Free Thursday Concert at Seabreeze Jazz Festival

**seabreezeradio** · 04-15-2008, 08:41 PM

Everyone is invited to our 10th Anniversary All-Star Jazz Jam Show this Thursday night at Gulf Place. Admission is free. The show starts at 6pm with Jones and Company and continues at 7pm with the All Star Jam with Nick Colionne, Joyce Cooling, Brian Simpson, Shilts, and many other surprises. If you never had the chance to see one of our smooth jazz shows, don't miss out. A Jam Show is unique in that nobody really dictates the material. The show starts off with a few artists on stage and every 10 minutes or so...more artists are added. Gates open 5pm and show starts at 6pm. No coolers allowed but there will be a cash bar and plenty of food vendors. It should be a fun evening. Remember...admission is free. Our "thanks" at WSBZ for supporting the Seabreeze Jazz Festival.

**kurt** · 04-15-2008, 09:00 PM

Thanks for this

sounds great!

Sorry to see you moving to Pier Park but that's not too far for us in SoWal. A small relaxed fest it will be no more though.

**seabreezeradio** · 04-15-2008, 09:09 PM

We have been limiting tickets at this event to around 4500. While that may seem like a ton of people, compared to Berks Jazz Fest, Sarasota Jazz Fest, Capital Jazz in DC, and others around the nation-- The Seabreeze Jazz Fest is considered "intimate" by other standards. We try to let the music keep the feeling relaxed. Many other festivals are so large (15,000+) you do not have a chance to actually talk and meet the artist after each performance. Remember...perception is always based on one's reference. Many who attend these events around the country feel this is the perfect size for an event like this...and yes relaxed.

**kurt** · 04-15-2008, 09:13 PM

Yes that's what I meant. It has been a good size and small by comparison to others around the country. I figured it would be growing with the new venue.

**seabreezeradio** · 04-15-2008, 09:18 PM

The move to Pier Park will allow the festival to grow to about 6000. We will be capping the first year there at 5500 to get a better feel for the venue setup. The more important thing about moving to Pier Park...is we will be able to SPREAD THINGS OUT and make the event experience more comfortable for the attendee. Plus ...having 5500 parking spaces right there is a huge plus. No more shuttle buses from parking lots 7 miles away from the venue. The end result, hopefully, is a better concert experience for the ticket holder. And the ability to bank on having a place to hold this event.

**Smiling JOe** · 04-15-2008, 09:39 PM

I like the idea of the free concert on Thursday.

Regarding the move to PP, are there really 5500 extra parking places at Pier Park? My SIL has a store there and I think parking is tight enough with the existing stores. Add 3,000 more cars and I have no idea where shoppers will park. Just curious.

**kurt** · 04-15-2008, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by seabreezeradio

The move to Pier Park will allow the festival to grow to about 6000. We will be capping the first year there at 5500 to get a better feel for the venue setup. The more important thing about moving to Pier Park...is we will be able to SPREAD THINGS OUT and make the event experience more comfortable for the attendee. Plus ...having 5500 parking spaces right there is a huge plus. No more shuttle buses from parking lots 7 miles away from the venue. The end result, hopefully, is a better concert experience for the ticket holder. And the ability to bank on having a place to hold this event.

Hey! We can each drive our own car.

**seabreezeradio** · 04-15-2008, 10:06 PM

I believe that figure for parking is the total parking available at Pier Park now. Additional phases in 2009 will open up more parking. Remember, this project when finished will have over 1 million sf of retail space. For parking purposes....you have to factor there is usually 2 per car for parking for an event like this. And...with the on-site condos across the street from Pier Park, many patrons would be within walking distance to the event. Several hotels and condos in that area have already contacted us about them running shuttles to the festival from areas up and down Front Beach Road...something we have never seen in South Walton. All costs of running shuttles here have to be absorbed by the festival itself. As great as 30-A is ...parking for any event is always a problem.

**Smiling JOe** · 04-15-2008, 10:30 PM

Good point about the condos at the south end of PP. You may be right about them walking, or taking a shuttle. They won't carry all of their chairs and crap, so plan on having a drop off area for the cars, as they unload their stuff, prior to the shows beginning.