Grateful Dead Music Forum

As long as we organize ourselves well. My friend Will with the land came through. We should be able to rent it for the weekend of august 15,16,and 17 for like three or four hundred bones or clams or whatever you call them. Also, we need to rent a standard 70 person tent for the stage, gear etc., and at least one, but probably two Porta-Johns. The land is private so we would need no permits, and we can play all-night-long. The land is about and hour and fifteen minutes south of buffalo. Buffalo is a pretty central location. considering the bulk of the rukind membership is in new york, see graphic:



posted by phpbb, may 7, 2008

Furthermore, there is an airport close by, for all those west coasters, unless they plan to drive. Additionally, we should be able to draw power off the house. Say goodbye to generators. The only other thing is that Will's family wants each attendee to sign a waiver, stating that they won't sue the family if someone is to get hurt. I think we should have a real time thread some time within the next 5 days to discuss detail, and organize a planning committee. Me and spilly would probably have to do a lot of work considering we are the buffalo liaisons to rukind. Seriously, lets do this, guys. It could be amazing!!

That sounds great...but I'm curious....

PA? How big? Who's bringing it? Has to be enough to be able to mic up roughly 20 musicians at a time, if we're gonna get down & dirty w/ some late-night all-star jams, right?? Who's gonna run sound? Monitor capability? Lights? Seperate circuits for lighting?

Just a few thoughts...I help organize the Potter County festival every year and I know it takes quite a bit - we only have between 150 - 200 people a year in attendance, including 20 musicians, or so and a lot goes into it.

I think theCAUSE might be into it! Don't know if everyone will be in town, or not though. If not, I'd come myself, probably!

south of Buffalo?? hmmm that would def be in a range we could consider....we have a show tent booked that weekend but could easily change our schedule

but Pappy is right, really need someone with planning experience and someone with some upfront $$ and the ability to take some financial risk..now if there is a rich Rukinder or someone who works (or owns) a biz or organization that wants to be involved that would be a big plus...a beer dist or brewery, a non profit interested in raising some money could be the ticket..recent deadhead lottery winners (that wouldn't be me)...just guessing I would think we need to have someone willing to risk $10-15K, to get staging, lighting, power, porta potties, promotion and band expenses..this is just to do a very small scale festival..

at $50 a tix you would need 200-300 tix sold to breakeven...most folks aren't paying $50 unless someone fairly well known is playing..of course I think it would be a bargain to see theCAUSE throw down a big fat 3 hour jams for the money but that might be just me..

just my .02

Oh Dave...

I'm guessing we're not talking about a $15,000 investment to get a monster stage and 3000 attendees. From the past postings, it sounds like we just need enough of a system to run 48 channels and lighting. I would imagine we're looking at an attendance of less than 1000. Just my guess.

BUT, you will need up-front money, probably somewhere in the neighborhood of a couple grand...at least.

Ok-there has been a lot of talk in the previous threads, but i think we really need a real time thread and discuss this. It is important that we define KindFest and what our goal is. First of all, there is no way we will be able to organize even a thousand person festival in less then three months. Second, i think this should this more for us than the general public? Like are people really interested in hiring outside band to perform. I mean i guess i had just thought it would be more of an impromptu party where our own respective bands play for ourselves and a few of our friends.
I mean realistically how many of you guys are really going to show up? I don't know maybe i am naive, but i couldn't really foresee more than 100 of us. Am i way off in left field, i feel like we should try and define what the goal really is, because if it is going to be a real festival, like with 1000 people forget about us actually having any fun. it is just a huge undertaking. I helped with the planning of a small festival before, where the goal was to attract 5oo people, and it took almost 10 months to plan it right, not to mention a fuck ton of money. We could throw a kick ass party for ourselves for less then $2000.

That's all well & good....I don't think you need 10 months to plan a 1000 person festival...seriously. I mean you have to start w/ the scale of PA system. That's the biggie. I mean, if you're talking about a couple of subs and a few 15" speakers on poles, that's not gonna be that fun OUTDOORS. Tent? Eeeeehhhh.....it'll probably cost you over $1500 for the tent!!! Especially if you want to fit 100 or 200 people under it! Just my guess....

If it's gonna just be for us, that's cool. Where are we gonna stay? Food? Drink? OTHER stuff??

