By John Doe
One of the most popular rock festivals of all time, Rock in Rotterdam has won the hearts of so many rock fans from all over the world. But how is the festival created each year?
One of the first things that gets nailed down is the roster of performing artists. The headliner last year were The Bools.
Curation of stages and set times take months to plan and develop. There is a lot of back and forth between artists and agents about preferences and availabilities.
Time to Prep
There are usually 6 stages, 2 main, and 4 smaller. Once artists are locked in, stage and set design can start planning the equipment, sound, and lighting appropriate for each artist.
Most main stage acts take 6 months or more to plan, depending on the level of theatrics and sophistication.
Professional grade equipment and power systems are flown in from all over Europe to prepare for the festival.
Each of the 3 stages acts as its own little city in terms of a power system, equipment and the sound engineers that keep the stage operating at its best.
With all the prep work on sound, we can’t forget about food and beverage for the festival.
A team of 20 festival planners coordinate with food and drink vendors to keep variety high and costs low.
The festival grounds are architected to account for the food stalls, rest areas, VIP areas, and of course restrooms.
After a full year of planning, rock fans get to enjoy a 3-day festival of a lifetime.
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