Party promoter Billy McFarland is back at Fire Festival 2. The event is scheduled to take place in Isla Mugere, Mexico from May 30th to June 2nd, with tickets selling from $1,400 to a truly brave $1.1 million. The artist has not been confirmed. McFarland himself doesn’t know if he can leave the country to be legally present, as he told the “Today” show on Monday morning.
Certainly unexpected. In 2017, McFarland mastered the hugely successful viral campaign at the Fire Festival, and promised a super-luxurious musical event in the Bahamas. The influencers flocked to promote it, but when guests arrived there were no fematents, sad cheese sandwiches, and running water. The fiasco became a critical moment in influencer culture and became immortal on Instagram. (What was lost at Mayhem was the original purpose of Fyre Festival: to promote McFarland’s “Uber for the Performing Arts,” a platform that connects event organizers with musicians.)
McFarland’s incompetence landed him in prison for fraud, and the conditions for his release in 2022 could prevent him from traveling internationally, but people once again what he’s selling Don’t be shocked when you buy it. Marketing can overcome a lot because you want to be part of the movement, even if it means burning twice.