Groovers Prayer, step closer. There is something that I want to tell you about you.
There is something really rotten about the way some of these promoters organize music festivals. We are either treated like criminals as we enter, or if we manage to get through, we will find that there is virtually no security inside. And then there is the sound. It may be world class at times, but more often than not, performers can hardly hear their own voice, backing vocalists vanish somewhere into thin air, and the worst part – the sound becomes distorted.
So when my wonderful Johnnie Walker buddies asked us from Dannywired to come and have fun along with other children, we traveled almost 120 kilometers from Liverpool to Toadbury Hall Hotel, Restaurants and Function Venue for Groovers Prayer.
This was my first time attending the movement, so obviously I needed to know everything about it. And after arriving, I came to realize how well organized this community is.
One of the first things that caught my eye was the lack of the usual line-up of artists. There was no huge media promotion about each one of them, but still, people came. This means that Groovers Prayer managed to gain enough trust for people to participate regardless of who would be performing there.
Desert Beige was the theme and the crowd got it right. Toadbury was an absolutely gorgeous background, and everything else was just beautiful and laid-back.
And the drinks choice was another brilliant feature of this event. Two bars located around the stage offered an impressive choice, whereas the Johnnie Walker bar was truly outstanding.
Johnnie Walker deserves all flowers here. Unlike most other brands which just appear somewhere in the middle of some event, place their logos somewhere in the venue and call it a day, Johnnie Walker really made its presence felt, engaging and blending naturally into the experience. The bar was well stocked with yellow cans of this brand and offered the new product – the Johnnie Walker Lemonade Flavour Blended Scotch Whisky Spirit.
It was a good match for the crowd, and in my opinion, one of the better brand experiences that day.
Food, too, was an asset. The range provided would ensure movement of the crowd between the three main points of interest – music, drinks, and food – at the same time making the pricing affordable.
Thus, by now, I was enjoying myself thoroughly.
And then came the inevitable nature’s call.
Here my complaint grows a little.
While toilets may not be the most glamorous things we ever discuss about events, they certainly are amongst the most crucial. You could have the best venue, décor, bar, and even the best crowd but if your toilets cannot manage the crowd, your event could turn into a very uncomfortable experience very quickly.
As the clouds darkened further, the men’s toilet zone proved harder to access. Based on our observations, there were about six portable flushable toilets and about four urinals. The facilities seemed inadequate as the number of people increased.
The problem was that the men’s and ladies’ zones got increasingly mixed up.
This does not mean that the fault lies with the patrons. They have to relieve themselves, and once the queues get too long, people will automatically seek an alternative. But that’s what planning should take into consideration.
A few ladies resorted to using the men’s toilets due to the long lines, causing discomfort to some men who wanted to use the urinals.
Two patrons expressed their dissatisfaction with us.
One said: “These are men’s toilets, I don’t understand why I should be waiting in line with a bunch of women when they have their own toilet. And when I want to go ahead of all of them, it’s a problem because they want to argue, saying they were here first. No ma’am, your toilets are next door.”
Another added: “I actually feel violated just standing here. I can’t even take out my penis to pee because the ladies are looking at us, and that’s why I can’t use the urinals.”
It may be an uncomfortable conversation, but it is one worth having. More toilets, clearer separation and additional staff managing the area would make a significant difference at the next event.
Then there was the sound.
Poor Shekhinah was fighting for her life on stage. The monitoring and overall mix needed attention, and unfortunately some of the audio we captured for social media was unusable. We had to overdub sections with the artist’s actual sound because the live recording simply did not do the performance justice.
And this is certainly something which Groovers Prayer should seriously consider, because the musicians are supposed to sound their best.
But what makes the whole story is the fact that I had great fun.
Groovers Prayer has a unique idea, devoted fans and a unique festival atmosphere. The place was suitable for this event, Desert Beige concept worked perfectly, the food and beverages were top-notch, and Johnnie Walker brought some premium class to the atmosphere.
So this all is not a reason to write off this festival. But this is exactly what can make this great experience even greater.
Groovers Prayer, please come closer.
I could see your idea. I could feel the energy. I was having fun.
Please solve the minor things.
Because there is something unique about this.
