The difference
or what’s the difference between the Night of the Proms editions in Antwerp, Charleroi, The Netherlands and Germany?
Prices
Public
Music temples
Editions
Smoking
Prices
Comparing prices is the easiest.
Prices for standing places are:
- Antwerp (central square): € 22,00
- Rotterdam (Ahoy) (central square): € 32,50
- Germany (Frankfurt): € 44,00
- Charleroi: n.a.
The best seats are:
- Antwerp (central square): € 39,00
- Rotterdam (Ahoy): € 44,50
- Germany: € 74,00
- Charleroi: € 53,00
The best seats in Antwerp are cheaper than the standing places in Germany. Rotterdam is getting more expensive than Antwerp; Charleroi is as expensive. How can these differences be explained?
The home of NOTP is Antwerp and the organization also have the control of the ‘Sportpaleis’; all musicians and artists come rehearsing there and the whole year through, accommodations are foreseen. So, the editions in Antwerp are cheap.
For the editions in Rotterdam, orchestra- and choir members (including Robert Groslot) are driven to Rotterdam by bus and after the edition back to Antwerp. Together with the technical crew about 130 to 140 persons. So you have to add some transport fee to the bill, together with a higher rent for the Ahoy compared with the ‘Sportpaleis’. On top of all that, all the material has to be shipped by trucks to Rotterdam or Arnhem.
In Germany, they tour along 12 cities; so not only transport fees and hotel fees (again also for orchestra- and choir members), but there’s also the costs for the night crew that dismantles the stage, equipment, etc…; transports it to the next location and rebuilds everything.
In Charleroi the Spiroudôme is smaller (max 6000 visitors) but the transport fees are limited.
The public
The major difference between all countries is the public.
The public in Antwerp looks a few years younger than Rotterdam; in Germany, the average public is older; while in Charleroi there is not really a line visible.
A part of the Antwerp public is specially coming for the atmosphere; that why a lot of talking and laughing is going on, especially during classical works. This all is less when the central square is seated, but the talking remains.
Rotterdam is more or less the same as Antwerp but with a bit more respect for the music.
In Germany, they come for the music. During classical works it is, even with a standing central square, quiet. They really listen, so for the music fans it’s more acceptable.
In Charleroi the public is most often held back and is more being led by the stage.
Antwerp is more spontaneous and reacts enthusiastically to good presentations and jokes; Rotterdam is more reserved but it is not that much of a difference.
In Germany the difference in public is enormous between the North and the South; in Hamburg (North) the public is more cooled down and harder to get them ‘heated up’ compared to Köln, where they are used to celebrate Carnival. The enthusiasm in München, the South, is different, more cheerful than Hamburg but more reserved then Köln.
In Germany the public is dressed the best. In Belgium and The Netherlands only VIP,s are wearing a tie or an evening dress; in Spain, none is wearing this.
A common factor for Antwerp, Germany and The Netherlands is that the concept of NOTP is really accepted and part of the public is returning every year, independent of the program.
In Charleroi and during the French tour, it appeared that the French public (for the major part) isn’t returning every year, but only when artists are coming that they know; the hall is filled with fans of the artist, but not with fans of NOTP.
The Music temples
It is clear: the ‘Sportpaleis’ is more than 75 years old, the ‘Ahoy’ dates from 1950 but the most German arenas are pretty recent and modern and, as a result, have more comfort.
German often looks surprised when they visit the ‘Sportpaleis’; they ask them self if the building is still secure. The building may not be recent but compared with 25 years ago the infrastructure has improved a lot. On top of that, the ‘Sportpaleis’ has a lot of charm, possible due to the fact that it not state of the art and so looks more humane.
Compared to Antwerp, the ‘Ahoy’ is often used for events which explains that, besides a quick bite, there’s also good diner. Also in Germany the service is pretty descent with generally distinct food.
The acoustic remains a weak point for the ‘Sportpaleis’ but the efforts of the organizations with digitalizing and adapting the sound gave better results. The sound is never the less very good. But in the modern music temples in Germany like the LanXess Arena in Köln or the SAP Arena in Mannheim, the sound is excellent. Almost CD-quality. This of course has as result that errors in playing or singing is also noticeable in the CD.
In a sold-out ‘Sportpaleis’, around 14 000 visitors attending a NOTP edition. In the ‘Ahoy’ it is a bit less. But in the ‘Gelredome’, around 17 500 people join! In Germany, the arena’s go from small – 6 000 in Erfurt – to big – 14 000 in Köln. In Charleroi there’s room for 6 000 fans.
Editions
When the artists are the same, or more or less the same like normally Antwerp and Rotterdam, the show is identical. In the beginning of a new series of editions, the shows are adapted and corrected depending on the first experiences. Artists play in a different order, adaption are made for the lights, etc…
Normally, there aren’t large adoptions after that. In that way, the organization is statically, if you look at the cost only: for a rehearsal of an hour with choir, orchestra and technical crew, about 150 persons are mobilized.
The base of the show remains the same, also with other artists. In 2008, Igudesman & Joo and the Angels in Harlem Gospel Choir brought the same hits in the same order in The Netherlands and in Germany compared to Antwerp; only no catwalk was used in Germany.
Smoking
In all locations it is prohibited to smoke.