The Big Question

[Dolamite S. Biffle]

I am pissed at myself for not making out to Powerfest this year, but there wasnt enough draw for me to travel that far. I have read the reviews that have been posted and it sounds like the show was great, though very few people if any discussed the attendance numbers. I would like to know how the attendance was from Chris or Rob, if it was up to their expectations or what?

BIG QUESTION:

IS THERE GOING TO BE A NEXT YEAR!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

 

[Heavenly Call]

Friday night looked pretty solid - totally random guess would be in the 300-500 range? I hope it works out!

 

[Vegetaman]

Friday night looked solid, and Saturday was absolutely packed. At least it seemed like it from my perspective. \m/

 

[GateXII]

Well, to be honest, the attendance was significantly less than we had hoped. Saturday may have looked packed because of the excitement/activity of the crowd, but the numbers still didn't come close to where they needed to be. Rough estimates of "paid" attendance is about 150-200 on Friday & 230-280 on Saturday....keep in mind there were roughly 100 more ppl each night made up of band members, crew, staff & guestlist.

So, to answer your "big" question...the only way there will be another fest in 2008 is with sponsorship help from fest & band supporters. It's that simple.

You guys have seen what we can do in terms of putting this thing together, but now we need financial help. We will be putting together a sponsorship plan in the next few days for Powerfest 2008, and judging by the feedback over the next few months will determine whether or not we will move forward. If there won't be enough support by then to at least get started & we make the decision to abort, everyone will have their sponsorship refunded.

Sorry it's come down to this, but we can no longer personally afford to lose thousands of dollars...even if it is a kick ass show with kick ass afterparties.

 

[Vegetaman]

I would be up for helping to sponsor some bands. The weekend was amazing; definitely the best time I have ever had and the most fun. I got to meet so many people.

Oh, and Rob, I just thought you'd like to know... When I was talking to Dusty Holt from Shatter Messiah on Friday night, he made it a point to talk about how great the venue was, as well as the organizers and the promoters. He said it was great how they and all the other bands were treated and how you guys had stuff set up for them and how smoothly everything was run, and he went on to talk about a bunch of bad experiences he had had on the road before, and then said how pleased he was with how the night had gone. He had nothing but great things to say about the whole time.

And earlier that evening, the bassist from Shatter Messiah told us practically the same thing. Nothing but praise.

 

[GateXII]

I would be up for helping to sponsor some bands. The weekend was amazing; definitely the best time I have ever had and the most fun. I got to meet so many people.

Oh, and Rob, I just thought you'd like to know... When I was talking to Dusty Holt from Shatter Messiah on Friday night, he made it a point to talk about how great the venue was, as well as the organizers and the promoters. He said it was great how they and all the other bands were treated and how you guys had stuff set up for them and how smoothly everything was run, and he went on to talk about a bunch of bad experiences he had had on the road before, and then said how pleased he was with how the night had gone. He had nothing but great things to say about the whole time.

And earlier that evening, the bassist from Shatter Messiah told us practically the same thing. Nothing but praise.

Thanks...we heard that exact same thing from all the bands & that makes us very happy & proud. Hopefully the word will get around to a lot more bands & the task of booking will become much easier.

 

[woosta]

Well I wasn't there because of the bands that were booked. I hope there is a next time because the previous 2 times I've been out there I had a great time. Of course, there were international bands that had drawing power on the bill too, so that makes a HUGE difference for me and an 8 hour drive out and 2 nights of hotel. I think you guys were on the right path with Mystic Prophecy and I think you'll get back to the right path with bands like Mystic Prophecy that are active and relevant. I sure am pulling for you, like I said, but we can't have a retro show with inactive bands that mattered very little back in their day. That's a cold truth, but it's a truth as I see it and a total constructive criticism. I love your shows. Just not this year, you know?

 

[Srontgorrth]

Well I wasn't there because of the bands that were booked. I hope there is a next time because the previous 2 times I've been out there I had a great time. Of course, there were international bands that had drawing power on the bill too, so that makes a HUGE difference for me and an 8 hour drive out and 2 nights of hotel. I think you guys were on the right path with Mystic Prophecy and I think you'll get back to the right path with bands like Mystic Prophecy that are active and relevant. I sure am pulling for you, like I said, but we can't have a retro show with inactive bands that mattered very little back in their day. That's a cold truth, but it's a truth as I see it and a total constructive criticism. I love your shows. Just not this year, you know?

How can you say that Atheist mattered little back in their day, or Solitude Aeturnus/Saturnus for that matter? Did you even know anything about most of the bands playing this year? This is the best Powerfest lineup so far.

 

[Vegetaman]

It's true. I mean, I didn't care for Martyr's music, but I thought they were really good live. I hadn't even heard half of the bands going in, but I still had a great time. It was all quality music!

