New Survey: No One Listens to the Music at Festivals Because Everyone’s on Drugs
So says a new poll conducted by MSN. The executive summary is this: the average festival goer would rather spend time getting drunk, taking drugs and having sex than watching any of the bands perform. About 2,000 people particupated in the survey.
Naturally, there’s an academic reason for this. From the NME:
In response to the poll, George McKay, Professor of Cultural Studies at Salford University, said: “Festivals are deeply rooted in the carnival tradition, which is to invert everyday expectations of normal behaviour.
Historically, carnivals would have a ‘lord of misrule’ who oversaw the revelries and subversion of the ordinary rules of life. Music festivals continue to be places where we can escape reality and subvert the rules – whatever age we happen to be.”
I was just at one of these label showcases, and no one was paying attention to the band. Everyone was looking behind, left and right to see who else was in the room. Lame.
Totally agree. Every festival I've been to has been just like that.
Boonstock here in Edmonton every June. Big Valley Jamboree. I've spoken to people that go to both, and literally have no idea who is playing. They go for the party.
I went to show recently with Danko Jones and Volbeat, and a huge portion of the crowd spent the night hanging out at the back of the venue by the beer concessions.
If that's the focus, why not grab a keg or a few flats and stay home with the music turned up? You could still socialize with your buddies, and and save a ton of cash! For more beer!