Festival, how does that actually work again???
After a 3-year break with jitters and fears about whether and when there will be something like festivals again, there was really a lot to do. What takes place? What are the conditions? Who of the external people actually still has time to go on tour with us? After all, we've done more festivals in 2019 than ever before. So we got on the phone and dug up old contacts. So far, so good…
The anticipation grew
After doing a total of 15 festivals in 2019, we took it a bit easier in 2022. In the end, the final tour plan was fixed: we start with Rock am Ring, visit the Graspop Metal Meeting in Belgium, of course go to the Holy Ground in Wacken and finish with the bavarian Summer Breeze in mid-August. But before that, we had to dust off the equipment and train our new colleagues.
Alright, let´s do this. We had to order goods, pre-produce shirts, print signs, renew banners and much more. After all, we want to present ourselves in the best light and offer a cool assortment at the stand. Once the plan was in place, it was on to picking and packing the goods - or as I call it... advanced Tetris. No problem for Patty, who has really planned and driven many festival tours. And then it really finally started. At the beginning of June we were standing on the grounds of the Nürburgring with our tent "Frieda" and 4 new crew members, who were amazed at what goes on "behind the scenes". After 2 days of travelling and setting up, it was time to "open the gates"!
Half done – how was it at the Ring and what happened at GMM?
Madness! Going to festivals is just unbelievably cool. After a 3-year break, everyone was in a great mood. We had a permanent grin on our faces. And then you came. Many people visited us after 3 years with the words: "Finally, my kids have outgrown all their Metal Kids clothes. I really need new shirts!"
Well, of course we like to hear that - but we would like to remind you again... there is also an online shop. Of course, "shopping" at the stand is much cooler, you can touch it, ask us questions and we have lots of nice stories to tell about the range. Ask us, we'll be happy to tell you all about it. Talking about the assortment.
Rock am Ring was our fire test
For the new range, for new staff and also new festival concepts. The team on site really went all out to serve every visitor quickly. As the only supplier of the official festival children's merchandise, we were literally overrun and bought more or less empty. That's why there will be no Rock am Ring 2022 items in the webshop at the moment. We will sift through the remaining stock after the festival season and inform you in the newsletter what is still available.
All in all, it worked out great. We drove home tired, but in a good mood, to then start towards Belgium just under 2 weeks later.
Because in mid-June, it was on to the Graspop Metal Meeting.
The 25th anniversary was celebrated with an extra festival day and with the great "Legacy of the Beast" show by Iron Maiden. Nobody expected Maiden to go "full production" at the festival and play the complete show of the tour. We were able to catch a few glimpses and it was insanely good. Absolutely recommendable.
But even without this highlight, Graspop is always a great festival experience. Well organised with really nice trader colleagues left and right, it makes it even more fun to run the stand. After all, the metal market there opens at 10:00 and closes late at night. During this time you don't have time to eat or put your feet up, because you meet so many nice people, have good conversations and just enjoy the moment. We had visitors from Canada, Chile, France, the UK, Switzerland, Austria, of course Belgium and Holland - and from Germany. Which is very funny, because you speak English to each other, only to realise that you could also speak German :D
After 4 successful festival days, Sabaton then made the crowning finale with big fireworks on Sunday. We were very jealous not to be able to watch this show. How fitting that on Friday there was the release for the new Sabaton motifs. They were snatched out of our hands and of course you can find them here in the shop.
Our conclusion so far
For us it has been 2 wonderful festivals so far with lots of positive feedback and great encounters. And we are really looking forward to the Wacken Open Air at the end of July and then heading south to Summer Breeze. Let's see who we meet there.
Be sure to come and visit us!
Keep on rocking ~ Dani
