Comments on: City Stages 2009: Less money, mo problems

By: Wade on Birmingham » Blog Archive » BREAKING: City Stages festival ends its run in debt

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:50:40 +0000

[...] City Stages 2009: Less money, mo problems Wade Kwon | I’m not really expecting… Kenn McCracken | My only real problem —… Wade | John, I do think that the music and… John | So how did they pull off the first year… [...]

By: Wade Kwon

Wade Kwon — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:20:38 +0000

I’m not really expecting anything to change this year or next. The pattern has been set for years.

By: Kenn McCracken

Kenn McCracken — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:25:05 +0000

My only real problem — the one that can’t or won’t be addressed, unlike ticket prices, questionable talent booking, or placement of the festival on the calendar — is what seems to be a steadfast refusal to admit that the festival was not successful, much less addressing any problems. It’s parallel to the bailouts of the last year — why is it, exactly, that we continue to prop up unsuccessful ventures? Because they’re necessary to society’s success? Because the people really want them, even if they won’t pay for them?

My jaw nearly shattered on impact with the floor when I read this morning that McMillan was actually admitting that CS might be at its end. Until I realized he’s probably just trying to drum up sympathy.

By: Wade

Wade — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:18:26 +0000

John, I do think that the music and festival industry has changed tremendously between 1989 and 2009. Talent prices are higher, expectations are greater.

I don’t know what the solution is, because I’m still not clear on the details. I’ve asked City Stages several times to share information that backs up their economic impact assertions.

But they have refused to share that information. So much for transparency.

By: Birmingham City Council votes to bail out City Stages | Birmingham Weekly

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:20:41 +0000

[...] Wade Kwon talks about City Stages money problems and digs up some relevant documents. blog comments powered by Disqus var disqus_url = [...]

By: John

John — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:19:45 +0000

So how did they pull off the first year with tickets at $3 per day ($5 weekend pass) and only 38,000 attendees? They still had headliners (Chuck Berry, John Hiatt, Travis Tritt, Sin Ra, the Winans, the Temptations, John Prine)