Field Maneuvers launches "SAVE FM" crowdfunder
The boutique festival says it will need £40,000 to survive another year
Field Maneuvers has launched a campaign to help the festival continue running, after no-shows at the 2022 event resulted in £40,000 losses.
The boutique festival launched a crowdfunder earlier this morning, citing financial issues during the cost of living crisis as a reason for its potential cease of operation.
“First of all, a massive thank you to everyone who joined us for FM2022,” the team posted on Instagram earlier today. “In many ways, it was our best event ever: our best line-up, best sound, best location and best crowd.
"And many of you sweethearts have been in touch to say just that. So thank you. Without you, the party is nothing. But sadly, we can’t cash in all this love, and so we find ourselves in a position where we are asking for your help to save FM.”
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The crowdfunder, titled ‘SAVE FM’, has currently collected £11,500 with an aim of £40,000 by October 28. All money raised will go toward the festival’s next edition, and debt built up from this year’s event.
“For FM to survive we really do need your help,” says Field Maneuvers’ director. “We know times are tough and if you can’t afford it, please don’t even think about donating, but if you can chip in to this Save FM Crowdfunder, you’d make some exhausted and genuinely worried people very happy indeed.”
The festival offers tiers of rewards for set donation amounts, which include t-shirts, bomber jackets, pens, stickers, a luxury private portaloo at FM 2022, and a VIP party in the FM pub along with a "ploughmans platter, pickled eggs guaranteed".
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Field Maneuvers first launched in 2019, the brainchild of five friends who each “put £50 into a pot” and “bought an incorrectly spelt domain name”.
Since then, the festival has grown but capped the size at 1,500 people to keep an intimate, boutique feel. In 2022, FM sold as many tickets and planned for a 1,500-person crowd, but saw only 1,000 people attend.
“We could have *just* about survived with the 1000 people on site, but only if those 1000 had each spent an extra £40 at the bar to make up for the people who didn’t attend. Now we need £40,000 to cover our losses *gulp*,” they said.
To help Field Maneuvers continue, pledge to the festival’s crowdfunder here.
Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Editorial Assistant, follow her on Twitter