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Big festivals and events - profit or pain?
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Author:  Richard F [ Tue Jun 21, 2011 5:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Big festivals and events - profit or pain?
Hi everyone

I am a university researcher in Leicester, where we are looking at the impact of festivals and events on the city.

Really interested to hear what taxi drivers and firms think about the events calendar in their respective localities. Are they just a big pain or do you anticipate doing extra business at these times? Do any venues take out adverts in your vehicles for shows that will be on?

From audience questionnaires, we can estimate that around £80,000 was spent on taxis during the Leicester Comedy Festival (17 days - so nearly £5k a day), but from the general chats we've had with drivers it seems they don't really notice any effect on business - Friday and Saturday nights are always busy, you always get a rush after a big show finishes, most work seems to be contract work anyway.

City based and greenfield (ie Music festivals) sites must make a difference too. Another driver said time would be better spent getting rid of unlicensed cabs. I was aware that Liverpool and London have tried a sort of general tourism related aspect to their driver training- what do you think about drivers' roles in terms of general tourism?

Any feedback on any or all of these points is much appreciated, I am looking forward seeing what you have to say.

Thanks in advance
Richard - De Montfort University
Author:  grandad [ Tue Jun 21, 2011 5:42 pm ]
Post subject: 
We got one fare to the recent Glastonbudget festival from Melton Mowbray to the field near Wymeswold, it was a return though so we took £34.00 in total. That is about it for us.
Author:  Sussex [ Tue Jun 21, 2011 5:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Big festivals and events - profit or pain?
Richard F wrote:
Really interested to hear what taxi drivers and firms think about the events calendar in their respective localities. Are they just a big pain or do you anticipate doing extra business at these times?

A mass of people needing transport is never a pain, especially those that go a fair distance after the event.

Richard F wrote:
Do any venues take out adverts in your vehicles for shows that will be on?

Not really as, I would imagine, most festival goers are from outside of the area.

Richard F wrote:
From audience questionnaires, we can estimate that around £80,000 was spent on taxis during the Leicester Comedy Festival (17 days - so nearly £5k a day), but from the general chats we've had with drivers it seems they don't really notice any effect on business - Friday and Saturday nights are always busy, you always get a rush after a big show finishes, most work seems to be contract work anyway.

I would say there is a big difference between comedy festivals and large music festivals.

Richard F wrote:
City based and greenfield (ie Music festivals) sites must make a difference too. Another driver said time would be better spent getting rid of unlicensed cabs. I was aware that Liverpool and London have tried a sort of general tourism related aspect to their driver training- what do you think about drivers' roles in terms of general tourism?

IMO it should be part of the initial licensing knowledge that drivers are tested on tourism issues.
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