WOMAD

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  The new Radio 3 stage might look attractive and the more open audience area might hold a few more people, but whoever designed this new layout never, ever thought about sightlines. The stage itself is very, very low, there was an opaque barrier higher than the stage (too bad for small kids, even at the very front), the audience area is dead flat (no slope at all), and of course many of the Radio 3 performers are sitting down. So some people will always react by standing at the front so they can see, making visibility from further back just about zero. Please re-think this small disaster - it's a big step backwards. At minimum, the stage MUST be higher.

  Posted on 31-Jul-2012 10:16am by Longtime Veteran

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  PLEASE move this back to original place...new site felt too squashed and the main sightline from stage was the mixing tent and the back wall of the merchandising tent..uhh????

  I know there were some complaints about the view because of trees in the old site..there were also trees in the way here and some suffered!!!!!

  but the music....brilliant!

  Posted on 31-Jul-2012 10:47am by Jambo Yoti

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  I agree and I'm curious that there are not more comments on this. The previous stage was higher and the area in front of it was wider and people even far back could see. This year's stage had a narrow section to view and the merchandise tent was in a prime viewing location. I was really put off going to it because you couldn't get anywhere near it and coudnlt see at all.
  Dear Womad, please listen and give us back the old stage with the old location.

  Posted on 31-Jul-2012 1:36pm by Jackkster

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  I thought the merchandising/sound tent was in a bad spot but to be fair when I sorted my life out and got there early I managed to find a spot that was fine and when I didn't....well that's life. Overall the arboretum is the perfect spot for the stage and I can put up with sometimes not getting the 'perfect' spot. If I wanted to guarantee that kind of view I'd book tickets in a concert hall.

  Posted on 31-Jul-2012 2:00pm by Suffolkpunch

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  I agree with the above comments completely. Why did you change it? The new venue was indeed too squashed - and with so much space available it seems very unnecessary. I understand it was because previously the music was interfered with by music fom the other stages -and the BBC complained but if I'm right, this is the dance tent which is nearby. Can't the dance tent be moved further away? Lovely music on Radio 3 stage (as always) - sad that it was difficult to see the stage unless you found a space in front more on the left hand side. There were a lovely couple of big trees - right in front of the stage! Please move the stage back to where it was (or a different space in the Arboretum) so we can all see!!

  Posted on 13-Aug-2012 4:07pm by Womadgroupie

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  Agree with you all. We had planned to see lots of people at the Radio 3 stage but after our first visit (the wonderful Sundog on friday afternoon) we didn't bother again. We hated the new location - low stage, high barrier, flat viewing area, not enough space. The old location and the old stage were both so much better - can't understand why it was changed

  Posted on 14-Aug-2012 11:06pm by DorsetHelen

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  Becasue there was a gert tree in the way!!
  Which everyone complained about.

  Posted on 15-Aug-2012 10:23am by JayCee

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  I actually prefered the new Radio 3 stage position this year and personally found it better than previous years. I recall that last year there were a lot of complaints about the significant number of chairs and blankets clogging up the space in front of the Radio 3 stage meaning that many could not get anywhere near close enough. The real problem is that it is getting difficult to maintain the small intimate setting that the Radio 3 stage is in whilst its popularity substantially increases year on year.

  Posted on 15-Aug-2012 10:43am by Stokes Crofter

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  I didn't complain about the tree! I liked it!

  Posted on 16-Aug-2012 7:15pm by DorsetHelen

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  to be honest we think it needs a total re think we tried to watch a few bands but tended to give up due not being able to see a thing

  don't change the setting just raise the stage a bit, a good meter or so would help (tri span on stilts)

  Posted on 16-Aug-2012 8:08pm by Cal N Del

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