We continue our tribute "Live concerts and the Economic Crisis" with Yiotis Posporelis, from the Self Preservation Society to share his views with mixgrill.
- Concerts and crisis. People have definitely been affected by the economic crisis in their daily expenses. Have you adjusted your goals in this new situation, or is there no variation in your planning?
It is a somewhat special climate and people are affected in terms of costs for fun. But I believe that the impact of this phenomenon is less proportionately on concerts, than for example on bars. From the outset, however, our policy was low ticket prices, so there isn't great diversity in our planning. In fact we're trying to get to, the perhaps Utopian, point to have concerts with almost a token fee based essentially on indirect and exchangeable advertising for our revenue.
- Do you think that there will be less summer concerts from now on? Or will smaller names with lower financial requirements be preferred?
Not only I don't think they will decrease, but they'll increase. It's a general observation that competition has increased and this has led companies to have more productions. The difference I think is that "safe" names will be preferred to ensure large turnouts.
- Will the major Festivals bear it or will they "diminish", having fewer names on the line-up?
As mentioned above, I think the festivals will focus on the big names and may shrink quantitatively but not qualitatively. In any case, in light of the "crisis" I think this summer there will be a big cleanup and we may have dramatic developments with regard to some traditional players.
- Musicians "lose" some money because of music piracy and resort to more live performances to cover their expenses and of course to reap more profits. Do you think they'll adjust their wages according to the new situation imposed by the economic crisis or not?
For years, the main source of income for most artists is live performances and endorsements. Definitely an adjustment to the demands is already being made but we must not forget that at least in regards to Greece, the fixed costs of artists, in order to appear, are disproportionate because of distance.
- Is there a behavioural change of concert sponsors and especially from the government (public grants for example)?
There's no behavioral change. As always irritatingly absent and indifferent.
- Do you think that closing a big name for a concert several months before and the advance sales of tickets long time before the concert would help the situation?
That would certainly help the situation but unfortunately we are in the last minute country, which applies to the conduct of the buying public. We're probably the only country in Europe in which the principal amount of the advance sales, at 90% of the concerts, happens on the last week.
- How do you see your counterparts abroad dealing with the new situation?
A key change, that I find through my contacts, is that there is a stronger than ever the availability of international cooperation, to reduce transport costs and ensure all sides.
- Due to higher costs (transport etc) for a show for a big name in Greece, compared with that of a Central European country, do you believe it would help to have a cooperation between companies organizing concerts in our neighbouring countries (Italy, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey), so that the appearance of the big names becomes a "package deal" for all these countries or are you already doing this?
Yes, this is already being done and is a standard practice of our firm, because of our good relations with these neighboring countries.
- Thank you very much! Take it easy.
You too, and bravo, for the effort.
- Concerts and crisis. People have definitely been affected by the economic crisis in their daily expenses. Have you adjusted your goals in this new situation, or is there no variation in your planning?
It is a somewhat special climate and people are affected in terms of costs for fun. But I believe that the impact of this phenomenon is less proportionately on concerts, than for example on bars. From the outset, however, our policy was low ticket prices, so there isn't great diversity in our planning. In fact we're trying to get to, the perhaps Utopian, point to have concerts with almost a token fee based essentially on indirect and exchangeable advertising for our revenue.
- Do you think that there will be less summer concerts from now on? Or will smaller names with lower financial requirements be preferred?
Not only I don't think they will decrease, but they'll increase. It's a general observation that competition has increased and this has led companies to have more productions. The difference I think is that "safe" names will be preferred to ensure large turnouts.
- Will the major Festivals bear it or will they "diminish", having fewer names on the line-up?
As mentioned above, I think the festivals will focus on the big names and may shrink quantitatively but not qualitatively. In any case, in light of the "crisis" I think this summer there will be a big cleanup and we may have dramatic developments with regard to some traditional players.
- Musicians "lose" some money because of music piracy and resort to more live performances to cover their expenses and of course to reap more profits. Do you think they'll adjust their wages according to the new situation imposed by the economic crisis or not?
For years, the main source of income for most artists is live performances and endorsements. Definitely an adjustment to the demands is already being made but we must not forget that at least in regards to Greece, the fixed costs of artists, in order to appear, are disproportionate because of distance.
- Is there a behavioural change of concert sponsors and especially from the government (public grants for example)?
There's no behavioral change. As always irritatingly absent and indifferent.
- Do you think that closing a big name for a concert several months before and the advance sales of tickets long time before the concert would help the situation?
That would certainly help the situation but unfortunately we are in the last minute country, which applies to the conduct of the buying public. We're probably the only country in Europe in which the principal amount of the advance sales, at 90% of the concerts, happens on the last week.
- How do you see your counterparts abroad dealing with the new situation?
A key change, that I find through my contacts, is that there is a stronger than ever the availability of international cooperation, to reduce transport costs and ensure all sides.
- Due to higher costs (transport etc) for a show for a big name in Greece, compared with that of a Central European country, do you believe it would help to have a cooperation between companies organizing concerts in our neighbouring countries (Italy, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey), so that the appearance of the big names becomes a "package deal" for all these countries or are you already doing this?
Yes, this is already being done and is a standard practice of our firm, because of our good relations with these neighboring countries.
- Thank you very much! Take it easy.
You too, and bravo, for the effort.
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