WWW.VIP-BOOKING.coM VIP- News›› ›› PREmiUM VOL. 117 SEPTEMBER 2009 briefly with the band Saxon – not during a gig and not their fault – whilst walking McGowan’s Musings: in front of the PA stacks in an empty hall I was almost knocked over by the howl So, unless somebody tells me different, on which emitted when some nameless per- the 13th of September, Elbow getting the son irresponsibly threw up all the faders at Bestival crowd to hum the theme to Star one time. It took a couple of weeks before Trek, boldly saw out another festival sea- I realised that the deafness was not tem- son – where does the time go!? If this was porary, checks revealed that I had lost sev- truly the last event of the season (although I eral of the frequencies in the left ear, and am getting reports of a later one, Loopallu, of late, after a few very loud festival bands in the Scottish Highlands) it certainly con- this summer I think things have got worse, cluded things in fine and optimistic form, I’m having tests tomorrow, the right one starting in 2004 with 6000 people, the sun still works so I can still hear those bloody shone on 40,000 people at this edition on seagulls and if you’re offering to buy me a the Isle of Wight. Bestival featured a fancy drink then you’re loud and clear! dress parade with an outer space theme, organiser BBC Radio 1 DJ Rob Da Bank, The report concerns the ultra loud My commented, “People come down here to Allan McGowan Bloody Valentine (the elderly lady I men- lose themselves for three days, and dress- tioned before was probably a headbang- ing up helps with that.” On the UK main- ing fan!) teaming up with earplug com- land and not far down the coast, dressing the pub, and for the second year he invited pany Earplugshop.com to finally give out up was the last thing that the organisers of friends to play the Oare Festival. On the earplugs at concerts. Gigs regularly ex- The Beachdown Festival, planned for the Saturday and Sunday, talent such as Andy ceed the recommended decibel limit that last weekend in August in my home town Newmark, one time drummer for Sly & The it is safe to be exposed to for any length of of Brighton, were thinking of, losing them- Family Stone, who has played with pretty selves was probably more in mind as this much everyone from a couple of Beatles to time, with sound levels easily reaching 115 second edition was cancelled at short no- Bowie, Clapton, Gilmore et al, Chris Difford decibels, which causes hearing damage in tice, leaving much in disarray. of Squeeze, Suggs from Madness, Paul less than 30 seconds, the safe level being Young, Pete Cox of Go West, Who bassist 85 decibels. More people than ever are ex- The very different fortunes of these two Pino Paladino, plus Hamish’s own band, posing themselves to loud music because festivals sums up the volatility of a vast played great music alongside local musi- of the growth in live music but according area of the events industry in which, as we cians in a very intimate setting – with real to a poll, 81 per cent of people still don’t said in the last issue’s festival report, abso- beer at pub prices! Don’t tell your friends! realise that they can permanently dam- lutely nothing can be taken for granted! I don’t want too many people getting to age their hearing after just 15 minutes of hear about it, nor I think do the villagers – I exposure to loud music. I once heard the However, whilst, according to BBC News, heard one old lady proclaim, “It’s the only redoubtable Seymour Stein asked what an army of aliens, astronauts and assorted time I thank God for being deaf – I can’t piece of cutting edge music technology space cadets frolicked on the Isle of Wight I hear the bloody racket!”- Now there’s con- he found most useful in these days of con- retreated to the garden of a pub in Kent for sidered criticism if ever I heard it... stant innovation – he replied, “My ears!” a much smaller festival, to hear some great He’s right – look after them. music from musicians who have in their Talking of deafness a recent Reuters re- time played to huge audiences around port struck a dimly heard but very person- So, with that rather serious bit of advice, the world. Hamish Stuart of Average White ally relevant chord with me. The hearing in Ladies and Gentlemen, here’s the News... Band and Wings fame, and his partner run my left ear was damaged when I worked I said. THE NEWS! The VIP-Booking European Live Entertainment Book Advertising in the VIP Book will make you visible