this year, although I hoppe you enjoy yourself at Eastleigh and Broasdstairs.
Colyn.