Seaside JAZZ Festival

OK, taken in the context of 3 or 4 nights' entertainment, $100 or $150 a pop doesn't seem terribly expensive. But, I can't expect to make it every night either weekend. And I'm not real keen on that price for a single night of the lineup they've got. I expect it's too late to ask now, but wouldn't it have been nice if they could have priced it by the single day, as well?

Methinks the crowd could be small...

Too bad, the best way to see the Nevilles is jammed elbow to elbow, sweating and juking. Like, for instance, at Tipitina's. Not sitting on a lawn with three affluent white guys discreetly tapping their toes. As always, apologies to affluent white guys with rythmn.

<Rant mode on>

PS - Why is there part of me that thinks that the correct new urban way to pitch this would be free?

<Rant mode off>

We just received a call from a SoWaller at the Seaside Jazz Fest- they are holding off the Rebirth Jazz Band because there are only a handle of people! Y'all get on over there!!


I believe he said they are just going to open up the gates!

yes. free.

all access...

yes. free.

all access...

Holy crapola! I would have gone, as we were just over in W.Color right about that time!

Are they refunding those who paid? Did they have a lot of ticket holders that were no-shows b/c of weather?

Mr. OM opened for the Neville Bros in 2003 in Li'l 5 Pts. It was funn.... Charles was telling me he had a 3 month old child (I think he was 65 then!) and Aaron was really kind to me & #1 who was only about 18 months old.

I doubt they refunded the ticket money to the six people who were inside the gates when the announcement was made to open the gates. Fortunately for everyone, including the band, they did open the gates. This crap just makes no sense to me. I tend to get excited and exaggerate sometimes, but here is a photo of the six people who paid admission for tonights' show. The other people are Seaside Security and Sheriff's Deputies. Show time was 7pm, and this photo was taken at 7:20pm, just before they made the announcement to open the gates so that the band would have an audience.


First, the Seaside representative at the Board of County Commissioners' Mtg on Tuesday night, who was applying for permission to have the Jazz Fest (yes, on Tues of this week!), flat-out lied to the BCC when asked point blank if Seaside would open up parking. She announced that all of the public parking areas in Seaside, with the exception of one small portion on the north side, would be open for public parking, and they needed that small space to control the gates. Instead of doing as the Seaside representative stated, Seaside blocked off half of their public parking to erect tents to prevent people from seeing into the amphitheater.

They charged $100 per ticket for this weekend, and literally had six people on the lawn at 7:20pm tonight to see the awesome NOLA band, Rebirth Brass Band. I was shocked, but not really. Seaside had that place so wrapped up and looking like "KEEP OUT" and that just looked so wrong for a place like Seaside.

After opening the gates to the non-paying public, whom there were only a few in the area outside the blockade of tents, Rebirth Brass Band took the stage, to a handful of an audience. I have to give up to Rebirth, because they put on a great show, regardless. I was thinking all along that if I were the band and had such a low turn-out, I'd get back on the bus and go home, and tell Seaside what to do. Instead, Rebirth stuck with it, and word quickly went through the cellular waves around town, and more people showed up, and we all had a great time. Here is a photo of the still dim crowd after the general public entered and Rebirth went on stage:


The weather held off, and there are a crap-load of people who came into town last night, so something was really effed up about this. My suggestion to anyone who has some power at Seaside is to refund the money for ticket sales this weekend, remove those damn barrier tents, and let people fill the lawn and enjoy the show. It is rather embarrassing for such talented musicians to play to a "crowd" of six people. Even with free entry, there were a max of 75 people at tonight's show. Seaside should be embarrassed!!! Oh, yeah, the Cops busted me when I tried to take a photo inside the venue. They said it was a Seaside rule, and while I was there, I needed to comply .... The Deputy and I talked and laughed for a while at the ridiculousness of it all. There were several professional photographers and videographers in the venue, and several people with camera phones, snapping away.

I did thoroughly enjoy Rebirth Brass Band, and they seemed to have a good time too. I cannot imagine their thoughts if they had to play to the six paying customers. The other positive of the night was that the beer lines were non-existent:

This photo was taken after the show started. I almost forgot another positive of the event -- there were more portajohns than attendees, so no lines for waiting.

Seaside, get your freaking act together!

Holy toledo! compare this to the completely awesome jazz festival at gulf place last month. what is seaside thinking of? it makes them look SO BAD.

what was the purpose of all those tents?

those pictures are worth a thousand words.

what was the purpose of all those tents?

They were erected to block non-paying people in the public areas of Seaside from seeing the show, in theory, "forcing" people to buy tickets. I truly hope that Seaside will learn and grow from this flop. They cannot blame it on the lack of people liking the band or jazz, because Rebirth is awesome, as is that horny NOLA jazz. I would love to see this event become successful over time. I think it has much potential, but Seaside really needs to rethink their strategy.

Nobody ever likes it when you say "I told you so"...

The new management company at Seaside continues to treat it like a for-profit resort, rather than a community, as everyone has come to expect it to be over its fairly successful life as a model for New Urbanism.

The corporate suits probably won't learn the real lesson from this, which is of course that events like this should be free and you will gain the profit in ways other than admission and concessions. Instead, they'll all look at each other a go "Gosh, I sure thought that would be popular. Guess those folks just don't like a music festival."

