Hello, Everyone.
I just wanted to say thank you once again for a great year. I'm headed into semi-exile for a few months. I'll post from time to time, but not on a regular basis.
A few comments to leave you with...
1. My crew is awesome. They were dealt bad hands twice that were beyond their control and dealt with it professionally. In fact, all of the bands rave about how awesome the crew is compared to anywhere else in the world.
2. I'm just as ill about all the fucking smoke on stage as anyone. That will be dealt with harshly next year. I can't control the lighting tech for individual bands, but will let them know up front to ease off the gas pedal.
3. The heat on Saturday night sucked. It's a constant battle based on numerous factors. This is one of those things I can prepare for 100% in advance and it still not go as planned.
4. We had the most FOH engineers this year than ever before. In fact, my guy only did 4 bands all weekend.
5. I think most of you now fully understand how people just don't give a shit what you ask in terms of shooting video. I appreciate all the efforts in keeping it down though. I will once again evaluate the camera policy next year. I was hoping it would be easy, but *sigh*...
As for next year's discussion, I'll leave a few comments for the armchair quarterbacks to chew on....
*I booked the roster with the full intention of it being the most diverse yet. However, I have to simply grin at some of your comments. Since when does not knowing a band equate to them sucking? The festival is a full year away. How about taking a few months and exploring those bands before you make a rash judgment?
*Perhaps the headliners aren't exactly what some were expecting. However, how did I ignore the basic formula otherwise? Take away the top 3 bands and you have a list that would fit any other year easily. Melodic prog, heavy prog, speedy power, heavy power, melodic power, a bit of thrash... it's all there.
*I have to call total bullshit on those that say 90% of the crowd is made up of regulars. Those days are loooonnnnggggg gone. You really are living in a bubble if you think the same people who attended PP USA IV-X have been constant. The "regular" base has been drying up over the past few years considerably. I have ticket audits to prove that, and that's just as big a reason for shows not selling out as the economy.
*This year sold-out because I reached a new, younger audience with Kamelot. Local advertising in Atlanta at the end made a HUGE difference as well. It was not the regulars coming back because I booked a traditional prog/power lineup.
*I have no doubt that I will lose a few regulars next year because I didn't book the band they wanted to see. However, I am confident that I will replace them with a new segment that will help spread the name further. That will allow me to pull from new audiences for the years to come once they experience the festival.
*If I keep going to the same well, it's going to slowly dry up. That has been happening over the past few years. I have booked damn near every big name already. And those same names are now touring on a semi-regular basis over here. For those that believe the economy is a stronger factor, then I also ask you this: Why would the guy in Chicago that can drive 30 minutes to see Gamma Ray fly to Atlanta to see them? That is happening more and more.
*If I would have named Nevermore instead of Sanctuary, would it have made a difference? Perhaps to the casual fan that doesn't really follow Nevermore, but would recognize the name. Otherwise, I would argue no. Nevermore fans are Sanctuary fans. Hell, Sanctuary is now basically Nevermore (Loomis is indeed coming). Fans are going to come out now that something special is in the air. Sanctuary may play two other shows next year besides mine in the States, but no more. They are not touring regardless of their new album in 2011.
* I have seen comments asking if Dream Evil are big enough to warrant that spot. I have seen them called third tier. That's total bullshit folks. Dream Evil has sold more records here in the States than Nocturnal Rites and Tarot combined. In fact, they have sold a fuck load more than any power metal band that has not done a headline tour here.
*Arcturus will help sell this festival out. I don't think folks here on the forum truly understand their impact on the roster. Hell, even the Blabbermouth idiots are saying nice things for the first time in a decade. I dare say that I would have a good shot just with the immediate Atlanta crowd in terms of selling tickets just based on them. 'Nuff said.
*Some asked where the new "buzz" band was like in year's past. I would ask the same thing not just of the roster, but both prog & power genres. I mean show me the buzz instead of thinking it is more than it truly just because you and 5 of your friends have talked about them.
Anyhow, I think that's enough for now...
Thanks everyone.
