Women in the Bütt: Guido Cantz calls for more diversity in the carnival!

Women in the Bütt: Guido Cantz calls for more diversity in the carnival!

A problematic trend is emerging in the Cologne carnival scene: the number of women in the Bütt is declining sharply. Guido Cantz, a well-known speaker and entertainer, speaks openly about this issue. In an interview with the Cologne City Gazette Cantz explains that men are overrepresented in comedy because they question themselves less than their female colleagues. This leads to men often believing that they are more humorous, while women are more critical of their performances.

But Cantz is not the only one observing this development. Martin Schopps, who has been active in the carnival for 25 years, also notices that the number of top speakers is stagnating and at the same time the diversity in the contributions is decreasing. “There used to be a lot more duets and trios,” is his impression. However, something is happening in the Cologne music scene. Over four new major bands have taken the stage in the last two decades, significantly increasing the competition for speakers.

The decline in diversity

The challenge that speakers have to overcome while standing alone on stage is enormous. While audiences appreciate musical entertainment, speakers have a harder time succeeding. Volker Weininger, another old carnival king, confirmed that new bands are performing well, while new talent in the speaker field is hard to find. Kai Kramosta, a breath of fresh air in the scene, reports on the difficulties of establishing yourself. He usually writes his texts alone, as many people are of the opinion that no one can better understand their own thoughts.

The decrease in speaker places in the meeting programs also contributes to the problem. The pressure to continually deliver new and entertaining articles remains constant. Political topics are also controversial, many speakers report a decline in interest in political jokes and the role of political correctness is often perceived as stressful. In this Corona-plagued time, the lack of women in the Bütt is also regretted. Ingrid Kühne, one of the few established women in this industry, has already announced her retirement, causing sadness among her colleagues.

Economic relevance of carnival

The problems in the speaker scene are in stark contrast to the economic importance of the Cologne Carnival. A current study, financed by the Cologne Carnival Festival Committee and the Boston Consulting Group, reveals impressive figures. The carnival increased its economic power to an incredible 850 million euros in 2023 - an increase of 42 percent compared to 2019. In addition, 6,500 jobs are secured by the colorful celebration and the gross domestic product increased by 250 million euros. Cologne hotels can look forward to an increase of 72 percent in overnight stays - people dreamed of the festival 470,000 times!

Over 500 factors were available to calculate the economic and social relevance of the carnival, which show that the carnival is more than just an occasion to celebrate. The survey with 5,460 participants demonstrated a high level of social relevance. 30,000 volunteers are involved and the events attract 2.1 million visitors to the parades and one million to the meetings. Nevertheless, 30 percent of those surveyed would like more city support.

Christoph Kuckelkorn, President of the Festival Committee, not only calls for more funding, but also creative solutions to secure the carnival for the future. The “Alaaf 2040” project aims to further develop and preserve cultural identity. Despite the challenges facing the scene, carnival remains an indispensable part of Cologne's identity and social life.