The BS of BS…
September 8th, 2009
I’m not a hater… I’m a lover for sure. And I’m extremely proud to live in a city is able to collaborate so many music and art festivals during the year like Cap Hill Block Party, Solstice Fest, Reverb Fest, Georgetown Music Fest, Hemp Fest and etc. with the front runner of all Seattle music and art festivals being the mammoth Bumbershoot. However this year, I noticed a few things different that I did not like. The first of being the $50 day-of price tag for the event. $50? $50?
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Yea, I know if you bought them in advance they were less, that’s not the point. It has NEVER been $50, and during the hardest time in our nations economy One Reel is gonna justify charging the average music loving last minute goer $50 to get in the door and Mariner beer prices in the garden… In the meantime folks have to stand in line for hours to see some of the shows, totally missing out on the lesser known bands they may have been interested in seeing had they not had to hold their place in line. That doesn’t even mention parking and food and that’s PER DAY! Were talking an easy $100 a day on getting lightly buzzed, marginally cultured, and worn the F out. Now times 3?… Thats BS BS!
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I won’t even get into the irony of busking in front of the EMP for several hours before security came and told us we had to move or stop. Wait, it is the largest music and arts fest in the city right? And that giant temple monstrosity sitting in Seattle Center is called the “Experience Music Project” right? Yea… irony at its best. Just shows how much music the EMP really wants you to experience.
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However, regardless of my personal feelings it does no good to bitch about something without offering valid solutions to the problem. And I can sum up my entire experience with one very solid answer… One Reel? Are you listening? Cuz I’m officially announcing first dibs on this idea, its called…
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The Busker Stage. That’s right, The Busker Stage! And it can be set up in the empty west entrance to Key Arena. One Reel can continue to justify charging $50 a ticket as long as they are offering at least one free stage for the poor to see AND play on. Starting that Bumbershoot Saturday buskers can line up to get a time slot on a first come first serve basis. Each busker gets 20 minutes to shine, and on to the next act. All free, all day. And of course you won’t see some of the more premier acts of the event, but you may see a few amazing acts you’d never have caught, and, who knows maybe one of the larger acts will catch wind of whats going on and come out to join the party.
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The point is this, we ALL feel the hit of the economy, One Reel included. That’s why ticket prices went up this year. Its getting harder and more expensive for these promotional companies to do this year after year, make any money, and improve the quality of the event. However, there are simple solutions to help gratify the overall consensus that the ticket prices were out of hand, no matter who was playing…
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Oh and BTW the pic is of a group of random models that were walking around getting their pics taken, we just happened to be in the right place at the right time… LOL.
September 8th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Kevin leDoux said:
C, while I agree with almost everything here, and I think the Busker Stage is an incredible idea (unfort, so good that will last for about 2 years before getting too big and begin to charge a fee) I think you need to cut One Reel a little slack and blame the real culprits. AEG Live. those tasteless fuckers that brought us Fergie the first year they were became involved in Bumbershoot and have increased ticket prices by $10 ever since. AEG are also the assholes that bought the lions share of the Showbox and, please tell me, when was the last time there was something worth seeing at the Showbox? I don’t even bother checking the listings anymore.
Now One Reel would be who you would have to submit your plea to as AEG are too busy catching waves in Cali to give a shit about Seattle Arts. By the way did I mention FUCK AEG? Well, FUCK AEG!
September 8th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
C-Leb said:
Thanks Kevin for clarifying, your right… And for the record I’m actually not bagging One Reel as much as I’m offering to head up a bad-ass (potentially 2 year) solution since I know they’ll get the brunt of the blame no matter how much ticket prices are AEG’s fault…
September 8th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Kadns said:
I didn’t make BS this year. Mainly, I wasn’t that impressed with the lineup. IMO. But, I agree with C-Leb, that’s a ridiculous ticket price. At least KEXP’s bbq was free and had a decent lineup.
Anyway, my 2cnts.
Cheers
Kadns
September 8th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
josh said:
have you looked at ticket prices for any other events lately? $50 has an emotional steepness, but just think about how much a ticket cost the last time Modest Mouse played the Paramount?
September 9th, 2009 at 8:14 am
Kevin Ledoux said:
Fair point Josh, but I think the reason C’s got a bitch is because the festival has lost sight of the original mission. That was to expose Seattle’s arts to the public, thus the original free pricetag.
I also understand that hosting a free festival is not a very easy thing to maintain as popularity increases. There are so many costs like, security, cleanup, medical, etc. that require funding and what better way than a gate fee. (look for one soon at Folk Life, I’m telling ya)
The shitter of it is when an outside promoter joins looking to make a buck and instead of local art we get fucking FERGIE! and prices take a huge jump as a result. The entire dynamic of the festival has changed. National lame Clear Channel bands get signed on, Seattle Center gets filled with motorheads, we get to wait in line and pay through the nose.
September 9th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Jules said:
Lemme also point out another important thing… Did anyone notice the beer cups were smaller? Yes, I’m pretty sure they were and at the same price of $7 a pop.
September 10th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Tom.Blodgett said:
I had one over priced beer and immediately missed the PBR tall boys that KEXP had at their events. It’s hard to believe the Bumbershoot will be 40 next year and from reading about the past they probably have lost focus. Is it supposed to be about the national acts or the local acts? I never have time to fully enjoy the art or the films because I’m running across campus for different shows and lines. BUT I did have an amazing time, as always. I got to see some of my favorites groups in a different environment and I didn’t have to drive 2 hours away and pay a $100 to see.
For Seattlites that didn’t pre-buy tix, why not? That’s how Seattle works for all events. Helps them get more advertisers. You know you’re going to go or you can sell them…
September 10th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Tom.Blodgett said:
Also, you and others should get to perform outside the EMP. That’s worst line and the best venue. People were waiting in the line all the way up until the shows ended. I could use some music to pass the time.
September 10th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Beth said:
C-leb – pure brilliance. Love the idea of the Busker Stage. Shit, the buskers are the only thing that bring this seattlite to the Pike Place Market anymore….