Post by TaperBill on Dec 14, 2015 13:12:23 GMT -5
This forum category is all about "Deconstructing Lockn' bliss", right? Okay, here goes some deconstruction:
I went to the first Lockn' two years ago and it was indeed bliss. It was a jam band fan's wet dream; with Neil's absence and Furthur about to call it quits, it immediately morphed into Phil and Bobby passing the jam band torch on to bands like Mule, String Cheese, Widespread and others that were already at or just past the height of their powers. There was a definite valedictory tone to the whole thing, each night could have been a closing night, each band a closing band. There were so many memorable moments I can't begin to count them.
I bought a ticket for the next year, but due to health issues had to sell my ticket to a friend, so I missed that.
This year when I came back, there was definitely a different vibe. The thing that stuck out most to me was that the center area in front of the main stages, fully half of the viewing area, was VIP-only. Apparently Shapiro wasn't content with adding on value for the VIP ticket-holders, he had to go further and gouge value away from the general admission patrons. I've honestly never seen that at any other festival I've been to, ever. In my mind he's crossed a line, performing a bait and switch, selling us the promise of a previous experience and then yanking it away, to be restored only after paying a hefty premium for it. There are other ways to attract people to VIP tickets and, yes, I understand just how important they are to pay for all of the top flight talent that Lockn' brings, but to disrespect the vast majority of the festivalgoers like this is the wrong move. It puts Lockn' just this side of Bonnaroo, and I fear Shapiro means to push it over that line in due course. When you start treating your customers as just revenue instead of people, nothing good can happen.
I'm giving Lockn' one more chance. I bought the alumni ticket, I'm looking forward to a good time, but if I see this same crap with the VIP-only in front of the stages, then that'll be the last time. There are a lot of other and, yes, more interesting festivals to go to featuring younger bands who don't play songs I've heard 80,000 times before, real talent and memories to be had for a third of the price and a tenth of the aggravation. If Peter Shapiro wants to 'Rooin Lockn', he can do it without my $$$.
I went to the first Lockn' two years ago and it was indeed bliss. It was a jam band fan's wet dream; with Neil's absence and Furthur about to call it quits, it immediately morphed into Phil and Bobby passing the jam band torch on to bands like Mule, String Cheese, Widespread and others that were already at or just past the height of their powers. There was a definite valedictory tone to the whole thing, each night could have been a closing night, each band a closing band. There were so many memorable moments I can't begin to count them.
I bought a ticket for the next year, but due to health issues had to sell my ticket to a friend, so I missed that.
This year when I came back, there was definitely a different vibe. The thing that stuck out most to me was that the center area in front of the main stages, fully half of the viewing area, was VIP-only. Apparently Shapiro wasn't content with adding on value for the VIP ticket-holders, he had to go further and gouge value away from the general admission patrons. I've honestly never seen that at any other festival I've been to, ever. In my mind he's crossed a line, performing a bait and switch, selling us the promise of a previous experience and then yanking it away, to be restored only after paying a hefty premium for it. There are other ways to attract people to VIP tickets and, yes, I understand just how important they are to pay for all of the top flight talent that Lockn' brings, but to disrespect the vast majority of the festivalgoers like this is the wrong move. It puts Lockn' just this side of Bonnaroo, and I fear Shapiro means to push it over that line in due course. When you start treating your customers as just revenue instead of people, nothing good can happen.
I'm giving Lockn' one more chance. I bought the alumni ticket, I'm looking forward to a good time, but if I see this same crap with the VIP-only in front of the stages, then that'll be the last time. There are a lot of other and, yes, more interesting festivals to go to featuring younger bands who don't play songs I've heard 80,000 times before, real talent and memories to be had for a third of the price and a tenth of the aggravation. If Peter Shapiro wants to 'Rooin Lockn', he can do it without my $$$.
