Status: 20.12.2023, 15:00 PM
By: Tobias Gmach
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Wolfgang Ramadan (r), organizer of the "BrotZeit & Spiele" series, with the artist Roland Hefter, who will perform in Starnberg in 2024. © Ramadan
Too little audience, too high costs: That's why the "BrotZeit & Spiele" series with well-known artists at the Pöckinger Beccult will be cancelled in 2024. Organizer Wolfgang Ramadan can imagine a return – but only if the Free State or municipality supports him financially.
Pöcking/Starnberg – The acoustic quartet Quadro Nuevo, the cabaret artists Django Asül and Franziska Wanninger or the boogie-woogie interpreter Axel Zwingenberger: Wolfgang Ramadan has been bringing well-known artists to the Pöckinger Beccult with his "BrotZeit & Spiele" series since autumn 2022. But now it's over for the time being. The program will be suspended for 2024, Ramadan announced. He cites a "post-pandemic decline in visitors" as the reason. As a result, the municipality will lose seven events in the coming year that will have to be compensated. When asked, cultural advisor Albert Luppart says that he is working on alternatives together with Britt Grobholz, who is responsible for Beccult at the municipality. "We are in talks with other organizers."
Because the Schlossberghalle in Starnberg was being renovated, "BrotZeit & Spiele" moved to Pöcking in 2022. The events continued, even when those in the county town started again. But things soon didn't go well anymore: ticket sales plummeted, at all twelve of his locations in the Oberland, but especially at some of them, says Ramadan. "By 50 percent compared to before the pandemic. This is no longer economically viable. We need an occupancy rate of 70 percent," says the 63-year-old from Icking in the neighboring district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen. In addition: "The technology, the staff, the catering: everything has become more expensive. Even if the artists are accommodating us in terms of fees, it will be tight," says Ramadan.
"BrotZeit & Spiele" sees itself as a "basic cultural supply"
"BrotZeit & Spiele" sees itself as a "basic cultural supply". The concept: high-quality concert or cabaret evenings at affordable prices in rural areas, for which the audience does not have to travel far. And a subscription model that ensures regular income. "Where the fan base is big, it still works," says Ramadan. But he also tells of a whole group that sat in the front row for years and then suddenly stopped showing up. And why don't so many people come regularly anymore? First of all, the Ickinger mentions the concerns about a corona infection at events, which arose in the course of the pandemic. "People have weaned themselves. And some just can't afford it anymore." For a long time, he himself was proud to be able to offer tickets for less than 25 euros. In the meantime, he sometimes has to charge 33 euros. A pain threshold for Ramadan.
In Starnberg, the series will enter its 2024th year in 17. In contrast to Pöcking, the city has accommodated him with the rent, says Ramadan. When asked, cultural advisor and deputy mayor Luppart reports that the organizer's application was rejected in a non-public committee meeting. However, both sides do not rule out a return. Ramadan hopes to receive funding from the Free State of Bavaria to cover the rent, technology and other costs. "The state government now has us independent organizers on its radar. That wasn't the case for a long time."
600 transfers since the beginning of the pandemic
In October, the municipality of Pöcking had simplified and slightly increased the tariffs for the Beccult from 1 January: The new cultural tariff for external organisers costs 950 euros (half day 570 euros) including the technology package. Other organizers are not deterred by this award, says Luppart. But he also regretted Ramadan's withdrawal. "He's got great artists."
Ramadan and his team have had to organise a total of 600 relocations at the twelve venues in recent years. Now, according to Ramadan, "BrotZeit & Spiele" wants to "shrink back to health". As a positive-thinking person, his motto is: "There is no down. We're just taking a run-up, for uphill." And he also has one thing with regard to the desired promotion of the Free State: "Bavaria is a cultural state. That's what the Constitution says. Save the free stages!"
The program of "BrotZeit & Spiele" in Starnberg
In Pöcking it's over for the time being, in Starnberg it continues: Seven events of the series "BrotZeit & Spiele" are planned in 2024 in the Schlossberghalle. The program is strongly influenced by cabaret. The pianist and music cabaret artist Martin Schmitt from Hechendorf will perform the first evening on Friday, March 3, with his program "Jetz is Blues mit Lustig". On Friday, 12 April, cabaret artist Han's Klaffl will follow with "Nachschlag! Before I forget...". A surprise show under the motto "cat in a poke" can be seen on Friday, April 19. Cabaret artist Stefan Kröll will call for a "departure!" on Friday, 3 May. After the summer break, the Bavarian music cabaret artist Stefan Otto enters the Starnberg stage with "Gmahde Wiesn". The date is Saturday, September 14. The singer-songwriter Roland Hefter will make a guest appearance in the district town on Saturday, 12 October. His program is called "As long as it goes". For laughs in the hall, Luise Kinseher, known for eight years as "Mama Bavaria" at the Nockherberg. Their motto on Friday, November 29 is "Paint walls. set sail".
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Subscription tickets for all performances cost 182 euros. The seven tickets are transferable and can be reserved by phone at (0 81 71) 385 21 21 or by e-mail to starnberg@brotzeitundspiele.de. According to the organizers, the price advantage compared to buying individual tickets is "up to 54 euros". The performances in the Schlossberghalle begin at 20 p.m., doors open at 19:30 p.m. More information is available at www.brotzeitundspiele.de. there is also a pre-sale in Starnberg – directly in the Schlossberghalle. Tickets are also available by phone on (0 81 71) 77 21 70 and from January on www.kartenengl.de.