Good to be Back?
Muddy festivalgoers Credit: Shutterstock.
Karen Sweaney charts how rising costs, crowded calendars and La Nina are presenting a new tide of challenges for live events and outdoor entertainment he reopening of the economy after the pandemic was meant to herald a massive return to live entertainment. After all, T ‘live’ was an area that could not be adequately replicated in home or via virtual environments. Yet, a range of challenges have emerged that are impacting fans and patrons getting out and experiencing ‘in person’ entertainment. After people eagerly returned to live entertainment as states opened up as of the autumn, artists sought to try and recover income that they had lost when not being on the road for the best part of two years and recoup their losses by raising their ticket prices. Zac Messih, Senior Content and Partnerships Marketing Manager at Audience Republic, explains “while the cost of tickets for smaller venues - clubs and theatres - hover around the same price point as they were pre-COVID, the ticket price of larger shows - amphitheatres and stadiums - has skyrocketed.” With ticket inflation quickly followed by wider inflationary pressures across the wider economy, coupled with stagnating wages, discretionary spending on entertainment becomes a casualty. In addition, Messih adds “the sheer amount of shows and tours has increased significantly as consumers and artists are becoming more comfortable with going out. “Concert calendars are already clogged and, if you live in a major market, you may find that several of your favourite artists are performing on the same night, forcing consumers to pick and choose.” Costs are also impacting artists as well as consumers, with tours being cancelled because of rising travel and insurances cost and uncertainty over ticket sales. In September, US musician Santigold published a long statement to social media announcing the cancellation of her upcoming Holified tour. Citing two years of no income; the skyrocketing cost of gas, flights, and hotels; a flooded market of delayed tours, leading 46 Australasian Leisure Management Issue 153
to overbooked venues and audiences; and the risk of infection, alongside general exhaustion and poor mental health, she wrote “as a touring musician, I don’t think anyone anticipated the new reality that awaited us (after the pandemic). “I think it’s important for people to know the truth of what it’s like out here for artists … and I don’t believe enough of us are talking about it publicly.” September also saw UK rapper Stormzy cancel his upcoming Australia and New Zealand tour - three years after the original announcement; Justin Bieber once again postponed his world tour, citing health reasons; and Australian alt rockers Gang of Youths cancelled their upcoming North American dates, with their frontman, Dave Le’aupepe, writing in a statement “I’m getting to the point where the stress of travel, illness and feeling constantly hampered by injuries and physical shit sustained on the road is taking a significant toll on my wellbeing overall.” Festivals, have also been impacted by rising costs along with staffing issues, supply chain shortages and inconsistent consumer confidence and the added impact of weather events – with flood and rain events replacing the pre pandemic impact of bushfires. Gaining national attention when the first day of the returning 2022 Splendour in the Grass was cancelled in July due to heavy rain, extreme weather events have caused the cancellations or postponements at multiple outdoor events and music festivals in recent months. Scenes of fans caked in mud at Splendour in the Credit: Splendour in the Grass. Grass was just the start of a
