I'm off to see JLS at the Big Weekend and the screaming has started already...

FatAndy

I got my two free tickets for the Radio One Big Weekend event yesterday so me and the oldest daughter are off to see JLS, Rhianna, Paolo Nutini, Pixie Lott, etc. But having got the free tickets I've turned to the small print and realised where the catch is.

Firstly in order to be allowed in a field I've had to stump up the "small parking charge" of £7.50 plus £1.85 booking fee, although I could have £10 on the day. Apparently this is to cover "infrastructure and management costs". There will be 4,000 parking spaces so that's a minimum of £30,000 to run a car park for a day :eek:.

Then there's the issue of food and drink. "No food or drink can be taken into the site - with the exception of personal supplies of water in a plastic container with an unbroken seal (up to 500 ml per person)." The gates open at noon and the event is scheduled to finish at 10pm so unless we can make 500ml of water last 10 hours we'll have no option but to purchase overpriced food at the venue. I can't see how it would have done any harm to allow people to take in a few sandwiches.

So if you have got your free tickets and haven't yet read the small print I'd do so now as this event won't be quite as free as you think.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/bigweekend/2010/tickets/faqs/

pulliptears

Thats pretty standard for any festival TBH. I go to Download every year and you can't take anything other than water into the arena. This is on top of the £170 Ive paid for my ticket and £10 parking so you really haven't got it all bad

It is possible to sneak food/drink in. A pringles pack will hold either a can of beer or 2 cans of coke (put some crisps on the top). If you buy a box of wine they come with a bag inside, you can refill these if you ease off the tap and they are easily disguised wrapped up in a spare jumper. You can also sneak in sandwiches wrapped inside coats etc

There is also nothing stopping you returning to your car for lunch.

ethansmum

Take your own ood regardless, if questioned tell them you have very low blood sugar levels and need to eat at regular intervals much like a diabetic. What a cheek to only allow 500ml of water.

FatAndy

pulliptears wrote: »

Thats pretty standard for any festival TBH. I go to Download every year and you can't take anything other than water into the arena. This is on top of the £170 Ive paid for my ticket and £10 parking so you really haven't got it all bad .

I think what annoyed me most about the parking was the statement that "There is a small parking charge of £7.50 per car if you book in advance or £10 on the day to cover infrastructure and management costs". Firstly this is not a small charge (at least in North Wales) so why include the word "small", why not say "There is a parking charge...".
Secondly I don't believe this is just to "cover infrastructure and management costs". If they fill the car park, which I'm sure they will given the location, they'll rake in a minimum of £60,000 over the weekend. I'm sure £2.50 would have covered their costs and more.

pulliptears wrote: »

It is possible to sneak food/drink in. A pringles pack will hold either a can of beer or 2 cans of coke (put some crisps on the top). If you buy a box of wine they come with a bag inside, you can refill these if you ease off the tap and they are easily disguised wrapped up in a spare jumper. You can also sneak in sandwiches wrapped inside coats etc.

I'm not sure that trying to sneak in food and drink by hiding it in food will work? I'll probably manage to stash a few Mars Bars in a pocket somewhere though.

pulliptears wrote: »

There is also nothing stopping you returning to your car for lunch.

Unfortunately there is - "7. No Re-admission - i.e. No Pass outs, once you have entered the venue."

pulliptears

ethansmum wrote: »

Take your own ood regardless, if questioned tell them you have very low blood sugar levels and need to eat at regular intervals much like a diabetic. What a cheek to only allow 500ml of water.

Doesn't work. Security hired at these events are well aware of all the tricks and will ask to see some kind of NHS Diabetic card or evidence of your condition.

pulliptears

FatAndy wrote: »

I think what annoyed me most about the parking was the statement that "There is a small parking charge of £7.50 per car if you book in advance or £10 on the day to cover infrastructure and management costs". Firstly this is not a small charge (at least in North Wales) so why include the word "small", why not say "There is a parking charge...".
Secondly I don't believe this is just to "cover infrastructure and management costs". If they fill the car park, which I'm sure they will given the location, they'll rake in a minimum of £60,000 over the weekend. I'm sure £2.50 would have covered their costs and more.



I'm not sure that trying to sneak in food and drink by hiding it in food will work? I'll probably manage to stash a few Mars Bars in a pocket somewhere though.



Unfortunately there is - "7. No Re-admission - i.e. No Pass outs, once you have entered the venue."

Sneaking food in does work (we do it every year hehe) but in fairness the prices inside are not that bad. Ive just had a look at Downloads website and they are allowing food in now!

"You will only be permitted to take in soft drinks in to the arena and these must be in plastic bottles no bigger than 500ml. Food can be taken in to the arena, though not in a glass container."

pulliptears

Just to add...

I can see why you are miffed, a "free" gig that isnt, but it is the norm to charge for parking at free events and for the food and drink to be factored in. There are still overheads for Radio One (Landowners need paying, Artistes (I use that term lightly here lol) need paying etc) so its met that way. Free in this case refers to your arena entry.

My lad and his GF were desperate to go on the Sunday and had all the family trying for tickets but he didn't get any so please do consider yourself lucky to be going.

jimbms

Simple solution, if you dont like it don't go, nobody is forcing you.

Lokolo_2

jimbms wrote: »

Simple solution, if you dont like it don't go, nobody is forcing you.

That's a bit harsh don't you think, this forum is supposed to be about Helping, advising and supporting others, your comment is not very constructive really is it

FatAndy

jimbms wrote: »

Simple solution, if you dont like it don't go, nobody is forcing you.

I'm not all that bothered to be quite honest but my eight year old would be a bit gutted at missing out on a chance to see JLS . If it had been just about me I probably wouldn't have applied in the first place.

FatAndy

pulliptears wrote: »

Just to add...

I can see why you are miffed, a "free" gig that isnt, but it is the norm to charge for parking at free events and for the food and drink to be factored in. There are still overheads for Radio One (Landowners need paying, Artistes (I use that term lightly here lol) need paying etc) so its met that way. Free in this case refers to your arena entry.

My lad and his GF were desperate to go on the Sunday and had all the family trying for tickets but he didn't get any so please do consider yourself lucky to be going.

It's not so much the fact you have to pay to park as the amount they are charging. £7.50 to park in a field is fairly steep in North Wales and the fact that they're likely to pull in £60,000+ in parking fees reeks of profiteering to me. (In fairness to Radio One I think the parking is being run by the local authority).