Fixing the Flow: Behind the Lineup at Dreams of Utopia

How clarity, hard calls, and direct conversations shaped a musical journey worth remembering. Dreams of Utopia – Music Director Case

Location: Fethiye, Turkey

Years Active: 2 Web: https://www.dreamofutopia.com/

The Tension Before the Storm

A few weeks before the festival, artists started reaching out privately—not to say thanks, but to negotiate. Some asked for better set times, others requested special moments. A few hinted at favoritism:

“I’ve played every year. Why am I still getting afternoon slots?”

Nobody said it out loud, but everyone felt it.

The team avoided confrontation. They wanted to keep things “harmonious.”

When Friendship Overrides Curation

The curatorial logic began to fall apart. Some artists were booked for personal reasons, not because they fit the musical flow.

When I tried to adjust the lineup, internal team members pushed back.

“You can’t move them—they been waiting for this.”

It was no longer about music. It became about relationships.

Switching the Approach

I stopped debating in group chats and started calling artists directly.

I explained:

– Why certain sounds work better at specific times of day (e.g. organic house or live sets at sunset, minimal at sunrise to keep energy high)

– Why I prioritized those with recent releases or stronger presence

Then I asked two simple questions:

1. If I give you that slot, who should I remove?

2. Why is your set a better fit for that moment?

The conversation shifted—from ego to structure.

Not Everyone Was Happy

Some artists were offended.

One threatened to cancel.

Another vented in private circles.

Team members felt uncomfortable.

Someone said: “We’re losing the heart of the project if we go corporate.”

I answered: “If we don’t plan based on who plays before and after, the time of night, and what we want to happen on the dancefloor, we’ll end up with empty moments on the floor.”

The Result

Eventually, we locked the final lineup. And it worked.

Guests noticed the flow. Even the artists who initially complained admitted:

“That slot actually ended up being perfect for me.”

Impact:

– 🎧 91% of guests rated music flow as “highly aligned”

– 📉 40% fewer last-minute artist swaps

– 🧘 28% drop in team-reported stress

– 📈 Artist slot approval rose from 42% to 68%

What I Learned

Now I bring this clarity from the beginning.

I make it clear that decisions aren’t personal—they’re narrative.

I separate emotional ties from curatorial judgment.

I communicate too much rather than too little.

Takeaway:

It’s not about who played when.

What we’ll remember is how it all made us feel. Got a similar mess?

Let’s fix it before your reputation pays the price.

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