Live concerts, animated festivals, outdoor barbecues, traditional pilgrimages… the arrival of the months of August and September is not only linked to the warmer periods of the year or, in the case of September, to the ‘return to cabbage’. It also marks the preparation of the town councils to organize the end-of-summer festivities. Despite the fact that each municipality manages its own resources for these celebrations, the expenses associated with the popular festivals share similarities when designing the events.
Thus, EACH YEAR, AT LEAST THREE OF THE TRADITIONS ARE PRESERVED IN THIS TYPE OF FESTIVALS, BETTER KNOWN AS “THE FESTIVALS OF THE PEOPLE”, IN THE PRINCIPAL PROTAGONISTS: The running of the bulls accompanied by brass bands, the competition of games between clubs and the nightly concerts. . outdoor. Among these customs, the business of the orchestras undergoes a transformation, since “throughout the year they wait for the arrival of this season to boost their turnover,” according to what José Esquivias, director of Leader Producciones, told La Información.
Additionally, as a result of the period of inactivity caused by the pandemic, numerous orchestras found themselves “completely stopped for more than a year,” according to Esquivias. This has generated a shortage in the market supply, which up to now has not been able to recover due to the constant escalation in the prices of fuel, electricity, gas and basic necessities such as food, for which reason they have been under pressure to raise their prices by 10 to 15% more during this new season.
More than 30,000 kilometers to reach all the towns
Faced with the previous scenario and as a result of the low supply of orchestra groups, two new patterns of behavior have emerged. On the one hand, the towns have experienced an increase in the demand for mobile discos, “although this does not imply a complete replacement of the musicians”, clarifies Esquivias. And, on the other, the orchestras themselves have chosen to “increase their rates between 10 and 15%”, placing themselves in a range that oscillates between 3,000 and 15,000 euros, depending on factors such as the date, the number of members, the location and production, report from the organization.
Events organized by companies such as Leader Producciones, such as José Esquivias, responsible for coordinating orchestras, discomobiles and shows in Guadalajara, reveal that during the months of August and September, when the demand for orchestras reaches its peak, Nearly 40 dates are recorded throughout Spain. During this time, the musicians travel approximately 30,000 kilometers to reach the various municipalities. As the director of the company explains, “once they have finished their presentation, the artists retire to the hotel until the next day, when they go to another town, all within the framework of rest established by each group,” he points out.
80% of the members of the orchestra are moonlighting.
Throughout the year, the members of the orchestras are dedicated to rehearsing preparing for the summer season. For some, this job coincidence with multiple jobs, requiring them to balance their job responsibilities with internships. According to the director of Leader Producciones, who oversees the management of these groups, “around 80% of the members of the orchestras have at least two jobs, which must harmonize with their musical commitments, even requesting vacations,” he points out. However, those with greater renown and a more outstanding professional level opt for full centers in the orchestra, since, as Esquivias maintains, “they must perform on numerous occasions throughout the year”.
Despite this, throughout the year there are also other types of festivals that capture the attention of these musicians, such as Christmas, New Year and Carnival. These events, which most city councils face with a designated budget for celebrations, which is usually 50,000 euros, include the allocation of resources for orchestras, mobile disco and bullfighting, according to Alberto Cortés, mayor of Valedeaveruelo, a town in Guadalajara.
The inaction of the orchestras decreases the offer.
Looking back, the coronavirus pandemic left its mark on the entertainment industry, radically transforming the way events were held: “We spent a whole year doing absolutely nothing,” they say from Leader Producciones. During the first year of the crisis, silence gripped the stages as restrictions forced the cancellation of live activities. However, “from the second year, there was a gradual revival; with the audience in separate seats, captivating shows such as magicians and monologues emerged, rekindling the spark of creativity in the midst of adversity that was also lived in the villages”, remember Esquivias.
It was last year when the curtain was finally raised to reveal an image of normality in these types of shows. People “really wanted to party,” says Esquivias, and enthusiastically embraced the full reopening of events. Government support proved to be a crucial lifeline for the entertainment industry: “The aid provided by the State, the Castilla-La Mancha Community Board and the Guadalajara City Council allowed the organizers to keep the flame burning, guaranteeing that the culture and the show will persevere despite financial difficulties”, they add.
