[Dixielandjazz] Million Dollar ?

[Creole Dixieland Jazz Band]

I appreciate this post. When I lived in the St. Louis area (early 1980's) I
went to the festival and had a blast. The highlight though was playing the
fest one summer (1983 I believe) with the Jim Dapogny band when his bone
player, Bob Smith, couldn't make it. Whether playing or listening, it was
always a great festival, seemed well organized and professional, a good
variety of bands -- what a gas! A terrific memory I'll always remember:
There was a jam session every night after the final set. When I finally left
in the middle of the night (4:00am or so?) and was walking down the levee
towards my car, I could still hear the sounds of session coming from the
boat. Perfect. You did a good job, G. William Oakley.

Dave
=======================
"It's a treat to beat your feet."
The Creole Dixieland Jazz Band
Dave Gravatt
417-581-5626
www.CreoleJazz.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "G. William Oakley" <gwilliamoakley@earthlink.net>
To: "DJML" <dixielandjazz@ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Monday, July 15, 2002 1:47 PM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Million Dollar ?


> First, let me say that I think being a festival director is one of the
most
> unrewarding, thankless jobs around. No matter what a gangbusters lineup
you
> choose, there will always be numerous questioners who ask why you DIDN'T
> invite so-and-so and why you DID invite so-and-so. It's a no-win
situation."
> Wrote Bill Horton
> I respectfully disagree.  I ran the St. Louis Festival for many years and
it
> was most rewarding.  I loved every minute of it and to this day continue
> relations with friends and associates acquired during that time.
> As to diversity (not the PC kind) we always tried to bring as much variety
> as  could be conjured up.  I always had to have Turk and the Salty Dogs
> because the audience expected it.  Beyond that I tried to have a differnet
> foreign group every year,  a different "kid band" (we prided ourselves on
> looking for up and coming young groups and giving them their first
> professional exposure), and I always had an unusual group, e.g. The
Etcetera
> String Band.  We tried to represent different parts of the country as
well.
> Midwesterners at the time had not heard bands like the Hot Frogs or the
> Royal Society and they were brought in to much acclaim.  I could go on but
I
> think the point is made.  I see festival lineups that are right off the
> Xerox machine and I can sympathize with the idea that "they sell badges,"
> but there is also something to be said for stretching your audience.  I
> think we did that quite successfully in St. Louis and attendance grew
every
> year.  We were also attracting younger people.  At first they came down
and
> sat on the levee and listened for free but then they became full-fledged
> ticket buyers.
>
> In my opinion it can be a win-win situation.
>
> Respectfully,
> G. William Oakley
>
>
>
>
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