I haven't been blogging about FestivALL because I haven't participated much. I've been out and about, but I'm waiting to see what happens more than getting into it.
First the good news. Buddy Guy on Mountain Stage killed. Susan Johnston's "How Sissy Grew" appears to have been well-received, too.
But this weekend looms like all kinds of misery. According to the Clay Center's website, there are approximately 580 tickets still available for the Mayor's concert on Thursday. The Billy Jonas concert for the Woody Hawley show on Saturday, up until late last week, had sold only a handful of tickets. Blues, Brews and BBQ and Wine and All That Jazz will probably do OK (they did before FestivALL), but neither has generated a lot of excitement.
You can blame promotion, but this year's FestivALL has been the slickest, most interesting visually so far. I'd argue they should have been feeding information earlier than they did, but when they started was adequate. However, whether FestivALL succeeds of fails, it comes down not to the leaflets and the posters, but the strength of the entertainment to draw a crowd.
On the upside, there are still plenty of tickets available and during the mayor's show right now, there's enough space in the theater to play a game of touch football without having to worry about obstructing the view of the stage.
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I don't know when they are gonna realize they need to try to appeal to a younger, hipper crowd. The people who go out to the Empty Glass or to Mt Stage to see bands on a regular basis and the people who are willing to drive to Cincinatti to see Wilco or hell, even to Morgantown to see Conner O. But as long as they keep bringing in the same old same old they will continue to draw the same old same old.
ReplyDeleteFrom the accounts I have read, at least on the arts side they seem to be doing somthing right, and some of they acts they are booking for the smaller shows seem to be working. I heard the Davisson Bros./Hillbilly Gypsies show at Appy Power Park was pretty packed.
Oh Well, Ill continue to go to Pittsburgh for good music.
I don't disagree with your thoughts. Charleston tends to play it very cautiously.
ReplyDeleteAt some point this week, I plan to post my very pretentious and very much unsolicited suggestions for improving FestivALL (at least the music stuff).