Panic and fainting in long queues

Monday 6th September 2010, 2:59PM BST.

 Thousands of festival-goers spent over two hours waiting to gain entry on Saturday Picture: LUCY MASON

Thousands of festival-goers spent over two hours waiting to gain entry on Saturday Picture: LUCY MASON

QUEUES to get into the first day of Jersey Live have been described by witnesses as ‘dangerous’ and ‘scary’.

Thousands of people, including a number of children, spent more than two hours queuing to gain entry to the festival on Saturday after a problem with the wrist bands, which were given out at the door in exchange for tickets.

People were seen to be sick, faint and have panic attacks after surges of people joined the queues, with many pushing forward in an attempt to speed things up.

Festival organiser Warren Le Sueur said: ‘It was a very orderly until around 3.30 pm to 3.45 pm when there was an enormous number of people arriving at the same time, which caused the queuing lines to become much fuller than usual in the early part of the day.’

‘It is not a quick process. It never has been and it never will be,’ Mr Le Sueur said. ‘Event control took the decision to let people in with a quick ticket rip and told people to come back with it to get a wrist band later, which alleviated the problem.’


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  1. 1
    louisa Humphrey

    The vomiting in the queues was due to underage drinking….the whole event was spoiled by parents allowing children to attend unaccompanied, and that alcohol was flowing freely amongst teenagers. The gardens along the route were littered with cans from them drinking before arrival.

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  2. 2
    sam

    only the selfish would take children to an event like this.

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  3. 3
    Paul

    Next year set up a few points around town where you can do the wristband exchange.

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  4. 4
    A little shocked

    My friend said some girl pee’d on his foot in the queue.
    How hard can it honestly be to let people into a field? especially as this is not the first time Jersey has had a large event like this.

    A bit shocking really but leason learned for next time :-)

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  5. 5
    Chris

    I recently took my young son to a concert where we had to queue up with 90,000 to get in. The wait was just a little under 3 hours and we were really chuffed that it was such a short one.

    Not sure what the fuss about. I’m also not sure what Sam’s comments are about either!

    Concerts and festivals are a great experience for kids. It only becomes a problem if they are being forced to go against their will, or they are not supervised properly.

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  6. 6
    T&L

    Mr Le Sueur
    ‘It is not a quick process. It never has been and it never will be,’

    If any of us had responded in the same way Mr Le Sueur did, we would be crucified at work.

    Example:
    ‘Sorry I am not going to produce this report for you automatically at 9am every morning, just continue printing it manually as thats the way its always been.’

    Why should Mr Le Sueur get away with saying this?

    Anyway,
    This festival is a great way to promote the island but unfortunately the way it is managed leaves a lot to be desired.

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  7. 7
    chris

    ‘It is not a quick process. It never has been and it never will be,’ Mr Le Sueur said

    Really Warren? Been to loads of festivals sometimes with 100,000 people or more and swapping the ticket for my wristband took literally 30 seconds. This was ridiculous it really was

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  8. 8
    fred

    Loathsome chavs + lots of alcohol + amateurish organisation + c- entertainment = Jersey live, time this rubbish was cancelled.

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  9. 9
    Edna Beverage

    Why not just give out wristbands with the tickets? One per ticket with a self-operating ‘lock’ device, to be checked by security on the way in. Hardly rocket science.

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  10. 10
    Jonno

    “It is not a quick process. It never has been and it never will be”….maybe with enough people on the gate it would be a quick process Mr Le Sueur – I didn’t attend but the whole thing sounds badly organised. It’s simply not acceptable when people are paying that much to get in, to have to queue in the heat for that long. Get it sorted for next year’s event.

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  11. 11
    sunny

    Loved the festival. well done to all. Queue was a pain but only for a while. 10,000 people – whew. Buses were great, all ran like clockwork – on the whole.

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  12. 12
    Danny

    Why not have multiple entrances and use the exit at the bottom of the field to as an entrance for the coaches and drop off people then use the main entrance for people who have parked in the fields up the road.

    The medical teams did a great job on the day. To go into the large crowd of people to help those that needed it is not an easy task. The event organisers should be more prepared for mass entrance and exit strategy and this should have come up in the pre event planning.

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  13. 13
    Raver

    after listening to the news, it seems like the majority of the probs are down to kids. They complain that their behaviour is so bad due to boredom, give them some to do and their behaviour is still just as bad!
    Yes it might be a minority but St Johns Ambulance dealt with a lot of drunk kids. Where were the parents?

    one easy solution, ban them in future events like this so the adults can enjoy

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  14. 14
    mumoftwo

    It’s not selfish to take children to something like this, what is selfish is allowing your child to go unaccompanied and get themselves into such a state, throw up and cause a fuss and then get abusive because they’re drunk before they even got in!!!

    If you let your children go to Jersey Live this weekend or out on any weekend on their own, did they come home sober? Let’s hope so.

