Well maybe it hasn’t changed when it comes down to it re: possibly being a better way to shuffle the deck, but it has definitely evolved after seeing what I saw at the Huck Finn Jubilee yesterday … as I drove out mostly to see SCI.
Having been mostly confined to Telluride and other smaller bluegrass events in Colorado, I had never really seen the rift between “traditionalists” and “progressives” up close and personal.
But more to the point: there were high back chairs starting in the front row … which were mostly empty & those who did remain late stayed seated for the duration (even when it got dark and SCI took the stage). There were HUGE pockets of unused space between the soundboard and the stage Even though there were probably more chairs without people near them than not, the presence of the chairs made things really difficult to dance … and most of the cheese fans were relegated to dance on the side aisles. I’m not sure if their “tarp run” is good for multiple days? … almost seemed that way & will inquire today.
Anyhow, even though I’d like to see some tweaks re: TBF tarps, I’ll take our system in a heartbeat (warts and all) over the way things operate at Huck Finn!
Hi FaceOnMars. Huck Finn Jubilee has been operating the way it did for 38 years prior to SCI. It was simply a bad booking for that festival and any problems were a result of that. The chairs have been there and at many traditional bluegrass festivals for years. The easy answer is to have jam bands at a jam band festival not at a traditional bluegrass festival. SCI fans just seem to be totally self absorbed with their band playing wherever they want so they can see them. It is so strange to me. If SCI is so awesome and has such an amazing fan base than why don’t they book a show instead of traditional bluegrass fans having to subsidize their band?
Why didn’t they think of that? You mean SCI could book shows on their own, instead of chasing poor bluegrass festival organizers around, hounding them and begging for sets at festivals?
Bands play at festivals (in most cases) when the organizers reach out and ask them to play. Sounds a little like your beloved Huck Finn might be making a few turns that are rubbing your traditional nerves the wrong way…but don’t be bitter towards the bands and fans your organizer invited in.
HFJJ: From my perspective it was an excellent booking, even though in general I’ve been pretty down on SCI playing almost exclusively festivals this year and pounding the pavement by playing mostly songs from their new album at such a high frequency. I happened to think the location & setting were excellent and enjoyed most of the rest of the lineup as well. If you were to take a poll of other SCI fans, I’m willing to bet you’d find the majority of folks did too. On the other hand, the angst of many of the “traditionalists” re: SCI was very thick and tangible. Not trying to cast “blame” … just saying that one “side” seemed to be very inclusive, while the other had their arms folded tightly against their chests. In this light, it was heartening to see some of the festival regulars who were more open to giving SCI a chance … as music (to me at least) is a way to bring people together vs. create divisions.
But getting back to the original point of the thread: I don’t care what type of music is being played on the stage, vast numbers of unnoccupied chairs in a GA setting/venue is not a fair or equitable situation for the greater common good. In essence, these are simply objects (vs. actual people) which serve as quasi placeholders which are far more obtrusive than simple tarps … especially when the high back chairs are lined up in rows. Looking back at the HF Festival, if I recall, most SCI fans were almost too considerate IMO (especially the first night) and congregated on the sides … so as not to trample the (unoccupied) chairs.
I’m not a fan of tarps to begin with, let alone the process which the TBF sanctions to acquire said tarp space (i.e. waiting up all night, then engaging in a physical “contest”) & I’ve have found myself in heated “debates” on this forum … so the context of my post was more of comment on the relative nature of how things work at the TBF vs. other festivals/venues such as HF.
I too was at the Huck Finn Fest and had a fantastic time! I was shocked when I arrived a day early and saw rows of chairs being set up before they were even done setting up the stage??? I was told by the president of the Southwest Bluegrass Association that this is how the HFF has been doing things for 30 plus years. (prior to having a jam band in the line up). Anyway I had suggested to him that if the future if they want to expand the festival and promote traditonal bluegrass and jamgrass at the same venue in So Cal. People should not be able to leave thier chairs in the same spot for three days. He seemed open to the “simple” idea. Only time will tell??
The first question someone asked me was, “how long did you stay in line to get this spot” to which my reply was, “I just got here”. I walked in and sat down.
Pretty simple hua? I think this tarp thing could be cured by pretarpping the entire grounds before we hit it. DONE! Leave it to a women to solve this :lol :flower
Crowd rotation…every set the folks from the back move up and the folks from the front move back. Like Volleyball rotation. After a few Beers this could be fun :medal
So the people who have been coming for 30+ years did not welcome the people who had never been and wanted all the chairs moved that had also been there for 30+ years. Got it. They didn’t appreciate all the drugs and passed out people in the grass? Check.
So you have a home I assume. Maybe lived in it a while. I’m going to come park my RV in front of it and have a loud party every night. Cool? PM me your address.
The high backed chair thing is funny. Like they were so high you couldn’t see over them to the stage 7 feet off the ground?
[i]My Neighbors have a cool BBQ every Labor Day. String instruments, a little jamming, there’s a cooler of beer stashed in the garage for the grownups, but most drink the punch. It’s great punch.
this year their college son asked if his band could play, and they said yes. They played this incessant jamming drone crap, and all their weird drugged out fans spun in circles. How dare they? How dare they come to MY Hood and spin in circles? How do I explain that to the kids? They ruined it…the whole thing was ruined because of those spinners.[/i]
But…see…the things is, the spinners were there because the band was there. The band was there because the neighbor asked them to be there. So be pissed at the guy who booked 'em, but don’t be all bitter and pissy with the band or the fans…it’s not their fault the promoter pissed in your cornflakes…he knew what he was going to get.
LOL!!! :lol The Glow Stick People really ruin it for me :lol :lol Now now, tolerance is key! A learning curve to be respectful and loving in a crowd is what is needed. A hard concept for most to grasp all at once. Mentor in the ways of fun loving all inclusivness to our Fest guest. I just keep getting reminded of how I spread myself out diagonally to save our space during break and what a joke it was. Respect and love flows like a river if we help promote it. Be kind and thoughtful especially in a tight crowd. I was 20 once and full of party and chat and so we need to be kind and teach. I remember one year my friend brought a girl who loved to talk non stop. Someone from behind me told her to please shut up and I was so glad. LOL!!! I was trapped! :lol Fest LOVE IT ALL! Good Marketing. Young blood is good.
Sorry you witnessed some negative with your kids but even that can be a learning moment. See what happens if you don’t eat your peas… :flower
HFJJ: Currently visiting Glacier National Park … a vast and great “natural GA” sort of thing for the citizens of the U.S. and those who happen to be visiting our country. I will respond in greater detail upon my return.