Just curious.

pappypgh wrote: Where are we gonna stay? Food? Drink? OTHER stuff??
Just curious.

you have gone camping before right? you can stay in your tent, and bring some food and beer and your other stuff. I mean were you considering bringing in outside vendors? it is interesting you are now concerned with were you will stay, when literally fifteen minutes ago you were on the pro importing a thousand people platform. furthermore, forget about the stage and PA, do you have any idea how much money it would cost to advertise to get 1000 people there.

As I understood it, the idea as it was being bandied about was a jam for us... amongst ourselves, interplaying and hanging out. And maybe some friends/fans [sic] coming along for the ride.

Talk of turning this into some commercial enterprise seems to me to be way off the mark and entirely too ambitious. Nothing wrong with it in principal, but it creates barriers to getting the original idea done where there need be none.

Let me ask these...

1 - is the land on high ground?
2 - just rukind members or can we bring friends?
3 - are there hotels nearby in case of torrential downpour?
4 - is there a secure location onstie in case of torrential downpour?

A PA is a must along with mics & cables.
This has to be done locally.

Yes a stage is needed to keep gear off the ground.
Yes a tent is needed to keep the sun off players.

Lettme know how I can help in any way. I might need a right from the airport to the festival if anyone can help out...

Candyman1984 wrote:

pappypgh wrote: Where are we gonna stay? Food? Drink? OTHER stuff??
Just curious.

you have gone camping before right? you can stay in your tent, and bring some food and beer and your other stuff. I mean were you considering bringing in outside vendors? it is interesting you are now concerned with were you will stay, when literally fifteen minutes ago you were on the pro importing a thousand people platform. furthermore, forget about the stage and PA, do you have any idea how much money it would cost to advertise to get 1000 people there.

I was simply asking. Didn't know if there was space for camping, etc. As far as a stage goes - yeah, dude - it's a fucking MUST. I'm not about to drive 3+ hours just to get my shit soaked and get shocked all over the place.

Tell you what, bro - your attitude leads me to believe this ain't gonna be fun no more. Have a great time, everybody, I sincerely hope it's a success and everyone has fun.

The 1000 people platform you describe was not to commercialize anything, but just imagine if 10 bands showed up and each band brought maybe 40-50 people....plus the musicians, you might get 600 or so there. It was a valid question. You're the man, make it all happen. Count me the fuck out.

let me give you all a little of my history to lend weight to my thinking on this

Ten years ago I wanted to have a jam with my friends, I just started a new job that kept me from playing in a steady band but I really missed getting on stage and making music with my friends..so D Jam was born. I spoke with a local bar owner (Moondogs) and he said it was cool with him to do the jam. Now this was in an establish venue with sound and lights. I had about 4-5 months to plan the gig. Started by asking friends about doing the show and got a bunch of folks (and bands) to commit to the show. I then realized that we could prob take a cover charge and I asked Moondog if there was a charity that we should donate the money to, and Moondog suggested the Pgh Food Bank, he also heads the Pgh Blues Festival which is a 3 day multi stage event that raises $ for the food bank. Do we got to have a blast and also help out a great charity.

I just recently held my 9th D Jam. I have found out over the years just how much time and effort it takes just to do a one night show, I usual start planning 5 months prior...the most important factor has been a great number of kind folks that help me every year, not just musicians but other friends and businesses that support the gig. I need help with so many things I just couldn't do it myself.

I also am now on the blues festival committee, now I know a three day outdoor event that has a budget of over $100,000 is much different than what Kindfest would be but there are some things that still are needed to be considered if you expect it to be more than some folks jamming on someones back porch.(which of course is always fun).

theCAUSE is a pretty good jamband( IMHO),we have a decent following around Pgh and we love to play and jam for folks, but would we want to take all our stuff(even without a PA we carry a nice boatload of good equipment) drive 3 hours ($4/gal gas) to possibly play in the mud in front of 30 folks for no money...I don't think so..so when I mention needing $$ upfront for band expense, staging, lighting, etc.. I am not trying to be negative just practical..and not many folks or business will put up bucks unless they are getting something in return in ticket sales

my .02

david

www.theCAUSEjams.com

this sounds awesome, too bad I'm in colorado

yeah, sorry for the off-topic, I'm in SE Wyo... maybe one in Colorado at some point...

This sounds really good, me and my other guitarist would be grateful to attend. are you guys gonna make a list of attendees beforehand?