    Queues were much better on sunday and there were not as many drunk kids there either, hungover i expect or grounded by mum & dad?

    We had an excellent time, and this sort of event is to be encouraged to give Jersey some life back…..

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  15. 15
    mumoftwo

    BTW we took our kids and they loved every second too and we’ll be taking them again.

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  16. 16
    Chris

    I hope this is the last time this event takes place. Every year parents of teenagers dread it coming around. A couple of years ago my 18 yr old daughter had to jump through hoops and show her passport to get an over 18 wristband. This year my 15 year old son and numerous of his mates were just handed out over 18 bands with no checks at all.

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  17. 17
    festie veteran

    I was in the queue, and although it was hot and annoying having to wait neary two hours to get in (knowing that you were missing bands you’d paid to see) – it was in no way dangerous, and I didn’t at any stage feel unsafe. (think of those poor people who lost their lives at the German Love Parade festival-this was nothing in comparison)
    The vomiting was definitely alcohol-induced, so no sympathy there.
    Although, having attended nearly every major UK festival as well as festivals in Europe, Jersey live is the longest/slowest festival queue I’ve had to wait in, and I don’t think there is any need for the process to take so long.
    Warren is correct in saying it has never been a quick process at Jersey live, but he is certainly wrong saying it never will be – just throw more staff at it! Or have multiple entrances, or allow people to get their wrist band the day before. There are ways to solve the problem! If you don’t learn lessons, then no it will never improve!
    Let’s see improvement next year please!
    Apart from that – excellent festival!! :)

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  18. 18
    UK visitor.

    The behaviour of teenagers and people getting drunk as quickly as possible was distgusting. There was no where to go to get away from them. Where was the security to throw them out when they were clearly causing severe problems for families and people enjoying the concert??? Bottles being thown, men urinating where ever they wanted. Once again, no security was present, i did not see one person being thrown out for bad behaviour. I will never go to this event again, and neither will the group of 6 that came over from Southampton with me. Shocking Jersey just Shocking… The biggest bunch of rude people i have ever been in the company of.

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  19. 19
    Mondieu

    Teenage drinking, what a terrible, awful scourge on society. Come on, you all did it… this is Jersey I seem to recall.

    Maybe next time set up some tactical chunder points?

    Why not have staggered entrance wristbands? I.E You purchase a wristband to attend at X o’ clock, or open the site for a few hours before the event starts. Alternatively, make people buy a wristband at point of purchase. Seems a waste to be printing superfluous bits of cardboard.

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  20. 20
    the frenchie

    I personally found the drive home down Trinity Hill on Sat night quite scary due to the number of kids wobbling across the road and pushing each other in front of the cars and taxis.
    Suggest next time that a two way system is operated or more security on the roads.

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  21. 21
    Trinity resident

    We have lived in v close proximity to Jersey Live. We have no problem with the loud music going on until late in the evening or even the shouting / laughing /screaming whilst people are waiting for their taxis in Trinity school playground. What we do object to is the huge number of people (girls and boys) who seem to thinks it’s acceptable to urinate in full view of our garden, in the primary school playground or simply sitting on the hedge as I witnessed one young girl doing early yesterday afternoon!!! Please Jersey Live next year put some portaloos in the playground at the very least!!

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  22. 22
    H

    Get more female security search staff – there were just THREE on duty. In the end you didn’t need them anyway because they didn’t do rub-down searching at all, just checked girls bags and any gender can do that. On the Sunday, no-one checked my bag OR rub-down searched females. What a joke.

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  23. 23
    Octavian

    Mr Le Sueur and various contributors in this thread keep referring to a “queue”. I use “queue” in inverted commas deliberately, because the use of this word in this circumstance is misleading. There was no queuing system present on Saturday.

    I happened to be in this maelstrom at its height and can certainly report that it was a “challenging” experience. Events of this type (and I have been to many) will undoubtably generate queuing scenarios. In my experience, the inhabitants of the British Isles have historically been polite and really rather good at queuing. However, faced with a lack of an organised process, it becomes a bit of a “free for all”.

    The question is “will I ever attend JerseyLive again”? The answer to that question is “yes” because, in my opinion, the event is as good as (if not better) than many small music festivals I have attended in the UK and elsewhere, and for that reason Mr Le Sueuer and his team are to be congratulated. It is clear that a lot of hard work is put into this annual event.

    A fast track queue for families with young children would be a welcome addition, but without over-egging the omelette, you need a queuing system in the first place.

    Incidentally, yes there was evidence of excessive drinking, but I also witnessed many young families thoroughly enjoying themselves too. I personally did not feel threatened at any time as the slightly more intoxicated revellers had no bad attitude about them as far as I witnessed.

    Ultimately, a good time was had by the vast majority.

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  24. 24
    Mike Hunt

    I understand glass/booze being taken from you before you go in, but a colleague had a packet of mints confiscated because ‘no food was allowed’. Brilliant.

