60 Seconds with Mark Broadbent – Ibiza Promoter
Mark Broadbent is part of the team that brings you We Love at Space
every Sunday throughout the season. The festival within a club takes a
great deal of planning and orginaization, we wanted to find out how We
Love deliver year on year…
Did your 2011 launch party live up to your expectations?
It did that! We were over the moon with the opening party this year,
more people than last year and a great looking crowd that totally got
all the swerve balls we threw at them. Greg Wilson on the sunset terrace
was a particular highlight.
How much planning goes into a season?
Shit loads. It’s a full time job for four people over a six month
period.
Do you ever feel during the process that you’ll never be ready in time
for the opening?
No. This will be our 13 season at space and before that we have been
putting on big parties since 1992, we also put on big festivals in the
UK for eight years so we are now a very well oiled machine with a great
team of workers who I’m glad to say get on board to help us out every
year.
We Love always have talent-heavy line ups, is there any reason in
particular that you choose to have so many DJs playing for each event?
As mentioned in the above question we have had a lot of experience in
festivals and this is what we decided to try and do at space on a weekly
basis, a festival in a nightclub!
What do you look for in the DJs that you book for We Love?
Simple. They have to be the best at what they do and have a genuine
passion for it. It helps if they are also nice people to deal with.
You always have a strong base of residents, how important is the role
that they play?
The resident’s role is very important; they set the stage for the party
and hopefully will go on to better things thus helping to promote what
we do here around the globe. James Zabiela is an excellent example of
this. This year will be his tenth year playing for us as resident.
Who are you most looking forward to seeing play for We Love this summer?
I look forward to seeing everybody we book but end up seeing hardly any
of them for their full sets due to having to sort out stupid bits and
pieces on the night. However I’d really like to hope I get chance to see
the Caribou show and Carl Craig and Francesco Tristano will also be
awesome on the September 18, but to be honest it’s all good at We Love!
What makes Space Ibiza the perfect venue for your party?
Our history with the venue speaks for itself and the six rooms at Space
really help us to showcase what we want to do better than any other
venue in the world right now.
What is it about Ibiza that makes her so special?
An open mindedness from the locals and the people who come to celebrate
the summer here every year.
How important is Ibiza to the building of a global club brand?
Ibiza is the global trade show for electronic music during the summer
months so I’d have to say it is very important.
Describe your first Ibiza experience?
Handing out flyers and sticking up posters for cream in 1997. I had the
most amazing time and met many friends that I’m still good friends with
today.
Away from the club how do you relax on the island?
I love the beach and make sure to spend one day on it every week, I also
own a house in the old town that is a fantastic hideaway from the stress
of the summer. Play music, cook good food and smoke lots of spliffs!
What is your favourite beach?
Not telling. Made this mistake a long time ago by telling too many
people about Benirras and now look at that beach, such a shame.
What are you listening too chilling on the beach?
The waves splashing against the shore.
You’ve got a night off, where do you head for food?
It all depends on who I’m with but left to my own devices I’d eat the
same thing every day and I’d go to Tied Up on the port, I’m pretty
boring that way but it is an absolutely fantastic little restaurant and
over the last few years they have nailed it with their menu.
Name three essential items needed to survive your Ibiza trip?
Money, a strong mind and more money !
What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen/experienced on the island?
The west end of San Antonio circa 1997/8, absolute chaos!
