Tim Sullivan’s Post

📜5 Rules for how to not be a dick during Festival Season📜 We’re now officially at the start of festival season and I couldn’t be more excited. We’ll be seeing around 8m people attending Togather events over the next few months and I’m so lucky to going along to some of the best festival and events in the country - but here are some rules to follow when you’re at festivals to make sure you’re being a good attendee. Let me know if there are any you think I’ve missed out! Remember the people who work events are actually real humans: Don’t be abusive to event staff. Every caterer or staff member has a story about attendees being rude and abusive to them. There’s genuinely no situation where this is ever acceptable. There is nothing more pathetic in life than a person who is rude to people in the service industry. There’s nothing worse than a litterer: Glastonbury has its ‘Leave no trace’ motto for a reason. There is a special place in hell of litter bugs. There’s simply nothing worse than people who see the public spaces at festivals as their personal dumping grounds - make the time to find the bin to throw your rubbish away in and make sure you recycle what you can. Don’t chuck your drink in a crowd: One of the most infamously horrible festival experiences that gives me flashbacks to Reading 08… When you get hit with the inexplicable urge to chuck the last quarter of your pint, please try just and resist the urge and put the energy into dancing. If you see anyone that’s struggling, make sure you help: While festivals are brilliant, they can often be quite physically trying situations, particularly on hot days at the peak of summer. Make sure that help anyone you see struggling, and make sure they get some water and the support they need. Festivals are all about escapism and good vibes - make sure you're adding to that not taking away from it. Don’t be the person that gets angry when someone knocks into them: Maybe this sounds a little specific but I feel is one of the most underrated problems at festival - when you find yourself nudged into someone who then gets annoyed at the very slight inconvenience. Personal space is at a premium at music festivals and you’ll get the odd knock along the way. Don't gett aggy.

Hi friends! It's Peer Review Tuesday 🤩🥳😃 Today's article by Palamar (NYU Grossman School of Medicine) and Sönmez (Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona) looks at the drug-related risks associated with music festivals. The study takes data from festivals in the US and has identified four main risk groups that contribute to drug-related harm: 💛 Inexperienced drug-takers that have limited access to harm reduction and information about drugs 💛 Risky drug purchasing (buying off the first sketchy dealer they meet getting into the festival) 💛 Risky drug taking practises (taking random drugs without checking what's in them, panicking at the security check and taking their entire stash, etc) 💛 Festival-specific factors (overheating, dehydraton, etc.) Some of this was a bit of a no-brainer. Yes, your body is still real while you're at a festival, so yes, you still have to eat, sleep, hydrate, and wear sunblock. This is all stuff that's pretty old news. The things we had kiiiinda known but didn't have any receipts for until now are: 💛 Some dealers go to festivals specifically to sell poor-quality gear (rude). 💛 High visibility of police at festivals leads to higher incidents of risky drug-taking behaviour and drug-related harm. Usually this takes the form of: ☠️ taking higher doses to avoid getting busted re-dosing  ☠️taking their entire weekend's stash at the gate on entry before they get searched ☠️ people not going to the medic's tent when they need to because they're scared they'll get arrested ☠️ People buying sketchy gear once they're in the festival and not having the equipment to measure doses properly The thing about the police presence is particularly interesting as it kinda backs up the 'being tough on drug-related crime actually increases drug-related harm' thing in a very real and immediate way. Read the article:  https://lnkd.in/gKnfkBe3

