Bumbershoot Bumberchella
posted by on February 20 at 9:59 AM
Seattle-based not-for-profit One Reel announced this morning a five-year deal that will see the Bumbershoot organizers collaborate with AEG Live for talent buying, sponsorship, and underwriting. Based out of L.A., AEG Live is the second-largest live events producer in the world (after Clear Channel) and is the talent buyer for both Coachella and the New Orleans Jazzfest.
According to the press release, “this innovative arrangement will allow Bumbershoot to form a headliner talent and sponsorship consortium and share festival resources and strategies with two other respected U.S. festivals, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival.”
Hard to say what this means for Bumbershoot, other than headliners might now be identical to the other festivals AEG runs.
Whether we want to get into the ultra-conservative, Bush-supporting, oil-drilling on Native American land policies of Philip Anschutz, owner of dozens of multinational companies including Anschutz Events Group, is also unclear.
The press release continues, “AEG and One Reel worked together to create an original non-profit/for-profit collaboration that would achieve both party’s objectives, with a shared goal of preserving and continuing the artistic excellence and historical integrity of the 37-year-old Bumbershoot.”
Sounds OK, I guess. Bumbershoot producer Heather Smith apparently thinks so: “AEG has an outstanding reputation working with non-profits like The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Foundation and NARAS. They have demonstrated their commitment to understanding each organization’s mission while helping to build upon successful events. This was a key factor in selecting AEG as a good fit for One Reel.”
Obviously there’s a lot of smoke to clear here. The ultimate question is, is this move good or bad for Bumbershoot? If it helps keep the festival viable on a local and national level, yes. If it means waiting four hours to get inside Memorial Stadium to see the Chili Peppers, no. Thoughts?
I wonder if they are doing this to help lower the price of Bumbershoot tickets, the continual rise of which they have attributed to the rising cost of talent. . . If the tickets start costing Coachella-like prices, we're screwed.
Probably a good thing. It seems like Bumbershoot has taken a beating the past few years and needs a little help reviving it.
I don't think this will mean longer lines or Chili Peppers - it wouldn't be a good move for One Reel to change their formula to be less "local" and I would imagine it would behoove AEG to keep doing what makes this local festival special. And One Reel probably can get more bargaining power.
I dunno, I just don't think it will be that bad.
i would be SHOCKED to see ticket price lowered its probobly going to go up. “AEG has an outstanding reputation working with non-profits like The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Foundation and NARAS". but I am pretty shure that aeg IS for profits so i am shure it will go as the block party has (more sponsers yet still more expensive)...... I have to say, i have lived in seattle my whole life and the bumbershoots of the late eighties and early nineties will never be acheived again. I am frankly afraid to go now cause of the price and the crowds.
Maybe they can do something like the Live Nation/Ozzfest deal where it is free. Then let the bands play local shows for dough instead of shutting them out of local venues for the few weeks around Bumbershoot. Then you can see your favorite band with a huge crowd for free, or pay to see them in a tiny club a few days later.
I never went to an early bumbershoot - what made them so great? Just fewer people or...?
not only will the admission price go up but local bands will be a thing of the past.but the most troubling thing is the bands that they do finally rope into preforming will be so lukewarm that....oh wait thats already happening, nevermind~
I'm with #5, this will totally do away with local bands in their already corporate festival. I remembered when this thing was an arts festival, filled with mostly local and SOME touring acts. Now it's an expensive, over the top Spin magazine style affair. Yes, you can see the Shins AND Kanye West on the same day for 25$. But does this mean that the already paltry wage of about 150$ - 250$ (the same for many, many years) will go down for those smaller acts?
The best part about all of this press - nonprofit aside, do you realize how much money one reel will make out of this? I don't see them talking about how this will probably raise some of Their pay rates.
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