Wade on Birmingham

City Stages 2008: The fallout

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city stagesJune 20, 2008

City Stages
1929 Third Ave. N., No. 900
Birmingham, AL 35203

Dear Guy McCullough and George McMillan:

Thank you for your hard work for the past 20 years on City Stages, including this year’s milestone festival. While your dedication and past success have kept the event going, we’ve decided to terminate your services effective immediately.

It should surprise no one that ticket sales didn’t reach stated goals and that the event will again lose money. This follows the pattern of previous years. And though you’ve publicly stated that each year would show an improvement in revenues, even with costs under control, the event bleeds money.

And while attendees and non-attendees can continue to debate the quality of the lineup or the importance of other factors (timing, weather), your track record has been one of continued debt, unresponsive leadership and increased dependence on public funds.

This decision should not be a surprise to either one of you. As you know, companies live or die by their ability to sustain income. Given your 20 years on-the-job experience, we feel that you have reached your limit in finding ways to keep the festival in the black.

So far, your efforts in recent years have included title sponsorship, higher ticket prices, date changes, a new booking company, sponsored viewing platforms, a smaller site, fewer stages, benefit concerts and a fund-raising campaign. These tactics have not erased the debt nor improved the festival’s long-term financial security.

Yes, City Stages is a nonprofit organization. But even nonprofit groups must fire their CEOs for mismanagement. What’s important is that the festival succeed, and we feel confident that new leadership and a new direction will reverse this downward trend. Twenty years is more than enough time for any leader to prove himself. It is time to move on.

We wish you well in your future endeavors.

Signed,

The taxpayers, residents and ticket buyers

• • •

Complete City Stages 2008 coverage.

8 Yips for “City Stages 2008: The fallout”

  1. tchicarello
    Monday, June 23, 2008, 1:57 pm
    1

    Worst lineup in the history of City Stages.
    Unbelievably bad. First time there wasn’t anyone me and my friends wanted to see!
    Just awful!

  2. J Matt
    Monday, June 23, 2008, 2:36 pm
    2

    I disagree. There was plenty out there for me to see. I do believe each year a music festivla should find their niche’ and work it…but also believe that change can always be welcomed – when done right. No one wants to see the same acts year after year, but if works…then work it. This year (different from other years), I purchased my ticket in advance – especially hearing Diana Ross, Al Green, Ben Harper, the Roots, Maze/Frankie Beverly, Ledisi and Israel & New Breed was added to the bill. Of course, I am sorry to tchicarello that no one was good enough out there for you to attend, but for me it was very much a different story. Guess the popular saying rings true to home: “you can’t please everybody.”

  3. tchicarello
    Monday, June 23, 2008, 4:50 pm
    3

    Guess so JMatt,
    Last year Eric Johnson, Steve miller etc. .
    2006 – Allman Bros. Derek Trucks, Hermans Hermitts, Grassroots, Beach Boys
    2005-Def Leppard, Montrose
    come on, no comaprison . .
    You can’t please everyone, but this years
    attendance proves they please anyone but you!!!
    Thanks for your concern

  4. RJP
    Thursday, June 26, 2008, 1:37 pm
    4

    I am very disappointed with all of the negativity, that tends to surround City Stages. This is one of the last positive things this city has to offer. There are a lot of people putting their blood, sweat, and tears into this music festival. The lineup this year I believe was the best one ever. It may not have translated into the ticket sales that was wanted but I believe it did help give the festival and the city a true identity. I don’t care what anyone else thinks, we need City Stages! See you in 2009!!!!!

  5. Wade
    Thursday, June 26, 2008, 7:36 pm
    5

    @RJP: Naturally, you would be disappointed with the negativity, since you work for City Stages.

    Maybe ticket sales don’t matter to you, but it’s that attitude that keeps the festival firmly grounded in debt, never hesitating to ask taxpayers to step up.

    Hard work is great. Results are even better.

  6. Wade on Birmingham » Blog Archive » Wade on June 2008
    Tuesday, July 1, 2008, 11:22 pm
    6

    […] City Stages 2008: The fallout Wade | @RJP: Naturally, you would be… RJP | I am very disappointed with all of the… tchicarello | Guess so JMatt, Last year Eric… J Matt | I disagree. There was plenty out there… tchicarello | Worst lineup in the history of… […]

  7. Mossgard
    Monday, July 21, 2008, 6:05 pm
    7

    Let’s try to remember that City Stages shouldn’t be about getting all the great little groups you favor this week in one place at one time for your personal pleasure since music is as varied as food in this town.

    City Stages should be about seeing and experiencing different kinds of music so you can not only see your faorite little group but also be exposed to something else you might not have seen otherwise.

    Think if it were City Tables in town and food was served instead of music… wouldn’t plenty of people come and whine that there was no fried chicken or cheeseburgers while missing the delicious taste treats of the rest of the buffet?

    City Stages shouldn’t be all about great bands you love but great bands you might love if you ever got a chance to hear them. City Stages is that chance.

    Take it.

  8. Wade on Birmingham » Blog Archive » BREAKING: City Stages festival ends its run in debt
    Thursday, June 25, 2009, 1:08 pm
    8

    […] } if (hours==0) hours=12 if (minutes Sphere: Related Content Also see:City Stages 2006City Stages 2008: The falloutHeads up: No quo like the status quoCity Stages 2008City Stages […]

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