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Big Day Out Perth in strife

Tue 23rd Dec, 2008 in Local News

With the New Year just around the corner, Big Day Out has suffered a late blow to its summer tour. Claremont Town Council last week refused an application for BDO Perth to be held at the Claremont Showground, despite giving the go-ahead to its rival V Festival.

According to The West Australian, “the council’s policy on the showground says it can approve only one music event each year that scores more than 30 points in a formula based on factors such as size and alcohol consumption.” If the Council was to approve both BDO and V Festival, it would exceed its 30 point quota.

The Royal Agricultural Society is reportedly rallying against the Council’s decision, on the grounds that thousands of tickets have already been sold. “We’re not happy about a small local government being able to make a decision of this magnitude,” RAS chief executive Martin Molony told the newspaper.

Photo by David Youdell

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Kaileah

Kaileah said on the 23rd Dec, 2008

Wow... so what's going to happen now?

antzpantz

antzpantz said on the 23rd Dec, 2008

Who knows. Channel Ten news said that Bassendean Oval has put their hand up. The good ol' days of BDO being there!

badjonni

badjonni said on the 23rd Dec, 2008

formula's are meant to be broken

ashryn

ashryn said on the 23rd Dec, 2008

they'll just offer some kind of carbon offset type of plan where they earn points in another area (like recycling) which can offset the negative points in the formula...

nicowen

nicowen said on the 23rd Dec, 2008

Yeah big day out will have to be at showgrounds! It's the only festival that actually works there!!!

raciroo

raciroo said on the 24th Dec, 2008

what's bassendean like? Never been there for a festival....where else could it be?

ashryn

ashryn said on the 24th Dec, 2008

So I got to talking to a promoter about the BDO.. she said this:

Big Day Out promoter Ken Knight is very optimistic that the event will go ahead at Claremont Showgrounds on February 1st despite the opposition from Claremont Town Council.The council has refused. Like I said they have rejected it every year except for last year. Each year after the Claremont conucil rejects the application we then make an application to the Department of Environment and Conservation which has issued noise guidelines and approved the festival at Claremont Showground. An application has been lodged with the DEC and, if approved, then conditions will be set by the Environment Minister Donna Faragher.

It is disappointing that WA's biggest music festival has to jump through hoops each year when it raises millions of dollars for the local economy. The council has refused the application because it's policy was to approve one music concert a year that scored more than 30 points based on their formula. The formula takes in to consideration size of the event, experience of the promotor, alcohol consumption, security risks etc.

So.. with the 'global recession' looming, I can't imagine the local council would get away with stopping it, and maybe with so many people looking at the Claremont council like they are retards, maybe they'll stop making it so difficult for music events to happen there... you know it'll be us music fans that will carry us out of the recession :) we still buy tickets to see our favourite bands no matter how much they cost

brownie-ll

brownie-ll said on the 24th Dec, 2008

But from what the council has said it has nothing to do with making it difficult to have music events happen at the Showgrounds - they just want to stick to their rules. The BDO got the venue this year, didn't follow the rules the council layed out and didn't get their application in for the venue for 2009 before Michael Coppel Presents did, so tough bickies.

From a new story about the festival:

I'm sure the BDO promoters will promise to turn down the speakers and offer some very special "grants" in the council area in order to hold the event, but it's pretty damn idiotic to promote a show on the basis that you hope the venue is available. As for the local council "getting away with stopping it", I doubt they will be consulting with ticket holders on whether the event takes place.

asb123

asb123 said on the 24th Dec, 2008

why do promoters keep marketing before having DA approval - SPlendour, BDO Perth, BYron Music Festival (cancelled)?! I can understand the need for ticketing to happen sufficiently before the date but what's so wrong with (a) getting approval really early in the year, or (b) delaying the release of tickets? (I know I'm simplifying here of course lol....)

Andy_M said on the 24th Dec, 2008

Am I the only one who thinks the Showgrounds sucks as a festival venue? It's easy to get to but i've never found it harder to get from stage to stage at any other venue. Having said that I'd much rather have it there than not go ahead so fingers crossed...

raciroo

raciroo said on the 25th Dec, 2008

If Claremont weren't full of old rich people this wouldn't be a problem.

