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Freedom Festival 18-21 August, Portugal
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Kyle
Started Topics :
1
Posts :
15
Posted : Aug 25, 2005 15:40
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Well this is my second festival and my first review. Bear with me.  I arrived under the assumption that I would be doing VJ work under the Tribe of Frog Collective. After a 10 hour drive from Valencia, Spain I arrived to the venue. There was about 10-15 police officers blocking the entrance. Supposedly there were some trees blocking the road to the site. A large truck was unable to pass so a crew was called in to cut the trees down. After a few hours wait we were finally let in. It was quite dark and a few minutes down a curved road we arrived at the entrance. I was greeted by Miguel (Crystal Matrix Organizer?) I had told him that I would be performing under the Tribe of Frogz. He said that my name wasn’t on the list. Yikes! So he agreed to hold my passport while I entered to contact someone from the Frogz crew. Apparently a lot of miscommunication was going on between the 3 collectives. I decided to find a campsite and pitch my tent for the evening and sort the problems in the morning. The first night (17th) was pretty quiet. Everyone was setting up their tents and stalls. The wind was quite brutal and I had heard that this had caused a major problem with the deco.
The following morning I had finally cleared the entrance issue and I have Isabel to thank me for the assistance in the matter. I took the usual stroll through the terrain. I noticed that it was extremely dusty and full of rocks and giant pricker bushes. It had a very MAD MAX feel to it or maybe it was like camping on Mars. The steep hills and camping areas had some trees which were quickly taken by the first settlers. The temperature was hot like expected but the wind did help. It also hurt too. Once the dust started kicking up it was like being in a sand storm.  Another thing that was quite annoying was the organization driving up and down the dirt road in the 4x4 trucks at top speeds day and night. Not only was it dangerous for the pedestrians but they kicked up mud, dust, and rocks to the people walking along the path. tsk tsk
After the first day I realized how much exercise this would be. Forget sandals...hiking boots would be more appropriate. The site was very beautiful and scenic. The lake was also a nice treat. There were rumors of leeches but I didn’t see any. The food and stores were conveniently located between the camping and the main stage which was helpful. Also the potable water that was for free was also nice to have. Too bad that after a 15 min walk from the tents to fill up the water resulted in no water. I wish they would have kept it full more often. It was very easy to get dehydrated in that location. All the walking and hills made my girlfriend dizzy and tired. The medic station was also located in a well lit area by the water and toilets. Speaking of bathrooms....6000 people all pooping on the toilet seats is so nasty. I swear...is this how people use the bathroom at home? Seriously...how do you get shit on the walls? Yuck! The showers were working well on the first 2 days and on the last day they magically shut off with a few drips of water. Luckily the lake was still there.
For the music:
I really enjoyed the line up and I was looking forward to seeing a lot of the names on the line-up. Since I got the opportunity to create some eye candy for everyone it was an exhilarating feeling being on stage with some of the performers that you admire and listen to. I especially liked sets from Migas and Bushman. The sound system was sufficient. The bass was thumping and the highs would give you chills. You could still here it in your tent 2 kilometers away.
The Deco:
The frogz are notorious for their UV backdrops and decor but for some reason they fell short on the delivery. I think it’s due to the extremely windy conditions. With out the black lights the magic isn’t there so during the day it didn’t seem as magical. The chill out was nicely arranged with pillows and tables. I had hoped it would have been a little bit bigger.
The lights:
The lights were sufficient and the 2 green and 4 colored lasers were a nice treat. This is probably the only thing the dusty terrain was good for, making the laser look better.
The visuals:
I was contracted by the frogz to do a visual performance and I was really excited about the idea of playing along side some of the artists. When I arrived I had asked when and where I would be performing. The Frogz were no help in the matter.  So I did what is natural and approached a VJ setting up on stage. Wayan Blue was preparing for the first nights performance but unfortunately there was no projector???? He had mentioned that one was on its way. So I shrugged it off and decided to wait till the first nights craziness settled over. At about midnight the music was in full swing....but still no visuals??? I had brought a projector and decided to just go on stage and set up. sneaky As I was just about to start throwing down. Wayan came up and said that he was scheduled to perform but the projector had been stuck in a broken down car. He agreed to let me tag team with him since I had brought a working projector. yippie!
On the second night the projector had arrived but it wasn’t set up properly so again there were no visuals. So I broke out my projector again and there was another VJ setting up as well Nolinx a local VJ from Portugal. He was really glad that we had my spare projector. I also tagged with him that night. It was a lot of fun working with other VJs and mixing sets together. In the end the projector that was initially hired was fixed and working on the third night. I was the eager VJ who got two sets in. heheh. I would also like to make a comment that the Crystal Matrix and Spun crew agreed to pay me for the two night’s projector rental and for that I am grateful. Thanks Guys!!! Unfortunately the Frogz who hired me for visuals refused to pay me for my services and for that I am very perturbed. **Warning** Caveat Emptor with the Frogz. **Warning**
In conclusion the party was a success and the people looked happy. I think about 6000 people showed up and speaking with the promoters from separate crews showed that everyone was satisfied with the event. I think the communication between the promoters could have been better but all in all it was a great event.
  www.vjloops.tv
-Got Eyecandy?- |
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zatitude
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
10
Posts :
229
Posted : Aug 25, 2005 20:05
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Thanks for the i-candy Kyle!
ps u forgot to mention that you were introduced to Eskimo during that initial interlude |
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Bo Bo
Started Topics :
2
Posts :
8
Posted : Aug 26, 2005 00:55
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Correct me if I'm wrong Kyle but I don't think you were actually hired by Chris from the frogs and there was a misunderstanding about the whole arrangement and things were assumed that shouldn't have been.