to 10.000 business professionals all over Europe. You will find no better place to expose your company to the whole European Live Entertainment Industry. ›› RESERVE yoUR AD NOW ON WWW.VIP-BOOKING.coM 1 VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - September 2009 O2’s in the News Allan McGowan [email protected] New Dublin O2 tops the world ranking fast instead; this year its Odyssey Arena was ranked sixth in the world, with sales of just Rebuild and your fortunes will change under 315,000 tickets. seems to have been the maxim of the O2 Dublin, the remodelled Point. In its first six VIP-News spoke to Mike Adamson, chief months of business, the venue has become executive of the O2 Dublin and Live Nation the most popular mid-size concert venue about the success of the venue: in the world. The O2 Dublin reopened on December 16 after a 14 month renovation VIP-News: You must be very pleased with costing €80m. these first half year results, what do you think has brought about this success in par- Boosted by the appearances of acts like Brit- ticular? ney Spears, Girls Aloud and Pink, the Dublin facility has sold more tickets in the first six Mike Adamson: The O2 Dublin has sur- months of the year than any other 10,000 to passed all expectations with over 600,000 15,000 capacity venues. The O2 Dublin can music fans through our doors within the accommodate 14,000, with an all-seated first half year of 2009. I believe that we at event limit of 9,500. According to reliable Live Nation have created a unique venue concert industry publication Pollstar, some for the Irish music fans by building an am- 514,000 tickets were bought from January 1 phitheatre style venue with close seat dis- to June 30. tances to the stage, good clear sightlines for all and superb acoustic quality. Amongst venues of any size the O2 Dublin is apparently the third busiest in the world, VIP-News: Many of the comments about the after the O2 London with 1.2m admissions venue indicate that it already has character; and Manchester Evening News Arena with something that newly built venues often 750,000. Both these facilities hold more take a while to acquire, how has this been than 20,000 people. achieved? As well as increasing potential audiences by 60%, the refurbishment changed the exist- »The O2 was designed purely ing rectangular layout to an amphitheatre for music and therefore we did not COLOPHON ›› configuration with a 54 metre-long stage, have to compromise this design by capable of hosting even the biggest touring adding conflicting requirements VIP-News is published by: productions. In the past, acts like George for sport events« VIP-Booking 26 York Street Michael and Madonna were unable to bring - Mike Adamson London W1U 6pZ their shows to the Point. Managing Director: Ronni Didriksen The closure of the Point left the capital with- Mike Adamson: The O2 is unique in that we [email protected] out a large concert venue, meaning many have built the venue within the 1878 herit- acts bypassed the republic and went to Bel- age walls of the old building while carrying General Manager: Peter Briggs through the character of the old into the [email protected] new. This has provided our audiences with an enhanced, warm and comfortable envi- Writer and editorial: Allan McGowan ronment with none of the clinical atmos- [email protected] phere associated with many new venues. The O2 is the largest indoor purpose built Writer: Manfred Tari music concert venue in Europe. The O2 was [email protected] designed purely for music and therefore we did not have to compromise this design by For advertising enquiries pls. contact Peter Briggs [email protected] adding conflicting requirements for sport or +44 870 755 0092 events. Lay-out: Pekaye Graphics, Phuket – Thailand VIP-News: Many territories, the US in par- [email protected] ticular, have been finding it difficult to sell O2 Arena - Dublin 2 VIP-BOOKING.COM VIP- News - September 2009 tickets, leading to discounting and other cé, Bob Dylan, Andrea Bocelli, Tina Turner, about lifting the experience for both art- measures to maintain audience figures. Is AC/DC, Neil Young, Kings Of Leon, Pink, ist and the audience and this I believe we this not the case in Ireland? Leonard Cohen to mention a few. have achieved in a unique way with this new style of venue. Well, the Romans were Mike Adamson: The Irish music fan con- VIP-News: Have the artists been as im- also pretty successful with the amphithea- tributes greatly to The O2’s success.