    3 hour wait to get in, ridiculous wait for food/drink, nearly £60 for a day ticket, sub-standard acts – Welcome to Jersey

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  25. 25
    Mat

    If any other licensed premise in Jersey was found to have so many drunken u18s on their premises they would lose their licence. It is time stricter rules were applied by the Bailiff’s panel on this. It is also outrageous of the organisers to blame the people in the queue who were stood for between 90 and 180 mins in a non moving queue to gain access to something they had all paid best part of £100!! This kind of attitude can cause disasters such as Hillsborough. JL need to properly organise and steward the queues and refuse admission to unaccompanied U18s, and anyone under the influence of drink. Oh, that would mean compliance with the law…..

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  26. 26
    CJ

    I will never attend this rip off event again. Queue for ages to get in get searched by security what a joke when you get in you just see the girls pulling the bottles of booze out of their knickers. £6.00 for an awful burger. Vomiting unruly teenagers everywhere and security guards (local recognised doormen) strutting around with their shades on (even after dark). I do pray the island authorities take note of all this and shut this rubbish down.

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  27. 27
    jambo

    Mr Le Sueur…is that a Liverpudlian name?

    Great event badly organised…but they are just maximizing their profits.

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  28. 28
    Trinitygirl

    Will I go again? NO CHANCE! I would rather pay for the ferry to the UK and go to a proper organised festival than walk from my own house to this one. Lucky Paul Weller saved the day, but sort the drunken kids out. They were abusive, theiving and disgusting. I am a big festival goer, this is the worst one I’ve ever seen.Jersey Telecom should stop sponsoring this mess.

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  29. 29
    Bernard

    The majority of the acts that play at Jersey Live are either local bands or UK acts that no one has heard of. The headlining acts are normally not very good either! I would imagine that the Jersey bands are playing for free and the minor UK acts are coming over for next to nothing. The two Warren’s must be making a huge profit from all this. Maybe next year, if it goes ahead, they should look into lowering their profit and make the area safer.

    It has not surprised me at all that this has happened. The amount of people we saw walking to the event on saturday who were brazenly drinking cans of alcohol was staggering! I have also heard from several people who said that there were not enough wrist bands to go round and very young looking underage drinkers were being served alcohol at the event. If this was happening at a club or pub, the place would be shut down!

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  30. 30
    Edna Beverage

    @24 Mike Hunt

    Sub-standard acts?

    Groove Armada. Paul Weller. Chase and Status. Biffy Cyro. Plus hundreds more superb musicians.

    Face it Mike; you didn’t go, you have no idea what you’re talking about, your sole purpose here is to MOAN MOAN MOAN. Get a life!

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  31. 31
    Lotti

    Well, I didn’t go this year and one major reason was waiting in the sun for hours to get in. It is not a nice experience and defiantly not necessary. I is horrible to suffer a panic attack and people should not be put through this if it can be avoided. It has been like that since jersey live started, you would think that by now they would have sorted it but NO they haven’t. Stick to what you know ey. I have been to massive festivals (jersey live is tiny) and you NEVER have to wait that long to get in! This is a joke! The smaller the festival the EASIER it should be to get everything organised probably…! The ticket prices are so over the top in comparison with bigger (better) festivals all over Europe, where WAY BIGGER (=more expensive)bands play. I have no idea where the organisers spend all their money on…But it is not difficult to set up another entrance. The only people that get in quick are the VIPs, but you have to sell your house to be able to afford one of those tickets!!

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  32. 32
    Bronia Macon

    I have attended all of the Jersey Live festivals in the past as a stall holder and have never witnessed such bad behaviour and queues as this year. My daughter and her friends who were all under 18, were given over 18′s wrist bands as they had run out of the under 18′s one. How irresponsible is that? It seemed that this happened to most under 18′s after 4pm on Saturday and gave access to the dance tent. They were also able to buy alcohol as the bartenders were far too busy to ask for ID. All of the media reporting so far has not really shown the appalling state of the festival this year. So many under 18′s were just lying behnd some of the tents so intoxicated that they had to be taken to hospital. The pushing in the dance tent was so bad that many young people had injuries from being pushed against the metal railings. Most people that I have spoken to have said that the weekend was ruined for them by drunk teenagers that were let in even when they had clearly been drinking to excess. As a previous poster has said if this was allowed anywhere else on licensed premises, the proprieter would lose their licence. Clean up your act for next year Jersey Live and sort out these problems.

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  33. 33
    anon111

    the behaviour is accepted among youths because of the image that the UK imposes – being sick in a queue, drunk and abusive and badly behaved is treated as the norm in the UK – Jersey is going through an identity crisis trying to be more like the UK, the kids are just doing the same.

    Go to a festival in the UK and see how people act, adults and kids – Jersey youth is acting in the same way because its accepted and treated as normal…

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  34. 34
    BB

    I’ve attended every Jersey live and found each one the entertainment highlight of the year.

