Change of Venue?

[nightwish58]

IF, and that's a very big IF, Glenn ever wanted a larger venue, the Gwinnett Arena is 15 minutes away from Earthlink. The Phillips Arena is about 10 minutes away. ProgPowerUSA isn't about size... it's about quality.

I never said PP was not about quality; apparently some of you missed my point. I would be content if the current situation remained the same forever (small venue- intimate setting, etc...) But that is just me being greedy and selfish. I realize that this event has gotten bigger and bigger each year, and realistically, if Glenn could sell more tickets and move to a slightly larger venue, why wouldn't he? That was all I meant by saying that it would make sense to go to avenue like the one YtseJammer mentioned solely based upon the size. It is a gradual upgrade to 1500 or so people. If Glenn were to take a chance increasing the size, and i am not speaking for him, I would think a 1500-1800 seat venue would be perfect. The bottom line is selling seats, and if you can put more people in the seats, eventually an upgrade seems inevitable to me.

 

[AngraRULES]

I just came back from Germany and my flight stoped in Atlanta before reaching Miami...Atlanta's airport is one of the busiest airports in the country...

Not to mention one of the biggest, if not the biggest in the USA.

As much as I live 40 min from NYC, I don't think it'd be a good idea to have ProgPower there.... I don't mind traveling to Atlanta once a year!

 

[Torn2Shreds]

I'm also from the NYC area and it is getting WAY TOO CONGESTED for ProgPower to move up here. As Glenn said, he lives in the Atlanta area, it wouldn't make sense for him to move EVERYTHING to a new location. I wouldn't change the venue in Atlanta either, keep it at Earthlink Live and continue to run the best Prog/Power Metal festival in the USA!!!

Besides, I really like coming down to Atlanta and getting away from all of this hectic madness up here... Looking forward to the DRIVE DOWN!!!!

 

[booB]

I look forward to traveling to Atlanta every year for this fest; I think I'd probably DREAD visiting downtown NYC every year. I'm spoiled by the ease of getting to/from midtown Atlanta, and getting around the area.

The only drawback with Atlanta is that it gets a little tough for us out-of-towners to find something to eat at certain times during the weekend.

 

[Angrafan]

I wouldn't mind going to NY for a festival.. NYC kicks ass... As a matter of fact, I already go to NY at least once a year..

But Earthlink is awesome too.. It's all good

 

[Undershadow]

As my Grand Pappy always said if it 'aint broke.......... :Smug:

 

[urinalcakemix]

As my Grand Pappy always said if it 'aint broke.......... :Smug:

get a hammer?

 

[RycheMaiden]

I'm also from the NYC area and it is getting WAY TOO CONGESTED for ProgPower to move up here. As Glenn said, he lives in the Atlanta area, it wouldn't make sense for him to move EVERYTHING to a new location. I wouldn't change the venue in Atlanta either, keep it at Earthlink Live and continue to run the best Prog/Power Metal festival in the USA!!!

Besides, I really like coming down to Atlanta and getting away from all of this hectic madness up here... Looking forward to the DRIVE DOWN!!!!

You got that right!!! Keep it down there...we'll come down every year if we can! This year, if we had more time we'd drive down but we're gonna save time & fly...see ya all there!!!
Yes we have a good concert scene in this area, but with all the hustle & bustle your stress level hits an all time high!!! PLUS...it's getting WAY too expensive to live here!!!

Deb

 

[Sautherom]

I ...Atlanta's airport is one of the busiest airports in the country...

of the country?. i think...Harstfield-Jackson is one of the busiest airports in the WORLD

 

[J-Man]

Granted if it ain't broke don't mess with it. But i would also like to add, in my humble opinion, i would love to try and sponsor a ProgPower west of the Mississippi, and have it maybe the week after atlanta. I know that sounds selfish, but there are thousands of metal fans in this area that would pay good money here, but just don't have the money to come to atlanta. Plus the costs of putting on a show here would be even less than Atlanta, and the airfare to here is about the same. Plenty of hotels and no Unions to worry with. Plus there is a very intimate venue here about 1500 to 2000, with a smaller club inside about 800 that would be perfect. Now don't get me wrong i dont's want to move it from Atlanta just add it here as a second one to get maximum exposure. Would it be possible????? Maybe, i would love to try.

 

[booB]

I know Glenn is gonna hate me for suggesting this, LOL... but how about a ProgPower USA tour? four or five prog/power bands playing at decent mid-sized venues across the country would probably sell well, if it had the ProgPower name on it. I realize Glenn is pretty busy with PPUSA in Atlanta, but he wouldn't necessarily have to be in charge of this... and I realize that the good reputation of PPUSA has pretty much everything to do with the way Glenn and co. run it, but if a tour like this was ALSO run properly, it could be very successful, while at the same time giving people a chance to see a ProgPower-related show who haven't been able to make it to PPUSA.

Anyway, I'm sure this sort of thing has been proposed in the past... and I sure as hell don't have what it takes to make such a thing work... but I think it would be a great idea for someone with a good business sense who loves metal. There are lots of great, mid-sized venues in this country similar to Earthlink that could host a show like this.

 

[lady_space]

I just came back from Germany and my flight stoped in Atlanta before reaching Miami...Atlanta's airport is one of the busiest airports in the country...

