Is the Festival Era Over? Desert Hearts Founder Mikey Lion Reveals What Artists Need to Survive | Elevated Frequencies #61
“WE WERE GOING TO LOSE EVERYTHING.”
Is the festival scene surviving the post-pandemic world? What does it take for a festival to thrive amidst skyrocketing costs and a new wave of attendees?
In this deep dive with Mikey Lion, co-founder of Desert Hearts Festival and a pivotal figure in the house and techno community, we explore the seismic shifts in festival production and what artists need to do to stand out.
Learn more tips like these from experienced DJs, producers, managers, and more at the upcoming Chicago Music Nexus. Get tickets here: www.chicagomusicnexus.com
Join my Patreon for business and branding tips to take your DJ career to the next level. Tiers start as low as $5 a month for a limited time: https://patreon.com/oliviamancuso
In this episode, we cover:
- The evolving challenges for festival producers, from unprecedented financial strains to adapting to new audience behaviors.
- How Desert Hearts navigated venue losses, re-education of festival-goers, and radical shifts in festival planning post-pandemic.
- Essential traits and strategies for artists aiming to break into the festival scene: accessibility, branding, and the power of showing up.
- Mikey's perspective on the current state of festival economics, including the impact of inflated headliner fees and operational costs.
Mikey Lion, a central figure in creating transformative festival experiences, shares his story:
- From the inception of Desert Hearts on an Indian reservation to overcoming the obstacles of the pandemic and finding new ground in Flagstaff.
- Insights into Desert Hearts' "one stage, one vibe" philosophy and how it fosters a unique community atmosphere.
Interested in how to stand out to festival bookers or what it really takes to run a festival? Mikey goes into detail in our Patreon-exclusive clip, sharing wild festival stories and industry secrets that every upcoming DJ and producer needs to hear.
Follow Mikey Lion and Desert Hearts for updates and behind-the-scenes looks at their events:
00:00 - Intro to Mikey Lion
03:33 - Evolution of Desert Hearts Festival
05:15 - First Desert Hearts Festival on Indian Reservation
06:45 - The HeyDay of Desert Hearts
07:10 - Losing the Venue Due to the Pandemic
10:00 - Reservation Embezzlement Case
11:35 - Zero Red Tape to Max Red Tape Post-Pandemic
14:45 - The Re-Education of Ravers
17:30 - Finding a New Venue in Arizona
19:36 - Wild Festival Moments Caught on Camera
22:00 - Skyrocketing Costs of Festivals
25:30 - Is the Barrier to Entry Too High Right Now?
28:50 - What Should Artists Do if They Want to Get Booked?
38:29 - Chicago Music Nexus
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