I speak to him soon to see what he says, I am sorry you feel this way. |
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Kyle
Started Topics :
1
Posts :
15
Posted : Aug 26, 2005 01:14
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Quote:
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On 2005-08-26 00:55, Bo Bo wrote:
Correct me if I'm wrong Kyle but I don't think you were actually hired by Chris from the frogs and there was a misunderstanding about the whole arrangement and things were assumed that shouldn't have been.
I speak to him soon to see what he says, I am sorry you feel this way.
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When it comes to business I don´t assume. Marcos who works for the Frogz had called Chris to approve the hire. Chris had agreed over the phone for a paying job. I made sure before I left my house that I was promised a set fee. Do you think people drive 10 hours and spend 100´s of euros to play for free? I am a VJ. This is what I do for a living. I had a scheduled gig at Rhythms of Peace in Africa and I lost my transport with Good Trip to that event because of the so called assumptions. I didn´t assume anything. The only thing I assumed was that the Frogz were true to their word.
www.vjloops.tv
-Got Eyecandy?- |
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Raja Rana
Started Topics :
0
Posts :
8
Posted : Aug 30, 2005 17:08
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I would like to take this opportunity to make myself clear on these points that Kyle seems to have raised. We were hired specifically to create the decor at the Freedom festival. This, as stated, was a major challenge due to the extreme wind this specific location presented to us - tornados and the low land level ensured an almost constant wind presence that would test any decor, so we had to tailor our artwork to suit i.e. in it's strength and appearance. This would not come across as the intense magic we create in indoor venues or tents, but we feel we did manage to create a bright and beautiful space to dance in, a major transformation of the gigantic stage and a beautiful chill out. Not bad considering the conditions.
Kyles feeling that he had been hired by us to make a projection show does seem to be a complete misunderstanding.This was not or has never been our area of involvement in this event. On hearing that Bamboo was unavailable we did arrange for Roberto from the Orange Corporation to fill his space and from that point any dealings for him were with the organisers. I did receive a phone call from Marcos asking if there was any possibility that Kyle could come and POSSIBLY be able to make some projections. Since i knew that others were already booked by the organisers there was absolutely no way i could have the authority to say yes, but since he's helped us create our dvd i could get him in on our guest list (which did get a little confused on the day) and then he could take any opportunities presented to him - which is exactly what he did. Our budget is specifically for decor& i have/would never agreed to anything else. Roberto discussed his budget with the organisers and was subsequently paid by them. I could only expect Kyle to do the same.There was absolutely no promised set fee. I was under the impression that Kyle was coming with an intention to 'get in' and spread his name & skills. My budget has never had space for projections and i would never agree to one as it is nothing to do with us. I am sorry to see that Kyle feels this way as it is a misunderstanding that has blown completely out of proportion and it amazes me that this has happened, esp since we had enough on our plates dealing with what we came to do. Kyle did a brilliant job and was there with his projector when nothing else was there, so please deal with the people who the responsibility is with i.e. the organisers. |
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macca
Started Topics :
0
Posts :
7
Posted : Sep 20, 2005 13:49
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The festival had positive things like the line up, the sound sistem and vj´s, but it also had bad things, as always, in Portugal, we had to walk 4 km for day between the tents and the floor, the frog´s decoration could be more creative and fantasist, in that point was weak, but the most important issue, I think, was when I discovered the party wasn´t 4 days. In the flyer it was saying, 18, 19, 20 and 21, the last day didn´t happen and some people stayd disappointed. The worst thing was realy, programing myself for the four days when only three happened. I like trance events but sometimes I have to say that the persons that produces events forget the reason why people go to trance events.....many people staid disapointed but it´s done. When I see a perfect marketing play like this just to the organizers earn more money, I say to myself, bad wave crystal dudes, that way Your image does´t gets better and in the future...the trance community loses....it´s all about the money, that´s ugly, the trance scene is stayng like some markets, where the company directors abuses the image of the company and later change the name so nobody knows that, that company act in a bad way, there are many cases like that im portugal, like the old goodmood....better conditions, better party, justified money spent and everybody goes home with a smile in the face..that´s all folks. |
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- Indoor Party
- Outdoor Party
- Free Parking
- Free Water
- ChillOut Area
- Free Drink
- Free Entrance
- VJ
- Deco