Sidmouth and finances (Was: Re: Amplified music not the real thing (Coke is))
George Hawes
Peter Wilton <pj...@beaufort.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>George Hawes <George...@i-cubed.co.uk> writes
<Possibly talking about Sidmouth Festival>
>>In which case you are
>>presenting an incomplete picture of their financial arrangements
>>with artists and consequently - I suggest - being very unfair
>>and misleading. This is most unlike you, Peter.
>It might be that my "source" is misleading me of course! But I would be
>interested to hear from you (perhaps by private Email) what you know
>about it.
My point was really that, to my certain knowledge, Sidmouth has
a wide variety of 'remunerative arrangements' with musicians and
others involved. From those who get a full fee to those who do
things for free AND pay for their ticket. Many participants are
happy to offer workshops, etc. in return for a free ticket;
others in return for a ticket and their accomodation expenses.
Simply it's that sort of an event.
But at the same time I am aware of instances where people's
'better nature' seems to be taken advantage of in these
negotiations . .
Also - the shift from the event being run by the EFDSS to a
commercial organisation was at the behest of the EFDSS who felt
that a bad year could bankrupt the organisation as well as the
festival. Clearly the commercial organisers had to operate the
festival on a sound financial footing, including building up a
balance which would cope with the worst possible disaster year
and still leave a big enough balance to rebuild from the next
year. I believe they've been quite successful at this, but I
still don't see them driving round in huge cars . . .
I believe the Sidmouth accounts are open to scrutiny anyway. And
certainly the financial basis includes voluntary fund raising
(by the 'Friends' during the year); these people clearly remain
satisfied with the Festival's financial arrangements.
I would also comment that OVERALL the festival has shown much
improvement over the period of commercial operation; in
particular in strengthening the different facets of the festival
to put them pretty well on a par with each other and with the
Overseas Dance aspect. If your own interests are narrow you can
see Sidmouth today as a number of different festivals taking
place concurrently . . .
I don't always agree with the organisers. There seem to be fewer
artistes booked for the week, or an extended period of it, and
this - IMHO - diminishes the Festival. And things like leaving
the West Country Concertina Players workshops out of the Working
Programme (because their events are not organised by the
Festival itself) is small-minded and unhelpful to those
attending the Festival. Which is to say that no matter how good
an event is it could always be better.
Regards
George
Peter Hughes
Ian Anderson
Peter Hughes wrote:
>Many
> people I spoke to last year in between busking on the prom (that
> was me on the hurdy gurdy) commented that the festival was nowhere
> as good as it used to be! Maybe its just nostalgia...
I suspect you've hit the nail on the head there.
>
> On the subject of amplification, how about banning it from the
> sea front?
Which Andean pan-pipe band were you talking about? ;-)
Ian Anderson
Folk Roots magazine
fro...@froots.demon.co.uk
http://www.froots.demon.co.uk/
Peter Wilton
Peter Hughes <hug...@cartoon.bt.co.uk> writes
>On the subject of amplification, how about banning it from the
>sea front?
You're referring to one group which amplified itself and drowned out
everyone else whilst it was playing for most of the length of the
esplanade last year. As far as I know, this has never happened before. I
don't know if anyone has taken any action on it since.
--
Peter Wilton
The Gregorian Association Web Page:
http://www.beaufort.demon.co.uk/chant.htm
Bob Archer
In article: <5o5ojg$u...@shiny.i-cubed.co.uk> George...@i-cubed.co.uk
(George Hawes) writes:
> My point was really that, to my certain knowledge, Sidmouth has
> a wide variety of 'remunerative arrangements' with musicians and
> others involved. From those who get a full fee to those who do
> things for free AND pay for their ticket. Many participants are
> happy to offer workshops, etc. in return for a free ticket;
> others in return for a ticket and their accomodation expenses.
> Simply it's that sort of an event.
>
> But at the same time I am aware of instances where people's
> 'better nature' seems to be taken advantage of in these
> negotiations . .
One of the differences for the variety in arrangments is the fact that
some of the performers are full time professionals who earn their living
from performing, other people have a day job which pays the rent and
perform as a hobby. And a whole lot of people are somewhere in between.
There also seems to be an issue of billing order - presumably the higher
up the billing order an act is the more people they will attract and the
more money they're worth.
Bob
--
Bob Archer
Chris Timson
Ian Anderson <fro...@froots.demon.co.uk> writes
>> On the subject of amplification, how about banning it from the
>> sea front?
>
Be fair, the God Squad use PA too. I always used to really enjoy the
irony that the only people on the front who felt they required PA were
the ones with a Message which (if true) wouldn't have needed it.
Unfortunately the Andeans last year deprived me of that little bit of
sarcasm...
Chris
--
Chris Timson Have concertinas, will travel
and Phone (UK) 01225 863762
Anne Gregson For our home pages and for the Concertina FAQ:
http://www.harbour.demon.co.uk/