    This year was by far the worst, it seemed the organisers had maximised profits with the substandard (compared to the past 5years) line-up, the drunken teenagers where repulsive (is there no rule of entry defined if you’re underage and cannot walk?), the security did a good job of searching me but seemed to be oblivious to letting in teenagers that were clearly totally out of their minds.

    Get a better line up next year, sort the queue out (you had enough years to get it right) and stricter rules on entry for drunk underage and the event will be worth going to again. To all those who visited for the 1st time please don’t be put off by this one.

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  35. 35
    Jersey Boy

    I have never been to Jlive and nor will I. When people ask or sound suprised that you’re not going, i just point out that what is being described above is exactly what i expected. Why i would want to pay for that experience i don’t know!

    Also maybe i’m being a bit naive here but wouldn’t it make sense to, instead of selling tickets, just sell the wrist bands instead? then everyone has it to start with, or sell the tickets with one of those necklace things that most companies use if you have visitors etc. that way you can just flash it as you walk in.

    As someone has already mentioned. “it being a slow process and always will be” is the worst comment a professional can ever say! If you have a problem causing this level of disruption then surely some effort should be made to improve the process.

    Well i know i had a lovely weekend at home with my feet up, taking pleasure in knowing i wasn’t there! :) and next year i’ll be doing exactly the same!!!

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  36. 36
    VIP

    Total joke. It seems to be the problems could have been resolved with a small investment in toilets and alternative entrances and a policy on drunk kids, there were tons that were off their heads. We are neglecting the fact that they never replaced the biggest name of the wend in Plan B. That would never happen in the UK, given it was 6 weeks before. I went as “VIP” and qued for 5 minutes less than my friends who joined the que at the same time so you didn’t lose out on much.
    The food was also rancid this year, it was ok last time, but it made the burger palace look like Bohemia. Maybe if they actually spent money on decent acts during the day this year not everyone would have turned up for Prof Green/The View at the same time.

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  37. 37
    tricky

    I know quite a few people who went and had a great time and who had friends come over from the UK who go to big festivals on the mainland and were still impressed. Jersey Live is a credit to Jersey however the organisers should take note of the comments made about queues and the lack of a top act and sort it out. Most customers will forgive one mistake but do it again and other local music festivals will take over! Be warned, punters will vote with their feet!

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  38. 38
    Roger Boyce

    I’m a UK visitor and I had a splendid time! Just splendid!

    A big thank you to the security guard who found my wallet, passport and gold tooth whilst I was busy pulling some mean shapes in the dance tent to DJ Scribble-Pants or whatever his name is – heaven knows what I would have done without them!

    Yes, I was punched in the back and was unlucky enough to have a girl urinate on my shoes in the queue. Yes, I had to pay £7 for a ‘beef’ burger, but bye-crikey, did I have a whale of a time! I can’t remember who played, lost my friends, my shoes and got-off with someone who was 17, (she said!, Thx babes, lol) but the saving grace for me were those little rascals who were kindly letting me swig their whiskey round by the toilets whilst my wallet was being pilfered.

    Come on people – lighten up, worse things happen at sea!

    Roll on next year!!
    xx

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  39. 39
    T&L

    I went to the 2nd and 3rd JL festival (missed the 1st)

    After my 2nd showing (the festivals 3rd) I knew it was going downhill. Some people just “know” when a festival will be successful and when it will become a free-for-all.

    This festival will only get worse if it continues by the sounds of things.

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  40. 40
    takeyourkids!.com

    What a brilliant idea take your children to see loads of really drunk youth set a great example of how to behave. Until we all make a change in our drinking habits we will continue to raise generations of binge drinkers! These children will have see people drinking to excess on mass and what happens in later life – they think its the norm and its acceptable and ok for them to repeat the pattern. Do they disagree right now if asked – yes they aren’t stupid but will it affect what they think are the drinking norms/parameters for them in the future – yes. It really isn’t a good idea to take children to places where others drink to excess. Would you expose them to somewhere where drugs are taken in full view? I guess not. What role models are we giving them. Are we so desperate to be cool parents that taking children to events like this becomes a good idea. Just to clarify I am talking about children.

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  41. 41
    Trinity Ben

    33. Anon

    Totally disagree! You speak with the Funfair stall holders, or anyone with experience of going to different parts of the UK and they will say Jersey teenagers are the worst – rude, abusive and with real alcohol issues.

    I think Jersey live should be 18+ and under 18′s have a separate section and be accompanied. I know it would hit profits but it is really scary if the majority of 14-16 year olds think that behaviour is normal (and then post of the photos of them off their face on facebook).

    Parents take note: stand by your teenager and don’t move until they show you their homepage on Facebook, quite a few of you are in for a shock!

