March 17, 2025 • 15 mins
🔥 Billy McFarland & FYRE Festival 2: Tickets Are on Sale… But Does it Exist? 🔥
Billy McFarland is back with FYRE Festival 2, promising an exclusive luxury event in 2025 on Isla Mujeres, Mexico. But with no announced lineup, no confirmed permits, and ticket packages priced up to $1.1 MILLION, the question remains—is this even real?
In this episode of Tickets to Travel: The Business of Travel Experiences, host Mario Bauduin breaks down what’s actually happening with FYRE Fest 2, revisits the infamous disaster of FYRE Festival 1, and explains what it really takes to plan a legitimate destination festival.
We cover:
✔️ The logistical failures of FYRE 1—remember the FEMA tents and sad cheese sandwiches?
✔️ Why selling tickets before securing venues, talent, and permits is a major red flag.
✔️ The real industry professionals—like On Location, Elevate Experiences, Vibee, and Playa Luna Presents—who do this the right way.
✔️ A step-by-step breakdown of how destination festivals are actually planned.
✔️ And, of course, a deep dive into those absurd ticket packages (Ignite, Fuego, Phoenix, and the $1.1M Prometheus package—seriously?).
🎧 Listen now for an expert take on travel, ticketing, and live events
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Welcome back to Tickets to Travel, the business of travel experiences. I'm your host Mario Bedouin and today I thought it may be appropriate to dive into the blazing infernal that could possibly be Fyre Festival 2. Billy McFarland has had a very well documented fall from grace for the fraud that he was proven to commit on Fyre Fest 1.
(00:01):
So just in case you're not completely up on all this stuff, let's just catch up on the latest developments, shall we? Billy McFarland, infamous for the 2017 Fyre Festival debacle has announced Fyre Festival two scheduled for May 30th to June 2nd, 2025. That is 2025, this year, which is a little nuts.
Sorry, let me start over. Billy McFarlane, infamous for the 2017 Fyre Festival debacle, has announced Fyre Festival 2. scheduled for May 30th to June 2nd, 2025 on Isla Mujeres, Mexico tickets are currently on sale, ranging from 1400 to 1. 1 million.
However, local authorities, including the Isla Mujeres Tourism Board, have stated that no permits have been requested or approved for such an event. And I'm reading from this article, Edgar Gasca, Director General of Economic Development and Tourism of Isla Mujeres, Commented, we have no knowledge of this event, nor contact with any such person or company about it.
And that's from people. com. Despite these concerns, McFarland insists that Fyre Festival 2 is legitimate, and that his team is collaborating with experienced partners in Mexico to handle logistics. Production and operations.
He also mentions that they are in communication with local and state governments. To ensure compliance and a successful event. Now, before we dig in, let's make one thing clear. We truly hope this festival is real, not because we think it'll be a awesome time, but because Billy still owes a ton of money to a lot of people, local Bahamian workers, investors.
And ticket buyers from fire fest one who never got what they paid for if this actually happens Maybe just maybe some of that debt will be finally repaid And why does this matter to me and the tickets to travel podcast? Because this is a niche b2b podcast for professionals in travel Ticketing and live events who don't really have a massive platform to educate or entertain others who are in the field Or aspiring to be in it So we have to take a moment to give credit where credit is due To the real professionals in live events ticketing and destination travel who do this the right way Companies like On Location, Elevate Experiences, Playa Luna Presents, Vibey, and others put in the work to create seamless, high quality experiences for attendees.
That along with travel professionals, whether it be agents or destination professionals or hotel professionals, they understand that you can't just announce an event and hope for the best. You need actual infrastructure, experience planning. And wait for it. Permits. You need permits, Billy. You really do.
There's this tactic among some bad actors or bad promoters in the space where they announce the experience and begin selling ticket packages to essentially raise money for the said event. Now, selling tickets without securing essential components like venues, talent, accommodations, and permits isn't just risky.
It's a masterclass in how to ignite a dumpster fire. And in some places, it's not. It's considered a crime. Sometimes they call it fraud. So here's the deal. Season event organizers and travel pros spend years meticulously planning every detail, from water supply logistics to medical team coordination, before even considering ticket sales.
