Dfest 2010....? Not looking good.

[Renaissance]

Then you run into football season, with OU/Texas the weekend before ACL.  The weather is probably better though.

You think Austin might have that problem too? 

Got more TU kids in town, OSU kids too an hour away in Stillwater who detest OU/xt and could use an alternative. 

Just sayin'

[kylieosu]

It's official. Not happening.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/scene/article.aspx?subjectid=269&articleid=20100521_371_0_Afterw257322

[Townsend]

That's too bad.

[SXSW]

Yes that is too bad, I was looking forward to this.  Speaking of festivals, what happened to the Overground Film Festival?  That used to be a cool event downtown.

[Renaissance]

That's really unfortunate.  Did it get too big too fast?  I don't know much about the economics of putting on a music festival.  But I would think with a gate like they've got, and all the momentum and buzz, it's just a matter of good management. 

[Conan71]

Why couldn't they simply scale back the festival this year and take it back closer to it's roots rather than cancel it entirely?  I've done event organizing and booked bands before (though not on the same scale as D-fest became) so I'm not entirely in the dark on how these things work.  Do they really need Black Crowes or Flaming Lips to make it a success?  A lot of people will still turn out to hear local and regional bands and the talent costs are far less.  There's some really good talent who will play for nothing simply for the opportunity to play in front of a few thousand people.

"tough economy, rising production costs, and a decline in lower level corporate sponsorships and support,"

Tulsa isn't having that tough an economy over this time last year.  That's typically code-speak for "we aren't doing so well".  I'm curious if they have over-extended themselves with their other business ventures.  I wish they would re-consider as many people would still go even without a national level headliner(s).

This raises more questions than answers in my mind.  The original intent was to give local bands a venue and an opportunity to get discovered.  It became too ambitious and unsustainable is what it looks like to me.  The same thing happened in the early 1990's when Mayfest tried to get too big.  That was the year they spread north of the tracks and had booked acts like Chuck Berry & Ray Charles.

I wonder if the BD merchants want to get together and start a Blue Dome Music Fest and highlight local and regional bands?

[waterboy]

I had a short conversation with the guy once about the festival. My impression was that it had become a major pain to produce and he appeared just fatigued with the thought of it. Some people are great at bringing visions to life. Others are better at sustaining them.

I thought this years Mayfest was closer in character to the original Mayfests (Jubilee '73!) I was working downtown during those times and it was really a cool new thing back then. Much more variety in personality back then though. Strange, really strange, vendors and performance art.

[jne]

Why couldn't they simply scale back the festival this year and take it back closer to it's roots rather than cancel it entirely?  I've done event organizing and booked bands before (though not on the same scale as D-fest became) so I'm not entirely in the dark on how these things work.  Do they really need Black Crowes or Flaming Lips to make it a success?  A lot of people will still turn out to hear local and regional bands and the talent costs are far less.  There's some really good talent who will play for nothing simply for the opportunity to play in front of a few thousand people.

"tough economy, rising production costs, and a decline in lower level corporate sponsorships and support,"

Tulsa isn't having that tough an economy over this time last year.  That's typically code-speak for "we aren't doing so well".  I'm curious if they have over-extended themselves with their other business ventures.  I wish they would re-consider as many people would still go even without a national level headliner(s).

This raises more questions than answers in my mind.  The original intent was to give local bands a venue and an opportunity to get discovered.  It became too ambitious and unsustainable is what it looks like to me.  The same thing happened in the early 1990's when Mayfest tried to get too big.  That was the year they spread north of the tracks and had booked acts like Chuck Berry & Ray Charles.

I wonder if the BD merchants want to get together and start a Blue Dome Music Fest and highlight local and regional bands?

It's a sad deal that they just took the pass.    It does look like multiple factors may have killed the Dfest.  IMO, last years line up was much weaker than the year before and probably cost the same to produce.  They are probably over-extended in the Enso bar (I just don't see that holding up).  I remember when everyone was in an uproar about what public works spent on supporting events.  I have to wonder if there wasn't a cut in that support that was a contributing factor.  All that and State Farm backing off on some cash sounds like code blue.

