The lights have finally gone down on what has been a record-breaking summer season for Event Genius Pay at festivals, though the industry is showing signs that it is just getting started. The diffusion of innovation principle suggests the uptake of RFID/NFC cashless technology at festivals will transition from early adopters in 2018 and 2019 to the early majority in 2020 and beyond. As the wind, rain and sleet starts to roll in however, we’re attempting to warm our hands against the glow of our cashless summer highlights - gather round.
May - Lost & Found
With seven events in May, Summer started early for us as we jetted off to Annie Mac Presents: Lost & Found Festival located on the beautiful mediterranean island of Malta. We packed shades, swimsuits and a host of new cashless features for Event Genius Pay, including alternative currencies and mobile top-ups. These updates, along with our flawless implementation, saw us shortlisted in the ‘Event Innovation of the Year’ category at the NOEA awards 2019.In addition to our cashless tech, we also provided ticketing, access control, cashless equipment and on-site support.
• 2019 saw a 24% uplift in the amount of money topped up by fans
• Advance voucher sales increased by 58%.
• Average top-up per-head increased by 30% on 2019.
May - Forbidden Forest
On the same weekend as Lost & Found, we implemented Event Genius Pay at three other locations around the UK, setting a record for the most cashless events running simultaneously. Forbidden Forest was part of that momentous occasion, benefitting from our ticketing, access control and cashless solutions.
• 294% rise in value of advance voucher sales compared to the previous year.
• More than 41,000 transactions processed over the course of the day.
• 250 cashless payment devices across 6 bars and 8 food outlets.
June - Detonate
Set in the picturesque grounds of Colwick country park, Detonate Festival is a torchbearer for what David Rodigan refers to as a ‘strong tradition in Nottingham of bass driven music and all of its sub cultures’. With the help of Event Genius Pay, the festival has seen year-on-year growth including:
• 21% uplift in the festival’s revenue.
• 11% uplift in pre-sold vouchers.
• More than 80,000 transactions processed.
July - El Dorado Festival
El Dorado Festival - run by theatrical event specialists Cirque Du Soul - invites its guests to indulge in a dose of magical realism as they pass through the festival’s golden gates to an idyllic corner of the Hertfordshire countryside. In 2019 Event Genius were on hand to provide access control and cashless technology as the festival reached new heights.
• 43% uplift in the festival’s revenue.
• 68% increase in spend on pre-event cashless vouchers.
July - Cocoon in the Park
Based in our home town of Leeds and brought together by the team behind Mint Club and Mint Warehouse in collaboration with Sven Vath, Cocoon in the Park set a high bar for open-air dance events in Yorkshire at its inception in 2009 and has continued to raise it each subsequent year. We were contracted to provide our cashless technology for the third time in as many years in order to improve the customer experience across the festival.
• 222% uplift in the value of pre-event vouchers sold.
• Fans could use Event Genius pay at 10 bars, 4 food vendors, a fairground ride, a glitter stall and the shuttle bus back into Leeds centre.
August - Chelmsford Racecourse
Our partnership with Chelmsford Racecourse has introduced more than 60,000 fans to cashless technology through Event Genius Pay, including four diverse events in August from Gentleman’s race day to Spread Love Festival and Ministry of Sound’s Annual Classical.
September - BPM Festival
Engaged as part of a five year deal to deliver ticketing, access control and cashless technology, September saw us take to the sunny beaches of Portimao, Portugal for BPM Festival 2019. Showcasing a line-up of some of the biggest DJs on the planet and weather to trump anything in the UK, it was a perfect way to see out the festival season.
• 300 cashless payment devices.
• More than 100k drinks sold across 23 bars, with fans able to top up at 13 locations.
September - Mint Festival
Bringing together legendary entertainers and incredible brands like Elrow, System and Fuse London at a location which includes a 5000 person capacity air hangar is no mean feat. Mint Festival more than accomplished their mission this September with the help of the Event Genius Pay system to keep away the queues.
• 43% of revenue in pre-event cashless vouchers.
• More than 25 bars, vendors, fairground rides, merch stores, cloakrooms and glitter stops all on our cashless infrastructure.
The summer festival season may be over, but we still have a host of cashless events to look forward to over the coming months, including multiple events as part of our partnership with Liverpool clubbing brand Circus, Forbidden 42, 90’s Fest and our first foray into Africa with Afro Nation Ghana. With all these parties still to be had and a 2020 calendar that is looking busier than ever before, we’re very excited for the coming months.
If you want to learn more about how our cashless RFID or NFC technology can bolster your event, get in touch today. To keep up to date with all Event Genius news please subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of this page.
Related - Event Genius shortlisted for ‘Event Innovation of the Year’ at NOEA Awards 2019
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