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  42. 42
    Helen Back

    There was a lot of drunk teenagers everywhere throwing up, some looked as young as twelve and thats no joke. Question i have is, if no one was allowed to bring drink into the event, where the hell did they get it from?
    I know but im shocked the police and organisers didn’t! It was through the hedges! they place it in a hedge and once there in pull it through.
    this kind of behaviour will taint the festival. Kids and booze are not a good combination especially when your watching them with worry throwing there guts up!
    Still this is Jersey where kids can drink without anything happening.

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  43. 43
    Bob Fleming

    I went to Jersey Live on the Saturday for the first time and I’m afraid it will be my last. I went with an open mind, but it was just awful from start to finish.

    As has already been mentioned in detail, the queueing was ridiculous. Our group had paid for VIP tickets (Gawd knows why), but it wasn’t apparent until you got closer to the front that there was a separate VIP entrance, so we queued for far longer than we needed to. We were actually next to a performer from a local band who had had the temerity to go to the front of the queue to be let in, only to be sent to the back of the queue to wait like everybody else!?? It was only when we realised about the VIP route in that we dragged him in with us. AND he had to pay for ticket, even though he was performing!

    Then we had to contend with the Security section, which was more thorough than a post 9/11 airport security procedure, with ridiculous items being confiscated such as contact lens solution and chewing gum??!

    Our disappointment was compounded on entering the VIP area, as we realised that nothing was free. In fact the food was more expensive than in the normal area. What was point of the VIP area, other than having its own toilet area? What exactly had we paid for? Maybe it was for safety purposes, because when we ventured out into the public area it was flooded with unbelievably drunk teenagers, seemingly most of whom had chips on their shoulders. We saw countless instances of pushing, shoving and arguing amongst teenagers and there was a real air of menace the whole day. Whilst I was queuing up for the dance “hall” (yes, yet another queue), a girl was crying her eyes out as she’d just been punched in the face.

    I had only been there to watch Groove Armada, so to completely finish me off their set choice was awful. Why would they ignore they back catalogue of brilliant tracks to bombard us with lots of stuff from their awful new album. They seriously lost the crowd at one point and people started to leave, only to claw it back desperately at the end with Superstylin.

    Maybe I was expecting too much after attending Hard Rock calling at Hyde Park earlier in the Summer, which was brilliant and didn’t offer any hint of trouble, even after we’d just been knocked out of the World Cup. Either way, I won’t be going back.

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  44. 44
    Zappa Dweezil

    Probably time for the authorities to “call time” on this festival

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  45. 45
    CJ

    What makes me laugh is people keep giving the excuse that kids drink in Jersey because there is nothing for them to do. Well this turns that argument on it’s head doesn’t it?

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  46. 46
    piston broke

    I feel very sorry for the people who live next to the venue. It was not just the noise, that could be heard three parishes away but the aftermath when revellers leaving the bun fight went into peoples’ gardens to vomit and defecate. A farmer friend last year had his tractor shed broken into. The next morning he found that after he had rid himself of the drunks or druggies that his tractors had been defecated, vomited or urinated in. This year he and his staff patrolled their property armed with pick axe handles, none of these dirty animals ventured in.
    Jersey is far too built up for such concerts. They are also not professionally organised or policed and yet those in charge make a fortune. Wait until some well-to-do person’s child is killed or dies from alcohol or drug abuse then maybe the authorities will put a stop to these very unpleasant and dangerous events.

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  47. 47
    Nick Anderson

    Over the years this has cerainly been a good event and a blessing for Jersey. it is perhaps unfortunate that things got out of hand this year but I’m sure the organisers can work with these complaints and learn from this and get back to their usual standards in the future. Hey what would you rather have some rip off band in one of the islands pubs -or the real thing!

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  48. 48
    wake up

    Raver
    Give it a rest..
    Kids will be kids, let em do what they want, its a rock and roll gig, getting hammered is what its all about!!

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  49. 49
    T&L

    To all visitors:

    Welcome to the TRUE face of Jersey.

    An island where violent teenagers and alcohol abuse are the norm, attitude problems are a welcome to ‘society’ and everything (!!) is expensive.

    Enjoy your stay!! XD

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  50. 50
    Random George

    2 hours in a queue is a disgrace. Luckily these clowns aren’t in control of football matches. Everyone would have missed both halves if they did.

    This all boils down to the fact that the organisers are more than happy to take your money but not so happy to put extra staff on the door to help with taking tickets.

    I didn’t go this year as I’ve been stung before – only spent about 80 minutes in the queue that day. But then, combined, I spent about an hour waiting for the toilet, 2 hours waiting for a drink and an hour waiting to get in the dance tent. Oh, let’s not forget the hour it took to get on the bus home.

    I don’t think anyone expects miracles – just a decent day out and some value for money.

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  51. 51
    Random George

    People are asking for wristbands to be handed out at the point of sale – this isn’t possibel as you’ll have kids buying adult tickets so they can drink. People have to be identified don’t they.

