Too many choices?

Subject: Too many choices?
From: Alan Day
Date: 31 Jul 10 - 04:09 AM

A few years ago I compared a Concertina concert at Warwick and was distressed to see a mass exodus of the audience leave after about thirty minutes, only to be replaced by a similar amount coming in. What had I or the artists done wrong ? The answer nothing. It seems to be the norm as I noticed it again this year in the main marquee. The choices available to season ticket holders are such that they are quite happy to come and go. Is the grass greener on the other side? Time for a meal, beer, walk, attend another event, the choices are vast and as a ticket holder you have many options, Too many?
I know of no other place where in a concert the audience comes and goes and in many cases not at the end of an artists performance , but in the middle of it. Just think a while if you were the artist and you see half of your audience walk out on you and then see loads more coming in,what reaction would you have on stage?
Al

Subject: RE: Too many choices?
From: Ross
Date: 31 Jul 10 - 04:21 AM

Phillip K Dick said that 'Folkies' were an abandoned race of Aliens left on Earth by their kin

Along with their hairdressers, accountabts & quantity surveyors

Or was that Douglas Adams?

Subject: RE: Too many choices?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 31 Jul 10 - 07:17 AM

The thing to keep in mind is, they probably aren't leaving because they've had enough of the performers, but because there's someone else just starting they want to catch. And the same is true of the people who've left another venue to come to yours.

There's a kind of completist collector's fever that can set in among festival goers. Not life-threatening, but it can get in the way of real enjoyment.

Subject: RE: Too many choices?
From: jacqui.c
Date: 31 Jul 10 - 07:23 AM

The two major annual folk events that we go to can be a bit like that -too much choice and, occasionally, two events on at the same time that really appeal. A bit of Solomon's judgment may come in - enjoy part of both.

At one recent festival I didn't even have time for a proper lunch as the programme was so full all day.

i'm sure that most of the performers at these events are aware of the situation. They are probably missing out on stuff they would like to see and, unlike the audience, can't leave in the middle of the set!

Subject: RE: Too many choices?
From: Deckman
Date: 31 Jul 10 - 07:37 AM

This is a good thread, and it raises a good point. Maybe we are in another "folk scare" ... I don't know. But it does appear that our music is becoming more public (popular?). Perforance options are increasing. For us, the answer is to pick and chose very carefully. We haven't enjoyed a festival venue for many years. Beyond the crowds, noise (drumming), parking problems,comes of the problem of not being able to be in two places at once ... I used to be able to do that when I was younger!

Last night, "Bride Judy" and I enjoyed a small house concert by two of our most favorite folk musicians, Ginny Reilly and David Maloney (aka Reilly and Maloney). It was superb evening, wonderful music, wonderful ambience. And we didn't have to watch our clocks to run off somewhere else because we might miss something. CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: Too many choices?
From: Alan Day
Date: 31 Jul 10 - 08:55 AM

I remember being booked for Broadstairs Festival many years ago and there were three dances going on at the same time. They were, at that time, the worst for overlapping events. Each artist was virtually used to the maximum, presumably to get their money's worth and famous named artists were performing in front of so few people it was a complete waste of talent. On paper these events sound great, but like having a dance with many bands it does not work. The dancers are just starting to enjoy themselves and the whole thing is stopped, half an hour (at least) set up time and the new caller has to start all over again.
Thanks for your posting Deckman, your enjoyment was not affected by numerous other choices, you could just sit back relax and enjoy what was before you.
Al

Subject: RE: Too many choices?
From: frogprince
Date: 31 Jul 10 - 11:19 AM

I just don't relish the whole "multiple stage" concept, at least except for something like Chicagofest (Don't know if it has continued as it was 20+ years ago or not) where the separate stages were for pretty distinct genres, and separated well enough that you could hear one or the other reasonably well. While we throughly enjoyed the last festival we attended, I was really torn at one point between two acts, both new to me, that I really would have liked to seen in intirety.