"November attempt hi bakwas hai." One of my students dropped this in my DMs. Curious, I asked, "Aisa kyu?" He replied, "Sir, so many festivals come around this time. Even if I sit down to study, koi na koi relative, neighbor, ya random log ghar aa jaate hai. And then there’s the noise of firecrackers, dhol, loud music, and the worst part is seeing everyone post pictures on social media enjoying these festivals. FOMO ka next level!" He kept going with his rant. Now with the next attempt in September, does that make things easier? Well, only to some extent. Sure, you can now enjoy Diwali and Navratri guilt-free, but what about the other festivals? Rakshabandhan, Janmashtami, Paryushan, Ganesh Chaturthi - there’s a festival almost every week! If you don’t study, you’ll feel the regret. But if you do, FOMO will hit hard. It’s a tough spot to be in, right? But hold on, here are a few tips that might help: --> Make early mornings your best friend. Use this quiet time to focus on challenging topics or subjects. --> Plan your study schedule around festivals. Just like festivals are planned, your study time should be too. --> Reward yourself for meeting targets. Maybe treat yourself to your favorite sweet. Let’s be real, festivals are going to cause some time loss. It’s almost unavoidable. So, instead of stressing, build a realistic schedule that leaves room for a bit of celebration. Honestly, ask any CA aspirant, and they’ll tell you about the festivals they’ve missed or the parties they’ve skipped. But you know what? It’s all worth it. These are the moments that turn your 39 into 40 or push you from 299 to that golden 300. And think about it, when you pass, all those missed celebrations will come rushing back with the added joy of your achievement. So, keep going, stay focused, and remember - Sacrificing this festive season may make your upcoming celebrations better. Your CA Buddy, Shubham Singhal

🎵💛🙏🎵💛🙏🎵💛🙏🎵💛🙏🎵💛🙏 ⭐️⭐️⭐️… Happening now … ⭐️⭐️⭐️ “So far this year 45 UK music festivals have been postponed or cancelled. The Association of Independent Festivals are forecasting that that figure could DOUBLE before the year is out.” - Sky News 👀 Watch the report here 👀 ▶️ ⭐️ https://lnkd.in/eQDJs6-5 ⭐️ KT Tunstall makes an important point in Katie Spencer’s excellent report about ‘headline’ acts ‘cutting their teeth’ at the smaller festivals long before they walk out & WOW huge crowds at Glastonbury or at the O2, for example.. The appetite for festivals continues to grow and has bounced back since the pandemic.. which is most certainly welcome news. Yet the organic nature & grass roots of the industry.. is under threat, ironically due to its success. WHY? Big international corporations are ‘buying out’ smaller festivals 🤔💭 John Rostron, Chief Executive of The Association of Independent Festivals, wants a return to the initial post-pandemic 5% instead of 20% VAT charge associated with producing smaller festivals… to give the operators & supply chain a chance to fully recover & rebuild. Reading about & reflecting on the many varied benefits of small festivals.. not LEAST that they provide an initial platform for talent to emerge, ‘get their feet wet’ & blossom so that they can then headline the bigger events… small festivals seem to me to be worth supporting for so many reasons: ⭐️ They birth, grow, develop, foster, support & nurture: - New music 💖🎵 - New music fans 💖🎵 - Community spirit! 💖 - Joy & Unity! 💖 😀 - Sustainability 💖 - Diversity 💖 - Inclusivity 💖 - Cultural Growth 💖 - Celebration! 💖🎉 - Families & kids! 💖🏡 - New technologies 💖💫 - Local economies 💖💷 - Cultural Growth 💖 - New Artists… who become big show headliners 💖👏🎵 ⭐️ What do YOU think? ⭐️ - Are you an avid small festival goer? Or do you just enjoy one or two local festivals each year? - What’s your favourite thing about attending smaller festivals compared to the bigger ones? - Have you had your festival plans curtailed this year due to organisers having to cancel or postpone the event? - What do you think.. & how do you feel.. about the threat of the small music festival counter culture being ‘taken-over’ by big international corporations buying out smaller festivals? - And what about them having acts sign exclusivity contracts to prevent them performing at smaller events? Look forward to hearing your thoughts below! 🎵💫😇 #musicfestivals #skynews #singersongwriters #localeconomies #newmusic #liveevents #sustainability #culture #newtechnology #community

