Seaside JAZZ Festival

Hey, y'all,

Aren't you used to paying for great music? Whatsamatta wit y'all? Musicians have to eat, buy gas, etc. don't you get it?

Huh?

QM

No, other than paying $75 for 8th row seats to see Willie Nelson (for my birthday present to myself), I haven't paid money to listen to good music since I bought the last Dread Clampitt CD, and I bought several of those. The bands are paid by collecting money in other ways around these parts. Cannot recall the last time I paid a cover charge to listen to music, though I see many live shows every week. Saw a great one tonight, at Amavida Coffee, in Seaside -- Cody Copeland. Now calling me cheap would make more sense if I went to see the shows and didn't support the businesses. I make it a point to spend a some money with the businesses who pay the bands. If Seaside's recent shows (not a festival by any stretch of the imagination) were open to the public, and vendors were set up, I would have supported the vendors, who were in turn paying money towards the event. Also, I spend money in Seaside throughout the year, so I've been paying for that Jazz Fest all year through the Seaside Sales Tax, which is raised for special events throughout the year.

We didn't go into Seaside on Sat. or Sun. because we thought it would be a zoo. IMHO the whole thing backfired. Parking was a breeze on Monday as many seemed to stay away for fear of huge crowds. Others stayed away for fear of a bad festival. In the end it was just a bunch of folks wondering where everyone else was. On Tuesday several Seaside merchants I talked to bemoaned that sales were down by 1/2 over last Memorial Day weekend. You win some, you lose some.

How does the extra % of tax at Seaside for A&E factor in to all of this? Would this be enough to pay the NOLA 'zishians if the production costs were underwritten by a title sponsor, like maybe Heineken?

merged

PS Major bummer to the peeps that are boasting of not paying (Supporting) to see the musical acts.

Not everyone can afford that much money to see a show once a quarter, much less seven times in 10 days. For the record, there are ways to make the costs of the show hidden and collected through other means. With Seaside sales being down by substantial amounts while the tents were up for ten days, the shops could have had record sales, thereby contributing much money via the Seaside Entertainment tax which is collected on all sales in Seaside, except for Ruskin Place. You cannot do that if you block people from coming in.

If you are going to call it a festival, make it a festival. To help lure people into every shop, there could be Jazz, New Orleans, and Katrina exhibits in every store in Seaside. Donation buckets could be on the counter in every store. I never even heard a, "Happy Memorial Day," on Monday, much less a plug for a Seaside store. Where is the connectivity? The REP Prom had a more successful campaign, and it was all volunteers working to raise the money, without the benefit of the year-round Seaside Tax.

You're cheap if you are scamming a "free" paid concert and justifying it with a smoothie purchase or a 1% tax! If you really wanted to support the event, but couldn't afford the ticket price, you could have gone to one of the free shows and bought a t-shirt, beverages from the sponsor, or made a small donation to help support the event.

Yes, it can be $ to eat, drink, and be entertained in this area, but with the amount of free events, volunteer jobs w/ free entry, vendors who need help staffing, and locals' discounts there is no reason to be blatantly ripping off paid events. :roll:

Not everyone can afford that much money to see a show once a quarter, much less seven times in 10 days.

I think it's really important to remember that Seaside (in particular) and 30A (in general) have really small permanent populations. I'd bet 80% of the people in town on Memorial Day weekend are visitors.

And, most importantly, almost all the visitors are families. There simply aren't a lot of folks willing to spend $50 to $75 per kid to catch some tunes, no matter how great the artists or compelling the cause of the benefit.

Of the rest of us, some aren't interested in the particular artist, some don't want to deal with the festival, some can't afford it, some are out of town, etc. And the remaining 37 people bought tickets.

The reason I keep saying the festival should be free and open is that it probably isn't going to work any other way, as just explained. Make it easy for a lot of folks to come, let the merchants have a good weekend without the disruptive tents and lost parking, and find another way to pay for it, as SJ has covered so well in his posts.

And, just maybe, it shouldn't be on Memorial Day or the 4th or the wine event, so as not to disrupt the Seaside merchants' biggest weekends. Give it its own weekend, let it become its own event.

Awright, I'm done. :leaving:

I do think it would have been more successful if they were charging $20-30 a day or similar (I know the price kept me away), but I think a totally free event is unrealistic.

If it was a kids/family issue, what do they typically do with them during events like the Wine Fests, Seabreeze Jazz Fest, or Mountainfilm?

What do y'all think is a reasonable amount for locals to pay to see a national act at an outdoor venue in SoWal? Say a single act with an opening band.