 I thought I saw that there was going to be a second Blue Dome event in fall maybe. That might be an opportunity for a more reasonably scaled startup.  Just a couple of good headliners over a weekend and all other local/regional would be good.  If I didn't have a straight job, I'd call some folks over at Pipeline and see if I could light a fire.  There is obviously all the potential for a successful event.  The finances just need some reworking.  I don't see why they can't still get the conference together.  Let local venues promote some shows to go along with it.

[rdj]

State Farm isn't the issue.  They were very, very committed to the festival.  It was the lower level sponsors that were causing issues.

The struggle with DFest is the number of people that come to Blue Dome and don't buy a ticket.  They hang out in the streets or sneak into the main stage.  The bar owners love it because they rake in the cash while the Greens haven't made a dime.

Lots of issues are at play.  Enso, Electric Circus & IDL Ballroom aren't the problem in the sense that they are sucking capital.  What they may do is allow the Greens to book local bands at a venue other than DFest.

[Breadburner]

Lol...Electric Circus....What a drunken night that was....lol....Thanks for reminding me....

[Gold]

This is really bad.  I'm underwhelmed with the attention.  This was one of the best things, if not the best thing, to happen in Tulsa in awhile. 

Having only met the Greens a couple of times, I don't know much about the management.  But, maybe it was ready for people with more experience with corporate issues, business issues, etc. 

All that said, it was an awful time of year for an event like this. It was too hot.  Move it to the spring or fall. 

[spartanokc]

Is it ironic that an indy music festival can't survive without corporate sponsors...lol

[rhymnrzn]

I'm sorry I am not down with an increase of vanity.  I really do care for and support the variety in music, and musicians should always work toward perfection, but, the majority of rock music in particular can be summed up in the classics, and what is new nowadays, they can have all their venues to their heart's fill - as for me, I am much more focused on the communications, so the inspiration is making the most brilliant lights of all.  Having the downtown venue should include an abundance of hip-hop, reggae, and techno, and everyone setting their faith in the right things instead of the profit-motive, in order to be a strong magnet, inclusive to many setting up camp and their booths promoting good among all the people.  Let the tribes set up in their corner bearing the offerings of every sort, and interact for a season: people can meet and formulate and practise together, and stick together for many days.  But I don't see it happening as long as we got mad brothers getting drunk,  walking about with cursing and vanity, and the whole process choked by financial grips.  It reflects in what sorry types of music this people produce, and flock to ignorantly, and likewise is the reason why the flocks of people are scattered away from the positive and green time of healing in this nation.

[TheArtist]

I'm sorry I am not down with an increase of vanity.  I really do care for and support the variety in music, and musicians should always work toward perfection, but, the majority of rock music in particular can be summed up in the classics, and what is new nowadays, they can have all their venues to their heart's fill - as for me, I am much more focused on the communications, so the inspiration is making the most brilliant lights of all.  Having the downtown venue should include an abundance of hip-hop, reggae, and techno, and everyone setting their faith in the right things instead of the profit-motive, in order to be a strong magnet, inclusive to many setting up camp and their booths promoting good among all the people.  Let the tribes set up in their corner bearing the offerings of every sort, and interact for a season: people can meet and formulate and practise together, and stick together for many days.  But I don't see it happening as long as we got mad brothers getting drunk,  walking about with cursing and vanity, and the whole process choked by financial grips.  It reflects in what sorry types of music this people produce, and flock to ignorantly, and likewise is the reason why the flocks of people are scattered away from the positive and green time of healing in this nation.

Shadows?  Is that you?

[rdj]

All that said, it was an awful time of year for an event like this. It was too hot.  Move it to the spring or fall. 

The problem with spring in Oklahoma is you have the likelihood of what Mayfest just experienced, bad weather.  The threat of weather in Oklahoma can completely ruin your gate.  Outdoor events can buy weather insurance.  But, it is very precise and very expensive.

The fall is hard because of football, both college & high school.  ACL fest is a different animal in that it is a national festival.  People come from all over the country (& world) to attend.

DFest was originally in June.  When Rocklahoma started they took the weekend DFest had historically taken.  The Greens tried to work it out with the corporate entity that does Rocklahoma and it was no dice.