I understand that the fest was run into the red by previous management. You would probably have to go back a ways to untangle it all.

I get a little irritatedby people who stroll through to, as one of you put it, gawk at the hippies, without contributing a dime. and yeah, I think it tends to be tight fisted yuppies.

Would it be so terrible to admit participants free, possibly broaden the scope of participants, and charge everybody else $10/day, $25/weekend?

it would still be cheaper than Bumbershoot, which I enjoyed the one year I went but have not been back to.

All of us participants have complained about the drumming. Would it be so difficult to get them in one place, coordinated by a drum circle leader who knew what s/he was doing? maybe kinda like the road show?? Drums: over here! (and nowhere else)

I send in my $30 so I can get the schedule ahead of time and this year I get a partial schedule and a coupon for my buttons, saying I can save the fest $$ by not using them. hunh??

I have serious questions about why I send in a membership fee and still get besieged by fianacial requests. I really would rather have an admission charge than be nickeled and dimed at every turn. I have my button collection, my shirt collection, and now, my participant button (yay!)

The money thing is out of hand.

I gather the water and power don't come cheap. I can believe the utilities bill is high. I know the ceiling on travel reimbursement is $125/act, which can still add up.

I can believe the bills really are a million and a half.

but this nickel and dime stuff really is out of hand, especially for us east siders who are already shelling out for hotel and gas.