Well my Lovelies…. What Can I say, we’re home now and had 24hrs sleep after 2 weeks Funemployment in the fields with you all. It still hasn’t quite sunk in yet what you all achieved, but one thing I know is that this year it really came together, the hard work and dedication that has been put into this event by a huge number of people over 2017 really shone through, control of the event is no longer with a few people it has spread through to others who have most definitely picked up the ball and run with it, you blew us away, beyond anything we could dream of.
During the clean-up process we have had a chance to reflect on the combined achievement of us all and feel we have all created something very special. Moving forward into 2018 we already have our License in place and have taken a decision that we will NOT be increasing the size of the event, our focus will remain on the quality of our entertainment and production provision. The Performers, Entertainers & Production Crews have 200% proved this year that this is where our future lies, the show that you provided for us this year was phenomenal for such a small event.
All our site crew from the build\break crews to Stewards, Medical & Security have grafted this year and it certainly showed, it humbles us greatly and we are proud to be working with each and every one of you. One thing is for certain the place was run by a TEAM, the event didn’t need YOU the whole place was YOU, you cannot direct something like this, it’s dynamic and just has to happen, hence the quality of the outcome depends entirely on the attitude and approach of these people, there’s no Manual or Job Spec, there’s no dress rehearsal or dry-run, there’s little money and not a lot of thanks, it’s bang in your face from gates open and TEAM LOVE SUMMER the results speak for themselves.
Over the coming year we have made a decision to channel all our work into Love Summer alone, at times this year we became stretched due to involvement with other events, you have our assurance that we will be working for the next 51 weeks of the year to help build on the success you have all created. With over 800 Crew on site it is going to take us a little while to thank you all and it’s now almost impossible for me to get everyone in a single post without missing people out but I will try to make a start below and will be giving full coverage to you all on our website over the coming weeks:-
BOX OFFICE
Charlotte, Jay, Windmill, Alice, Julia, Vicky, Jan & all that worked in the Box Office, a first-class front of house crew.
ARTIST LIAISON
The Windmill & Team – You Rock & Rolled It
SECURITY
MJT Security Services – Thanks for keeping us safe 😊
LITTER & RECYCLING
Glen, Jackie, Ruth, Fraser, Sky, James & all your Crew, this is one of the hardest & most physically demanding job on site and if not done properly it really shows, we are sooooooo lucky to have you on the Team, when we left the place was MINT better than when we arrived.
PRODUCTION
Neil, Tim and all at Future Technical Solutions, the clues in your name…. our Future lies with you and your exemplar production management. You took us where we wanted to go, RONSEAL CREW – Do exactly what it says on the tin – High Quality Job FTS
Recharged Sound & Light – Dave, Joe, Emma, Gelf, Kieran, James, Ash, Will, Simon, Ben, Craig, Claire & all the Recharged Crew, faultless, consistent and professional production management and delivery – “The Dave” what can we say!!!!!
DanceDanceDance & XYZ – I don’t know what to write apart from Wow!Wow!Wow! – Christian, Sam, Kenty, Fraser, Alex, Wez and all the people that put in so much effort at the Love City Stage, words truly fail me! An incredible piece of awesomeness in every respect, you knocked the ball right out of the park. Skizzo Friday night!, will never here the last of it from the young uns!!!!!! LEGEND!
Sounds Live – John, Georgina and all at Sounds Live – A fantastic job as ever, crisp, clear and professional to the max – It wouldn’t be a Live Stage without you. On Point in every respect.
THEATRE & ART
Bernie, Jazzy, Yannis and all at Seagurls and all in the paint shop, you put the “icing on our cake” and I soooo look forward to my meetings with you, contact with your crew should be bottled and given as an anti-depressant, your silliness and fun knows no boundaries. We would so love to work with you all again in 2018.
DÉCOR CREW
Eric, Teri, Andy, Suzanne, Nobby, Karl, Anji and all that produced the site décor, it looked the nuts, so much work has gone into this before we came to site, sensational effort!
MEDICAL
Mary, Suzy, Catherine and all the Medical Crew, it was like having our own mini hospital on site, thanks for looking after us we couldn’t do this without you. We love you, yes we do!!!!
SITE CREW
To Adam our new site manager, thanks for being my “Right Hand Man” we get put through the SH1T, quite literally sometimes and anyone that can make it as much fun as you did can run my site any day. To the grafters, Campbell, Dave John, Javen, Mansour, Dom, Jan, Winston, Nikki, Fraser, (sorry don’t know your friends name Fraser but he’s way up the list) Flo, Pottsy & Co. & massive thanks to James Waughby our all-round “goto guy”. There’s loads more here I’ve missed so crew leaders please tag people up, there’s been a monumental effort by all.
To Pete, Scott & all the Plympton Crew at Brandon Hire – You got this sewn up like a kipper boys, you just keep getting better & better every year.
VOLUNTEERS
A huge thank you to Carmen for recruiting and running our Fluorescent Army of Stewards. From Curly Phil & Co all over it like a rash to Mike in Car Parks and Amber & Crew sorting the issues, there are just so many of you now that we didn’t get to meet you all, over the winter we will be making contact with all the volunteers that worked for the festival to give you a personal thank you, you lot are the glue that holds this thing together.
MUSIC & VENUE MANAGEMENT
To our Venue\Stage Managers and Music Directors, Pottsy, Alex, Angela, Dave, Paddy, Kate, Lee, Windmill, Shaun, Paul, Christian, Sam, you are an asset to any event and we feel proud and privileged to be working with you all as a team. The production of the event excelled in all areas and this was noticeable, we sincerely hope that our associations with you all can move forward to new heights in 2018
HEALING AREA
To Richard, Paula and all involved with Singing Drum and Gateway to the Heart, and to all our Holistic Therapists, thank you for bringing a little bit of calm to our fast pace of party life, looking forward to planning 2018 with you all to expand this area.
CHILDRENS AREA
From the Pom Pom workshops & Circus Skills to Magician Pirates & Willow Working with crazy love hearts, stilt walkers & walkabout acts there was something for all children in this area. Special mentions to Crafty Monkeys who have been with us for always, Alf for being Alf, Air Fish for going beyond the call of duty to provide Aerial Acts and to Paul & Elaine for their amazing travelling Cinema to name a few. We will be featuring all the children’s acts and workshops that performed for you in 2017 on our website in the coming weeks as all are very special to us. We even had a little Zoo!!
STALL HOLDERS
To our 35 traders who came and supplied our every need for the entire weekend. Knockout, we wanted for nothing and the food was superb. Class Act you lot and see you all next year.
CUSTOMERS
And last but by no means least to all our customers who came and partied for 3 days without a single incident of any note, this is pretty much unheard of in the Festival Business. You truly are Professional Party People, we had plenty of 1st time Festival Families on site this year and the example set by the kindness, humility and freedom to party attitude shown by you all inspires us to carry on providing Love Summer Festival for many years to come.
Thank You All from the very bottom of our hearts
See you in the fields
Billy & Jane xx
PS, please comment tag and generally big up anyone you think needs a special mention. I will have missed loads.