TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Hi to you both!

I hope you enjoy yourselves doing TalkaWhile. I know I thoroughly enjoyed my time here

.They're all really nice and a bunch of all-round good eggs

Jude

Hi Christine and Tracey,
Thank you first of all . Echoing Barry's comments Cropredy really is the highlight of our year for my wife and i  - and has been for 20 years.
My [not too serious] question is:-  Is there a massive back stage party each year after Saturday's show and do you have time for brief and well deserved relaxation then?
secondly have we won the complementary back stage passes for being the first to ask this question on this chat

thanks again and best regards

PaulEd

I'd just like to say THANK YOU for making my August so wonderful for the last 15 years....

Best wishes

Amethyst 8)

Hello Ladies

I have a question about non-commercial stalls.

Are there any arrangements for allowing campaign groups / charities etc. to set up information points at Cropredy?

Obviously I would not expect fundraising to be allowed (this being restricted to the village itself), but I know of one group that would be very keen to give out information to the crowds, who would probably be very receptive.

Many thanks

Keith

Hello Ladies.

I would just like to my bit to the expression of thanks offered by Amy and PaulEd.  Although I haven't attended as many Cropredy's as some of the others it is still the highlight of my personal year just t he same 8).  We bring a "gaggle" of teenagers with us and they have an absolute ball who come back from the festival and are still talking about it months afterwards! ;D
It must give you a tremendous amount of satisfaction to see so many people having a good time as a result of all your efforts!  Thank you.

I can only repeat and/or echo the senitments of all those who have posted before me in saying that Cropredy Festival has become my family's summer holiday and along with a myriad of friends it is discussed months before and months after.

As a collection of disparate humanoids we can only marvel at your organisational skills and thank you sincerely for creating such a fabulous annual event.

My question is what is the biggest single obstacle that each year must be negoiated before progress is made and is this process becoming more difficult to deal with ?

Cheers Nigel

Cropredy over the years has become my family holiday together with many friends, some of whom we only see at Cropredy, we make the annual pilgrimage to our second home!!

Thank you for making it happen!

My question is has it become easier over the years to organise (Practice makes perfect!!) or more difficult due to various bits of legislation etc & have there been any problems that have caused the staff to think "phew that was close!"?

A simple question from a simple man, where do the cows go? ???

what's the strangest item of lost property you've had handed in?

debs

Lost property, Debbie? Shh, you know David Hughes comes in and reads the board occasionally. Mind you, his lost property wasn't handed in I suppose was it, Chris and Tracey?

I was wondering who chose the title of the new CD??

Amethyst :)

Hi Paul,

A backstage party all depends on the weather.  There is a marquee back stage with a tea urn but no bar!!  People don't tend to hang around too long for some reason.  Relaxation for us usally starts about 21st August.

Dear Keith,

All those who come to Cropredy Music Festival are welcome to hand out non-contentious leaflets but we really would like to see examples first.

Sir Robert Peel,

Due to the nature of the event (open field and all outdoors) getting around is not easy for wheelchairs users and the visually impaired but the sound and vibes at the top of the arena field is always good.  I often stand there myself and look down towards the stage.  This cannot be described as sciving.  Just getting the feel of it all.

To Nigel from Chris
The conditions of the Public Entertainment Licence used to be difficult and time consuming but we are on top of that now.  The next biggest problem has to be the weather.  We have the equivalent of on 'A' level in mud management.

Chris replied to John's question 'have there been any problems that have caused the staff to think "phew that was close" IF THERE HAVE I HAVEN'T HEAER ABOUT THEM.  Wonder why?

Dad Volt has asked a question that has puzzled me for years and I am so glad that I know the answer now.  Makes me feel much better.  The farmer who owns most of the land (110 acres) also owns other farms so for the duration of the festival THE COWS GO ON HOLIDAY.

Debbie, the strangest item of lost property handed in was an American breast pump.  Presumably doesn't work on UK voltage and, in any case, where do you plug it in on a field?

Hello Christine & Tracey,

Firstly - Thanks for all your hardwork in making Cropredy unfailingly the best weekend of the year.


Secondly (and don't worry I am the soul of discretion, I would never divulge your answer to anyone) do you actually like the music, or is your record collection full of another genre (Death metal or rap or something)? ;D

Mark

One question I have about the stalls (not food, although the same question could be asked about the food stalls.)

