Re: [Harp-L] Re: Buckeye Cancelled



Joe asks:


> <<The point was that offering something unique, fresh and new does a lot to 
regenerate as well as keep attendance levels up there.

Ok, what are your suggestions for something unique, fresh, or new. Maybe you 
could offer an outline or sylibus to the festival committees. >>





My last few emails did offer suggestions that have proven successful in the past. Recent offlist responses to them reinforce the fact that others have found them valid as well. However, offlist and private just show a silent support and are not verifiable due to respect in confidentiality.


I wonder why posters are reticent to speak publicly on a public forum. Could it be that they've witnessed flaming to new ideas and are uncomfortable? Could the very fact that my past style of posting has created a fear of agreeing with me publicly in favor of not ruffling feathers?


All I know is effective results so often differ from perception of results by those who manage events. Too often management cries out "Bigger, better than ever, always improving" while attendance is dropping and the future looks dim, indeed. This is not only evident in the harmonica community, but seems to be prevalent in so many other events, so I guess it is really human nature. There is an approach of "fake it till you make it", in which you offer a positive spin on events that are going south in the hopes that eventually the real world will catch on and change direction.


I've always been more focused on quantifiable results than hung up on perception. Attendance numbers, memberships, tickets sold at the door, returning customers, video sales, preorders/pre-registration numbers, etc. In my world, if these numbers are dwindling, than something needs to change, no matter how uncomfortable it is to change - unless it has unlimited funding by a benefactor with no need for return on the $ to survive.


As far as offering an outline to a committee, it is best to offer help when asked directly rather than offer unsolicited help, as that rarely is appreciated. In all fairness, I have been asked to help out with post-Tate SPAHs, but have declined due to what I've perceived as too many cooks involved and a lack of razor sharp vision with the fearlessness to carry out radical and rapid changes. This is purely my perception, as my personal philosophy is to effectively craft something that has a gravitational pull to it and not be sidetracked by trying to please everybody all the time. I'm not saying that trying to please everybody all the time is wrong or a bad approach; it just hasn't worked well for me in crafting successful events.


I am saddened as anyone to see the demise of events due to lack of attendance and hope that SPAH can turn the situation around. Hey, it seems to me that Gindick had a good idea, as his events (expensive as they are) are self sufficient and he always seems to find new blood. I've always been a fan of finding successful events/people and either mirroring or at the very least seriously examining the aspects of a proven formula that works as an effective recipe for success.


Larry



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