How it starts...
In preparation for PP USA XII, I make my "possible" lists. This is based on public demand, critical reviews, and the ever important "do I like it" factor. This list is edited multiple times all the way up until July. After that, I review the sponsorship bids and start making offers.
1. I book one headliner first. That is critical as it helps establishes my budget.
2. I then book the openers. That concretes the budget as the bottom dollars are now spent. It also gives me direction for the overall roster in terms of genres.
3. I start back at the direct support slots. My budget on these slots affect the rest of the roster even more so than the headliners. I will attempt to get three minimum and then place them in lower levels as appropriate.
4. I tend to go either of two ways in the fourth slots: high energy crowd reaction or multiple crossover appeal. There is no strict rule though.
5. The third slots tend to be the safer picks for the hardcore fans. You want to solidify the lower half of the show.
6. The second slot is where I experiment a bit assuming the rest of the roster has fallen into place. If I decide to gamble in a higher slot, I'll play it safe here instead.
7. The final headliner is booked. My blood pressure hits stroke levels if this is not resolved prior to mid-August. I could wait till much later to book this if necessary. However, this has not been necessary the past few years and I hope to continue that trend.
Where things are at in each slot to start out:
Headliner: Seven potential, four realistic.
5th slot: Eight potential, six realistic
4th Slot: Three potential
3rd slot: Five potential
2nd slot: Ten potential
Opener: Five potential
In preparation for PP USA XII, I make my "possible" lists. This is based on public demand, critical reviews, and the ever important "do I like it" factor. This list is edited multiple times all the way up until July. After that, I review the sponsorship bids and start making offers.
1. I book one headliner first. That is critical as it helps establishes my budget.
2. I then book the openers. That concretes the budget as the bottom dollars are now spent. It also gives me direction for the overall roster in terms of genres.
3. I start back at the direct support slots. My budget on these slots affect the rest of the roster even more so than the headliners. I will attempt to get three minimum and then place them in lower levels as appropriate.
4. I tend to go either of two ways in the fourth slots: high energy crowd reaction or multiple crossover appeal. There is no strict rule though.
5. The third slots tend to be the safer picks for the hardcore fans. You want to solidify the lower half of the show.
6. The second slot is where I experiment a bit assuming the rest of the roster has fallen into place. If I decide to gamble in a higher slot, I'll play it safe here instead.
7. The final headliner is booked. My blood pressure hits stroke levels if this is not resolved prior to mid-August. I could wait till much later to book this if necessary. However, this has not been necessary the past few years and I hope to continue that trend.
Where things are at in each slot to start out:
Headliner: Seven potential, four realistic.
5th slot: Eight potential, six realistic
4th Slot: Three potential
3rd slot: Five potential
2nd slot: Ten potential
Opener: Five potential
