Summary of the livechat at the 24th of May, 2012

The livechat at the 24th of May 2012 was a huge success – we were able to answer a lot of questions from the community and got new suggestions. Thank you for that! We will organize another chat soon.

The following summary is meant to give the information to all the visitors, which couldn’t participate in the livechat. This information should be interesting for all visitors. To enable a better readableness, we merged the questions and answers and reworded them, without touching the meaning.

Especially the topic bands was interesting for many users of the chat. The various questions touched several subjects.

For example, the overlapping of Overkill and Warbringer was criticized, but this overlapping was already unmade before the chat happened.

Also the show of the band The BossHoss was criticized. But the band already played in Wacken once and the feedback of the fans was very good, so from our point of view, there is no reason to not book the band. The band is a good contrast and addition to the other bands.

The most questions were about big bands like Metallica or AC/DC. Of course we hope that Metallica will play in Wacken once. But the focus of the band is on the Sonispheres and big 4 festivals, which is a big complication for us.

The matter with AC/DC is, that it’s not only about us if they will come to Wacken or not, cause they are a pretty big band if not the biggest. Also it’s a question if they would be good for Wacken. Maybe the audience would change heavily, because many would buy the tickets only to see AC/DC. Visitors which only come for one band and which will partially also leave after the performance don’t fit to the festival. The festival is about the community and the overall experience and not about single bands or gigs primary.

There is not much to say about the rumors of a gig of the band “Die Ärzte” – the band will not play at the Wacken Open Air 2012! But band member and metal fan Bela B is always a welcome guest in Wacken. Also there are rumors about a possible gig of Santiano in Wacken. Such a performance would only be possible on the Wackinger stage, where there folk parts would fit in. But also other folk bands can be still possible for 2012.

Also J.B.O., Nightwish and Dark Tranquillity will not come to the Wacken Open Air 2012. And also there will be no performance of Frei.Wild or Rammstein this year – but Rammstein is still a hot topic for us!

Tenacious D can’t play in Wacken too; they are only in Europe in June.

There were also many questions about the processes on site and the various innovations at the Festival. Here is a short overview:

The stream of visitors at the festival area caused some problems in the past, which is why we straighten out the area around the infield with more and bigger gangways. Also the move of the W.E.T. stage is part of this activity. But you will have to go through an extra security check if you shift between the main stages and the Bull Head City Circus!

Single problems at the campgrounds leaded into questions about the future handling with gangs of thieves and similar cases. The checking about gangs of thieves or visitors without tickets will be improved again. But also we won’t control you without a reason or be omnipresent. Glass bottles are restricted like in the years before, but we will not control the cars about that. We hope that you understand the sanction of glass bottles, because it’s about your safety!

The ideal filling of the campgrounds is also in 2012 an important topic for us and also for the visitors, and so we got many questions about it. The campgrounds will be official opened on Wednesday again. It’s forbidden to keep big spots free for other campers, because this would knock out our filling concept and could lead to requirements like the last-minute filling of additional meadows. But regularly it’s still possible to camp together, if you arrive together or almost together.

The washrooms and toilets will be enlarged in this year and continued in the established way. Also there still will be the group shower, which will open on Tuesday this year.

The festival area by itself is of course important, too. For example sound problems were addressed, what we can’t really understand. The own position in front of the stage, the weather and also the single bands have an influence on the sound. But we do everything possible to optimize the sound for any eventuality, as far as it is practicable at an open air area.

Still any kinds of cameras are permitted on the festival site, but SLR and DSLR cameras are forbidden. The transitions are smooth here, so in case of doubt it’s at the securities discretion, which cameras are professional.

The prizes on site were criticized too, but these prices are usual not set by us and we can’t control them.

The times for the running order and the area maps will be published in June, together will the still missing bands – only the secret act keeps secret until shortly before the festival happens! Also there is a quite big name still missing. And the Wacken app 2012 will also be published in June.

The Wacken Open Air will be broadcasted again in 2012; ZDF Kultur, the NDR and Arte are on site again with reports, broadcasts and documentations.

Innovations like the Trash of the Titans Field don’t lead to higher ticket prices as rumored. They should help to evolve the festival and are presented as new and additional highlights, similar to the Wackinger area which is already established by now.

The blame, Wacken would become more commercial is entirely superficial from our view. The festival offers new things in every single year and we don’t want to be compared to other festivals. Wacken is Wacken and will stay the same! The festival is still arranged from fans to fans, and the selling of merchandising or new attractions won’t change this.

The criticism we wouldn’t listen to the reactions in the forum are misguided for sure. The forum is and was an important source for us to get to know what the visitors and fans are thinking and where we can improve things. But also the forum isn’t the only way and platform which helps us there.

Also we take care about the criticism at single band announcements, but on the other hand you will always have single bands which don’t fit to you when there are more than a hundred bands. It’s impossible to please everybody, but we try to afford a good line up for every visitor.

Organizing the festival is a full-time job. For example there are already some bands booked for Wacken 2013. And also some big names are already among these!

Although the Wacken Open Air 2012 hasn’t happened yet, there are many questions regarding the future of the festival, which are summarized here.

The question regarding the ticket prices can’t be completely answered for sure. The prices shall remain stable, but in the end it’s not in our hands overall. Factors like taxes, dues or the economic development have an influence on the price, too.

The count of tickets will stay at 75.000; this count is the maximum for sure. When you look at the Dynamo Festival, you can see what an oversized increase can cause. Our responsibility for our fans is very important for us!

Simultaneously we will continue to introduce useful innovations. An example would be the pay up of drinks with a chip in the wrist-bands. But here we will wait for experience reports from other events, to avoid teething problems.

To enable a better co-ordination of arrival, we will work with the platform raummobil in the future. We will publish news to explain this soon.

Most of all, Holger Hübner is looking forward to the exclusive show of Sepultura and Les Tambours du Bronx and his overall wish is to see Black Sabbath in Wacken – but just as a real reunion. The questions if he likes his job was answered as follows: “My work is the most awesome in the world – since 23 years!”