Secret Garden Party on the end of the worst festival review in all eternity
Is it the nature of the blog format that leads people to use the medium to vent more negative feelings than positive? I suppose it’s natural to want to alert folk to bad experiences so that they can then avoid them; and perhaps there is something a little smug in papping on about the wonderful time you had.
I’m thinking about this stuff because I’ve just read a rather interesting blog post about Secret Garden Party, which took place at the weekend. It’s a good example of why event organisers need to be aware that anybody can get online and publish their views these days.
The writer at i am kat - her name’s Kat, unsurprisingly - had a right old miserable time at the festival. Now, I’d like to think that if she’d had a marvellous time she’d have written just as lengthy a post, but… well, it’s that human nature thing again, isn’t it?
Some of her complaints are not, it has to be said, specific to SGP: loudmouthed drug bores can be found pretty much anywhere these days. Likewise the stalls of clothes of dubious origin found at the festival, which she summarises thuswise:
As with most festivals they are full of handmade-in-sweatshops overpriced clothes, the product of very unfair trade, and yet people flock to buy tie-dye trousers in an attempt to look like they are at one with the cultures that were exploited to make them.
One of the comments below the post is from someone with a stall at the festival who disagrees with this generalisation, but such stalls are found at pretty much any outdoor event related to music these days, so they’re fair game I reckon.
Anyway, so bad was Kat’s experience that she decided to go for a walk outside the festival’s grounds, but on some land that was public right of way. The festival’s security didn’t like this, and apparently forced her to return to the festival despite having no authority outside of its grounds.
Understandably upset by this turn of events, she went to complain - leading to this possibly unintentionally amusing yardstick:
We were greeted by the most stuck-up, unfriendly and officious woman I’ve ever had the misfortune to meet outside of marketing.
I suspect most people would head to a festival with fewer fewer buttons as easily pressed as Kat’s, but it’s still dispiriting to read of someone having such a lousy, expensive experience. Read her full account here.
Were you there? Anything to add in our comments?
I’m very upset to hear people didn’t enjoy the festival as it was such a success… the atmosphere was unlike any other I’ve ever, ever, ever been to and the likes of watching the boat burning, having paintball fights, dancing in mud baths and staying up in a 24 hour festival (without taking, or even being offered any drugs) is something I’ll never forget. Great festival that you HAVE to throw yourself into.
I agree with alex. SGP was without doubt the best festival I have ever been to. Security were incredibly understanding of what makes a good festival, and in return I saw non of the normal negative elements that really blight UK festivals: No Violence, Theft or even Bad Manners. A world away from the violant hell hole that is reading/leeds.
I don’t think the organisers have to worry about “Kat”.. SGP only have to worry about getting to big and too popular, in many ways she’s doing them a favour.
That’s a strange rant, mostly because some of it is just plain wrong. I went as a punter, and I’d say 75% of the toilets were compost toilets run by Natural Event, all bins came in threes for bottle, food and other waste, several stages were entirely solar-powered, and most food was hippy-sourced and veggie-friendly.
What made the festival different was how it was so obviously run and attended by people who love and go to a lot of other festivals, and how many of those working were doing it on shift just to be there. Yes, this meant many were wasted behind the bar, but hey, it’s a festival.
For example, we were told before we could swim in the lake, but they got Health and Safety’d on Friday when one of the lifeguards was caught having a spliff, so swimming was banned and this was initially enforced, but they were tolerant and turned a blind eye to those taking a dip in the heat, provided they weren’t obviously wasted and in danger. It was a lovely atmosphere.
I think Kat has a slight chip about “Cambridge undergraduates”, and a problem with people who think drugs and sex aren’t terribly shocking. She may have met a few bad apples, but it’s thousands of people.
Looking online there do so seem to be many more positive reviews than negative, which makes me feel somewhat bad about highlighting such a negative review. So to partly remedy that here’s someone else who had a splendid time:
http://emilymonsell.wordpress.com/2008/07/28/secret-garden-party-2008/
As author of the above blog post, I’d like to add that I often write about good experiences because I feel compelled to let the world know! OK, in the PR/service industry they talk about the bad experience scale (ie. have a bad experience and you tell 10 people, have a good one and you’ll tell two) but I just think that if something is remarkable in either way (shocking or great - or just remarkably average) then it will be written about.