Good points, TreeFrog. I think your are spot-on regarding making it free, gaining profit in other ways. For example, if they would have not erected the privacy tents, they would have opened more parking yesterday, today, tomorrow and Sunday, thereby encouraging more people to shop in the Seaside stores, all of which Seaside takes a cut. They could have worked together with Seaside stores with merchandise sales. HELLO!!!! I wonder if they even knew that Central Square is one of the coolest record shops in the country. Why they didn't ask Central Square to help promote the event, handle the sales of the records, band tee-shirts, etc is beyond me. With free venue and no blockade tents, Seaside restaurants would have been busier (again, with the parking blocked yesterday, too, these restaurants LOST business), as people choose to dine and watch. There was almost no promotion of this event, unless you consider creating a website a promotion.

I really hate that all of this is happening in Seaside, because I have many friends with stores in Seaside, and many others who work there, and I hate to see their businesses suffer due to the incompetency of the suits or whomever is to blame for this. I know that people probably put much time and effort into making this event "happen," and if their hands were tied by the suits, I really cannot blame them for the eff-up.

I will find it entertaining to see what changes are made if any, for the remainder of this weekend and next weekend. Next weekend, ticket prices increase from $100 to $150 ea. The Neville Bros headline, and it is Memorial Day Weekend, so they may be busy by default, but not if people have to park at the SoWal Courthouse Annex, wait for a shuttle to drive them over.

...looks like some of the Seaside owners finally got their wish!

I really feel bad for all the performers that are slated for this event. What could have been a gold mine has now turned into a "black eye" for all involved in the planning and execution of this "Jazz Fest"

I'd post a video of Rebirth Brass Band performing last night, but I'm scared that the Red Shirts would come after me and try to take my film. Maybe after next week's performances, I'll post a couple. I don't want to give away my hidden camera location too soon.

Though it has nothing to do with Rebirth Brass Band, because they are AWESOME(!!!), I thought it was funny that Raw & Juicy had more people enjoying juice last night than Seaside had people paying to see a fabulous band.

Speaking of Rebirth, they released a new album last week, "25," celebrating their 25th year. Go up to Central Square Records and get you a copy. Also, on May 30-31, Rebirth will have their 25th anniversary party in New Orleans, so if you are over that way, go to the Maple Leaf on Oak Street.

www.rebirthbrassband.com

www.myspace.com/rebirthbrassband

Out on 30A last night for dinner at Fish Out of Water. Drove by new county parking lot between Seaside and WaterColor. Wondered why it was empty with all those shuttle signs up. If you are going out tonight near Seaside and Jazz Festival, and don't mind walking just a bit, I'd park there. Even has nice bathrooms. Think way is clear to walk down on north side of 30A to event. Be careful there if you decide to cross to south side of road. County really does need to mark pedestrian crosswalk to south side of road with reflective paint, blinking light or something, etc. People drive fast there from pent up driver rage as they have just crawled through congested Seaside traffic and parking.

Note: Those restrooms at that parking lot close at sunset! While the walkway is clear to Seaside, please be careful, because I almost twisted my ankle on the multi-use path last night just outside of that new parking lot. It appears that the concrete path has sunken down in one spot, making it hazardous.

This just makes me sick. I thought Rebirth was playing today

As long as we are handing out accolades to Rebirth, I thought you all might enjoy this video. They are first class human beings
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZWcwzyJYlc"]YouTube - Rebirth Brass Band performs for homeless[/ame]

Skunky, I called Christi's cell phone to invite you guys, but it was the wrong number. I also called your home number, but got no answer nor answering machine.

Skunky, I called Christi's cell phone to invite you guys, but it was the wrong number. I also called your home number, but got no answer nor answering machine.

Sorry. I will have to give you the number for the 'red phone'

Thanks for the early closing time of the public bathroom, SJ. You'd think they could arrange to have it open late for special events and busy times, like from now until Labor Day. Your pics were quite informative, too. Outside Suits trying to redo or rename our community hasn't worked out very well in a number of areas. They should step back and find out where they really are and what makes it so special.

I didn't even think to go, I knew I could get in, but it looked so uninviting, not to mention, seaside is not my place to hang.
That sucks for the band. Glad some of you were there to represent.

Is this backlash for all the Private Seaside stuff? Here I go with my conspiracy theories again, sorry.:roll::shock:

I bet if Seaside actually went to the Seaside business owners and long-term employees at those stores to ask for input, they would have some great suggestions and ideas on how to run the special events. From what I hear, they had zero input. What is even more interesting to me is that Heineken was the only sponsor. Seems like they forgot to use the stores which brought in the 1% Seaside Special Event Tax to help advertise.

Is this backlash for all the Private Seaside stuff? Here I go with my conspiracy theories again, sorry.:roll::shock:

What do you mean, "is this backlash for the Private Seaside stuff?" It IS the Private Seaside Stuff.

It is easy to get lost in all of the Seaside mess, but while I'm thinking about it, I'd like to applaud the person who took leadership and opened the gates to the general public. It is rare to find someone willing to risk losing their job to do the right thing. It is that kind of leadership which is needed so desperately. So, whomever you are, Great Job! You probably saved the show, and certainly lessened the embarrassment for Seaside.