And if Fyre Festival 1 taught us anything, it's that cutting corners in these areas leads to absolute chaos. Do we all need a refresher here? Let's talk about it a little bit The infamous viral image of a sad cheese sandwich in a styrofoam container. Come on.
We all saw it Aka the fine dining experience guests receive instead of gourmet meals
The tents. Leftover FEMA disaster relief tents, mind you. Blowing away in the night because proper accommodations were never secured the fact that there was no running water No proper bathrooms and in some cases no way to leave the island itself.
That's a problem It's called transportation and lack of planning
the two competing documentaries Netflix's fire the greatest party that never happened and Hulu's fire fraud Both of which chronicled the sheer level of fraud and logistical incompetence that led to the festival's collapse. So Billy, what's the difference this time? Because right now, all signs point to nothing at all.
Seems like you're gonna be consistent. For ticketing, here's a description from an article. McFarland has partnered with Soldout. com, an online ticket marketplace founded by Andrew Hendrick. A 40 year veteran in the ticketing industry sold out. com specializes in strategic partnerships that benefit both event organizers and fans offering tickets for concerts, sports theaters.
Let's talk about the ticket packages, because folks, you can go online right now and take a look at them, and these names deserve a moment of appreciation.
First, starting at 1400 per ticket, we have the Ignite package, which sounds more like something you'd pick up at a self help seminar rather than a festival ticket. Then there's the Fuego package, which is 5000, because nothing says trustworthy event like doubling down on a fire related theme when your first festival literally went down in flames.
But wait, it gets better. There's the Phoenix package for 12, 500. Named after a mythical bird that rises from the ashes. Subtle, Billy. Very subtle. And finally, the piece de resistance. The Prometheus package, which, for just 1. 1 million dollars, includes first class flights, luxury accommodations, and probably a front row seat to the moment when this whole thing inevitably unravels.
Honestly, if you're dropping a million dollars on this festival, I have a bridge in Brooklyn. You might also be interested in purchasing again, quoted from an article as for talent booking details, remain scarce.
No official lineup has been announced, and without secured artists, the festival's credibility is further undermined. Really? This omission raises red flags about the event's legitimacy and the organizers commitment to delivering a quality experience. Yeah, I agree. I can't really see any artists signing on to do this.
What agent is going to go to their top tier artists and say, listen, it's going to be like fire dude. And you're not going to get paid up front. So just do it. It's for Billy. Like I don't think blink 182 is lining up to be the headliner again. It doesn't make any sense for any artist that could command a 1 million dollar ticket package to even think about it.
(00:22):
That's rare air, guys. That's Beyoncé, Coldplay, Jay Z, and Eminem kind of air.
To understand the gravity of the situation, let's explore how destination festivals are actually organized, along with their typical timelines.
So if you're looking at a particular date, you got to find the date and 18 to 12 months prior to that's a year and a half or so, you have to do three things. First, you define the festival theme and its goals, establish a unique concept that differentiates the festival and resonates with the target audience.
Number two, you set a budget, develop a comprehensive budget covering all aspects, including artist fees, venue rental, security, logistics, and of course, marketing. Third, you choose a suitable venue. Select a location that aligns with the festival's theme and can accommodate the expected attendance.
Considering accessibility and infrastructure. That's a year and a half to be clear. And then along the same lines, depending on how many people are on your team, you've also got about a timeline of a year, nine months to a year before the festival to obtain necessary permits, secure all required permits and licenses.
Such as noise permits, alcohol sales licenses, and public space occupation permits, in advance, and especially if it's in Mexico, oof, sit down that's a long process and very complex, that we won't get into now. Also, you've also got to book that talent, and the vendors, you've got to confirm the agreements with the artists, the food vendors, and other essential service providers, ensuring they are contractually obligated to participate.
That's an important thing to note. The live entertainment piece cannot be done on a handshake, a phone call, or a verbal agreement. Especially when you're Billy McFarlane. These people are shrewd and unpredictable. They typically get paid up front. And even then, you can talk to any legitimate festival promoter or agent for that matter, and they may not show up.
Artists are funny people and they have a way of doing what they want to do, when they want to do it. And without that contract and payment up front Would you show up if you're an artist who could command a million dollar package?
