Why didn't anyone have any questions this year? Poor Melv. Sitting in his office waiting to answer questions. If nobody asks questions of the leadership, are we living in a dictatorship? 
 
Maybe 'questions for Melvin' was a tired format. Time for a revamp. It is called QUESTIONS FROM MELVIN. Melvin can post all his questions in this thread and I will coordinate answers from the members of Latitude Forums. Melvin, please only post questions in this thread, do not use the thread for general discussion. Please check that you haven't already asked the question before asking it again. We will answer when we have time but we are very busy with other festivals so it might take a while.

dear Melvin...what is weirder, a festival goer that looks old enough to know better, or a festival organiser that looks old enough to know better...are you litsening Mr Hewitt ?
 
but seriously...a serious question....a question based on research....have rural festival reached the tipping point, the point where they cannot grow any further, is the future of music festivals a more urban based thing...Dear Mr Benn, please tell us that you have thought about this...you do read the business pages, you do know what is going on...yes yes ??
 
 

Very funny Thomas.  Sorry I haven't got round to asking Melvin when he is available for questions.  FR are still very busy with the festival season.  I will get back to you.

Thanks Annie. I wasn't having a dig or anything so I hope it wasn't taken like that. (OH THE INTERNET MAKES COMMUNICATION SO DIFFICULT)
 
I just thought it was odd that there wasn't a thread immediately after the festival of people saying WE DEMAND ANSWERS. Not sure if it's because people just don't feel very 'engaged' any more, or whether people were just too damn happy with the festival to ask moany questions. Hopefully the latter.
 
I feel like I should have some questions, so here are a few for Melv. They are quite obvious and not jokey, but maybe they will 'get the ball rolling':
 
Melv, why didn't Latitude sell out this year? (Or why did it take so long to sell out, if we are going with the 'it sold out on the day of the festival' line)
 
Who were the best acts you saw, music and non-music?
 
Scala and Koscielny brothers: what was that all about, eh? Seriously tho, they did cover the Stereophonics and there's no need for that.
 
What did this year's festival teach you about the future of Latitude Festival?
 
I think Glastonbury is having a year off next year. What effect will this have on your planning for festivals in 2012?
 
Will there be a Latitude 2012?
 
What was your record flap count in the toilets?
 
You know how at the end of the Olympics where the head of the Olympics Federation does a speech and is obliged to say "THAT WAS THE BEST OLYMPICS EVER"...well I know you have the same obligation re: Latitude Festivals but in all honesty how would you say this compares with other years, for better and for worse? 
 
Blah blah toilets blah blah too muddy blah blah stop it raining blah blah car park blah blah traffic blah blah teenagers blah blah real ale blah blah expensive food blah blah I have never attended a festival or slept in a tent or encountered the public ever before blah blah????????????

ok, I am starting the "Questions for Melvin" thread now.  As usual - normal rules apply - read previous posts before posting blah blah.  By the way Thomas, I sent Melvin your initial post, he was very very amused and loved it.

Thomas

.....people were just too damn happy with the festival to ask moany questions.

Yep, that was exactly it, spot on Thommy boy.

Thomas - this is a question from Melvin:

What was the best improvement on last year as a result of the forum questions?

CAN SOMEONE ANSWER THIS PLEASE. 
 
Famously I didn't make it to Latitude 2010, and I can't remember what got recommended in last year's questions. So I can only say what I thought was better in 2011 than in 2009.
 
The biggest improvement for me was 'general infrastructure'. This is quite boring news for a festival-goer but hopefully good for a festival-planner. The second bridge was excellent and made life a lot easier. The toilets were excellent. The staff were very nice and helpful. Everything felt like it worked, despite the rain. It was a well-drilled operation not a shambles. 

You can always look back at the questions that were asked/answered after the 2010 edition Thomas.  You're good at dredging-up old threads so I'm sure you can find it. 

Roger, you're right. What was I thinking, eh? I've found Q&A 2010. http://forums.latitudefestival.co.uk/tm.aspx?m=102986
 
COME ON EVERYONE, HELP ME OUT. Let's find questions which led to something better.

Having looked through that thread, I would confirm my suspicions that general arena size, security, etc were good improvements this year. I pretty much ignore the questions about teenagers and line-ups, because it's hard to tell who has got a good point and who is being mental.

I've been enjoying reading through that old thread too... but I'm probably far too interested in all things like this.

Melvin/Thomas:  Improved facilities, cleaner environment (where it mattered), even better staff in every department, more space, lots of weathered smiles! All these connected and congealed into one super-improvement that effectively battled the rain and mud. 

Thomas: that was a special question for you from Melvin.
 
All questions FOR Melvin, please use the other thread.  Cheers.