 

[Cephalopod]

Atheist and Novembers Doom drew me all the way from Kansas.

 

[Actumen]

Atheist and Solitude Aeturnus (among others as time progressed) drew me all the way from... Park Ridge?!

I assure you, the 1.5 hour car trip was gruelling. I had to blast Solitude Aeturnus all the way, and eat Wendy's. Oh, the horrors!

 

[Larf03]

I'll be sponsoring next year if what i've heard from Chris happens!

Bring in a thrash band, I'll sponsor!

 

[Dolamite S. Biffle]

Atheist and Novembers Doom drew me all the way from Kansas.

What part of Kansas are you from? I live in Olathe. I am just not that much of a death/doom fan unfortunately for me this year. I am a Power Freak so last year was spectacular for me. I hope that some people will sponsor some good stuff for next year I would but alas no dinero.

 

[Jasonic]

What part of Kansas are you from? I live in Olathe. I am just not that much of a death/doom fan unfortunately for me this year. I am a Power Freak so last year was spectacular for me. I hope that some people will sponsor some good stuff for next year I would but alas no dinero.

At first, I must admit that you were very ballzy to first say you didn't care for the line-up, but then had the gall to ask about next year.

Though, on the flipside, I can certainly see for out of towners that the line-up would have to be to your liking to make the expenditure of an out of town trip.

I guess being local, it is easy to classify myself as one of the people who will come regardless of who plays to support.

I do agree with those who have said that maybe next year there should be more of a mix of genres.

 

[Vegetaman]

It was well worth the several hour trip.

 

[Diabolik]

At first, I must admit that you were very ballzy to first say you didn't care for the line-up, but then had the gall to ask about next year.

Though, on the flipside, I can certainly see for out of towners that the line-up would have to be to your liking to make the expenditure of an out of town trip.

I guess being local, it is easy to classify myself as one of the people who will come regardless of who plays to support.

I do agree with those who have said that maybe next year there should be more of a mix of genres.

I have been bitching about the line up for a long time. But would you have come if you were from out of state????

I totally thing that they need a better mix of genres next time. this years selection of "power metal" wasnt the greatest.

Like jason....I am local so I will always at least come one day.

 

[booB]

I think you guys were on the right path with Mystic Prophecy and I think you'll get back to the right path with bands like Mystic Prophecy that are active and relevant. I sure am pulling for you, like I said, but we can't have a retro show with inactive bands that mattered very little back in their day.

I don't know if you really meant this or not, but if you did, then you're out of your gourd. Atheist singlehandedly CREATED a genre of metal, and Solitude Aeturnus is one of the pre-eminent doom bands, ever.

You can say that the lineup didn't interest you enough to make the trip... but to suggest that it's somehow a bad lineup is just plain arrogance.

 

[Diabolik]

I don't know if you really meant this or not, but if you did, then you're out of your gourd. Atheist singlehandedly CREATED a genre of metal, and Solitude Aeturnus is one of the pre-eminent doom bands, ever.

You can say that the lineup didn't interest you enough to make the trip... but to suggest that it's somehow a bad lineup is just plain arrogance.

I dont think it is arrogance, I think that people have different taste. I could care less about the importance of bands and what they have done....I like a band for the music they create. Athiest did nothing for me. I listened to a few songs online and watched a bit of thier set.... and quietly left.

I did want to see Solitude Aeturnus....I am not a doom fan but I was interested in seeing them, but I had to work that night so I missed out. I am a fan of a lot of different genres and only two or three bands out of the fest really made me interested. Still a decent time but if the line up was so stellar....why was the turn out not so great?

 

[Jasonic]

I like a WIDE variety of genres of metal.
In the past couple of years, my primary interest in discovering new bands has leaned towards doom and death / doom. Therefore, I was content with the line-up this year.

If we are concerned though about the attendance figures, then this year's line-up left out a lot of previous year's attendees.

I am with Diabolik here on this one.
If even one drawing power metal band was there, it would have brought in another crowd of attendees.

I am sure I am not saying anything here that Rob, Chris, or John have not considered already.

 

[Diabolik]

I like a WIDE variety of genres of metal.
In the past couple of years, my primary interest in discovering new bands has leaned towards doom and death / doom. Therefore, I was content with the line-up this year.

If we are concerned though about the attendance figures, then this year's line-up left out a lot of previous year's attendees.

I am with Diabolik here on this one.
If even one drawing power metal band was there, it would have brought in another crowd of attendees.

I am sure I am not saying anything here that Rob, Chris, or John have not considered already.

I agree....I think that Mystic Prophecy...not a great band, but a decent one, was a step in the right direction. That would have sealed the deal with lots of the power metal fans for the show. I think a nice mix is the best way to do the show.