"There are two ways to bring artists in a festival. It depends if you have money or if we have not. " Here's how CEO François Floret and coprogrammateur Festival Route du Rock in Saint-Malo (from 12 to 14 August 2011), summarizes the difficulties faced by the organizers of summer music festivals at the time to place their programming. Because the area is changing for ten years.
Faced with the collapse of record sales, artists tend to want to catch up on their live performances. In recent years, the stamp of a headline average doubled from 100,000 to about 200,000 euros concert . Two years ago, the claims of artists such as rock bands Radiohead and the Arcade Fire could reach 500,000 euros a night delivery. A luxury that the Route du Rock, after more than 20 years of existence can not afford.Especially since the philosophy of the festival "has always been focused on the discovery of new talent," says its director.
A total of 340,000 euros per year are devoted to the artistic, or just over 19% of the annual budget of the event. Festival Rock en Seine in Paris (from 26 to 28 August 2011), this percentage reached 33% on a budget of 6 million, for a festival attendance of 105,000 in 2010.
Few artists have their own agents
To perform their scenes, organizers go through the special agents of the artists. But in most cases, they must go to production companies (the "turners") who sell the show, usually including travel, by winning 15% of the sale. Remains the responsibility of organizing the cost of hotel and catering.The financial balance of a music festival, big or small, is always delicate balance between inflation of stamps and need for headliners known to attract an audience often more sensitive, especially in times of crisis, to "safe bets".
Especially as competition from large foreign festivals like that of Open'er in Gdynia (Poland), heavily sponsored and line art more variable, contributes to the inflation of the claims of artists and the business side of an event. This year's Route du Rock will receive about 17,000 spectators to reach its equilibrium point. To get to lower costs artistic, the organizers can sometimes rely on the recognition of certain groups. This was the case last year, where the rock band The National has made a financial investment for their third participation in the Route du Rock, who has made known in France in 2005.But these returns elevators are rare, "artists tend to quickly forget their ideals of youth" deplores François Floret.
Artistic expenses under pressure
More confidence in the festival of the summer Vaour (Midi-Pyrenees), the artistic budget does not exceed 28%, 5% for the music (about 10,000 euros). Again, the trend in the price of contracts bought production companies are on the rise. No need to be an international star in setting its prices. "We can see, especially for groups that have no problems selling dates, says Sylvie De Sousa, in charge of music programming of the festival that drew in 2010, 18,000 people in nine days. Those who have more difficulty selling their shows make an effort. " The average cost to the organizers groups received between 800 and 1300 euros per service.And the festival should be more attention to his artistic expenses, some concerts are free.
Finally, the last festival that highlights specific financial issues, the uniqueness of the service provided. Artists to bring only one date is in fact a greater financial effort, where the organization of a tour allows you to spread fixed costs over several dates. A show to 1500 euros per day on tour will be up an average of 4000 euros for a single date.
Theater festivals are much more subsidized
In terms of theater festivals, the financial efforts of the programming is even greater. "Music festivals generate more ticket revenue for those plays, because they mobilize a public far more numerous. Which is also the case for ancillary revenues (bar, derivatives).In the end, the part flow from music festivals, especially the general public is much stronger, "said Jonathan Fox, the head of the theater program of the festival Vaour. In addition, the confidential nature of the discipline is also in this sense, although of lesser importance.
On the other hand, the troops come for several performances, which smooths the cost over several days. Ultimately benefits of a theater festival like the summer of Vaour range from 500 to 3000 euros, "the notoriety aspect of the company also playing its role," says Jonathan Fox. By comparison, a one-man show in Paris like the comedian François Rollin costs between 5,000 and 10,000 euros. These characteristics explain why the sector is generally far more subsidized. For example, 22% of the budget of the festival of the summer of Vaour comes from public subsidies.
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