FRFF Preview Tour

[ckocher]

since he-who-shall-not-be-named has been banned from the board, things have been very different. ask away.

That's all right. My questions aren't that important anyway.


Chris

[john r]

your questions may be important, especially if they have to do with the expenses of the preview tour. i, for one, was not aware that FR subsidized it, although upon reflection, it does seem like booking a small folk venue for 4 people would not pay them very well individually.

was that the reason for the subsidy? are there venues large enough and willing enough to book 3 or 4 performers and make it worth their while?

[sarah3335]

I'm disappointed to hear that it was cancelled, but at this point it's kind of expected. My disappointment stems from the fact that I found out about falcon ridge from the preview tour and it is a good way to get new people to come to the festival and with the attendance numbers down the last few years getting new folks in is good.

On another note you would think ticket sales to the preview tour would make up for the cost of it, but I guess not...

[Sunny]

On another note you would think ticket sales to the preview tour would make up for the cost of it, but I guess not...

There are a lot of costs associated with hosting an event like the preview tour. Ticket sales only scratch the surface in many instances. There are the travel, lodging and dining expenses for all the artists (usually ~four with the preview tour, and many artists travel with at least one other manager or similar support person). There are expenses for promoting the show, staffing the event (though some venues are staffed by volunteers), the sound crew, insurance, and other miscellaneous expenses. As you can see, it's not an inexpensive proposition.

While I was looking forward to the preview tour, I'm relieved to know that the festival won't be reduced in duration or seriously impacted by other cost-saving measures.

[Notlob]

...willing enough to book 3 or 4 performers and make it worth their while?

2006 = 6 musicians:
Red Molly = Abbie, Caroline and Laurie
Pat Wictor brought Cheryl Prashker to Passim, maybe other gigs as well?
Ellis

2007 = 4+ musicians
Anthony DaCosta (did he bring along Greg Klyma, who accompanied him on the main stage performance?)
Lindsay Mac
Joe Crookson
Randall Williams

...and their "posses".

[ckocher]

2006 = 6 musicians:
Red Molly = Abbie, Caroline and Laurie
Pat Wictor brought Cheryl Prashker to Passim, maybe other gigs as well?
Ellis

Yes, Cheryl was pretty much at every gig, as far as I could tell.

2007 = 4+ musicians
Anthony DaCosta (did he bring along Greg Klyma, who accompanied him on the main stage performance?)
Lindsay Mac
Joe Crookson
Randall Williams

Anthony only played at the Friday-Saturday-Sunday gigs since he's still in high school. The others did a lot of mid-week shows without him.

Last year's tour was something close to 25 gigs in May - many of the stops arranged by the musicians themselves.


Chris

[boyhowdy]

Last year's tour was something close to 25 gigs in May - many of the stops arranged by the musicians themselves.

Worth pointing out there's a lot of house concert hosts on this list, and more who love the fest. If there's no OFFICIAL tour, perhaps it is worth suggesting that the sooner we know who won, the sooner we can start talkin' 'bout promoting our own faves as showcase winners, or perhaps even organizing a grassroots tour -- if artists are interested, and Anne is amenable, of course.

Anne: is it your sense that the tour had at least some return for artists/fest ticket sales? If so, I wonder if turning the showcase tour into a fan-run give-back to FRFF would not be wholly in the spirit of the festival AND the new economy.

[ckocher]

From Amy Speace's latest e-mail newsletter, just arrived in my inbox:

"For all of you who have seen Amy at Falcon Ridge last year, there's great news: Amy won the Emerging Artist showcase. So, thanks to everyone who voted for her."

Very cool - I definitely think that was a good choice.

So, who are the others?


Chris

[Notlob]

So, who are the others?

Chris

see http://www.falconridgefolk.com/phpBB2/v ... =2545#2545