Good question, but it is different than paying for a festival ticket, where typically one can see 10-20 bands over a three day weekend, paying no more than $125 dollars for a ticket, which includes camping space. My last big festival was Bonaroo, and it was more like 30 excellent well-known bands, and I think my tickets were $100 ea. I probably spent at least twice that much on food and vending, which supplements the event's revenue, by charging vendors fees.

I think for an event like this to be successful, you must first get people to show up. Once you have the demand, you can charge admission, or raise the price until that demand tapers too much. I knew of two acts at this event, before I began to read about them. Start with lesser known NOLA artists, which don't require as much pay, and after your event is successful and in high demand, get a big draw band and charge some admission, but as pointed out, mom+pop+kid at Seaside Jazz Festival = $750. That dog don't hunt.

I was going to suggest a comparison of ticket prices for all the big events in the area. I don't think it should be free and I don't think people who are dropping thousands on lodging and hundreds on gas and food can claim poverty.

A ski trip is a "family" vacation and those average $70 per adult and $50 a kid per day for a lift ticket, then add lessons, food that costs the same as 30-A......

My partial list of possible comps:
Wine Fests - Seaside, Rosemary, Sandestin
Mountainfilm
Springfest (was in Pensacola and got canceled, but still)
Seabreeze Jazz Fest

One thing is that there weren't as many shows as the Seabreeze. I looked at the T-shirt and there were probably 5-6 times the number of acts.

Forget the Jazzfest for a sec.

What do y'all think is a reasonable amount for locals to pay to see a national act at an outdoor venue in SoWal? Say a single act with an opening band.

Suppose it was well done with premium food and drink available for purchase.

$30
$50
$80
more?

Forget the Jazzfest for a sec.

What do y'all think is a reasonable amount for locals to pay to see a national act at an outdoor venue in SoWal? Say a single act with an opening band.

Suppose it was well done with premium food and drink available for purchase.

$30
$50
$80
more?

It depends on the band for me. Spyrogyra I could do $50 ($100 for me and mine). At $30, a definite yes for most bands I like from radio and at $50 more consideration. Couldn't swing $80 each even for David Bowie!

Thanks! I don't do those high dollar stadium shows anymore. Especially when you get horrible nosebleed seats like I did for Bowie back in '88(?) at Tampa Stadium.

I'm thinking $40-$60 for a great act on 30A with a few thousand people. What do y'all think?

For the right band, I'd pay $40 to see them. Personally, I really don't enjoy concerts so much anymore, and would rather buy a few of the band's CDs for similar price as one ticket. However, I am not likely the norm.

$30 and below is an easy sell, $50-30 it really depends on the details/interests, $80 is a lot for a single performance IMO.

I'd actually prefer to have the option of bringing my own food/drink rather than buy "premium" stuff. I've yet to see premium as a description of anything but the price level even when some great restaurants are involved. :roll:

$30 and below is an easy sell, $50-30 it really depends on the details/interests, $80 is a lot for a single performance IMO.

I'd actually prefer to have the option of bringing my own food/drink rather than buy "premium" stuff. I've yet to see premium as a description of anything but the price level even when some great restaurants are involved. :roll:

What Scooterbug said...

Ditto

For the right band, I'd pay $40 to see them. Personally, I really don't enjoy concerts so much anymore, and would rather buy a few of the band's CDs for similar price as one ticket. However, I am not likely the norm.

I dont think you would pay at all Joe, You have to much fun lurking around and thinking you dont have to pay. All you like is being the dude on Sowal. I think you had more fun watching from Sundog and priding yourself in seeing it free.

Forget the Jazzfest for a sec.

What do y'all think is a reasonable amount for locals to pay to see a national act at an outdoor venue in SoWal? Say a single act with an opening band.

Suppose it was well done with premium food and drink available for purchase.

$30
$50
$80
more?

There is a small amphitheater in a planned community near us that has a Spring/Summer concert series. This past season had Kansas, Huey Lewis, Kenny Rogers, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy's, and some others. We have been to see Foreigner, Styxx, & Three Dog Night. The concerts are all sold out and the expensive tables are mostly purchased by corporate sponsors. Everyone in this community pretty much rides their golf cart to the concert. (Yes you can get a GCUI). The series prices are copied from the web site:

Ticket Prices

Individual
Ind. Reserved $55.00
Ind. Lawn $32.00

Series Tickets (all 6 concerts)
Ind. Reserved $199.00 per person
Ind. Lawn $145.00 per person
Ind. Gold Seats (Fri) 239.00 per person
Gold Tables (Sat) $2500.00 per table
Picnic Tables (Fri & Sat) $1439.00 per table

There is a small amphitheater in a planned community near us that has a Spring/Summer concert series. This past season had Kansas, Huey Lewis, Kenny Rogers, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy's, and some others. We have been to see Foreigner, Styxx, & Three Dog Night. The concerts are all sold out and the expensive tables are mostly purchased by corporate sponsors. Everyone in this community pretty much rides their golf cart to the concert. (Yes you can get a GCUI). The series prices are copied from the web site:

Ticket Prices

Individual
Ind. Reserved $55.00
Ind. Lawn $32.00

Series Tickets (all 6 concerts)
Ind. Reserved $199.00 per person
Ind. Lawn $145.00 per person
Ind. Gold Seats (Fri) 239.00 per person
Gold Tables (Sat) $2500.00 per table
Picnic Tables (Fri & Sat) $1439.00 per table

Thanks! But I have never heard of any of those groups.

