Old Songs Festival 2006, $$$$$, and gasoline

Subject: $$$$$, Old Songs and gasoline
From: GUEST,Don Meixner
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 11:59 AM

As I am building jewelry for The Old Songs Festival a thought crossed my mind. Am I building too much stock for this or any show for the foreseeable future?

At what looks to be $3.50 + per gallon for fuel to get to Old Songs will the festival be a good and profitable show for me to do. In my case it doesn't matter too much. I'd lose money to do Old Songs.
It is my favorite show. But at what fuel cost will people decide not to attend Old Songs or any festival for that matter? And if people do attend the show how much will it affect mine or Allan Block's or anyone else's sales?

I have to make about $ 600.00 in sales just to break even for the show. I don't worry about whether I can or not but other crafters have a much tighter margin than do I.

Nebulous questions with nebulous answers I know. But the cost of fuel will affect the bottom line of Andy's great festival. What about CD sales for the performers? Local motel and B & B intake?

I'd like to think that for everyone who decides not to drive in from Boston someone locally will drive in from Delmar just to see what they've been missing. But as optimistic as I can be this doesn't sound too likely.

So, at how much per gallon do you stay home and listen to Folk Alley stream through your computer? Do you limit your travel elsewhere and at othertimes to come to Old Songs. Or do you hope the crisis if it is such will end soon?

Don

Subject: RE: $$$$$, Old Songs and gasoline
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 12:07 PM

Just for me, personally, I'll be there no matter what. But yes, high fuel costs may affect my ability to buy cds and other items. I will definitely be bringing more food and buying fewer meals.I keep a separete budget for festivals and music related items, as it's all tax-deductable for me. But the mileage deduction hasn't increased in relation to the current gas prices, that's for sure!

It's also affecting another decision- I absolutely have to get a new(er) car this year. Living in a hilly, wintry zone, I've been looking at 4-wheel drive cars. But for the sake of the planet I'm going to get the best fuel-efficient vehicle I can afford. Wish I could get a Prius, but it'll probably be a sub-compact of one kind or another.

It'll be great to see you at Old Songs, Don, even if it's just the 2 of us!

Subject: RE: $$$$$, Old Songs and gasoline
From: bigchuck
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 12:20 PM

Well, I expect to be there regardless, Don. Along with my friend Sharon and my granddaughters, who are much more likely to purchase your wares than I am.

Sandy

Subject: RE: $$$$$, Old Songs and gasoline
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 12:28 PM

Thanks Sandy,

I hope your ladies stop by to visit.

But will the price of fuel alter what else you do whether you buy a bracelet or a CD not withstanding.

I guess I wonder where is the "Enough is enough" point.

Don

Subject: RE: $$$$$, Old Songs and gasoline
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 12:50 PM

It obviously makes a difference in how far it's profitable to go, but considering that the last time SWMBO took her grandson to a movie here (a couple of years ago) the two of them blew pretty close to $50. Tickets to no-name entertainers (at least whose names I never heard) run $45 - $70 per person, and a couple of recognizable ones were going for $95+ each.

So gas is $3/gallon - but popcorn is $4.50/small bucket and a coke at the movie is $3.50 - $7.50 depending on size ($15/gal?).

I think a cup'a at Starbucks runs about $37/gallon or so?

There may be some slight drop in attendance at our big (WVA) fest, but it won't do the local economy much harm since you have to reserve more than a year in advance to get a room within 35 to 50 miles, and the last time we asked the local vet - on the way out from one festival - if he could reserve a space for our pooch for the next one he said we were "more than a year too late - do you want to reserve for the year after that?"

I'd expect people to perhaps cut back on the CD and souvenir purchases; but with some it's a "tradition" to get something, so many of them will get something but perhaps a little smaller than before. We skipped the annual sweatshirts last year already; but that's just 'cause the welfare check won't stretch.

