Paléo Festival: 7 tips that made it possible to avoid hiccups

In 47 and a half editions, the Paléo Festival was able to distinguish itself by its art of anticipating risks. Meanwhile, Florilège of tips. For example, protocols to guarantee the success of the party, compiled by the two founders of the event: the director Daniel Rossellat and the programmer Jacques Monnier. For example, What do we do if …?

If an artist cancels his show at the last minute? – Paléo festival: 7 tips made

In 2004. For example, ten days before the highly anticipated concert by David Bowie, Jacques Monnier received a laconic email: the singer of “Space Oddity” cannot come for health reasons. Moreover, “We may be prepared psychologically for artists to cancel, it is always paléo festival: 7 tips made a shock.” In order to limit the disappointment of fans of the English artist. Nevertheless, the organizers invite three artists on the ASSE plain: Texas, Patti Smith and The Charlatans.

“We do not have a plan B for each programmed artist, it would be unthinkable,” explains Jacques Monnier. Moreover, Groups that go up an entire tour cannot be simple emergency wheels. In addition, ”

When the bad news falls a few weeks or months in advance, programmers multiply their chances of success. Similarly, “In a few hours. Consequently, we contact the agents of around thirty artists who have a free niche in their tour and for whom it seems to be achievable on the logistical level.”

The goal is then to find a similar group or artist. Similarly, But when the cancellation falls the same day – as was the case with Shaka Ponk in 2019 -. Therefore, the mission is impossible. However, Fortunately. and this is one of the warning memories of the founding member, Stephan Eicher saves the record in record time, amounts to a unique show in Nyon.

If we expect a risk concert? – Paléo festival: 7 tips made

It is obvious: all the concerts of the Paléo Festival are not equal in terms of risks. A late show on the big stage. crowded with young fans followers of Pogos, requires a very different vigilance from a classic concert given at 6 p.m.

This is why the programming is marked with color codes – yellow. orange and red – which paléo festival: 7 tips made determine whether to strengthen the teams nursing or security around the stage. “We see all the artists on stage before they perform in Nyon. which allows us to return to the security service if we notice significant crowd movements or a particularly excited audience”, specifies Jacques Monnier.

Even an a priori calm concert can switch red. “This year. Pierre Garnier is classified in red, because we expect a very young audience, with many children installed everything ahead,” he exemplifies.

If the weather forecasts the thunderstorm of the century?

The festival has its own station weather reportrecalls Daniel Rossellat. Each day, a note of 1 to 4 is awarded to the evening. In summary, 2 means “Be careful, prepare yourself!”; 3, “close the parasols and take concrete measures”; 4, “it becomes complicated and implies a real danger”.

As soon as the note reaches degree 2. all those responsible for the infrastructure receive a message which explains precisely the procedure paléo festival: 7 tips made to follow. “Then a team will check that the protocol has been properly applied. Sometimes we go directly to the repair box, this is the case if a tree falls, for example. ”

Some situations remain worrying for the organizers. “A hailstorm. for example, because we know that the reaction of the spectators is to take shelter, which can be dangerous in the event of a violent wind.” All that is management of crowds is provided by the team of Pascal ViotExpert in event security. reception and security coordinator in Paléo.

If we want to be sure to find the toilets?

In 2023, the signage Toilets was reviewed, causing confusion among festival -goers. “This innovation seemed to us without risks. not even voluntary, but it was quickly understood that although there paléo festival: 7 tips made were the same number of WCs and spectators, that did not work,” recalls Daniel Rossellat. There, it was necessary to react quickly and remodify the access panels.

On paléo festival: 7 tips made a daily basis. a group of studies and observation (GEO) tracks potential dysfunctions in the field, paying particular attention to new products. “They travel the festival with the gaze of a visitor. wondering:” If I had bought a ticket, would I be satisfied? ” Is the experience up to my requirements in relation to quality standards that Paléo aims to reach? ”

The GEO notably made it possible to identify a problem linked to. the behavior of spectators of the new Vega scene in 2022. “Many people dared not go to all of fear of missing the following concert on the big stage. says Daniel Rossellat. We therefore changed the time grid. “

If the notoriety of an artist suddenly explodes?

In Tiktok time. trends Who can propel a perfect unknown to the rank of star adulated in a few days, the question has never been so asked. “Some groups fill a room in a paléo festival: 7 tips made few months, without having followed the usual career construction process,” notes Jacques Monnier.

Already in 2006. the organizers had not been able to predict the dazzling success of the French rapper Diam’s, scheduled for the former chapiteau (around 9000 places). “By discussing around us. we realized that everyone was counting there with their children under the age of 12, who would not have a ticket,” recalls Jacques Monnier. It is impossible, therefore, to predict the crowd of that evening. “We installed two giant screens on both sides of the semi-covered scene, encouraging the parents to place themselves there.”

In general, how to anticipate? “It’s very subjective, but in general, we feel when a buzz grows around an artist.” This was the case for Théodort. for example, which filled the Vega scene (20,000 places) on Tuesday evening, when his paléo festival: 7 tips made first tube “Wayeh” was released in April 2024.

If mud hectoliters cover the ground?

The Paléo Festival has prepared two emergency plans: a “drought” plan and a “rain” plan. The latter paléo festival: 7 tips made includes measures intended to maintain the land, campsite and parking lots in a drinking condition. Chinese straw or. to a lesser extent, shavings are usually used to prevent a layer of overly thick mud covering the grounds. It is the straw & tractors sector that takes care of it.

“Farmers in the region are ready with their tractors to help us scatter straw on the ground,” explains Daniel Rossellat. Water lords are also available to water assess and reduce dust.

If … anything else happens?

The organizers have at their disposal a risk matrix. a summary table of “all possible and imaginable risks”, from the most anecdotal to the most serious. Electricity breakdown, broken train rowing, computer attack, bombing of the raised car, harsh, clogged toilets, delivery … In three columns. the list summarizes paléo festival: 7 tips made the raw risks, the measures which can be taken to reduce these risks and the residual risks despite the protocols, details Daniel Rossellat.

“We started little so we necessarily made a lot of errors,” admits the director of the Paléo Festival. Our goal since the beginnings being to innovate, our approach is empirical. It is essential to accept to question yourself. ” An unforeseen management team is generally mobilized in the event of a problem. the crisis unit only involved in a higher level.

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