    Of course, this doesn’t count for nothing when you run out of kids wrist bands and strat handing out licences to drink to underage kids. If it’s true, it sounds like the most irresponsible thing I’ve ever heard of. Had anyone been injured I’d imagine the Police would have been knocking on a few peoples doors.

    The only answer is more staff on the door. Seperate queues for underage and 18+. Any kids in the wrong queue without ID get put to the back of the right queue. If they’re drunk then get sent home – if they cause trouble they get arrested.

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  52. 52
    Recent Returnee

    Clearly different people had different experiences. After queuing for what seemed like forever just to get to the entrance of Jersey Live, we were searched from top to toe, like criminals being admitted into jail. The security guards emptied our wallets and purses, taking every slip of paper out and feeling every seam of our clothes and worse. One friend was in shock. “They asked if they could feel my crotch!” she said, horrified. She told them, “I’m a mother, you know!” Inside, the security was just as bad. We had to queue again to get into the dance tent so that our wristbands could be thoroughly checked even though the tent was half empty and the artist struggling to cope with the deflated atmosphere. A friend rolling his own cigarette outside was pounced upon by security who threatened to search him (again) before sniffing the rolling tobacco, agreeing it was same and leaving him with a warning (about what?) And what was the result? Four people were found carrying ‘a personal amount of drugs’. Four people out of 10,000! Of course some degree of security is important, the glass-free policy makes sense for example, but with evidence of such low levels of criminal activity, I think that it is hard to justify intimate personal & body searches of so many people carried out in the street, whilst ‘dangerous’ and ‘scary’ crowd surges develop behind. I believe that those festival goers would have behaved just as well without the oppressive levels of security and the point at which our civil liberties are being sacrificed to hysteria and paranoia over non-existent crime has been crossed.

    The music, by the way was brilliant. How can people complain with Mercury Music Prize nominees on the main stage and enthusiasic lesser-knowns like the Valentines giving their all on minor stages? Surely part of the point of a music festival is to hear something new – you might just like it. It seems to me that those who complain on this forum either aren’t interested in music or didn’t go.

    The Le Sueurs did a good job getting that line up to Jersey. I just hope they can save some money on security next year to further increase the budget for bands.

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  53. 53
    Teresa

    Just get a grip people…. are you realy complaining for waiting 1 hour!!!! I just cannot beleive that this carries on…. how long do you wait whn you go to town and shop around, or go to football or go to any arts event outside Jersey….. comon! can people just stop conplaining about everything and start being grateful!

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  54. 54
    Big Bean

    I have been to countless festivals / concerts all over the world and whilst I agree there are large volumes of people who get stoned and drunk at these events, I have never seen this sort of thing by so many young people as witnessed at JL. Probably because in a lot of events under 16′s can only be admited with a responsible adult.

    I should reiterate that not every kid behaved badly at JL; I saw many having a great time with friends and family, but it would be a shame for this to be turned into an over 18 event because of the behaviour of the large number that did.

    Perhaps under 16′s should only be admitted with a responsible adult. If the child causes trouble or gets drunk, then the adult they came in with should be held to account as well.

    I have been to a few Jersey Live’s now and it has the potential to be a a great and hopefully regular fixture, but, as someone said, if these problems aren’t sorted out, then the organisers could have a death or serious injury/sexual assault on their hands and that will be the end forever.

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  55. 55
    Richard

    Hopefully this will have been the last year for this “festival”

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  56. 56
    Trinity Armour

    I bet the people who say “kids will be kids” don’t live anywhere near the site! Perhaps the “kids” themselves would howl with protest if we turned up at their houses and defecated there. I thought that littering and fouling/urinating in public were offences but clearly the police don’t wish to enforce the law

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  57. 57
    Dianobol Stackers

    52, interesting comments. It sound as though the security people whom you encountered may have had some problem with self image or some other inadequacy. Either way, that kind of behaviour is liable to escalate disruption and dispute rather than prevent it happening. Sad, really and potentially dangerous.

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  58. 58
    Hannah

    No 52, what you report in your post reflects security services of very low skill and inappropriate behaviour

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  59. 59
    Wise owl

    I would suggest that those living in Trinity whose properties have been fouled or those who have concerns about odd security or under-agre drinking lobby the licencing bench when the festival organisers next apply for a licence

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  60. 60
    Harold Stammers

    I can’t say that I would be overly enamoured to find a teenage girl “doing a duty” in my garden if I lived in Trinity.

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  61. 61
    Edna Beverage

    Oh do get over it Trinity. Two days a year of the sort of behaviour St Helier residents put up with every weekend…get over it!

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  62. 62
    Trinity Resident

    @ Edna Beverage

    We lived in St. Helier for 7 years and have now been in Trinity for the past three. I’m unconvinced that St Helier residents have to put up with hundreds of drunken teenagers urinating and worse all through the afternoon and evening for the whole weekend in full view of their gardens / on their properties.

