Struggling Showmen Cry Foul Over Energy Costs and Red Tape in Schleswig-Holstein
Operators of fairgrounds grieving over skyrocketing energy bills and excessive red tape - Performers voice concerns over escalating energy costs and bureaucratic obstacles
Showmen in Schleswig-Holstein are reeling under the double whammy of sky-high energy costs and an ocean of bureaucracy, as per an unhappy Marco Lange, the president of the Showmen's Association. Speaking to the German Press Agency (dpa), he lamented, "We're not just a hotspot for the elite, but a hub for every social class." Lange's industry, however, cannot simply fob off the soaring energy costs onto festival-goers.
Participation in Schleswig-Holstein's folk festivals comes with a hefty price tag, with stand fees running anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of euros, depending on the size of the show business and the festival. This explains why a sausage from a smaller local fest is cheaper than one at the grand Kiel Week (21 to 29 June).
Schleswig-Holstein's showmen scene is a tight-knit community, boasting 220 businesses that have largely held steady over the years. A third of these businesses travel past the state lines, sometimes as far away as Munich, but many are grappling to find staff due to unattractive working hours. Boosting the minimum wage does little to help, as hiring seasonal workers is fraught with bureaucratic hurdles.
Besides red tape, Lange also highlighted the frustrating wait times for the approval of heavy transports, such as giant wheels or carousels. This often makes it impossible for businesses to pull a quick swap for a broken operation.
The Social Democratic Party (SPD) is nudging the black-green coalition government in Schleswig-Holstein to advocate for changes and collaborate with municipalities. SPD economist Kianusch Stender believes showmen are a lynchpin in Schleswig-Holstein's cultural fabric, providing sociability, entertainment, and jobs, besides pumping up regional tourism. Stender highlighted the role showmen play in sprucing up events like Kiel Week, keeping spirits high with their rides, food stalls, and more. "We need to protect, preserve, and nurture this industry," Stender stressed.
Insights:
- Energy costs can significantly impact businesses reliant on high energy consumption, like showman businesses during events.
- Bureaucratic hurdles can slow down business operations, increase compliance costs, and administrative burdens, potentially deterring investment.
- Potential solutions include energy-efficiency measures, streamlining regulations, supportive policies, and event-specific solutions.
- The SPD is urging the government to address the challenges faced by showmen in Schleswig-Holstein.
- Schleswig-Holstein's showmen contribute to cultural life, create jobs, and promote regional tourism, making them a valuable asset for the region.
Keywords:
- Showmen
- Energy costs
- Bureaucracy
- Kiel Week
- Schleswig-Holstein
- Sausage
- SPD
- German Press Agency
- Economic Impact
- Energy Efficiency Measures
- Event-specific Solutions
- Streamlining Regulations
- Supportive Policies
- Red tape
- Minimum wage
- Heavy Transports
- Festival-goers
- The showmen in Schleswig-Holstein are struggling with the combined challenges of high energy costs and bureaucratic red tape, as voiced by Marco Lange, the president of the Showmen's Association.
- The participation in Schleswig-Holstein's folk festivals, such as Kiel Week, comes with substantial costs, including hefty stand fees, putting pressure on businesses within this industry.
- The SPD is advocating for the Schleswig-Holstein government to address the challenges faced by showmen, emphasizing their economic impact on the region by providing sociability, entertainment, jobs, and boosting tourism.