Glenn
I just wanted to say thank you once again for a great year. I'm headed into semi-exile for a few months. I'll post from time to time, but not on a regular basis.
A few comments to leave you with...
1. My crew is awesome. They were dealt bad hands twice that were beyond their control and dealt with it professionally. In fact, all of the bands rave about how awesome the crew is compared to anywhere else in the world.
2. I'm just as ill about all the fucking smoke on stage as anyone. That will be dealt with harshly next year. I can't control the lighting tech for individual bands, but will let them know up front to ease off the gas pedal.
3. The heat on Saturday night sucked. It's a constant battle based on numerous factors. This is one of those things I can prepare for 100% in advance and it still not go as planned.
4. We had the most FOH engineers this year than ever before. In fact, my guy only did 4 bands all weekend.
5. I think most of you now fully understand how people just don't give a shit what you ask in terms of shooting video. I appreciate all the efforts in keeping it down though. I will once again evaluate the camera policy next year. I was hoping it would be easy, but *sigh*...
As for next year's discussion, I'll leave a few comments for the armchair quarterbacks to chew on....
*I booked the roster with the full intention of it being the most diverse yet. However, I have to simply grin at some of your comments. Since when does not knowing a band equate to them sucking? The festival is a full year away. How about taking a few months and exploring those bands before you make a rash judgment?
*Perhaps the headliners aren't exactly what some were expecting. However, how did I ignore the basic formula otherwise? Take away the top 3 bands and you have a list that would fit any other year easily. Melodic prog, heavy prog, speedy power, heavy power, melodic power, a bit of thrash... it's all there.
*I have to call total bullshit on those that say 90% of the crowd is made up of regulars. Those days are loooonnnnggggg gone. You really are living in a bubble if you think the same people who attended PP USA IV-X have been constant. The "regular" base has been drying up over the past few years considerably. I have ticket audits to prove that, and that's just as big a reason for shows not selling out as the economy.
*This year sold-out because I reached a new, younger audience with Kamelot. Local advertising in Atlanta at the end made a HUGE difference as well. It was not the regulars coming back because I booked a traditional prog/power lineup.
*I have no doubt that I will lose a few regulars next year because I didn't book the band they wanted to see. However, I am confident that I will replace them with a new segment that will help spread the name further. That will allow me to pull from new audiences for the years to come once they experience the festival.
*If I keep going to the same well, it's going to slowly dry up. That has been happening over the past few years. I have booked damn near every big name already. And those same names are now touring on a semi-regular basis over here. For those that believe the economy is a stronger factor, then I also ask you this: Why would the guy in Chicago that can drive 30 minutes to see Gamma Ray fly to Atlanta to see them? That is happening more and more.
*If I would have named Nevermore instead of Sanctuary, would it have made a difference? Perhaps to the casual fan that doesn't really follow Nevermore, but would recognize the name. Otherwise, I would argue no. Nevermore fans are Sanctuary fans. Hell, Sanctuary is now basically Nevermore (Loomis is indeed coming). Fans are going to come out now that something special is in the air. Sanctuary may play two other shows next year besides mine in the States, but no more. They are not touring regardless of their new album in 2011.
* I have seen comments asking if Dream Evil are big enough to warrant that spot. I have seen them called third tier. That's total bullshit folks. Dream Evil has sold more records here in the States than Nocturnal Rites and Tarot combined. In fact, they have sold a fuck load more than any power metal band that has not done a headline tour here.
*Arcturus will help sell this festival out. I don't think folks here on the forum truly understand their impact on the roster. Hell, even the Blabbermouth idiots are saying nice things for the first time in a decade. I dare say that I would have a good shot just with the immediate Atlanta crowd in terms of selling tickets just based on them. 'Nuff said.
*Some asked where the new "buzz" band was like in year's past. I would ask the same thing not just of the roster, but both prog & power genres. I mean show me the buzz instead of thinking it is more than it truly just because you and 5 of your friends have talked about them.
Anyhow, I think that's enough for now...
Thanks everyone.
Glenn