Some of them you see every year others appear then disappear, occasionally to reappear a year or three later.

Do you have a list of stallholders who have said we would like a pitch for the next X number of years or does it have to be organised from scratch every year? Do they approach you or do you contact them.

Sorry thats turned into more than one question!!! :-\ :-\

Ladies is it true that Fairport's Cropredy set will be ACOUSTIC this year???

Amethyst

Please NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I need my regular dose of Gerry Conway!

The band chose the title of the new CD.  The working title was Senior Moments but this was changed to 'Over The Next Hill'

No it is not true.  Has Gerry done something to upset someone? 

Of course we like the music .
I enjoy all live music and tend to play 'nostalgia' CD's.  I know the words!

Chris

The number of a;;ications from non-food traders far outweigh the space available and many share the 20' space allocated.  We did try and operate an alternate year policy a few years back but they soon found ways around that!  It is organised from scratch every year - usually in October - and takes about 10 days for the sites to be completely sold.  We write to all of the traders we could not fit in the year before FIRST to give them a chance.

Chris

Hi Tracey and Chris

Just a quick one - how soon is it advisable to book this year?  I've got friends who haven't quite got their acts together yet and probably won't for another few weeks. 

Thanks!

Claire

Barry says: modified to make more general

good afternoon ladies, it is a pleasure for us to have you on the board this month.  I have a couple of questions for you.
a) How are the bands and artists that appear at Cropredy decided upon?  Does anyone approach you and ask to be included or is it recommendation by or to the Cropredy/Fairport collective?
and  b) How is the running order decided upon, has anyone, for instance, asked for a specific slot or has refused the slot that has been allocated?
Finally, a huge thamk you for all the hard work that you put in to make Cropredy the marvellous festival that it is :)

Dear Clair,

Tickets are selling fast this year so best not leave it too long.

Regards

Tracey

Hi  just filling in the on-line form and in our party there are 6 kids under 12. I know we don't have to pay for them which is a real boon! but should I make a note of it on the printout - as although the number of kids under 12 is a part of the selection form the printout to be sent omits them because there is no charge. Don't they need tickets?

anyone?

Mik

On this subject Tracey, does anyone check the age of children with wrist bands? I have seen some very large "children" wearing children's armbands. It seems a little bit unfair on those of us who do honestly admit to our children's ages, and pay for an adult as soon as they become 12.

Paul

When ordering yur tickets please state how many children's wristbands you want and they will be sent out with your order.  We don't send out tickets for children any more, just the wristbands direct.

Dear Paul,

Difficult one this.  Some children under 12 certainly still look like children whereas others could almost get a drink at the bar.  We don't want to upset people by asking for proof of age but will give it some thought.  I agree that it is not fair on the honest parents.  Will pass this on to Chris and perhaps she will have a word with the stewards on the gates.

Dear Chris and Tracey,

As you say, this is a difficult one, and as a parent of a recently turned 13 child it is a subject that is relevant to my family. Whilst I agree with Paul that it is not fair on the parents who pay full price for their children over 12 if some others abuse the rules, I do think that the 12+ rule should be reassessed. After all a 13 year old child may well not want to attend the festival but really has no choice as you cannot leave a 13 year old home alone for the weekend. If I remember correctly in the past the policy was that children under 16 were free? and this was changed a few years back to the current system.
Please do not view this as a criticism, merely an observation on a policy that I believe needs a rethink. Possibly by going back to the 'under 16 admitted free' rule? but strictly enforcing it, or by a 2 tier charging system? As 17 year Cropredy veterans (both our children have also attended since embryo stage!) I would just like to add our thanks to you both and everyone else involved for the mammoth efforts each year in organising the greatest music festival on the planet. It is a big part of our lives and a highlight of every year.

Pete.     

Bit concerned about all this.  Just booked for my family, including 2 kids 4 and 8 years old.  My son the 8 year old, with no word of a lie looks about 13 or 14, but I swear he is 8 - just massive for his age - getting hairy legs too!

Last thing I want is being questioned as to whether he is the right age or not - I mean how do I prove it? take his birth certificate? no thanks!

Paul

Hi,  i just wanted some information regarding the activities available for children at the festival.  This will be our first cropredy and our children are aged 5 and 2.  Could anyone help us with some information please. Thanks
Trisha.