The hospitality industry is also confronted with rapidly rising costs and increasing regulations. And an audience that expects more. As an example, he cites the edition of last April. “I had 20 thousand euros in artists and light and sound. And then, for example, security is added. You try to get that investment out by asking for the entrance fee on most days. That worked pretty well.”
An almost complete festival is rigged in De Weere. “We have DJs, bands, three stages, food trucks and the traditional attractions. We also pay them, because otherwise they will not come. You have to make it attractive for the people and make sure you have a few ambassadors in the village. A few cartridge or a fairgrounds. You have to do it together.”
‘Good for a quarter of the annual turnover’
The suggestion that a café can close the doors for four months after a fair, is laughed away. Meinen: “There is a lot of money earned, but you really need the fair in a year. That is good for a quarter of the annual turnover.”
“Previously the fair was the hit of the year,” says Baltus. “Now as a café you have to think of everything around it. Pub quizzes, theme evenings, you name it.”
On ‘t Veld, the cleaning is almost finished in De Weere. “Six a year at the fair? We just have to open again next week.”