I don't know. Sounds a little farfetched. Next up you secure the venue and lodging contracts. You negotiate hotel and venue contracts to ensure proper accommodations for guests and staff and artists for that matter. Typical contract negotiations include
Room blocks and attrition clauses, ensuring a set number of rooms are reserved with allowances for cancellations. And if it's a complete hotel buyout, even more complex. And there's a number of things to consider, including payment upfront for a portion of that contract food and beverage minimums, establishing required spending amounts at venue properties within the venue, force majeure and cancellation terms, protecting both parties in case of unexpected disruptions Massive fires in Los Angeles, a hurricane, or this thing we all didn't see coming like COVID 19,
exclusive rights agreements, ensuring event exclusivity at that chosen venue. You can imagine how much complexity there is if You have back to back events, different themes, different crowds could be a mess. You have to take care of that well in advance of the festival
from nine to six months before the live event, plan logistics and infrastructure, arrange for stages, sound systems, sanitation facilities, security measures, and emergency response plans to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Now, the stage is itself. Some artists won't even take a stage if it's not up to their standards.
The stage and the sound system. Have to be at a certain level if you want cold play or red hot chili peppers to perform It's what they're used to
and the costs associated that is way more than a few fuego Packages if you know what I'm saying six to three months before the live event marketing and promotion develop a strategic marketing plan To build anticipation and drive ticket and package sales, utilizing various channels to reach the target audience.
Oh, and you can't forget about sponsorships sponsorship. This is ongoing. It's not easy to sell a dream to any major or not so major brand without an established track record of being able to gather an audience and not so much an infamous spectacle like Fyre Fest one.
So finding sponsors for this thing, it's going to be a little tough bill, skipping any of these steps. That's how you end up with disaster relief tents and cheese sandwiches in styrofoam boxes. Maybe I gave you a little bit more to think about and a little more respect and understanding of what goes into a travel experience, a destination festival or a live event in general.
That's it for today's episode of Tickets to Travel podcast. If you've enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves a good cautionary tale.
And if you happen to be considering spending your hard earned money on Firefest 2, perhaps reconsider. Invest in a well planned, professionally executed destination festival instead. Wait, did I even mention that he's not selling ticket protection on these ticket packages? Oh man. If anyone who's got this far and would like to talk about their experience, In the destination festivals or travel experiences space, please reach out.
You can find us at www. tttpod. com. Or if you happen to be Billy McFarlane and you're listening, get at me, man. I think you have a lot of explaining to do for the thousands of professionals. In this niche space. So until next time this has been tickets to travel and I've been your host Mario Budwine Hit us up on the socials.
That's at ticks the number two travel pod on ig and tiktok And you can also find all of these episodes on youtube if that's the way you want to consume your podcast So stay informed stay entertained and check the permits first guys safe travels
Welcome back to Tickets to Travel, the business of travel experiences. I'm your host Mario Bedouin and today I thought it may be appropriate to dive into the blazing infernal that could possibly be Fyre Festival 2. Billy McFarland has had a very well documented fall from grace for the fraud that he was proven to commit on Fyre Fest 1.
(00:01):
So just in case you're not completely up on all this stuff, let's just catch up on the latest developments, shall we? Billy McFarland, infamous for the 2017 Fyre Festival debacle has announced Fyre Festival two scheduled for May 30th to June 2nd, 2025. That is 2025, this year, which is a little nuts.
Sorry, let me start over. Billy McFarlane, infamous for the 2017 Fyre Festival debacle, has announced Fyre Festival 2. scheduled for May 30th to June 2nd, 2025 on Isla Mujeres, Mexico tickets are currently on sale, ranging from 1400 to 1. 1 million.
However, local authorities, including the Isla Mujeres Tourism Board, have stated that no permits have been requested or approved for such an event. And I'm reading from this article, Edgar Gasca, Director General of Economic Development and Tourism of Isla Mujeres, Commented, we have no knowledge of this event, nor contact with any such person or company about it.
And that's from people. com. Despite these concerns, McFarland insists that Fyre Festival 2 is legitimate, and that his team is collaborating with experienced partners in Mexico to handle logistics. Production and operations.
