 | First time at swingfields 2015 and won't be the last, loved the weekend and a big thank you to the organisers for their hard work in putting it all together.
What worked for us;
* The general atmosphere was brilliant. Being surrounded by like minded people just makes for a truly liberating experience, don't think there was anyone on camp that wanted to go back into the vanilla world Sunday.
* The size of the arena area was spot on, any bigger and it will start to lose something
* The entertainment programme was good and varied and most of the bands that played were great (even when not to our taste. ) Though, having the winners announced of the wet T-shirt and y fronts after these were held would have been better than waiting till the next day, loads of us missed the announcement and would have been better while we were all gathered watching it
* The pizza place, the natural ice people, the big red bus bar, the jelly shots
* The different types of seating in the arena
* The paddling pools & sun beds
* The kink tent, demos & workshops
* The communal bonfire!!!!
* No generators after a set time
* The singing toilets! Nothing like disco classics while you wee! Lol
* The showers
* The friendly staff - let's have a best staff member of the weekend award we can vote on
What we think could be improved:
* Having a munch type mingle on the first night were everyone can gather that wants to, even wearing their user names as badges. Meet and greeters that can help with introductions. Maybe a pub quiz or something similar where getting into teams of 10 (any minimum number )to help people get chatting? Everyone is friendly and wants to get talking but it can be awkward so the more entertainment that brings everyone together for a laugh helps this.
* Putting the sides up on the play tents during the day so that they will be used as shaded chill / mingle areas. The weather was great but too hot for some of us that like the shade. Having the play areas open on the sides so that they were a cool oasis in the heat would have encouraged more socialising I think.
* Having a social area away from the entertainment (that is inside) If you didn't like the bands there was no where you could go, other than round the fire or outside the bar. And chatting to people you didn't know was almost impossible once the bands were playing. A seated sofa area under cover for when it's cooler would have worked brilliantly
* the band that played Saturday night sounded awful and wasn't too the same standard as all the others that played. Heard more people moaning about them (including the old man living in the cabin in the wood!) than any other of the acts. Really do hope they aren't booked again next year, and if they are, not for any where near as long or for the final night.
* Having some more private play areas. Not everyone likes public play spaces, having some more secluded options would be great. I.e. Pull round curtaining on the four poster beds to add a little privacy if wanted, screens in the play areas (sheer chiffon hanging down or actual moveable screens?)
* Setting the arena up so that all the play tents are together, putting the sides up during the day will allow them to be used as chill out and mingle areas and then once it gets cooler, sides can go back down and maybe a marquee heater used ?
Same with the food, have it all together (near the bar ?) Drinks and food with some covered seating areas again for shade during the day and warmth at night?
Someone selling proper coffee!!!
* The hot tub area looked great but closing at 9 was too early I think, if it stayed open later it would have been used much more I think. Was just too hot during the day, need more paddling pools full of water
* The bucking bronco type rides and shower thing. For the space they took and usage they had I wouldn't bother. Giving out cheap little water pistols and bubble blowers and things like that in the welcome bag would have been more fun and encouraged more spontaneous shenanigans
* Feedback box in the info tent with a feedback / suggestion sheet in the welcome packs
* Recycling bins!! Most of our rubbish was Recycling and would have been much better having separate bins than skips that everything went in. Smaller festivals like Bearded Theory have got this spot on, (think they even earn money from doing it somehow? )
Date: 6 July 2015
|