I agree it's not the greatest set-up and that it takes ages to get from this to that like last year I almost had some kind of claustrophobic heat induced panic attack squashed for at least half an hour in a people-jam getting from the boiler room after dizzee rascal to the main stages.... (or anywhere else for that matter)

Where else could it be that has enough space for so many stages without the sound bleeding?

ashryn

ashryn said on the 26th Dec, 2008

Yeah, but then the council has to deal with all the local businesses that will have lost revenue because the BDO isn't there.. that will make a difference, because they are supposed to keep their voters happy...

But from what the council has said it has nothing to do with making it difficult to have music events happen at the Showgrounds - they just want to stick to their rules. The BDO got the venue this year, didn't follow the rules the council layed out and didn't get their application in for the venue for 2009 before Michael Coppel Presents did, so tough bickies.

From a new story about the festival:

I'm sure the BDO promoters will promise to turn down the speakers and offer some very special "grants" in the council area in order to hold the event, but it's pretty damn idiotic to promote a show on the basis that you hope the venue is available. As for the local council "getting away with stopping it", I doubt they will be consulting with ticket holders on whether the event takes place.

ashryn

ashryn said on the 26th Dec, 2008

It totally sucks as a venue.. They could hold it at the Freo esplanade like blues and roots.. that works perfectly.. or they could hold it at the perth esplanade supreme court gradens and langley park...

it does seem a bit presumptuous of promoters to start selling tickets before they have venue approval. There is probably more to it than we know though.

And.. what is claremont going to do when all the old rich people are dead? it won't be long...

brownie-ll

brownie-ll said on the 26th Dec, 2008

Can you name the type of businesses losing revenue because the BDO isn't in Claremont?

The BDO isn't a destination festival...

ashryn

ashryn said on the 26th Dec, 2008

Can you name the type of businesses losing revenue because the BDO isn't in Claremont?

The BDO isn't a destination festival...

umm.. taxis food vendors, people with jobs cleaning/serving booze, door bitches, printers, delivery drivers, hotels ...lots o little people who will earn money which they then spend in the local community and thus create continued cash flow for businesses.. you're right doesn't matter if it isn't in Claremont, but claremont benefits by proximity. I don't gve a shit where it is, as long as its big enough... hell i haven't bought a ticket yet, and still haven't decided if i cbf this year; not stoked with the line up, so it doesn't phase me, i was just weighing in on the idiocy of local councils.

brownie-ll

brownie-ll said on the 28th Dec, 2008

But the cash is still coming in for the V Festival - I doubt the council really care if it's cash they can brand as BDO or cash branded V Festival so it's hardly idiotic on their part. No-one will be complaining about losing small to medium amounts of cash over one day - it's just moved later into the year...

rjohno

rjohno said on the 31st Dec, 2008

They apparently said, theres alot of interest in other venues taking the bdo is claremont refuse it neway. So it shouldnt be too much of a problem and i cant imagine the whole thing being cancelled. And if it does and i miss my chance to see the lengendary Neil Young, Thats when the killing begins.........

Joe Smiggens

Joe Smiggens said on the 31st Dec, 2008

Only in Perth... Capital City "No".

hxcbarbie

hxcbarbie said on the 8th Jan, 2009

If they don't have BDO at Claremount.. Think about it, theres nowhere else to have it! No where else is big enough.

Piko

Piko said on the 8th Jan, 2009

They have confirmed it at Claremont Showground

gumbuoy

gumbuoy said on the 8th Jan, 2009

So I got to talking to a promoter about the BDO.. she said this:

It is disappointing that WA's biggest music festival has to jump through hoops each year when it raises millions of dollars for the local economy. The council has refused the application because it's policy was to approve one music concert a year that scored more than 30 points based on their formula. The formula takes in to consideration size of the event, experience of the promotor, alcohol consumption, security risks etc.

Really? Millions of dollars? As in, a number of million which is more than one? Sorry, Im not buying it...

Joe Smiggens

Joe Smiggens said on the 8th Jan, 2009

I've thought about it. And I've thought hmmm... they fucking used to manage at Bassendean right?