Unless it's changed, Atlanta's airport is *the* busiest passenger airport in the world. Newark & JFK have less than half the traffic, and Laguardia didn't make the latest Top 20 I could find.

On the idea of making the festival bigger, I LOVE it the way it is now. If the choice comes down to making it bigger or raising prices $25, I'll gladly hand over a few extra bucks.

Shaye

 

[TheWhisper]

I've no problem with PP as it is, but I also think that it would be great if it were to grow.

 

[AngraRULES]

We should not make ProgPower any bigger. It feels more intimate the way it is now. Only a few select bands for a few hundred select people. =)

 

[mtlheart]

I've no problem with PP as it is, but I also think that it would be great if it were to grow.

The signing, vendor, and drink lines aren't long enough for you yet?

 

[Dark One]

I will say this - It's a shame that Earthlink doesn't have the capacity to hold more people. I have come to believe that it is THE perfect venue for ProgPower.

Even if the show did move to a higer capacity venue somewhere in town, it's hard to imagine the quality of the overall festival not decreasing in some manner.

I believe the simple fact that the show remains at Earthlink proves that Glenn cares about quality & the vision he has for the festival over $$$$. That's someone we want as our promoter folks.

Jason

 

[TheWhisper]

The signing, vendor, and drink lines aren't long enough for you yet?

Well, I don't do the signings. I have had no problem with vendors lines. Anytime I've wanted to get a drimk, if I didn't walk up get it immediately, I only had to wait for 1 or 2 people ahead of me. The only complaint is with food. I just spent last weekend going to all three FL. Gigantour shows, with crowds of 2000 - 6000 people, depending on venue, and had no trouble with lines for merch, food, drink, or bathrooms...at any of the shows.

I just don't understand the whole 'keep it to ourselves' mentality. Esp. when I hear people complain about these bands not touring here enough, or the small crowds they pull in when they do. People say this kinda music needs to get more attention, respect, but don't want to grow the 'scene'? This goes back to my whole arguement about the eliteism inherent in all underground music 'scenes'.

I am under no illusions that any of these bands will be headlining arenas, but I wish them all the success in the world. Even for a band like Strato, who I am not a fan of, I would be thrilled to hear that their tour sold out every night. It can only be good for the whole power/prog metal scene in the US. The more people who attend these shows, the more the promoters will bring over here. It is a win - win.

 

[mtlheart]

The whole purpose of having a festival, as opposed to a regular concert, is so that the fans get to meet and mingle with the band members. Whether or not you choose to participate is up to you. Bigger isn't necessarily better. Some might think that watching bands on a jumbotron from 500 feet away from the stage is fine, but I'd venture to say that most people who attend PP would rather keep the intimate setting.

There is no "keep it to ourselves mentality." ProgPower is open to anyone who buys a ticket which aren't really hard to get. ProgPowerUSA is the Primiere showcase for Progressive and Power Metal bands in the US. Attendees come from North, South, and Central America, Europe, and Asia. Yet it took 3 days to sell out only 900 public tickets. As happy as I am for Glenn that he sold out another show, that's not exactly on fire sales by concert standards in general.
Every year that PP has sold out tickets are listed but go unsold on eBay for less than the original price. The demand just isn't that high for the event, even as exclusive as it is, featuring TEN of the top bands in the genres.

Glenn's doing a great thing, and he's doing it right. The only thing a larger venue would really grow is his overhead.

 

[Barking Pumpkin]

I will say this - It's a shame that Earthlink doesn't have the capacity to hold more people. I have come to believe that it is THE perfect venue for ProgPower.

Even if the show did move to a higer capacity venue somewhere in town, it's hard to imagine the quality of the overall festival not decreasing in some manner.

I believe the simple fact that the show remains at Earthlink proves that Glenn cares about quality & the vision he has for the festival over $$$$. That's someone we want as our promoter folks.

Jason

Spot on. More points to Glenn for picking quality over quantity.

 

[Angrafan]

Well, I don't do the signings. I have had no problem with vendors lines. Anytime I've wanted to get a drimk, if I didn't walk up get it immediately, I only had to wait for 1 or 2 people ahead of me. The only complaint is with food. I just spent last weekend going to all three FL. Gigantour shows, with crowds of 2000 - 6000 people, depending on venue, and had no trouble with lines for merch, food, drink, or bathrooms...at any of the shows.

I just don't understand the whole 'keep it to ourselves' mentality. Esp. when I hear people complain about these bands not touring here enough, or the small crowds they pull in when they do. People say this kinda music needs to get more attention, respect, but don't want to grow the 'scene'? This goes back to my whole arguement about the eliteism inherent in all underground music 'scenes'.

I am under no illusions that any of these bands will be headlining arenas, but I wish them all the success in the world. Even for a band like Strato, who I am not a fan of, I would be thrilled to hear that their tour sold out every night. It can only be good for the whole power/prog metal scene in the US. The more people who attend these shows, the more the promoters will bring over here. It is a win - win.

Kinda off topic... were you awere that Nevermore started playing at 4:20 on the WPB show? On the ticket and at the local papers the show was schedulled to start at 5! So I fucking Missed Nevermore! I was pissed..