121 replies to this topic

[JMG3]

I can count the number of times Charlie has brought great new bands to Phoenix that no one cared about at the time. He brought Bright Eyes, Death Cab, Moduse Mouse, Ryan Adams, Eliot Smith, Maron 5. All when they were playing in fornt of 50 people. Did he bring them because he thought they would some day be huge and make him a buck? No. They are huge because people like charlie beleived in them when no one did.



If Charlie stoped doing shows I would really worry about this towns sustainability.

Also Tortoise in 02 at the old Nita's (McClintock + Rio Salado), no one showed up... Mogwai (before word spread about them)
I think everything's gone a bit downhill after they closed the old Nita's. I agree about Charlie...
And actually we're the 5th largest city, behind NYC, LA, Chicago, and Houston. We just passed Philly some months ago. Regardless, we're a big fucking city.

[psykosteve]

I thought we pased Huston as well. But either way...

[chadk]

So if you found a website the size of the Shizz saying LA or New York or Seatle sucked you would take its word and skip those towns?

those towns are recognized as places with strong music communities.

arizona is not.

i understand that my example is weak, although my point still remains, negativity and phoenix bashing will acomplish absolutely nothing,

instead we should strive to find a soulution

like i said it is sad the show got canceled

[Brodie]

I started a thread here so as to take the focus off this festival. Go fer it.

[dharma_bum]

I can count the number of times Charlie has brought great new bands to Phoenix that no one cared about at the time. He brought Bright Eyes, Death Cab, Moduse Mouse, Ryan Adams, Eliot Smith, Maron 5. All when they were playing in fornt of 50 people. Did he bring them because he thought they would some day be huge and make him a buck? No. They are huge because people like charlie beleived in them when no one did.

don't forget moris tepper.

[Big_Poppa]

[quote name='dharma_bum' date='Nov 21 2005, 12:21 PM'] [/QUOTE]
don't forget moris tepper. [/quote]
That show was awesome......I looked for cheap/used tuba's at every thrift store/pawn shop I went by for the next two years after that show(not that I would have taken the time to learn how to play it anyways!)

[dharma_bum]

[quote name='Big_Poppa' date='Nov 21 2005, 01:35 PM'] [quote name='dharma_bum' date='Nov 21 2005, 12:21 PM'] [/QUOTE]
don't forget moris tepper. [/QUOTE]
That show was awesome......I looked for cheap/used tuba's at every thrift store/pawn shop I went by for the next two years after that show(not that I would have taken the time to learn how to play it anyways!) [/quote]
hahaha... oh yes, the tuba player.

[nathan]

4. compare the population of the phoenix with the population of the cities where the venues are bigger than the one they are playing in phoenix.

-a

how many of the compared cities would boast the number of retired senior citizens that the Phoenix area includes? I'm guessing Phoenix would have the most, and I'm also guessing that you wouldn't see a ton of those old cats at a Landmine Marathon show.

[guitarduane]

how many of the compared cities would boast the number of retired senior citizens that the Phoenix area includes? I'm guessing Phoenix would have the most, and I'm also guessing that you wouldn't see a ton of those old cats at a Landmine Marathon show.

this is a good and valid point. but phoenix also has the university with the largest enrollment in the nation. and even with the retired population excluded, phoenix still has to be in the top ten.

[SceneIsDead Concerts]

Also, I'm not interested in creating a "thriving local market" at all. I'm interested in thriving culture. Does money play a part? Of course, I have to live here, but I'm interested in sustainability not profitability.

Why else would booking agents schedule their bands to come through Phoenix? This is how they're trying to make a living - a thriving culture doesn't pay their bills. It's very easy to look at this situation strictly from an entertainment standpoint. Sadly, there are a lot of inherent costs involved with putting on these shows. That's why you have so few independent promoters left in town. Most people simply can not afford the financial and/or emotional drain it requires to do this. Furthermore, there is little compensation for those of us who do engage in the business aspect of music. We're doing it solely because of our love for the local scene. I haven't booked any of my shows in order to make money. Simply put, you do not make money as a concert promoter. Consider the amount of hours we invest in hosting a single show. However much we're lucky enough to profit at the end of the night is then divided over the previous weeks of labor spent. Consider everything Charlie had to sacrifice in order to arrange this festival. How much time was spent arranging this date? How much of his personal income was used to finance it? Some people like to complain about these shows having a low attendance - well, we're the guys left with the bill at the end of the night. Hosting these shows isn't my idea of a charity. Should I have to continue personally bankrolling these events due to low concert goer turnout? I just find it disappointing to hear that people are still complaining about the cancellation. This couldn't have been an easy decision for Charlie to make. People will openly complain about the price of their tickets on a particular show. I've yet to hear Charlie complain about what he spent on The Grand Cayenne Music Festival. He was attempting to expand our local market beyond its current scope. I don't see anyone else outside of venue owners shouldering that level of financial burden for our scene. Culture is a wonderful thing... we just need to be able to afford it.

[bob]

you just said the same thing i did only with more words.

look up sustainability, then look at how many times you define it in your post.

you don't need to defend yourself.

i'm fully down.

[chadk]

chad-
sorry i have such a bad attitude.
i love the same things about this place as you do.
i hate that no one cares.
the only people that do care are other artists.
its not like this in other cities.
bummer.
sorry, dude from somewhere else that reads this board because of the minibosses.
im sure i just have a bad attitude. book your band here.
its awesome.
we couldnt get 100 presale tickets for spoon.
but your band will do awesome.
we have such a great scene.
your band can play with 5 local openers that are all really awesome.
afew of their musician friends will come to the shows too.
and maybe some of their girlfriends.
yippee......

arron, i stated that my example wasn't the greatest, i am sorry that the show didn't happen, i think it's sad that it didn't happen,

it's a shitty situation. i agree

all i'm saying is that continuously bashing on something will not help it.

critique the situation, figure out where the problem is, and then try to fix it, i know i'm being optimistic but damnit, i will not sit idly by when someone says my home is shit.

like i said, it sucks that this happened, shitty things happen in other cities too. i just don't think anything positive can come from saying phoenix sucks.

[SceneIsDead Concerts]

you just said the same thing i did only with more words.

look up sustainability, then look at how many times you define it in your post.

you don't need to defend yourself.

i'm fully down.

It wasn't necessarily a defense... I just don't want people to think business comes at the expense of culture. Mainly, the point being how it's a necessary aspect of it. Everything I said before was intended as a clarification on the vital role local promoters and/or venues play in the music industry. I think there are a lot of misconceptions about what exact costs are involved with doing these shows.