June update.......

Diabolik

Diabolik

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Sep 30, 2005
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Well so far things have gone a lot quicker than I thought for this next year. So far there are these bands booked for 2014.

- Steve Grimmets Grim Reaper
- Picture
- Axxion
- Axemaster
- Iron Messiah

There are lots of name acts wanting to play this year....which leads me to the next order of business...

The Kickstarter is slowly reaching its goal. Just need about $1,200 more to make it and then next year will be gold.

There are a bunch of bands interested in playing the second stage. So things are actually looking really exciting for next year if it all works out the way it looks.

any other things you want to see for next year?
 
1) Definitely vendors again.
2) Maybe only 6 bands on the main stage as opposed to 7. Give each bands more time. Also logistically can work better if things fall behind.
3) A Ragnarokkr sampler CD - This could be a good way to generate some additional funding for the fest. Have bands pay to be on the sampler. There are many inexpensive CD duplication companies in the area. It would be good exposure for bands as well. A total win-win.
4) I know there has been a pre-party. How about a kick off show? This seems to work well, esp for Prog Power. Many times there is a band at a kick off show that draws fence sitters in for the whole weekend. Obviously this would be more of a low key and low cost gig.
5) Better merchandise layout for mainstage bands. This is no fault at all of the fest, but of the limited space at Reggies. Maybe see if tables can be set up on the floor off to the side. I have seen this done at a couple Reggie's gigs. It was REALLY tight and often hard to tell who was selling what and for what prices.
 
Like I've said before, times need to be posted on a board or something. It's hard keeping track. Maybe even give out a mini flyer/program or something about bands with times. The latter would cost more, but at least a flyer shouldn't be that bad.
 
Yes!!! Thank you Simon.
I was also going to suggest having a program.
The fest could even charge a small fee for bands, labels, etc to place ads in it.

Could even do a quick paragraph on each band or something.

And as See-Mon said, a printed schedule.

Would also make a nice little souvenier!
 
Yep, a mini program/zine is a great idea. Both MDF and PP have them and they work very well. Like Jason mentioned, the organizers can sell ad-space, and you can also place the schedules in them. Attendees like them for obvious reasons too. Fest-specific articles/interviews/etc help to give the fest a nice touch too. Perhaps in addition to band interviews, you could also interview people who work with the fest like Bob (but not Bob himself).

I also agree with Jason on the 6 vs 7 band thing. 7 main stage bands is a lot of time. You could also save that last band's money and put it towards a bigger booking or one of the other million things that suck up the cash. Ultimately, if you aren't going to attend the fest with just 12 (mainstage) bands, you probably wouldn't attend with 14, either, unless you're one of those who would travel solely for one of those two missing bands -- and how many people would that really be??

What is the food situation like at Reggie's? If they don't have a restaurant, you could look into food vendors.

Is there space at Reggie's for additional activities? RMA might be too small for something like this right now, but I know of a few fests that have additional activities aside from the music to give attendees something to do when they are tired, don't like the band playing, etc. For example, This is Hardcore is going to have a room with pro wrestling this year.

Or even a 'tour' type thing. I know that the organizer for Prague Death Mass this year is organizing a bus outing to go to the Sedlec Ossuary in Kutna Hora before the show on Saturday. Maybe a 'group trip' to Kuma's or something like that for all the out-of-towners.
 
there is a great restuarant inside Reggies so that isnt an issue.

The issue with table space is always an issue. Some bands threw hissy fits with having to have their tables upstairs. I agree on the one side it is workable but it also limits floor space if it sells better this year.

The booklet is a good idea...I see lots of fest do this but in the end it just ends up as trash and most people toss them out or leave them behind so it is money wasted. Ad space is cool if people will put ads in it.

I toally agree about 6 bands and not 7. I would rather see longer sets than shorter sets. Longer sets also are good because it gives people a chance to walk away and check out the second stage as well. I know last year I debated with mike on this and he liked the 7 bands thing.

I do agree 100% about posting set times and handing out flyers as well with it on there. So many people last year were running back and forth missing stuff because of it.
 
Diabolik said:
The booklet is a good idea...I see lots of fest do this but in the end it just ends up as trash and most people toss them out or leave them behind so it is money wasted. Ad space is cool if people will put ads in it.
Click to expand...

Well, as long as the ad money coming in is more than the printing cost, you come out ahead. One thing PP does really well is the presentability of the programs. The MDF ones are tiny little programs that you would get at any fest, but the PP ones are magazine sized, lots of color, well-bound, etc. Very nice keepsakes.

