Issue 30 July 2009 £4.75
Tourist hopes for festivals
Cornbury cuts costs in recession By Christina Eccles THE promoter of one of the UK’s most popular festivals has told how he has been forced to make major cutbacks to ride the recession. The Cornbury festival in Oxfordshire has seen ticket sales plummet by about 20 per cent this year – presenting Hugh Phillimore with the headache of cutting costs wherever possible without compromising the quality of the festival experience. Cost-saving measures include using the services of Scouts and Brownies to pick up litter instead of the usual waste recycling company – saving the festival an estimated £20,000. Hugh said: “Sales are down a bit but we anticipated that so have reduced our spend on artists and infrastructure. Last year our headliner was Paul Simon and this year we have Sugababes and Scouting for Girls. We have also configured the site for less people so as not to waste money. “But a good thing about having to cut costs is that it is making us think creatively. We have never used the Brownies or Scouts before.” Hugh added that the festival is hav-
ing to budget carefully and has been getting comparative quotes to try and get the best prices – but he claimed this will not affect the feel of the event. He added: “We are keeping things tighter in terms of the site but we will be keeping the nice little touches. We are trying to make a smaller amount of money go further.” Last year, about 12,500 people came through the gates but this year Hugh said he would be happy with 8,000-10,000. However, he said although ticket sales aren’t as strong as in previous years, there has been a last-minute surge. “We were hit badly with the weather last year and our punters have been saying that they are waiting until the last minute. Sales are now coming in thick and fast but very late. We have had two local events cancelled in our area which does make it easier. “Anyone who gets through this year and is still in business has got a huge result.” How has your event been affected by the recession? Contact Christina Eccles on 01226 734463 or email ce@whpl.net
Crowd management and security will be among the issues dealt with by the organisers of this year’s X Factor auditions. The show has announced a change to its format where contestants will not only perform in front of celebrity judges including Cheryl Cole (pictured) but also a 1,300 strong live audience – presenting interesting challenges for the organising team. Look out for a special feature next month when The Main Event heads to one of the audition venues, Manchester Central, to see how things are done.
FESTIVALS and events are encouraging more people to choose the UK as a holiday destination, new research has revealed. According to figures released by Travelodge, places such as the Isle of Wight and Edinburgh are set to attract large numbers of tourists this year – and events held there are helping to draw in the crowds. Out of those surveyed, 14 per cent planned a trip to Edinburgh and 11 per cent to the Isle of Wight. Travelodge chief executive Grant Hearn said: “Right across the UK it is clear that some locations are going to gain a large windfall from British tourists choosing to holiday domestically rather than abroad. “Both the Homecoming celebrations and the Festival are clearly attracting people to Edinburgh whilst the re-addition of the music festival to the Isle of Wight has helped attract a younger crowd.” The Main Event is the official magazine of the National Outdoor Events Association