Local reports say that AAA is puzzled that the gas prices haven't significantly affected the pleasure trips people take, based on the last couple of price bump cycles. That may be propaganda to encourage people to go ahead and git; but it doesn't seem that the prices are hurting the "tourist" movement. It is killin' the truckers, especially the indys that have cents/mile contracts and have to buy their own juice, so they'll appreciate the problems of the festy business people.

John

Subject: RE: $$$$$, Old Songs and gasoline
From: Susan of DT
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 01:05 PM

I don't expect gas prices to make much difference in attendance at Old Songs. I think the weather last year hurt vendor sales more. Camsco did fine, but the vendors in the craft area generally reported a very slow year and any hot food vendors did poorly. Cold food vendors did well. (It was a brutally hot weekend.)

Subject: RE: $$$$$, Old Songs and gasoline
From: MaineDog
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 01:17 PM

I'm trying to forget how hot it was -- actually it was so hot that I don't remember much except drinking a bit more ale than usual. It sort of feels like I wasn't there at all. But, oh yes, I remember meeting several 'catters out on the infield, and elsewhere. I will come again, weather or no.
MD

Subject: RE: $$$$$, Old Songs and gasoline
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 01:39 PM

Hi Susan

Yup, it was hot. None of the three days were cooler than 95 degrees at 3:30 in the afternoon. And what breeze there was made it worse.
I hope you are right about the attendance vs. gasoline. Altho' expensive gas and a weekend of rain could be a problem.

My craft sales were OK but not as good as the year before. My wife and I brought a fan from home as an after thought. The fan and some gin and tonics with friends made a large difference in our comfort level that week end.

This year we expect to do the same.

Don

Subject: RE: $$$$$, Old Songs and gasoline
From: GUEST,Pamela in Ithaca
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 05:34 PM

Hi Don,

My sense is that over 50% of the Old Songs attendance is local,
so gas prices shouldn't make too much of a difference. Back when I
started going (18 years ago... where does the time go?) I had to
hunt up the info, 'cause they didn't do a whole lot of advertising.
I think that's still pretty true.

We'll be there, volunteering and enjoying as usual. My sales choices
have had more to do with being "semi-retired" than rising cost of living. I'll still buy CDs, and the occasional crafts item.

Now, can I find someone to car pool with from Ithaca to NEFFA *this* weekend?

-psg

Subject: RE: $$$$$, Old Songs and gasoline
From: Midchuck
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 06:20 PM

MaineDog said:

actually it was so hot that I don't remember much except drinking a bit more ale than usual.

Huh! That's funny. I thought that was me!

Peter.

Subject: RE: $$$$$, Old Songs and gasoline
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 06:54 PM

You've swapped memories - you picked up each other's glass.

Subject: RE: $$$$$, Old Songs and gasoline
From: bbc
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 08:14 PM

Interesting question, Don. For me, since I only attend 2-3 festivals a year, it won't make any difference. I plan to come, regardless. It's worth it to me. Allison, I stayed w/ a 4WD car, but it's a Toyota Matrix--not very large. You might consider it.

love,

Barbara

Subject: RE: $$$$$, Old Songs and gasoline
From: Midchuck
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 09:04 PM

Mizchuck and my ticket order has gone in.

For us it's a little over 2 hours - maybe 100+ miles - each way. Say 225 miles round trip in a car that gets 25 mpg on the highway. That's nine gallons of gas. So gas going from $2/gal. to $3 makes it cost us nine dollars more. I think the ticket prices went up considerably more than that.

I know Kendall and Jacqui have reservations, coming from Maine in their new el monstro RV, and Kendall mentioned something about a second mortgage to buy the gas. Maybe he'll bring copies of the DVD of the show with Utah to peddle. I'd buy one.

P.

Subject: RE: $$$$$, Old Songs and gasoline
From: kendall
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 09:44 PM

When it hits $10.00 a gallon, I'll quit going.

