VIP pits at music festivals

These are times of change for the music industry. It is so since 20 years. Back in the days, when the artists decided to go on tour, they did it, especially to promote their latest album released. Nowadays, it seems that in some cases artists record music to be able to go on tour.

With records sales at low levels, concerts and festivals have become the new source of income for large corporations. Reason why year after year these large corporations are inventing and testing new ways to get more income. Unfortunately many of them by disserving musicians and spectators.

One of those ways are the so-called Golden Circles that we can see in many concerts and festivals. Basically, that is a space bounded by fences and security, which keeps the space just in front of the stage - “reserved” before for the most staunch fans - for people who have paid for it and that often has higher interest in taking a good selfie rather than in enjoying the show itself.

Obviously the measure irritates spectators but also artists, and many of them have openly criticized it.

Noteworthy moment is when Alex Kapranos from Franz Ferdinand, tweeted the following after playing in Mad Cool festival in 2018:

“I really loved Mad Cool festival, but I fucking hate VIP areas or “golden circles” in front of the stage. The kind of P. (person) who consider themselves V.I. (very important) tend to be more into selfies than going nuts for a band. I’m not saying there isn’t a place for them. There is. It’s at the back.”

Same year, and at the same festival, Josh Homme, vocalist of Queens of the Stone Age, with a cigarette in his mouth, and the chords of No One Knows already in the background, stopped the song introduction and threatened not to continue until the security of the festival let the crowd fill the front rows. After continuing, but just a few minutes later he would say:

“The reason I told these people to come over and hang out with all of you its because im getting sick of everyone telling everyone what to do. I'm sick of ever getting offended. We travel thousands of miles to play at your party, just to give you a night that you ´ll ever remember. And we will not leave until you are fucked up high, dancing, making out with somebody or having the best time of your life. Otherwise, they will be a bunch of domesticated animals.”

I personally detest Golden Circles. I am totally against it. Festivals must be something else. I understand that there must be VIP areas, but never by disserving the fans. And I'm afraid whoever does not understand this, may not have realized that most likely has made a mistake by going to a festival and perhaps should look for other formats that best fit to the person.

Cover photograph by Matias Altbach