Organizers at CanadaB次元官网网址檚 summer music festivals say even as pandemic restrictions lift and live concerts return to some semblance of normalcy, itB次元官网网址檚 anything but normal behind the scenes.

While concertgoers descend on outdoor events, the people leading the countryB次元官网网址檚 largest music gatherings are facing a long list of anxieties B次元官网网址� from travel delays to COVID-19 illnesses B次元官网网址� that have made putting together a festival even more tumultuous, costly and unpredictable.

Todd Jenereaux, executive vice president of Republic Live, said itB次元官网网址檚 impossible to narrow down his concerns ahead of the Boots & Hearts country music festival in Oro-Medonte, Ont. on Aug. 4. HeB次元官网网址檚 confident the weekend will go off without a hitch, but getting to showtime wonB次元官网网址檛 be easy.

B次元官网网址淭hings are as troubling from an industry standpoint as they were during the (height of the) pandemic, itB次元官网网址檚 just different,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not like a normal year. Our struggles have all been things that weB次元官网网址檝e never dealt with before.B次元官网网址�

In recent weeks, festival leaders have convened through texts and phone conversations to share the hurdles of running a successful event in 2022. TheyB次元官网网址檝e talked about rising costs tied to inflation, supply issues for stage equipment and a shortage of experienced workers.

Each music festival has its own unique blend of problems to overcome, but common among them is the fear that something will prevent top-billed performers from reaching the stage.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 what happened with the Bass Coast electronic music festival in Merritt, B.C. earlier this month when flight delays left about half of their Sunday lineup stranded.

Despite having a contingency plan that asked musicians to arrive a day early, about seven acts wound up stuck at airports before showtime, said festival co-founder Andrea Graham.

B次元官网网址淔lights were cancelled altogether or postponed to another day, which really doesnB次元官网网址檛 work if youB次元官网网址檙e playing that evening,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淲e had to scramble to find solutions, like picking them up in other cities (with drivers).B次元官网网址�

The emergency backup plan worked. Only one of the acts didnB次元官网网址檛 make it on time, she said. And yet, that hasnB次元官网网址檛 necessarily assured other music festivals on the calendar.

Talal Farisi, who helps organize the Veld Music Festival in Toronto, recently made a call to a private jet company, putting them on alert for the weekend of his event.

B次元官网网址淚 was like, B次元官网网址楲isten, IB次元官网网址檝e got a really good tip for you. Try to have some planes on standby B次元官网网址� thereB次元官网网址檚 Lollapalooza, Osheaga and Veld all in the same weekend, within the same vicinity,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been thinking about it with Air Canada B次元官网网址� weB次元官网网址檙e conscious of the delays and thatB次元官网网址檚 a very big issue.B次元官网网址�

Elsewhere, musicians have been helping out in the direst situations.

At CalgaryB次元官网网址檚 Sled Island festival in June, a case of COVID-19 left the bassist of Los Angeles rock trio La Luz unable to perform, so Jenni Roberts, a member of Edmonton band Faith Healer, stepped in as a substitute.

Other events havenB次元官网网址檛 been so lucky with COVID. The Regina Folk Festival announced earlier this month that Buffy Sainte-Marie was cancelling her Aug. 6 headlining gig after contracting the virus.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e in a much more B次元官网网址榬oll-with-the-punchesB次元官网网址� kind of world,B次元官网网址� said Nick Farkas, co-founder of MontrealB次元官网网址檚 Osheaga Music and Arts Festival, which kicks off later this month.

B次元官网网址淓verybodyB次元官网网址檚 kind of MacGyvering solutions to make sure that everything happens.B次元官网网址�

Some of the obstacles are easier to fix than others, said the executive at concert promoter Evenko, which also runs the Montreal jazz festival.

For instance, a shortage of workers can throw everything out of balance. A few years ago a festival mightB次元官网网址檝e hired 50 people to move equipment, but now only 40 will be available.

B次元官网网址淭hat means those 40 people have to work harder, later and longer hours B次元官网网址� and will they be back the next morning?B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 hearing it across North America, thatB次元官网网址檚 the reality right now. The unemployment rate is super low, and itB次元官网网址檚 harder to get and keep people engaged.B次元官网网址�

Think of each music festival as a duck swimming across a pond, suggested Farkas, who recently heard the comparison from a colleague. On the surface, the duck appears calm, cool and collected, but beneath the water, the animal is B次元官网网址渒icking like hellB次元官网网址� to move forward.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 whatB次元官网网址檚 going on in our production and creative teams right now,B次元官网网址� said Farkas.

B次元官网网址淥ur people are very used to trying to find solutions B次元官网网址� and unfortunately, this year there are more problems than ever.B次元官网网址�

Not everything can be contained below the surface, however. Several festivals say inflationary pressures, coupled with high demand for dressing room trailers and tents, have sent costs soaring.

Debbi Salmonsen, artistic director at the Vancouver Folk Festival, said in British Columbia several industries B次元官网网址� music festivals, film production companies and developers of the Trans Mountain oil pipeline B次元官网网址� are all jostling for the same equipment.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e talking fences, stages, gear, backline (also known as concert gear), porta-potties. You know, all the things that you need to have a safe event,B次元官网网址� she said of organizing the mid-July festival.

B次元官网网址淣othing has remained stagnant B次元官网网址� some things have gone up by 75 per cent, some things have gone up by 10 per cent.B次元官网网址�

How festivals are handling those higher costs varies. Some increased ticket prices, while others say the surge of inflation came after they put tickets on sale, making it nearly impossible to adjust their packages.

B次元官网网址淵ou have two choices: either deliver a really good festival or cut a lot of costs and the customer will feel it,B次元官网网址� said Farisi, who oversees Veld as an executive at event organizer Ink Entertainment.

Festivals that focus on their bottom line at the expense of the experience will B次元官网网址減ay for itB次元官网网址� once word of mouth gets around and ticket sales begin to slip a few years down the road, Farisi said.

So this year, organizers added an extra day to the lineup, which allowed for more tickets to be sold and costs spread across a longer period.

This strategy has paid off, Farisi said, as young people who were 17 years old at the start of the pandemic turn 19 and are ready to party.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e seen our best year,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 pent-up demand; thereB次元官网网址檚 a need for people to come back together. You canB次元官网网址檛 deny the human instinct to gather together and thatB次元官网网址檚 really what festivals are all about.B次元官网网址