To echo James’ thoughts, you are bound to meet some annoying people at a festival of thousands - heaven knows I did - but it’s the other stuff that stays with you.
Thanks Emily, it’s good to see people are willing to spread the word about positive experiences - it’s easy to just have a rant if you have a crappy time.
I think there is an interesting battle emerging among the boutique festivals as they try and snap up the folk who can’t be bothered with the size/corporate nature of the larger events.
The more I check out Secret Garden party’s coverage this year, the better it gets - below are a look at the lack of branding on show, and Dazed & Confused’s positive review.
http://community.brandrepublic.com/blogs/quickpeeks/archive/2008/07/30/a-festival-without-brands-the-secret-garden-party.aspx
http://www.dazeddigital.com/incoming/secret-garden-party-2008/
I went, and sold clothes that were handmade by the stall owner and hats that were handmade in England (even the cheap ones), knowing the stallholders that went I doubt one single one of those clothes were made in a sweatshop. If she had bothered to talk to anyone she would have found that out.
I had the best festival I have ever been to in 20 years of going to (and working at) festivals and I dont think I need to say anything more [if you went you will know why] :)
We went to S.G.P 2007,like many others we’ve been going to fests&such for 20 years plus.Arrived thursday in our van/camper,had to set up outside fest site,queue for over 2 hours to gain access(even though only 12 vehicles had entered before us!),be searched by ignorant,indignant,nazis-sorry security officials!
Once inside,after a stroll round the site to get the layout,we noticed the “fairy wing brigade’ had arrived en-mass,”Oh Tabetha Dharling,how on earth did you manage to decide which 20 pairs of Jimmy Choo’s and Gucci hand bags to bring lovey?” ,”Oh Diamonttia,it was simple Dharling,Mummy dictated a list,and Jeeves,bless his heart,packed said items into my new Louis Vitton,Vogue endorsed,jewel encrusted weekend set of matching 7 suitcases and 4 hat boxes”
To sum up the majority of punters we meet,tried to talk to/bumped into etc………COMPLETE TOSSERS,of the highest order!
The bands we went mainly to see,Alabama3,Echo&the Bunnymen,the legendary Prince Buster,Rhinocerose,had sets shortened,because the lesser talented,less proffesional twat-fronted,oxbridge circle,fairy-wing wearing Tarquins&Tabetha’s bands that pre-staged them OVER RAN their allotted time slots,TOSSERS!
Toilets…………….in the campervan area,these were NOT EMPTIED ONCE,from thursday afternoon through to when we left on the monday,SCUM,no explanation,no appology,no care.Got your money in our account…fuck you Jack!
Luckily we did meet a few good people,Leigh&Lee,A dude with his 2 sons and Winston their British Bulldog,and a new mate Jason,from one of the stalls(long haired lad from Cheltenham with an original Crombie,class.)Thanks to his boss for letting him come and ‘play’with us.
To sum up,DIDN’T ENJOY MOST OF THE WEEKEND,
DIDN’T LIKE BEING SURROUNDED BY TOSSERS
DIDN’T ENJOY THE FAKE ‘VIBE’
ETC,ETC,…………………..But luckily,we live in a free(semi-free)country,so I just wont go again,plain and simple.
S.G.P = SOCIALITTE GOITE PERFORMANCE!!
BYE BYE,we’re off to Endorse-it-in-Dorset!!
p.s a quote from the infamous Sid Vicious
“I’ve met the average man on the street…………………..and he’s a cunt!”
Phil Loud.
http://mygarden.hit.bg
I must say, i am a 15 year old girl who lives in the vllage, and this festival is my lifeline! the atmosprer is so lovely and everyone is very friendly, ive had the most random converations with people and dont stuff id never get the chance to outside the festival. It has also restored my faith in humankind, as i lost my phone and was convinced it would have been nicked, but i checked in the lost and found and some kindperson had handed it in! i love the Secret Garden and couldnt live without it!
xoxo