Behind The Construction of EDC's $3 Million Main Stage | Forbes

EDC creator Pasquale Rotella said the main stage took a month to build, while the event cost more than $45 million.
Subscribe to FORBES: kzbin.info?s...
Stay Connected
Forbes on Facebook: forbes
Forbes Video on Twitter: / forbesvideo
Forbes Video on Instagram: / forbesvideo
More From Forbes: forbes.com
Forbes covers the intersection of entrepreneurship, wealth, technology, business and lifestyle with a focus on people and success.

[@user-sd7qt3hy8l]

This guy is a good guy...He manages the money well and puts the money toward the show and not pocket it, like most people would do. That's the reason why EDC is so successful, is because of responsible people like this putting the money where it belongs, on the entertainment!

[@SKITZO.213]

HELL YA PASQUALE IS THE MAN!!

[@aphoticphoton]

This comment sort of aged well lol

[@armandogarcia1106]

Edc has been my best $400 well spent in my entire life... all the walk, sweat, and tears are worth it

[@jordenlafortune1811]

We need a 2022 updated edition of how long and how much it takes to build todays edc I bet everything is way up…the budget, the volume of ppl, the prices, etc edc has only been getting bigger and better every single year

[@itsmikeewade]

I would love a full on documentary on how they put on edc! 166,000 people each day this year! I imagine it probably costs close to 80 million dollars to put on edc now. and their profits definitely have to come from the super spenders that drop 200k on bottle service in the skydeck 😅

[@Liltay5692]

This year's Gaia stage was outstanding!! Loved every second!

[@kmfanatic]

Tay Tay loved when her eyes lit up during the opening ceremony

[@Liltay5692]

@Joe Yes! For me the most emotional part of EDC weekend (and there were many) was Day 3, the ending ceremony. I nearly cried. Gaia's heart stopped, her eyes went out, and her wings closed. The Gaia experience was very innovative. Can't wait to see what they come up for next year! :D

[@carlosromero1411]

I cannot wait to go this year, because it’ll be my first time ❤️

[@moj013]

It was my first time this past June and i loved it. EDC every year for me now. 😊

[@tripdawg]

2016 main stage was the best I’ve seen so far.

[@jairogaga]

I cannot wait for my 4th Edc next year💖🤟🏼

[@al1iii]

Intro music: 3LAU - Is It Love (ft. Yeah Boy) [Arty Remix] Background music: 3LAU - Is It Love (ft. Yeah Boy)

[@oldaccount67543]

That is quite amazing

[@jody024]

And this is a big reason why tickets cost so much....

[@AlphaTiger4]

Your working on next year already and so I am getting ready for next year too 😊 lol #EDCLV18

[@gawdareign]

💙💙💙

[@theory8sf]

I was there!

[@Th3Guerrero11]

Wait so after a year later I finally realized that was a tree in the middle....I thought it was a cup -.-

[@andiiramii2775]

LMAO

[@utleychase7]

intro song: 3lau - Is It Love (Arty remix)

[@dancu10]

The production for the Mainstage was very underwhelming this year :(, last 2 years were incredible and very memorable

[@WarriorAvis]

I agree, so basic and un-eventful. Bring back the owl!!

[@genjid4916]

is there anyway i can find their numbers for edc las vegas specifically? I want seee how this thing is so profitable or if it even is profitable at all.

[@la-ia1404]

No wonder the ticket price keeps going up.

[@MrNickertje]

Please, the most advanced festival. Take a look at the dutch festival production, it's in my opinion the most advanced

[@felipeguzman6399]

MrNickertje couldn't agree more not to mention the lineups they have & events.. That alone is better fosure.. MOH, DEFQON.1,tomorrowland & many more

[@MrNickertje]

exactly, not only the line-ups but production wise, everything is so accurately produced, sometimes even the toillet paper is in the style of the event

[@adimasturd]

true , absolutely !

[@VeniVidiAjax]

ID&T (Q-Dance a.o,) is also a superb company, thank god SFX went bankrupt and we dutchies got our beloved ID&T back!

[@starfromakihabara4896]

Japan stage production is more then $8 million

[@exaprima8]

Electronic cash kings 2016 soon ? ^^

[@de_stroyed]

Just saying, but I think Tomorrowland's 2017 stage is better. It's more creative and the stage is modified for every DJ that performs. Basically, it's not the same stage for each DJ that plays for the 2017 Tomorrowland.

[@indokeren3311]

Went to Edc for 10th years in a row now. it's all about the Experience.

[@meganmarcos2740]

tenth years... seems legit

[@indokeren3311]

Christian Martinez You need to enjoy the music more then taking pills. lesson #1.

[@04mach1speed]

Glad to have finally gotten to experience EDC, (EDCLV2022) Most memorable experience of my life, for the rest of my life. Hopefully I’ll get to go again sometime.

[@jeroenvissers7021]

Defqon.1 mainstage of 2016 was the best!

[@warfeest]

Laat die Amerikanen maar denken dat ze een van de beste designs van podia hebben. In Nederland gebeurt het echte werk.

[@stevegitau5914]

No stage design beats the main stage design of the ultra 2016, not even ultra 2017, maybe on budget

[@PCgamerErandar]

lol... stage design from Qlimax is 10000x better then ultra...

