Sector Soapbox | Festival Fever

Sector Soapbox | Festival Fever

Music, food, art, literature or enlightenment our region seems to have all bases covered when it comes to festivals. Over the years the Northern Rivers has become renowned for some of Australia’s most successful festivals – think the Byron Writers Festival, Byron International Film Festival, Splendour in the Grass and the biggest little festival in the region – Mullum Music Festival. All have found their audience and made an impressive space for themselves in the crowded festival market.

In this edition of Sector Soapbox we want to take a closer look at the festival landscape in the Northern Rivers and asks two of our Directors to have a crack at describing what makes a festival tick. Our interest in exploring the festival scene is partly in response to the number of calls we field from aspiring festival creators who want to go from ‘I have an idea’ to ‘let’s put on a festival’ without much thought about the tricky bits in between – money, audience, demand, sustainability, environment – the list goes on.

So we’ve asked our festival gurus their thoughts on some fundamental questions that might give wannabe festival folk some food for thought before they start printing the tote bags.

 

Byron Writers Festival | Director Edwina Johnson
Define a festival:
A festival should make your spirit soar. It should engage all the senses, lift you up out of everyday life and leave you feeling joyous, engaged, energised and ultimately motivated to make positive change, however small. A writers’ festival is a space to gather some of the best writers, thinkers and creative minds of the moment to revive the art of conversation. Our aim is for people to leave with many conversations and ideas percolating for weeks afterwards so that the festival stories perpetuate and circulate into communities far and wide. That’s how change can happen.
 
If you could go back in time, what would you tell your pre-festival self?
A pre-festival self, now that’s an interesting idea! I would tell myself not to be afraid of saying no and to always trust my instinct – unquestionably the most important thing. To know that a few dissenting voices will always be out-sung by the positive ones. And to remember you can’t please everyone all the time. I would also tell myself to prioritise the important above the urgent. That’s really hard given the pressure of festival life but a good goal to strive for.
What are your top festival tips for anyone wanting to start a festival?
I haven’t started a festival from scratch but I would suggest broad consultation with stakeholders in whatever area the festival is focused on, and always with all the relevant community stakeholders. Attend lots of other festivals in the same creative discipline and seek and invite the best minds and performers to bring your own unique ideas to fruition. If you are passionate about your festival and its curation, it can be contagious.
Can the Northern Rivers have too many festivals?
So long as there is diversity in what is being offered and festivals aren’t cannibalising each other’s markets, then the more the merrier. Personally I love having so many different festivals on my doorstep! It all adds to the cultural fabric and festival ecology of the region.
Byron Writers Festival | 3-5 August 2018
Mullum Music Festival | Director Glenn Wright
 
Define a festival:
A festival should have a vision, and in the case of an arts festival the vision should have an arts outcome, a positive contribution to the existing arts scene. I like the arts festivals that actually give back and are not just about some self judged arbiter of cool, or of high art, feeding their own ego. I like the real outcomes and shared outcomes. but that’s me.. some people like to be impressed by fireworks!!… and call that art…
 
If you could go back in time, what would you tell your pre-festival self?
The only thing I’d tell myself is ‘Don’t stress so much!’. A sense of humour is important.
What are your top festival tips for anyone wanting to start a festival?
Have a vision, don’t expect to financially break-even in the first few years. Also in the first few years don’t be afraid to give away a few tickets and do some free stuff. It all helps build a reputation for a fun event. Be creative. If you are dealing with artists they respond best to artistically interesting scenarios. This brings out the best in the artist, and therefore the best performances and audience experience. Also, importantly, engage the local community as it is the local arts scene that will support your event over time.
Can the Northern Rivers have too many festivals?
There can be many more, they just need to have their own identity. Don’t try and copy, do something new and interesting and you will find your audience. And maybe avoid the same weekend. Just be clever.
Mullum Music Festival | 15 – 18 November 2018