Already, 50 UK festivals have announced they will either postpone, cancel, or completely shut down in 2024. Without immediate intervention, we could see the number of lost festivals exceed 100 this year due to rising and unpredictable costs. In early February, the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) launched the "5% For Festivals" campaign, advocating for a temporary VAT reduction on festival tickets to prevent more closures. This campaign aimed to raise awareness among festival-goers about the challenges faced by promoters over the past five years and encouraged them to lobby their MPs for support. However, the campaign is currently on hold as the country prepares for a general election. The solution is clear: the UK Government needs to provide temporary relief by reducing VAT on ticket sales from 20% to 5% for the next three years. This would give festival promoters the breathing room they need to recover and continue offering vibrant cultural events. For more details, read the full story https://lnkd.in/d3wPUR7r

New Year’s Eve Clubbing in Decline: The Changing Landscape of UK Nightlife December 31, 2023  Thedailycourierng New Year’s Eve The UK’s clubbing scene has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, and the traditional New Year’s Eve celebrations are no exception. In the past, every UK club would host an end-of-year party, with DJs playing multiple shows on the night. However, according to music industry insiders, smaller clubs are now losing out to mega raves, private events, and even livestreams. This shift in preference has led many big artists, including Welsh dance duo Overmono, to perform abroad, leaving the UK clubbing scene in a state of uncertainty. The Rise of Alternative New Year’s Eve Celebrations In the past, New Year’s Eve was synonymous with clubbing in the UK. DJs would travel between cities, playing sets at various clubs throughout the night. However, this year, many smaller promoters are avoiding hosting events on New Year’s Eve altogether, while some clubs have chosen to close their doors. This change in behavior can be attributed to the evolving habits of club-goers. House parties have made a comeback, and people are seeking unique experiences and big moments rather than traditional club nights. Steven Braines, co-founder of the club night He. She. They., has decided to sit out this year’s New Year’s Eve festivities. He explains that the habits of people going out on New Year’s Eve have changed, and clubs are suffering as a result. This sentiment is echoed by Scottish promoter Nick Checketts, who highlights the challenges smaller promoters face in attracting crowds and ensuring a busy night. The Impact of Livestreams and Mega Raves on New Year’s Eve One of the most significant end-of-year parties this year will be a 24-hour livestream pre-recorded rave in a packed Brooklyn warehouse, featuring star DJs Peggy Gou, Kaytranada, and Honey Dijon. Livestream events have gained popularity due to their accessibility and ability to create a festival-like atmosphere in a virtual space. These events often sell out in advance, further contributing to the decline of mid-level club nights. Moreover, mega raves and festivals have also played a role in drawing audiences away from smaller clubs. Festivals offer the opportunity to see a wide range of artists in a single night, creating a festival environment regardless of the weather. The festival season in the UK this year was particularly successful, leading to increased demand for these larger-scale events.

More golden eggs please! So, a short post about poisoning the well. I used to love going to city music festivals. A one-day event, with multiple acts across a number of small venues - no need for expensive transport, accommodation or sky-high food prices: just take your pick of acts and walk between venues. This all changed last year. One of my favourite festivals tripled its ticket price. Wow, I thought, they must really have invested this year! In fact, instead of being able to breeze from club to club, most of the day was spent waiting in a queue to get to massively oversubscribed venues. And then leaving when I realised the queue wasn't going to get any shorter until the act I was looking forward to was finished. And then repeating at the next venue. Basically, triple the cost, double the number of tickets sold and fewer venues. What's the point in complaining, I thought - they are gambling that any bad press matters less than flogging all those extra tickets. But not only has it put me off going this year, it has put me off going to any other city festival. Why take the risk of going to a different festival and finding out that they too have decided that this year, the golden eggs matter more than the goose which lays them? This experience has poisoned the well for me and I wonder if other events will pay the price of this one company's short-sightedness.

Great to see Music Week highlighting the embattled festival sector again with comment from AIF CEO John Rostron. https://lnkd.in/egPTJKxw The problems facing the festival sector need to be acknowledged and addressed. These inflationary supply chain issues, exacerbated by other factors, are decimating the industry with 100 festivals expected to close this year. The government can help this culturally important and traditionally profitable sector with a few simple steps. An immediate step would be to cut VAT on tickets to 5% - as the industry is campaigning for at https://lnkd.in/e3es__sV. As the new Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy must acknowledge the value of music festivals (and their importance to a large supply chain) and take swift action.

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