Left to Right: Angelina Beauvir, Margot Flamery, Mélanie Jouet and Trevor Stent.
Fest Jazz is unusual among jazz festivals because youngsters play a major part in the organisation of the event as well as helping as volunteers. Festival Organiser, Trevor Stent, asked two of this year’s young team, Margot and Mélanie (both 23), about their work:
How did you start to work with Fest Jazz?
Mélanie answered an advertisement on a post-graduate website but Margot knew Fest Jazz as she did an internship with the festival last year. “We are employed by Fest Jazz under a French system called “Service Civique” which pays young volunteers like us to work for cultural and community groups. It’s a good system! We have 9 month contracts.”
Melanie and Margot are key members of the Fest Jazz Team, giving invaluable assistance to Trevor Stent and the Fest Jazz Committee .
Where do you work?
“Mostly, at the association office in the centre of Chateauneuf-du-Faou. The office is supplied free of charge by the local commune (council) which is a real help for the festival. We also have to represent the festival at meetings in Quimper (the nearest town) for example”
What are the main areas of your work?
For Mélanie, it’s “communication with the creation of different media supports but also developing contacts with partners and companies in the region; this involves many (too many!) meetings. One problem of being in such a rural area is that there are not many businesses here, only cows and
sheep (who don’t make very good sponsors!)”.
Margot looks after the website on Facebook and organises the timetable for the 150 volunteers who will arrive in July to help with the festival. ”It helps a lot that I was here last year as I know (almost) everybody and understand how the organisation works. Just feeding the volunteers and the
musicians costs us 5 000€ and takes a lot of planning. This is France remember,
so the food is important!”
What do you like/dislike most?
Mélanie: “I really enjoy working for Fest Jazz because there is a lot to do and it’s a chance to begin your professional life with a post where you have real responsibilities. I truly appreciate Trevor’s
trust in our ideas and decisions.
“Although the French system is good in that we receive a lot of grants from local and regional councils, the other side of the coin is that French paperwork is awful and the most boring thing I have ever done in my life! I’m not really made for bureaucracy… I’m better at festival organization!”
Angelina Beauvir
Do you make decisions or do you “follow orders”?
Mélanie says “We are real members of the team and I really enjoy that. Although final decisions and responsibilities lie with Angelina Beauvir, President of the Association, our voices and opinions are definitely listened to. In fact in communication matters I think it’s me and Margot who make the decisions. Margot adds “some of the groups booked this year have been as a result of my suggestions and I’m pleased about that. We definitely feel involved in all the decisions that have to be made”.
What new ideas do young people
bring to the festival?
Margot: “I think young people bring fresh ideas. In the world of festivals, communication tools are always improving and changing and, as young people, we’re aware of these new media possibilities. Moreover, it’s the first time this year that the festival is offering reduced charges for students. Our idea!! I think it’ll motivate more young people to come and that’s really nice because it’ll contribute to the creation of a dynamic and funky atmosphere”
Mélanie “In the last few years the young people working for Fest Jazz have really revolutionised the “look” of the communications and modernised them. Some of the posters and graphics from the early years of Fest Jazz were atrocious, really old-fashioned. I think this is something that jazz festivals have to be very careful about; it’s not the 1950’s anymore!”
“It’s important to add that we have a lot more young organisers who come to help with the festival in the month of July. People like Laura, Nora, Lisa, Lucas, Ana have an important input too.”
Team Fest Jazz
Our amazing team of youthful volunteers and organisers help make Fest Jazz truly extra special for all involved – the bands, the musicians, the fans, the festival organisers and the friendly residents of Chateauneuf du Faou.
Says Mélanie, “Fest Jazz is not just about music. People came for the friendly and festive atmosphere. Everyone is really happy to be here and not just for the programme. We have lots of different groups, swing dancers, young and older spectators, families and friends who come. When I arrived here, I was really surprised because when someone talks about Fest Jazz, it’s always in a good way and everybody speaks about the great atmosphere. Also, the festival takes place in beautiful surroundings on the banks of the River Aulne. With or without the rain, it’s a perfect spot!”
Says Margot: “It’s different from other jazz festivals, which seem to be very strict to me. I’m thinking about Marciac (big jazz festival in the south of France) for example, where the audience just sits and enjoys the music but doesn’t participate. At Fest Jazz, people are more demonstrative. They’re dancing and “feeling” the music. Actually, I don’t understand why every jazz lover doesn’t dance when hearing some New Orleans jazz for example. That’s what I like at Fest Jazz, I have the impression that jazz is more alive here.”
Other Fest Jazz 2018 Organisers….
Nora Dedegbe
Lucas Slimani-Devevay
Laura Prevot
Lisa Brayet
Angelina, Mélanie, Margot, Nora, Lucas, Laura, Lisa and their friends – indeed the entire Fest Jazz Team – are looking forward to welcoming you at Fest Jazz 2018!
Write to them at [email protected]
www.fest-jazz.com
Peter M Butler (Editor) is grateful to Trevor Stent and the
Fest Jazz Team for selecting Jazz&Jazz to assist in promoting this
phenomenal festival.
(Photos©Fest Jazz)
Be sure to visit: “Heralding Fest Jazz 2018: A Joyous Jazz Jamboree” for further 2018 programme details including bands booked, sample YouTubes, and the generous
Brittany Ferries Festival Offer.
