Mediaboss Marketing

Radical escapes were the UKs first independent clubbing holiday specialist. Theyve been putting the rave in travel since 1999 and have taken around 10,000 people to Ibiza. We caught up with head honcho KIRK FIELD a man with a secret past

Firstly, why do you what you do? After a decade of working in the rave and London clubbing scene as a promoter, journalist and occasional pop star, I needed to show I had a proper job in order to get a mortgage and my wife said, Just do what youre best at showing people the places you love. So I created radical escapes and took DJs and groups to Mayrhofen in Austria and Ibiza, which Id been visiting since 1990 in my capacity as a journalist for dance music magazines.

Occasional Pop star? Tell us more From MCing at raves and warehouse parties in the early nineties, I was asked to tour with Hyper Go-Go and front Patric Prins La Luna (To the beat of the drum-bang!). My own releases enjoyed the dubious honour of topping the charts in both Croatia and Greece.

Did you make any money? No, I never saw any royalties! Croatia went to war around that time (not as a result of my Number Oneat least I think it wasnt) so they were probably too busy with that. As for Greece the last I heard they were using it to advertise double glazing on TV!

Youve stated just like Quality Street and Johnsons baby oil, Ibiza is best when its shared explain please? The island is gloriously gregarious by nature and a destination which is best suited to visiting with a big group of friends. Events like Ibiza JETset and Island of Trance are just that except instead of half a dozen mates, youll be in a group with hundreds of like-minded souls.

So you had no training in travel or tourism? Absolutely nonewhich is why Ive been so successful! The dreadful yoof brands of the major tour operators like Twentys and Club 18-30 were so patronizing and out of touch with what was going on in the clubs and with what people wanted from Ibiza that we were a breath of fresh air.

So much so youve spawned imitators. Yes, it was inevitable, I guess. But as they all find out, it aint easy to work on this island! And were confidant that our products are always stay one step ahead in both content and our ability to offer our DJs the chance to play in the very best booths anywhere on the planet. People trust us with their holidays as were established and cheesy as it sounds, we actually care about our guests.

Tell us about Ibiza JETset. This replaces Ibizan Heat which ran for a deacade in San Antonio. In 2014, we are definitely in the era of generation Bossa. While San An is great for Ibiza virgins or student groups, weve noticed that folk naturally gravitate towards Playa den Bossa as they mature and their tastes and incomes change. Bossas rise has been both dramatic and seductive, and were stoked to be the first specialist clubbing operator to offer 5 nights in Jet, 5 premier parties in Space, Ushuaia, Sankeys, DC10 and Creamits proving very popular and weve just added another week in June and been asked to host a couple of areas @ We Love by Safehouse Management, who are now looking after it.

What else are you involved with this summer? 2014 will be our biggest to date: were bringing hundreds of Aussies over after they run with the bulls in Pamplona and throw tomatoes at each other in la Tomantina, are once again delivering the Mixmag in Ibiza and UNION events and running some specialist events for lovers of trance (Island of Trance), hard house (Xstatic Ibiza) and pure, unadulterated rave (Ravers Ibiza).

Planning any more events at Gala night/the Zoo? Yes, after the success of the last Captured Festival, Ill be working with Driftwood and delivering some more open-air trance parties. Trance works really well there actually.

Read more:
Putting the 'rave' in travel. | Ibiza 2014