Fest Attendance: Successful vs. Fun

[JayKeeley]

Originally Posted by skyrefuge

Even that big dollar number is still frightfully small when divided across all the performers.

I think regardless of demographics, the one thing we can all say for certain is that the HC fest tickets are drastically under-priced whichever way you slice and dice it.

[Reign in Acai]

Originally Posted by skyrefuge

Even that big dollar number is still frightfully small when divided across all the performers. l

Not every band is being paid to perform. Several of the acts volunteered to pay their own way to play in front of this esteemed contingent. The higher acts on the bill aren't making much of the way in profit either. Free hotel, ticket to the states, some booze, and a platform to have horns raised in their name.

[JayKeeley]

Originally Posted by skyrefuge

And you can even count at at least 3 out-of-town rebels like me who stayed at other hotels!

oh and I just realized that I didn't book under the HC rate, I went through hotwire dot com as did Jason. (And we had separate rooms). That's 2 plus your 3 more out-of-towners!

Let's face it, the only locals who showed up were John the promoter, Brian, and the angry barman.

[Maggotcrusher666]

Definitely a lack of locals at the fest. At pretty much every swordlord productions show ( which is about the only decent shows we ever get ) you see the same people for most of the shows yet very few of them bothered to come out for heathen crusade both last year and this year. Seems like only power metal and jolly folk metal is popular here. Kind of sad because station 4 was packed for paganfest and finntroll the year before and I swear we didn't have near that many people for heathen crusade.

[Jasonic]

Hey,
I was not at the fest, but just wanted to say that I am in agreement that if you choose to stay with an underground niche style, then you are justified in raising the price.

If a couple hundred traveled, then they would do so still with an addition of $20, let's say, to the ticket price.

I remember a couple years back, a 2-day pass to Chicago Powerfest was $50. Pretty much anyone in attendance held the feeling of, "It was worth paying $50 to see Nocturnal Rites"

Underground metal will always have a core niche audience.
I think you guys are doing everything just fine.
No need to try to compete for bands who tour regularly now.
If you do, the remainder of your line up will suffer if you spend all the sponsorship on one big band, who folks can see anytime anyhow.

Someone mentioned NIGHTFALL RECORDS in Chicago.
Was this the store on Lawrence?
I went there once, I think almost 10 years ago or so.
From what I recall, it was primarily death and black metal, though it was a huge Iced Earth poster that drew me into the store!

[LadyofShalott]

As a first time attendee, i found no problem with the number of people that attended. It gives a great opportunity to really meet and get to know other dedicated people, you can talk to the bands sometimes, and i believe the smaller crowd keeps the atmosphere much more friendly. it was nice to run into the same people more than once. i agree that advertising is an issue here, in chicago there are several locations frequented by metal heads, and there was no advertisement that i could tell for HC3 there, flyers and posters with a great design would help a lot if you really wanted to boost the attendance. but then again, do you really want to? it would be terrible if the glorious music HC brings would begin have the same fate as black metal is experiencing now *shivers*. yeah, raising the ticket prices would be fine, i'd pay more for it, but if its raised too much and the bands i really wanted to see cancel again, it would be a less appealing event to attend. and what about generally extended holiday weekends that no one really celebrates but has work off anyways? those are good times for a 2 day fest.

[Climb Thar Hill]

Originally Posted by LadyofShalott

and what about generally extended holiday weekends that no one really celebrates but has work off anyways? those are good times for a 2 day fest.

= more expensive airfare

[Ars Magna]

Originally Posted by LadyofShalott

...if you really wanted to boost the attendance. but then again, do you really want to?

The dreaded battle between want and need. It always sucks when reality has something to say about the state of metal.

[JayKeeley]

Originally Posted by LadyofShalott

yeah, raising the ticket prices would be fine, i'd pay more for it, but if its raised too much and the bands i really wanted to see cancel again, it would be a less appealing event to attend.

Just buy your tickets at the last minute (or even at the door)

[LadyofShalott]

Originally Posted by JayKeeley

Just buy your tickets at the last minute (or even at the door)

no kidding

[tattooedsean666]

Originally Posted by JayKeeley

HC has done everything to avoid the commercial route, so that's why you only get the die hard fans showing up

That said, Minneapolis locals seem to be adrift. I was at Iced Earth the night before HC and aside from the fact that they could only play Station 4 (in NYC they played the Nokia Theater in Times Square), I doubt those fans had much interest in HC.

Metal Blade have done everything to commercialize Amon Amarth (MTV rotation, metal blade tour support, bobble-headed toys) so at this point they attract the same folks into the current trend of NWOJFM (Nu Wave of Jolly Folk Metal) -- Eleuvetie, Wintersun etc, that's why they get a large audience.

The HC promoters need to keep doing things EXACTLY THE SAME*. Pick the right bands, stay underground, get those artists hungry to play the US, and the die hard fans will travel in from all 4 corners.






* except raise ticket prices. (Seriously John, those tickets need to be $80 each. If you build it, they will come.)

Wintersun- jolly folk metal? Eluveitie yes, korpiklaani yes but Wintersun?

[JayKeeley]

Originally Posted by tattooedsean666

Wintersun- jolly folk metal? Eluveitie yes, korpiklaani yes but Wintersun?

Wintersun = DragonForce