(1) Community.
More than the lineup or any headliner, the community and social aspects are far more important. “It's the feeling, the 
(2) It's Unique.
Coachella is in the middle of a desert; Glastonbury is in a league of its own. “You have to find the unique strengths that your festival has," said Fra Soler of Primavera Sound, an electronica festival set right in Barcelona.
(3) It Loses Money.
Everyone seemed to agree: festivals will lose money for the first few years, and some described painful struggles for survival. It's sort of a 'festival rite of passage' before the real money comes in. “When you do a festival and you lose money, it's a good sign," said Stefan Reichmann of the Haldern Pop Festival.
(4) The Music Is Well-Balanced, and Affordable.
This depends on the festival, though plenty of organizers had sworn off superstars entirely. “Headliners are expensive, and they overshadow the rest of the festival," Reichmann said.
“The relationship between the production costs and the fee for the headliner doesn't really work," said Detleft Schwarte of the Reeperbahn Festival.
(5) It's Protected Against Disaster.
This was an unexpected one, though festivals can get wiped out by bad weather, canceling acts, or various Acts of God. “You are putting a lot of money out in advance, and you won't be able to recoup if there's a disaster," said Peter Parkin, president of Shephard Ashmore Insurance.
(6) The price is right.
This varies from festival-to-festival—after all, Coachella charges $300 and sells out in hours. That suggests something below market, though the perception of gouging is dangerous. “Glastonbury could charge double," said co-promoter Martin Elbourne.
(7) It's Got Tradition.
The ultimate goal? It survives the test of time, and draws a reliable pilgrimmage year-after-year. “If you were to shut off the lights, and cut the electricity, would anything be left?" Linneweber posed. “It has to be something you talk about around the campfire."
