Lauren Rose-Smith: What’s the concept behind the Altitude Festival, and who or what drove you to put it together?
Richard Lett: The concept is all about having fun. Everyone from the acts, organisers and audience are in this little pod of happiness together. Skiing is fun, live music is fun, stand-up comedy is fun. That’s what we’re all about.
What or who drove us to do it? Put simply: Irish rebel and trouble-maker, Andrew Maxwell. He had the dream and got us to make it reality.
LR-S: So how do you fit into this?
RL: I’m director of operations, so, in short, I’m responsible for all the nuts and bolts of putting on the event.
LR-S: It sounds like an exhausting job, but you must love what you do. Is organising it getting any easier? What are the ups and downs of putting together the festival?
RL: Lack of funds is the most soul-destroying thing. It’s a great idea. People are behind us. The acts love being here and there’s so much more we could achieve with additional funding. Organising the event is definitely getting easier, though, and we know better now about where to save money.
LR-S: Who will be performing this year, and do you have a favourite act?
RL: Last year it was a privilege and pleasure to see Lee Mack and Phil Jupitus doing stand-up. This year, I can’t wait to see KT Tunstall in concert. But my favourite act so far is the Dub Pistols. They blew us all away last year, so much so that they set car alarms off in the streets. We’ve re-booked them for this year.
LR-S: Have you been skiing with any of the comedians? Are they any good, or was there more laughter than skiing on the slopes?
RL: We go skiing all the time. I run a regular alpine tour for comedy nights throughout the winter ski season. Marcus Brigstocke, Craig Campbell and Dave Fulton are excellent snowboarders now. Ed Byrne was a beginner when he first came out to Méribel, but now he’s a competent skier. Sitting on a chair lift with these guys is where some of their material is made, so it can be a blast. High-octane conversations fueled by the love of the mountains and a fun day out with friends – what could be more inspiring?
LR-S: What is your most memorable festival moment?
RL: All four directors of the festival in an outdoor heated swimming pool, sipping piña coladas with Norman Jay playing just for us. I have a photo of that moment. It makes me smile every time I look at it.
LR-S: What would you say sets the Altitude Festival apart from other comedy festivals?
RL: Actually, I would say it is set apart from all festivals, not just comedy. It’s unique. The setting is a beautiful ski resort that can deal with an influx of festival-goers and really look after them. The artistic direction comes from two of the finest comics in Great Britain today – Andrew Maxwell and Marcus Brigstocke. We are also aiming to be a carbon-neutral festival.
LR-S: Do you have any advice for people who would like to follow a similar career to yours?
RL: Book them and they will come.
LR-S: If you could be a superhero, who would you be and why?
Super 36-hour Man. I’d like to have the power to fit another 12 hours into a day. But you ask me this one month before the second festival. Ask me at another time in the year and I’d be more inclined to being a super hero that could make world peace happen.
The Altitude Festival is due to take place in March and April 2009.
