First Time Fest Flop - Lazy River

[~dave~~wave~]

I met a tie-dye vendor at SITP who had just come from the Lazy River Fest the previous weekend.
He told me it was a great disappointment to him, only 700 tickets were sold over two days, he did almost no business.

What's worse, when the food vendors called the promoters the week before so they could know how much food to order, they were told to expect 3 to 6 thousand.

This is the kind of wishful thinking or downright dishonesty that will take some fests right down the tubes.
I'm sure this was put on by some well-intentioned people, but...
...It makes me thankful for the integrity of the organizers of Waka.

Did anybody go to this or hear anything?
It was another one that looked good on a web site, but who really knows?

Lazy River Music & Arts Festival set to offer fans an alternative to today?s mega-festivals!

A boutique and alternative version of today?s mega-festivals is set to take place June 27, 28 & 29 less than one hour outside of Chicago at South Elgin?s beautiful Vasa Park...

Featured acts include Rusted Root, Son Volt, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Banyan, Mr. Blotto, New Monsoon...

[bogmonkey]

They posted this comment on their website, so they are definitely putting a positive spin on the situation - eh?

http://inlinethumb03.webshots.com/41794/2116842940048783174S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2116842940048783174KhIRjH)

[groovepuppy]

[quote:51b6500172=\"~dave~~wave~\"] they were told to expect 3 to 6 thousand.
[/quote:51b6500172]
Kind of makes you wonder what they based their numbers on?

[amazed]

[quote:3cbf26bb3b=\"~dave~~wave~\"]He told me it was a great disappointment to him, only 700 tickets were sold over two days, he did almost no business.

What's worse, when the food vendors called the promoters the week before so they could know how much food to order, they were told to expect 3 to 6 thousand.

This is the kind of wishful thinking or downright dishonesty that will take some fests right down the tubes.
I'm sure this was put on by some well-intentioned people, but...
...It makes me thankful for the integrity of the organizers of Waka.

Did anybody go to this or hear anything?
[/quote:3cbf26bb3b]

Yes, I went on Sunday. I don't know where this vendor gets his 700 from unless he is referring to the first 2 days of the festival. The strongest line-up was Sunday and Sunday alone had well over 700 people there (that comes from reliable sources).

I know it's less than the 3-6 thousand that the vendors were told but you can be rest assured that figure is also what the promoters hoped would be there too. Unfortunately for them (and the vendors) Sunday was a rainy, overcast day. I am not saying that they would have made their projections but I am sure they would have been a little closer.

As with any \"new\" festival (unless you're Rothbury) it does take some time to grow. I have seen on some other forums some vendors making the same comments and blaming the promoter. This was a well run festival with a decent line-up, promotion was good etc etc.

I'm making these comments because I think it is unfair to attack the promoter. Some vendors (not all) don't seem to realize that without promoters they would have no place to vend. This promoter may have been over optimistic but I am sure that is what the promoter hoped for, I don't think there was any ill-intent or dishonesty. Don't forget, the promoter probably lost a lot of money too.

I think it is admirable that the promoter would be willing to try it again. I see no reason why this festival (just like Waka) would not grow over time.

Anyhow, I'll stop rambling, but it just makes me incensed when some vendors \"shoot their mouths off\". If they think they can do any better then let them become promoters.......

:shock:

[~dave~~wave~]

[quote:3e1929fe3b=\"amazed\"]Yes, I went on Sunday... This was a well run festival with a decent line-up, promotion was good etc etc...[/quote:3e1929fe3b]
This is good news, great to get a first-hand report from a forum member.
[quote:3e1929fe3b=\"amazed\"]...I don't know where this vendor gets his 700 from unless he is referring to the first 2 days of the festival. The strongest line-up was Sunday and Sunday alone had well over 700..[/quote:3e1929fe3b]
That's my bad, I should have been more precise in my post. I believe I heard 700 advance tickets sold.
That's part of the point here.
Any fest needs strong advance ticket sales to make it, Waka included.
That's why promotion, street teaming, etc. is important.
[quote:3e1929fe3b=\"amazed\"] I know it's less than the 3-6 thousand that the vendors were told but you can be rest assured that figure is also what the promoters hoped would be there too. Unfortunately for them (and the vendors) Sunday was a rainy, overcast day. I am not saying that they would have made their projections but I am sure they would have been a little closer.[/quote:3e1929fe3b]
Weather, again. Always an x-factor. Walk-up same day sales is iffy to guess, as well.
[quote:3e1929fe3b=\"amazed\"]As with any \"new\" festival (unless you're Rothbury) it does take some time to grow... This promoter may have been over optimistic but I am sure that is what the promoter hoped for, I don't think there was any ill-intent or dishonesty. Don't forget, the promoter probably lost a lot of money too.

I think it is admirable that the promoter would be willing to try it again. I see no reason why this festival (just like Waka) would not grow over time.[/quote:3e1929fe3b]
Good luck to them, and kudos for taking a chance on starting up a fest.

[rabbitsounds]

that line up looked sick....

i would have gone....but that is quite a walk for someone without a car...

LOL

[LunaChic420]

ohhhh, we were at Lazy River...the music was GREAT, the place was gorgeous, the people who were there, and they never topped 1000, were wonderful, but there was a definite lack of organization and advertising. On Sunday, we were told we could move our booths to the main stage area, I went up there with a few things and saw that I had already seen most folks and they were already sporting Third Planet gear. So even though the layout was not the best for vendors, we had done all we could do with the people there. So moving the entire booth at that point was wasted work. There was definite disorganization during set-up and I chalked it up to first year stuff...and Rothbury's set up was no dream, more like a nightmare, but at Rothbury I knew the people would come. At Lazy River I was led to believe we would have 2000-3000 people which is a far cry from the 700 advance tickets that were sold. All summer we have talked up every festival we will be attending and I should have worried when no one I spoke too had heard of Lazy River, even when they knew of other smaller fests. Now, we had a good time but if we had not have been on our way to Rothbury, we would have lost our ass.
As for not having a place to vend without promoters putting on festivals, yes this is true, but vendors put up front money, so we are kind of like investors, and if any promoters would just ask their pool of selected vendors for any input on layout or advertising (especially first year fests) they might get some good, useful information. I like shows that give us some sort of layout to think about, even just a verbal description like, two stage areas with a wooded vending village just off the beaten path would have helped out. Clear check in dates, times, and directions. People running check in who have some idea which booth goes where and what the dimensions of each booth are...the little things.
All that said, we would gladly consider returning to Lazy River.

[Jayhonk]

[quote:d827da6879=\"amazed\"]...promotion was good etc etc.[/quote:d827da6879]
Apparently not.

[quote:d827da6879=\"amazed\"]If they think they can do any better then let them become promoters.....[/quote:d827da6879]
LOL
My country, love it or leave it.

[amazed]

[quote:d306c66219=\"Jayhonk\"]LOL
My country, love it or leave it.[/quote:d306c66219]

Oh so wrong!

I can not explain any better than it has been said before....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM9Es4N4oGU

Sometimes people just do not take the time to think!