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  63. 63
    Matt

    61. Edna

    If you choose to live in St helier eg. near a pub, nightclub you are aware that you trade convenience, possible savings on a car and parking for the Friday, Saturday night scenario.

    If you choose to live in Trinity you do that for rolling green fields, peace and the odd Jersey cow.

    I have lived in both town and country and my residence was chosen by convenience and financial constraints. I don’t live in Trinity and I do think Trinity residents are on the whole accommodating but you don’t pay a premium for a property to be up all night protecting your property and clearing beer cans and faeces in the morning.

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  64. 64
    Mike Oxlong

    Totally agree with Edna.

    Kids are kids, have a think back a few years you miserable lot!!!!!!!!

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  65. 65
    wake up

    its only for one weekend, chill out!
    everything is back to its boring self now, order has been restored, you can come out from under your tables.

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  66. 66
    T&L

    64. Mike Oxlong
    When a ‘kid’ dies from alcohol abuse/poisoning/knock to head/run over, I’d love you to repeat your statement of ‘Kids are kids, have a think back a few years you miserable lot’.

    Your comment seems to be less mature than the majority of people attending JL.

    THINK before you TYPE.

    BTW when I was pre-18 I did not go to festivals, I took a football to the local park with some friends and exercised. I did not drink myself into a toxic oblivion. Why children think this is the norm is due to the culture of Jersey and bad parenting.

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  67. 67
    Julie Andrews

    Numbers 61, 65 and 66: perhaps you would like to tell us where you live. We can then keep you awake for two days, use your property as a toilet and generally suject you to anti-socail and unpleasant behaviour. You won’t mind of course, because it only happens once a year! When you have finished cleaning your properties you can give me a hand with mine.

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  68. 68
    Posti Loin

    Perhaps time to call it a day. Either that or the organisers might like to clear up the mess or pay nearby householders; let’s be honest, it’s about profit at other people’s expense really

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  69. 69
    Mike Oxlong

    @T&L

    I would repeat my statement in any circumstances. Kids are Kids, you may have been an angel, or boring some would say when you were 18. Did you go to the park every weekend and play football? Never ever going out?
    Times and society have changed.
    Thanks for complementing me on my maturity, hopefully I come across as younger than I am!!
    Kids have been experimenting/underage drinking/taking drugs a long time before Jersey Live came along. There will be casulties, that is a fact of life. Whilst very sad, you cannot watch and control 24 hours per day, just try and educate and hope they come out there youth in one piece.
    As for where I live, that has it’s own problems too, on lots of weekends…not just one per year. You can give me a hand cleaning my house and surrounding area anytime, picking up cans bottles etc. You can find these items at all times of year.
    Why not cancel everything then? Battle of Flowers, Battle of Britain, Motorsport…..they all cause problems too. Close all nightclubs and pubs, and ban kids from everything. Pretty sure the residents around Peoples park have problems too when the fair is in town. I am assuming all you Trinity miseries where on here and letter writing in support of them?
    Yeah of course you were.

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  70. 70
    Matt

    69. I’m not “an angel” but I was brought up not to defecate in someone’s back garden.

    Times and society have changed, due to the dismissive attitude of serious social issues…such as yours!!

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  71. 71
    Chris

    I’m a Trinity resident and quite happy to endure a small amount of trouble from a very small minority of revellers because 10,000 others get to have a great weekend.

    Sorry, but all the other Trinity residents complaining are very selfish! Far to many people these days have a not in my backyard attitude for everything, without looking at the bigger picture!

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  72. 72
    Chavtastic

    Le Festival de Chav, as it is known in our hamlet, is quite simply run by chav’s for chav’s. If you don’t like Chavvy behaviour then don’t leave your hamlet!

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  73. 73
    Fatima

    69, Mike, totally agree with you!

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  74. 74
    Former Jerseyite

    I used to live in Jersey up until 10 years ago and just happened to be visiting relatives the weekend of JL so took the opportunity to attend. As a teenager I longed for such events, the best we got was a rave at the castle, so to see how far Jersey how come with putting on such a great show filled me with pride. Yes I had to queue and I agree the entrance situation does need to be addressed and organised better for next year especially with the ever increasing numbers attending.

    Also an experienced food provider who is used to dealing with crowds would be an advantage I queued for 45 mins for a burger and it was not good…

    To say the groups were substanded and cheap is absolute tosh. Many groups had performed at Glastonbury this year and Groove Armada played many of their new tracks so really it should have been expected given as many bands use events like this to plug their new albums.

    Apart from some negatives I really enjoyed the experience and would like to say well done to the organisers for putting on a great show and good luck for many years to come!