One thing that I just thought of, and would probably be a logistical nightmare -- the sets this year were recorded, correct? At least you can get them from the Kickstarter donations. What about a live compilation type thing? The download info could be in the program and a track or two from each band could be included for d/l or donation a few weeks after the show.
 
I think the booklet for a fest like this would just be tossed away. If it is a larger festival it becomes more of a keepsake for some. With a smaller crowd that money could be put to use somewhere else at this time I think.
 
Diabolik said:
I think the booklet for a fest like this would just be tossed away. If it is a larger festival it becomes more of a keepsake for some. With a smaller crowd that money could be put to use somewhere else at this time I think.
Click to expand...

Well, I suppose if its tossed away, its tossed away.

At this time, the fest needs $$$ and this is another vehicle for making money.

I bet you could probably get bands to take out a quarter or half page ad for a reasonable fee. You could even do the whole thing glossy and non-color for the first year and easily make money.
 
A pre show is a decent idea...we have had two pre parties. First one had a very low turnout but the second one was great. Really good turnout. The issue with having bands is that most people want to just hang out and talk and not have to talk over bands. This past year had about a good 30 to 40 people at it's busiest time....this was a two day notice to get it going to.
 
Well, are we allowed to be brutally honest?????

It's September of 2013.
The fest isn't until April 2014.
It has been stated that the fests ability to continue as a going concern is 100% dependent on Kickstarter.

Why have 5 bands been booked already?

That's almost half the bands!

If the Kickstarter doesnt come through and the fest doesnt go on, won't that jeapordize future relations with the band?

On the same topic, hold off on booking any more bands!!!!

The fest is still a long way away. I am sure soon enough, assuming the Kickstarter works out, once promotion kicks in bands will come wanting to play.

Sorry, I know this post may not be popular to some but its not like I haven't heard other people online and offline make the same comments.
Its kind of a head scratcher to see a fest ask for money who has already booked two overseas bands.

Kind of sends mixed signals.

I am not saying this to be a jerk, but I am saying this as a friend of the festival.
 
I know there are some sponsors for the overseas acts to help so that is why they are booked. The reason for the Kickstarter is the maintain the club / backline and extra cost and then for the booking of bands.

I know I have heard others mention this as well.
 
Or even a 'tour' type thing. I know that the organizer for Prague Death Mass this year is organizing a bus outing to go to the Sedlec Ossuary in Kutna Hora before the show on Saturday. Maybe a 'group trip' to Kuma's or something like that for all the out-of-towners.
Click to expand...

Shit. I went to both those things last year and it was fucking great. This would be a really cool idea, but Kuma's is so damn tiny that only a select few people would be able to go.
 
Jasonic said:
Well, are we allowed to be brutally honest?????

It's September of 2013.
The fest isn't until April 2014.
It has been stated that the fests ability to continue as a going concern is 100% dependent on Kickstarter.

Why have 5 bands been booked already?

That's almost half the bands!

If the Kickstarter doesnt come through and the fest doesnt go on, won't that jeapordize future relations with the band?

On the same topic, hold off on booking any more bands!!!!

The fest is still a long way away. I am sure soon enough, assuming the Kickstarter works out, once promotion kicks in bands will come wanting to play.

Sorry, I know this post may not be popular to some but its not like I haven't heard other people online and offline make the same comments.
Its kind of a head scratcher to see a fest ask for money who has already booked two overseas bands.

Kind of sends mixed signals.

I am not saying this to be a jerk, but I am saying this as a friend of the festival.
Click to expand...

I'll take this one......

You clearly have no idea the kind of planning that goes into organizing a festival. The majority has to be set by November at the latest. This is the gospel truth coming straight from the gods. That is just how it is. It would be a complete clusterfuck of a disaster if I waited. I hope I don't have to say this again.

As for the kickstarter, it doesn't get funded without bands. This is pretty simple as well. Did you notice the $1500 jump the same night I announced Picture? Are you scratching your head and wondering if that was a mere coincidence? If you need further explanation, you can go thru the backer history and match up the pledges with the announcements. I'm sorry, but NO ONE funds a show with no bands.

All bands happen to fully informed that this is dependent on the kickstarter. One even pledged a 3 figure amount. I don't even know why I have to waste my time explaining this.

You may be saying it as a friend, but you have it completely backwards.
 
It's like planning a wedding but about 4x more to deal with. Now imagine, if you can, doing it all without knowing your relatives.

I have a perfect example. There was this band we were holding a 2nd stage slot for because they were friends. Took them 3 months to confirm, and they only did it because I finally gave them an ultimatum.
 
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