[@Brian-rp5cv]

LOL Ultra stages are just big LED walls, nothing more, Tomorrowland, EDC, QLIMAX, have way better stage designes

[@johnnysimsyo]

Steve Gitau you're still tripping from ultra huh? Lay off the drugs

[@VilaPhonasa]

Steve Gitau loool umf been recycling their leds main stage for years...

[@Bexelele]

check out defqon.1 2016 lol

[@itchoy13]

Been to edc once and final one, it was an okay festival production was great but it was just too hot. Maybe for people there it was alright but for people who have traveled to be there it was just too hot. People are awesome and all but it was SOO HOT. trying to concentrate in making yourself feel cooler rather than to just enjoy music and dance. This was just based on my opinion. Tml and ultra was far better 100%

[@anonduckduck]

I feel so sorry for you. A (what could have been) great experience blunted by the weather. Seriously, where did you come from that it was so hot?

[@ArmaniXperience]

Thats why it has been moved to May for cooler weather. I had an amazing experience this past EDC weekend.

[@Meowblivion]

Edc: we are the most advanced production festival in the world Tomorrowland: ok....

[@Vi3tKid420]

EDC aint cheap asses like hardfest. Take some fuckin notes rookies!!!

[@warfeest]

Defqon beats this by far

[@gerardohernandez1195]

To bad Tomorrowworld is no longer around. It was pretty awesome the first time they did it.

[@djkidd3459]

35 million on stages or one stage is why edc canceled NY and Orlando. They are losing so much money to look cooler than ultra and tomorrowland.

[@PoloJJR]

DJ Kidd edc Orlando hasn't been canceled at all

[@alirazif9375]

What song?

[@arezoo1015]

hello daddy mikal

[@arezoo1015]

hello daddy mikal

[@jgangsta33]

song name?

[@waffleking3211]

Song at 1:01???

[@leejason1738]

2:26, guys like fuck haven't slept for 4 weeks straight and im still up.

[@juanguerra89]

Im old school. Don't care for theme stages. Give me LED walls, lasers, and lights!

[@beckdeck5316]

L.

[@whitefangv]

It doesn't seam like a good business model to spend $3 million on something that will only be used for 3 days.

[@guillaumelalonde7945]

Main stage can hold 70k people. The math isn't hard let's assume lowest ticket is 100 bucks. That's still 7 million dollars. But in reality the lowest prices you'll realistically find is around 300 dollars. So they are at least making 21 million dollars.

[@goshamakaroff2963]

Lol still loosing to UMF )))

[@NocturnalAndres]

George Makarov lol that's cute

[@beckdeck5316]

George Makarov you still high on whatever synthetic drug you took at UMF bro LOL

[@louiegonzalez6812]

I know this comment was a year ago but damn you’re a fool, umf doesn’t even come close to edc. Production is garbage and is a complete douche magnet for frat kids and noobs. It’s a cookie cutter festival

[@danielmullins9953]

Tomorrowland is better

[@WoWRiser]

how old are you? 12?

[@danielmullins9953]

WoWRiser no, European festivals are just better than american festivals

[@WoWRiser]

Daniel Mullins they are different, i personally prefer this led wall stage stuff

[@coconut360]

How on Earth is tomorrowland better than this???

[@danielmullins9953]

coconut360 because the stage is not just lights, also just the vibe of the festival seems a lot better

[@Africanfrogs]

Lmao 130,000 teenagers who are only going because they saw the hype videos of when it was fun. 400 dollar tickets now and the fun of it gone.

[@ThatHispanicHobo]

its 18+?

[@Africanfrogs]

+ThatHispanicHobo yea it is. Still in your teens.

[@AjaaxDubstep]

400 dollar tickets because they expand and make it more of an experience. so of course with more overhead, you have to raise ticket prices.

[@fernyb97]

it's actually more fun now than previous years.

[@someKILLJOY]

You've obviously never been or you had a horrible time. It is such an amazing and exciting place and I will gladly pay $400 for a ticket.

[@bobjordan1167]

Ultra is better

[@bobjordan1167]

Ilovelasvegas Nevada Ultra shits on EDCLV

[@oscaramezq1524]

Bob Jordan edc is better

[@starfamkrew]

lol you have never been to EDCLV or you wouldn't be saying this

[@claudiareyes6132]

I think they are both amazing in different ways. Ultra has this really cool futuristic vibe, the Latest music and IDs. It's like a showcase for what's to come for the summer. Edc has everything, and it's such a dreamy, mystical vibe. With all styles. And beautiful crazy stages. Djs get.creative with there sets. They both have beauty in their own way.

[@D.rexofficial]

bahaah that hilarious

[@soflex9115]

This was the worst festival stage I have ever seen live. BEYOND BORING. biggest waste of money. so beyond upset...

[@ccrr96]

Greg Netchaev So you go to a festival to judge the LED screens? Sad. Invest in music.

[@ulisesramirez5526]

How about spending money on better DJs and maybe it'll sell out! not those bullshit fake DJs that always count to 3 before every drop. Shit is so annoying and pasquel you're allowing the scene to go down the drain!! what happened to quality EDM? some DJs are good but the rest... smhh