He also mentions that they are in communication with local and state governments. To ensure compliance and a successful event. Now, before we dig in, let's make one thing clear. We truly hope this festival is real, not because we think it'll be a awesome time, but because Billy still owes a ton of money to a lot of people, local Bahamian workers, investors.
And ticket buyers from fire fest one who never got what they paid for if this actually happens Maybe just maybe some of that debt will be finally repaid And why does this matter to me and the tickets to travel podcast? Because this is a niche b2b podcast for professionals in travel Ticketing and live events who don't really have a massive platform to educate or entertain others who are in the field Or aspiring to be in it So we have to take a moment to give credit where credit is due To the real professionals in live events ticketing and destination travel who do this the right way Companies like On Location, Elevate Experiences, Playa Luna Presents, Vibey, and others put in the work to create seamless, high quality experiences for attendees.
That along with travel professionals, whether it be agents or destination professionals or hotel professionals, they understand that you can't just announce an event and hope for the best. You need actual infrastructure, experience planning. And wait for it. Permits. You need permits, Billy. You really do.
There's this tactic among some bad actors or bad promoters in the space where they announce the experience and begin selling ticket packages to essentially raise money for the said event. Now, selling tickets without securing essential components like venues, talent, accommodations, and permits isn't just risky.
It's a masterclass in how to ignite a dumpster fire. And in some places, it's not. It's considered a crime. Sometimes they call it fraud. So here's the deal. Season event organizers and travel pros spend years meticulously planning every detail, from water supply logistics to medical team coordination, before even considering ticket sales.
And if Fyre Festival 1 taught us anything, it's that cutting corners in these areas leads to absolute chaos. Do we all need a refresher here? Let's talk about it a little bit The infamous viral image of a sad cheese sandwich in a styrofoam container. Come on.
We all saw it Aka the fine dining experience guests receive instead of gourmet meals
The tents. Leftover FEMA disaster relief tents, mind you. Blowing away in the night because proper accommodations were never secured the fact that there was no running water No proper bathrooms and in some cases no way to leave the island itself.
That's a problem It's called transportation and lack of planning
the two competing documentaries Netflix's fire the greatest party that never happened and Hulu's fire fraud Both of which chronicled the sheer level of fraud and logistical incompetence that led to the festival's collapse. So Billy, what's the difference this time? Because right now, all signs point to nothing at all.
Seems like you're gonna be consistent. For ticketing, here's a description from an article. McFarland has partnered with Soldout. com, an online ticket marketplace founded by Andrew Hendrick. A 40 year veteran in the ticketing industry sold out. com specializes in strategic partnerships that benefit both event organizers and fans offering tickets for concerts, sports theaters.
Let's talk about the ticket packages, because folks, you can go online right now and take a look at them, and these names deserve a moment of appreciation.
First, starting at 1400 per ticket, we have the Ignite package, which sounds more like something you'd pick up at a self help seminar rather than a festival ticket. Then there's the Fuego package, which is 5000, because nothing says trustworthy event like doubling down on a fire related theme when your first festival literally went down in flames.
But wait, it gets better. There's the Phoenix package for 12, 500. Named after a mythical bird that rises from the ashes. Subtle, Billy. Very subtle. And finally, the piece de resistance. The Prometheus package, which, for just 1. 1 million dollars, includes first class flights, luxury accommodations, and probably a front row seat to the moment when this whole thing inevitably unravels.
Honestly, if you're dropping a million dollars on this festival, I have a bridge in Brooklyn. You might also be interested in purchasing again, quoted from an article as for talent booking details, remain scarce.
No official lineup has been announced, and without secured artists, the festival's credibility is further undermined. Really? This omission raises red flags about the event's legitimacy and the organizers commitment to delivering a quality experience. Yeah, I agree. I can't really see any artists signing on to do this.
What agent is going to go to their top tier artists and say, listen, it's going to be like fire dude. And you're not going to get paid up front. So just do it. It's for Billy. Like I don't think blink 182 is lining up to be the headliner again. It doesn't make any sense for any artist that could command a 1 million dollar ticket package to even think about it.
(00:22):
That's rare air, guys. That's Beyoncé, Coldplay, Jay Z, and Eminem kind of air.
To understand the gravity of the situation, let's explore how destination festivals are actually organized, along with their typical timelines.