Does the planned community have the word "Golden" in the title anywhere?

Thanks! But I have never heard of any of those groups.



Does the planned community have the word "Golden" in the title anywhere?

What a comedian!!:funn:
That's OK Kurt. I will just have to continue reliving my youth thru aging rockers.

The community in question has the name Peachtree in it but my husband refers to it as Babitt Land and/or Stepfordville.

What a comedian!!:funn:
That's OK Kurt. I will just have to continue reliving my youth thru aging rockers.

The community in question has the name Peachtree in it but my husband refers to it as Babitt Land and/or Stepfordville.

I think I know that community.

Watchman, if you had half a clue, you would know that I actually had a ticket to both week's shows, but I much prefer to watch with friends.

From Walton Sun 5/30/08 edition:

What if we threw a jazz concert and no one came?

South Walton promoters have rarely had any trouble getting folks to show up to hear music ? of any kind. Throw in a big name headliner and you?re guaranteed sure-fire success, right? We can charge big bucks and the music-loving public (which is everyone) will feel honored to pay it, right?

The Merchants at Seaside found out over the last two weekends that is not always the case. Locals have been debating what went wrong and what might have helped and what should have happened, scratching their mostly bald heads in bewilderment.

We?re talking jazz here.

A very successful jazz fest was just held in South Walton in April and money was made, with a packed house. So, why not this jazz festival, which had an icon of a headliner?

Many offer up the costly tickets, the lax advertising, and the ominous tents used to close off the Seaside Amphitheatre. All of those probably had a lot to do with the lack of attendance the first weekend of the festival. $100 is a lot to pay to see talent that is not a big name, especially in this economy.

Then, by the time the second weekend of the event rolled around, strategically planned for Memorial Day weekend with the big name headliner, I?m sure the planners were thinking, big crowds coming to the beach, it?s a sure thing, we will draw them in.

This is where those in charge had obviously gone to sleep at the wheel. Did they ever stop to think about WHO would be coming to the beach for the long Memorial Day weekend? Obviously not.

Kids come to the beach for Memorial Day weekend, families with children, and young adults, for family-type events of cooking out and shooting the bull with the family they have not had quality time with in a while. They come to spend the day on the beach soaking up rays. When they come in from the beach, it?s only to get cleaned up to go out to the bars and party. That?s why they came.

On Memorial Day weekend, $100-$150 tickets for music is not going to be a main draw. It?s family time. They did not come here to spend a rare and valuable long weekend sitting in a lawn chair in the humidity and heat of a closed in breezeless outdoor amphitheater listening to music that is not on their radar. If it had been free, maybe. For $150 ? it?s not going to happen.

Seabreeze Jazz Fest is successful, because someone took the time to think about the audience they were trying to draw and consider the best time of year to attract those people. Congratulations to Seabreeze Jazz promoters for a job well done.

To Seaside, live and learn.

Deborah Wheeler is a staff writer at The Walton Sun. She may be reached at (850) 267-4555 or e-mail debbie_ wheeler@link.freedom.com. Personally Yours appears monthly in The Sun.

Wheeler

Come on now....An article comparing the Seabreeze Jazz event with the Seaside Jazz event. That's is totally unfair and misleading the readers. Comparing a 10 yr established event to a NEW event!

Let's see, Seabreeze radio has;
* Major Budget
* Promo Advertising
* Jazz Contacts (Smooth Jazz that is)
* Established Sponsors
* Open Venue w/o rules
* Full Ownership of Event
* 10 years Old!

So many reasons her article is just wrong! I understand you must tell the truth and be informative, but she could have done it w/o comparing it to a estblished event.

Prior to the event (and in hindsight), I don't think anyone with the event thought they we're going to pull off the best event ever. They just did what they could within the timeframe, budget, contacts, etc....they could. I'm sure they will sit back and compare pros & the cons.

Oh well, most of Ms. Wheelers articles cover more important community events like who's birthday it is, how was Ms. Smith's house party, who's on vacation, who's kid graduated, etc...NOT!

PS love the community fourm.