Tryweryn Fest-Where Next?

[m_kittle]

If you're gonna have it later than the beginning of June then you're very unlikely to get any university groups there as it's either alps time (We're heading out on the 8th) or exams have finished and we're off home for the summer holidays (I know exams at Aber finish 2nd June at the latest). So your best bet is to aim it at none uni clubs and paddlers, though having never been a none uni paddler I have no idea what that would look like, though I'm gonna go with everyone else and say you definitely need to get more for your money

[ash74]

Thanks to everyone who has posted here, and to those who have picked up the phone, or messaged me separately.

We're going to put our hands up and say we haven't got it right this year, or maybe not communicated what we're doing as well as we could have. We've decided to suspend bookings of tickets. We need to check with a few people on whether they are happy for the event to run on a different basis at such short notice. But we haven't given up. We'll have a new plan by the end of this week, I hope.

I'm not going to be able to reply to each and every point of view, but we (Canoe Wales and National White Water Centre) really appreciate all the feedback and we'll do what we can to address all the issues raised.

Whatever we can do, we'll put something up on UKRGB and out on the Facebook festival page. We got the message about paddlers liking free stuff, so if we don't see you at the festival we look forward to seeing you for free paddling on one of the other 200 odd days of the year the Tryweryn has a release.

Ash

[dpround]

Events like the Anglesey sea kayak symposium get booked solid months in advance. You might want to consider what they are offering (training, guided trips, technical sessions, assessments, kit suppliers on site etc) and translate it to your setting.

All the best

David

[Boop]

Its a shame folk aren't booking the Tryweryn Fest but there's a few weeks yet (don't panic chaps!)

I would echo much that has been said. Being post 35yrs I don't want a piss up in a field with a load of students and I don't fancy camping and getting knack-all sleep over the weekend.

Perhaps the programme is over-packed with stuff. Too much chaff sometimes distracts you from the good stuff.

Price is crucial and its good to be flexible on choices. Camping and possibly party may not appeal to me. I suspect the financal success of the event hinge largely on food and band???

The Dee River Festival had really well subscribed paddling workshops, great evening entertainment and demos all weekend. The only thing they didn't have was much water in the Dee, otherwise I suspect quite a few more people would have taken part. Workshops were cheap £25/45 and evening stuff £5-6 each night. Everything else was gratis. Plus they booked the sun....

As a comparison, how does the Tryweryn fest compare in attendance to the Pyranha Fest at the same location. If its not working then perhaps this is a model to look at (if the Pyranha Fest is successful).

[GlennT]

Ash

I posted earlier but omitted to congratulate you 'consulting' with the punters. Having read the feedback I think there's a lot of good stuff being suggested. Someone else has also alluded to a comparison between your event and that of the Pyranhafest, and I would urge you to check out what they have done and what other 'successful' paddling festival-type events are offering. There is, however, a danger of 'more of the same' with this approach, perhaps, but then how do you differentiate your event without losing it's appeal.

I suppose that also comes back to your target audience and as several others have said, perhaps this needs to be clearer, in terms of what you are offering? I would suggest that the time of the year, June, doesnt help. Given that so many boaters will be out of the country, perhaps later in the year September/October, when the event has been timetabled in the past, would be better for some, such as uni clubs, for example.

One point that has not been raised has been the increased number of paddling events now being held in the UK, such as the recent Dee Festival and Gene17 river source. At some point, as has been the case with music festivals in recent years, you would reach saturation point. Therefore is it possible that the growth of such events is having an impact on people's appetite or wherewithall to attend?

Anyways, good luck with the event this year!

Glenn

[Simon Westgarth]

One point that has not been raised has been the increased number of paddling events now being held in the UK, such as the recent Dee Festival and Gene17 river source. At some point, as has been the case with music festivals in recent years, you would reach saturation point. Therefore is it possible that the growth of such events is having an impact on people's appetite or wherewithall to attend?

No doubt it will, in Devon we have 2 paddling event based on Dartmoor, the Gene17 Adventure Paddler's weekend which has become more of a near end of year meeting point, a celebration of the years adventures and of course a party. We try to not plan anything, but occasionally an informal mass start race on the Saturday afternoon. It's simple, it works and its popular. The Rivers Source started as a coaching event. It's a new event, aimed at bringing some substance to the scene, so the likes of workshops and clinics drive this, plus we had a river clean up at the first event. We think to turn this into more a community action event, with a wider river clean up across Dartmoor, may be Devon, plus paddle with the youth day, so we can give more young paddlers an opportunity to get out on white water. It's a developing theme and over time we hope to have two very different events in Devon in October and December every year.

[Nesquik]

Hey guys.

Firstly after trawling thorugh the mountain of posts above I just wanna say thanks to all for your thoughts.

There has been some changes to the pricing of the event as we took into account of what you were all saying.
Just to clarify you wont be paying to paddle the river just for the party camping and shuttles.

The prices now stand at £15 for the parties!! (friday and saturday night) that includes a pieminister pie and trimmings on the saturday night.

Camping is to be £5 for the whole weekend!

Shuttle buses will also be £5 for both days of the weekend.

BBQ on the friday night with a pint of puple moose ale / cider / other drink on offer with a burger.

Theres a DJ on friday night and both a DJ and live band on the saturday night.

In regards to booking the event you can find links to it on the new website: http://www.trywerynfestival.com

The site has loads of extra information on the event.

Theres a community page on facebook at facebook.com/trywerynfestival with links to the website.

Thanks for your input on here guys and hope to see some of you there.

[Fire It Up]

We're super excited to be supporting Tryweryn Festival 2012. The line up is hot and the party is sure going to be smokin'

With the success of the Palm 8 Ball, SquareRock Duo Rolling, Alpkit Cardboard Race we thought we'd throw down our own event only at the Tryweryn Festival.

4X knockout, short, explosive, super intense, winner takes all, £500 worth of prizes, it's the Fire It Up - Grand Slam Cup

News to follow throughout the week to create build up and some 'hardcore rivalry' :) It's not about the winning, it's about beating your friends.

Keep a look out on social media, Facebook | Twitter

[lizard]

If I just want to come for the Saturday party is there an 'on the door' price?

[Fire It Up]