So if you're looking at a particular date, you got to find the date and 18 to 12 months prior to that's a year and a half or so, you have to do three things. First, you define the festival theme and its goals, establish a unique concept that differentiates the festival and resonates with the target audience.
Number two, you set a budget, develop a comprehensive budget covering all aspects, including artist fees, venue rental, security, logistics, and of course, marketing. Third, you choose a suitable venue. Select a location that aligns with the festival's theme and can accommodate the expected attendance.
Considering accessibility and infrastructure. That's a year and a half to be clear. And then along the same lines, depending on how many people are on your team, you've also got about a timeline of a year, nine months to a year before the festival to obtain necessary permits, secure all required permits and licenses.
Such as noise permits, alcohol sales licenses, and public space occupation permits, in advance, and especially if it's in Mexico, oof, sit down that's a long process and very complex, that we won't get into now. Also, you've also got to book that talent, and the vendors, you've got to confirm the agreements with the artists, the food vendors, and other essential service providers, ensuring they are contractually obligated to participate.
That's an important thing to note. The live entertainment piece cannot be done on a handshake, a phone call, or a verbal agreement. Especially when you're Billy McFarlane. These people are shrewd and unpredictable. They typically get paid up front. And even then, you can talk to any legitimate festival promoter or agent for that matter, and they may not show up.
Artists are funny people and they have a way of doing what they want to do, when they want to do it. And without that contract and payment up front Would you show up if you're an artist who could command a million dollar package?
I don't know. Sounds a little farfetched. Next up you secure the venue and lodging contracts. You negotiate hotel and venue contracts to ensure proper accommodations for guests and staff and artists for that matter. Typical contract negotiations include
Room blocks and attrition clauses, ensuring a set number of rooms are reserved with allowances for cancellations. And if it's a complete hotel buyout, even more complex. And there's a number of things to consider, including payment upfront for a portion of that contract food and beverage minimums, establishing required spending amounts at venue properties within the venue, force majeure and cancellation terms, protecting both parties in case of unexpected disruptions Massive fires in Los Angeles, a hurricane, or this thing we all didn't see coming like COVID 19,
exclusive rights agreements, ensuring event exclusivity at that chosen venue. You can imagine how much complexity there is if You have back to back events, different themes, different crowds could be a mess. You have to take care of that well in advance of the festival
from nine to six months before the live event, plan logistics and infrastructure, arrange for stages, sound systems, sanitation facilities, security measures, and emergency response plans to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Now, the stage is itself. Some artists won't even take a stage if it's not up to their standards.
The stage and the sound system. Have to be at a certain level if you want cold play or red hot chili peppers to perform It's what they're used to
and the costs associated that is way more than a few fuego Packages if you know what I'm saying six to three months before the live event marketing and promotion develop a strategic marketing plan To build anticipation and drive ticket and package sales, utilizing various channels to reach the target audience.
Oh, and you can't forget about sponsorships sponsorship. This is ongoing. It's not easy to sell a dream to any major or not so major brand without an established track record of being able to gather an audience and not so much an infamous spectacle like Fyre Fest one.
So finding sponsors for this thing, it's going to be a little tough bill, skipping any of these steps. That's how you end up with disaster relief tents and cheese sandwiches in styrofoam boxes. Maybe I gave you a little bit more to think about and a little more respect and understanding of what goes into a travel experience, a destination festival or a live event in general.
That's it for today's episode of Tickets to Travel podcast. If you've enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves a good cautionary tale.
And if you happen to be considering spending your hard earned money on Firefest 2, perhaps reconsider. Invest in a well planned, professionally executed destination festival instead. Wait, did I even mention that he's not selling ticket protection on these ticket packages? Oh man. If anyone who's got this far and would like to talk about their experience, In the destination festivals or travel experiences space, please reach out.
You can find us at www. tttpod. com. Or if you happen to be Billy McFarlane and you're listening, get at me, man. I think you have a lot of explaining to do for the thousands of professionals. In this niche space. So until next time this has been tickets to travel and I've been your host Mario Budwine Hit us up on the socials.
That's at ticks the number two travel pod on ig and tiktok And you can also find all of these episodes on youtube if that's the way you want to consume your podcast So stay informed stay entertained and check the permits first guys safe travels
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