Why I Hate Festivals

[davidkaye]

Hi, I checked your web-site, you are a strolling accordeon player at parties, it is not something you can make $$ with at big festivals

You're missing it. I have no desire to work festivals. There is nothing personal in this. I'm talking about the small venues that suffer when big festivals are in town. Is this really such a hard concept to grasp? There is only a finite amount of money to go around and if it's spent somewhere it's not spent elsewhere.

[Irina]

Then why are you posting it on this forum? I am sure there are a lot of forums on the net dedicated to cursing corporations! Organic farmers are suing Monsano, Walmart is destroying local commerce etc etc The promoters puting together music concerts are really not that big in comparison with these corporate giants - and they are selling music, not guns or genetically-modified foods or pharmacutical drugs or vacinations causing autism.. . Oh, how about BP Gulf Oil spill? Shall we start an Oil Spill thread on buskers forum? this will be actually a relevant topic as BP oil spill directly affected out business, and BP did not give any NOLA street artists or buskers any money...

[devinio]

Phish is awesome. Although they have been back together for a few years now, so not exactly a comeback tour.

Outside Lands brings a shit ton of money to SF, no it probably doesn't get spent in local music venues that weekend, but it does raise interest and expose people to live music and provide some work for people who might tip a busker. Anyone who can afford to go to Outside Lands can still afford to go to a local show if they want to, and are local. Maybe next time they make the drive from Walnut Creek, Sacramento, Fairfield, or wherever that's what they will do. Maybe they will go see some awesome band they had never heard of with those cool people they met at Outside Lands. Outside Lands does (or did in the past) hire lots of local performers for one of the tents. I used to work there.

Yoshi's is dying? Really? Yoshi's is so close to stepping in front of a subway train that they opened a second location in The Fillmore a few years ago. Yes, they have expanded their offerings, but businesses have to do that. Besides they are booking groups like Public Enemy, KRS ONE, ZAPP, and George Clinton. This doesn't strike me as a radical excursion for a jazz club, as these are the icons of the previous generation of black music.

David is determined to hate festivals and that's just that. I can respect that, I have some things I am determined to hate regardless of the points of fact. Don't we all?

I hate Outside Lands, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Power to the Peaceful and pretty much all big festivals in Golden Gate Park. Largely because I live right next to where they all happen and have to ride the N judah during these things with all the stinkbomb drunken music fans. I am beginning to despise the SF Giants for this same reason, but I guess that's a topic for another day. At least I don't live next to Candlestick.

[Dr. Harmonica]

Why I love to busk at festivals. There are throngs of people who are looking for entertainment and amusement as they stroll around. I can set my own schedule and play as long or as little as I want. I don't get booked. I come, I play, I leave. The festivals I play are usually located in or near the a city or town center and are very busy. Once I find the right spot I'm in business. That is as long as I'm not kicked out. I spend the whole summer every year going from festival to festival to play. Music festivals are the best for me but city festivals are also good. Where ever the people are is where I want to be when I'm busking. Of course it's just the opposite when I've finished the season . By then I am seriously over boogied and had more then enough of noise and crowds.

[davidkaye]

Why I love to busk at festivals.

Actually, I have no problem with the idea of busking AT festivals that are not busking festivals. I've busked at music and crafts festivals, farmers' markets, and in front of the AT&T ball park where the SF Giants baseball team plays. I've made good tips that way.

But actual busking festivals are what annoy me because I feel that these festivals are trying to codify what has been a freelance kind of endeavor. And I assume that sooner or later freelance busking would be banned when it's not part of an official busking festival.

[Dr. Harmonica]

Buskers sometimes even must pay to play

Well freelance busking is not always free. At a few venues I've had to pay to play. My thinking is they're getting top class free entertainment and should be happy. Their thinking is that if all the other sellers and people doing business have to pay to rent space so why should a musician be different. If I know the gig is worthwhile I pay. Occasionally even a busker must pay taxes.