Festival shrugs off credit crunch

The festival attracted more than 80,000 fans each day, despite the recession

By Natalie Higgins
At T in the Park for BBC Scotland

As you would expect from Scotland's biggest music festival, there is a huge amount to see and do at T in the Park.

Fairground rides, a ceilidh tent, food from hog roasts to Thai curry and - of course - the music.

But it all comes with a hefty price tag.

For organisers, staging a large-scale event amid a recession is potentially risky business.

I suppose it's almost as expensive as a holiday abroad when you add it all up but it just doesn't seem like a rip-off Sarah McConnell

The economic crisis has already forced the cancellation of two Scottish music festivals. The Connect festival, which was to take place at Inverary Castle in Argyll, and the Outsider Festival near Aviemore were cancelled in February and May respectively.

Festival-goers pay £170 to attend T in the Park for three days. A one-day ticket for Saturday or Sunday is £72.50.

There are additional charges of £17.50 to park a car and £15 for the use of lockers and showers.

And that's before you account for transport to and from the site, food and drink, and essentials such as wellies and sun cream.

But visitors to T in the Park are philosophical about the financial burden.

All those I've met over the weekend were quick to say the event, which hosts over 200 acts performing on 12 stages, is value for money.

The main reason is the comparative cost of tickets to see the headlining bands and singers on their own tours.

Going to Blur's recent concerts in Hyde Park, London would have cost £45, while tickets to see bands like Kings of Leon or Nine Inch Nails play on their own would generally cost over £30.

Alice Simpson, experiencing her first T in the Park, commented: "If you were to go to one concert, how much would it cost you now? If there's maybe six bands that you would like to see then it's worth it.

A three-day ticket cost £170

"And it's a camping weekend as well, it's like a holiday."

Organisers at T in the Park said the festival had attracted many overseas visitors, some from as far afield as Australia, Brazil and Russia.

Vincent Jonker, 28, travelled a slightly shorter distance, from his home in Holland, to attend the event with three friends, one of whom lives in Glasgow.

He estimated the weekend had cost him about £600 in total, with £250 going on flights and almost £200 spent while at the festival site.

Vincent said: "A lot of people from the UK come to Europe for festivals because it's cheaper; we're doing it the other way around."

"It's worth it to me, but next time he can visit us in Holland."

Although the festival has attracted a wide range of age groups, young people still represent the majority.

For 21-year-old Sarah McConnell, who recently graduated and has not yet found a job, the festival is a treat worth saving up for.

Queuing up to buy a soft drink - which, like water, costs £2 a bottle - she said her spending money was about to run out due to the high cost of food and drinks.

She said: "I suppose it's almost as expensive as a holiday abroad when you add it all up but it just doesn't seem like a rip-off.

"I used to save up a bit of my student loan or whatever money I had for tickets. But they went on sale ages ago so, by the time you come, you've forgotten how much you paid to get here.

She added: "If you do it properly and you plan your day you can see ten good bands easily."

Although visitors seemed unperturbed by the recession, the story is different for those for whom T in the Park is a business opportunity.

John Bredin owns the Aberdeen Fudge Company, and has been bringing a stall to the festival for eight years.

"People are watching the pennies now," he said.

"What we've found - and a lot of people have the same opinion - is that with the recession people pay to get in, then sit on the grass soaking up the sun instead of wandering around and spending money."

But despite the changed economic circumstances this year, some things never change, he said.

"With the amount of drinking that goes on, we're always busy first thing in the morning with the campsite people looking for a sugar rush."