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  75. 75
    PJG

    Due to poorly sited coach stations. The necessity to purchase tickets for the coach in advance and the lack of taxis, loads of JLgoers had to walk from Trinity to town, twice.
    After spending all day and loads of money eating drinking and generally filling the pockets of the organisers the least JL could have done for them would be to provide a few portoloos at the coach stations, taxi ranks, and at a few points on the one and a half hour walk back to town.
    One can only hold it so long !

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  76. 76
    PJG

    Mike Oxlong#69
    Whilst agreeing mostly with what you say, I still believe condoning this sort of behaviour will only exacerbate it

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  77. 77
    C Le Verdic

    Why not make the event alcohol free? Soon find out who is there primarily for the music .

    Oh, I forgot, that wouldn’t suit those who get rich selling booze!

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  78. 78
    Chloe

    I’d just like to point out that anyone who has been to a real festival overseas, should EXPECT this. They’re huge events and a lot of things experience hitches and problems. Jersey Live may be a festival, but it does not compare to the magnitude of the ones overseas, and anyone who has been will understand exactly what I’m saying. If you want to complain about tickets not being processed quick enough, people getting ill in the queue, people pushing and shoving, getting hurt in the crowd, well you should try your hand at Glastonbury, or maybe Download, Sonisphere, V Festival.. I could go on. I’m not trying to say these festival are known for these problems, because almost ALL of them are. When there is a good.. hmm.. I don’t know.. 60,000 people all trying to the same thing at the same time, you’re going to get all of this and more. That’s part of the fun. With the exception of getting ill, of course. So please, don’t complain about tickets not getting processed quick enough. Take a trip to one of these festivals, and I’ll happily listen to your complaints.. those ones are justified!!

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  79. 79
    Chloe

    Also, other complaining about walking from Trinity to town and back several times, most of the campuses in England are a whole lot bigger than the distance from Trinity to town. And that’s just the walk to your tent at night.

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  80. 80
    Random George

    Listen to Chloe, she’s probably the only person to ever leave the island and go to a festival. Round of applause for Chloe please.

    There wasn’t enough people taking tickets. A fact that has absolutely nothing to do with you having a fantastic and righteous time at Glastonbury.

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  81. 81
    ImmyGrant

    Its a disgrace, Mr Le Sueur should be shot. I had to queue for minutes for the ferry, there was no security upon arrival, and when i got rat@rsed in the beer tent I was offered a job on a building site by a nice man called Dan something.

    All the teenagers were really friendly especially the girls who were really sweet and all they wanted was a drink and a couple of fags.

    I think it is terrible that unlike other more established venues I was not threatened with deportation or was given money without filling in lots of forms.

    Terry Le Sueur must go!

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  82. 82
    KerryQ

    @62 – Trinity Resident

    I lived in St Helier for 2 years before getting out and moving to the West of the Island. We had kids/adults directly outside our window every Friday & Saturday night screaming, smashing bottles and urinating. EVERY weekend at about 12-3am. You were probably lucky enough to live in a quiet part. But I would have swapped all of that for it to happen just 2 days/nights a year! I would have gone away for the weekend and not had to put up with it.

    Three cheers for quiet St. Ouen! :D

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  83. 83
    Chloe

    Alright, fine, I take it there should have been more people taking tickets, WHATEVER. But the point still stands; far too many people are bitching and whining over this, well over a week later. The fact that many who have been complaining have never had the experience of a real festival overseas, just tells me they probably won’t cope if they decide to go to one.

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  84. 84
    Chloe

    Oh, and I do believe my experience at Glastonbury was monumental, as well as fantastic and righteous.

    Sort it out, idiot. -_-

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  85. 85
    Random George

    Chloe, if someone’s prepared to travel hundred of miles to go to a festival then I doubt they’ll be too fussed about waiting to get in. But when it’s on your doorstep and it’s been rammed down your neck for months on end, you probably expect a difference.

    People in jersey don’t wait for anything. Why should they? This is the unwritten rule about Jersey. It’s 10 minutes to town, 10 minutes to work, 10 minutes to the beach, 10 minutes to the shop, 10 minutes home. It’s island life and anyone putting on major events has to meet local expectations because Jersey isn’t going wait around in queues for 2 hours. Anyone who’s happy to do that, when all that’s needed is more staff, is a sucker.

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  86. 86
    jojo

    I have been to every Jersey Live event and this is the last year that I will going…
    I wouldnt have minded queuing providing that it worked… there were loads of teenagers in front of me and they were drunk before they tried to get in – with no problem and with over 18 bands and no search… a total joke!

    The beer tent was packed with kids – some really young and crying as they had obviously over indulged! Security at the gate and bar didnt ask for ID and when I mentioned to the security guy at the gate that the kids in front of me were obviously under 18 and drunk already – and why he had given them over 18 bands – he just joked that you couldnt ask everyone and really wasnt that bothered!

    Shame its the only really big live festival(ish) event in Jersey and its been deteriorating over the last two years due to lack of security… I along with most other people I know who went – wont be going again!

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