Last week, on the 16th of July, two days before one of the world’s most iconic music festivals, the team at Tomorrowland was testing their fireworks. Then without notice, the main stage, worth around R150 million, caught fire and burned to ashes.
For any curator, this is a nightmare and might even prompt the event’s cancellation, especially with over 40,000 people from all over the world coming.
However, Tomorrowland was not built over night. It is a product of decades of planning and building deep partnerships that transcend business.
Metallica, a band and friend at Tomorrowland, had their touring equipment about 40km away. With an army of volunteers, mostly the hardcore fans and lovers of Tomorrowland, they constructed another stage in 36 hours and the show raged on, with the burnt stage serving as the backdrop.
This is a powerful reminder that events, built properly, are properties with deep foundations that cannot be easily shaken. At an operational level, this is a masterclass in disaster management that the armies of voluntaeers and visitors will cherish, as they worked hard to keep their dream alive. Above all, Tomorrowland reminds us that when it’s done with love and passion, magic always happpens.
Make Magic!
skybookings.com