Subject: RE: $$$$$, Old Songs and gasoline
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 09:50 PM

So you're planning on not going next year kendall? :-)

Subject: RE: $$$$$, Old Songs and gasoline
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 10:44 PM

I live a bit too far away to do Old Songs, but I am a craftsperson who makes his living selling pottery at festivals of one kind or another. The vast majority of festivals I do are civic-sponsored art festivals held in city parks and most of the crowd are locals so I don't see fuel cost being an issue there as far as attendance goes. If anything, it may increase attendance due to people staying closer to home. Where it might be an issue is in increased fuel cost cutting into people's discretionary spending budgets, but that's a concern for anyone who sells anything.

The only music festival I sell at is the Florida Folk Festival and though participants come from all over the state, most of the crowd probably doesn't drive more than 100 miles to get there. That's not far by southeastern US standards. For most audience members the difference in fuel cost for this year versus last year will only amount to around $10.00. Granted, that might be the $10.00 someone was planning on spending for a mug from me, but I don't think it'll be a big enough issue to keep the crowd away.

One side effect of rising fuel prices is that the distance from home at which it's cheaper to get a motel room than to drive home in the evening is a lot closer than it was just a year ago. If a show is 100 miles from home, it currently costs me $40.00 to drive home in the evening and back to the show the next morning. I can get a room for about the same amount and save four hours driving time.

Subject: RE: $$$$$, Old Songs and gasoline
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 21 Apr 06 - 01:02 AM

I'm an Old Songs Regular who travels about 400 miles each way to the Festival. (Didn't make it last year because of a death in the family.) 800 miles @ 30 mpg = 27 gallons of gas. Even if the price doubles from $2/gal to $4/gal (which is an exorbitantly non-conservative projection), it's an extra $54--compared to the costs of food, accommodations en route, and festival tickets, that's not much. And I'm one who commutes a very long distance to the festival. For someone coming from New England or Western New York, the proportion of extra money spent on gas to the the fixed costs of tickets and other expenses of the weekend (food, accommodation, etc.) is even less.

--Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: $$$$$, Old Songs and gasoline
From: Leadfingers
Date: 21 Apr 06 - 05:23 AM

You Americans dont know when you are lucky !! We are currently paying double what you are paying for fuel in UK !

Subject: RE: $$$$$, Old Songs and gasoline
From: Midchuck
Date: 21 Apr 06 - 08:28 AM

Yeah, but you can drive from one end of England to the other in a day or less, if he traffic on the motorways permits (a big "if," I concede).

Peter

Subject: RE: $$$$$, Old Songs and gasoline
From: GUEST,Don Meixner
Date: 21 Apr 06 - 08:52 AM

An important thing to remember is the here in the US most personal economies a based around what fuel costs. Not the cost of an ounce of gold. When fuel costs are relatively fixed it is easier to plan a budget.
   I have two neighbors who travel the same distance to work in opposite directions. One of them earns about 35% more than the other. So it is no guess whoose personal economy can handle the fuel rise easier than the other.
   The cost of fuel is transposed into everything else that we do here.   Just the cost of locally grown fresh food will increase as well. I've heard as much as 15%. If it we as much as 15% for just Green Beans I'd have no issues but it will be 15% on everything else as well. My salary won't increase. I can raise the price of my jewelry which is easy to do at this point. Something I have done once in 15 years. The cost of silver has increased 40% since last year and I won't even mention gold.
We have a nation that doesn't support mass transit very well. In most of the country if you get more than 30 miles outside the city limit you can forget about the bus or the train and it's car, bike , or Shank's Mare.
   My point in starting this thread was to answer a wonderment. Thanks alot I appreciate the input. Don't stop now.

Don

Subject: RE: $$$$$, Old Songs and gasoline
From: Kaleea
Date: 21 Apr 06 - 12:55 PM

. . .the cashier said, "one more twenty,"
      Kaleea couldn't fill up her tank!

      Did she ever return, no she never returned,
      And her fate is still unlearned
      She may walk forever she gets some fuel,
      She's the gal who never returned.