[Dixielandjazz] Sacramento Comment

[Zenith at ANS]

Dear Listers,

In general terms I tend to endorse Steve's comments and emailed Bob Ringwald
so, when the festival's financial woes started.  In my opinion it's not the
details it's the basic concept that needs a rethink i.e. a new recipe or the
mission statement as Steve says to use his definition.   

Some may remember that I offered a challenge to the committee privately and
online that was not taken up at the time.  This was probably because I
cheekily said I would like our Sydney Zenith group to be invited in exchange
for the advice.

SOME BASIC THOUGHTS TO ADD TO OTHERS
1 If something appears to be dying, go move the goal posts. 
2 Try using the Mountain to Mohamed theory.
3 Go up five/six avenues at once hoping at least one will work out.
4 Market research possibly changing the venue(s) and/or change the time of
year?
5 Gamble a little and change some participants and/or target audience
carefully noting cause and effect. (Target Middle American audience?)
6 Look for more quality and less quantity (too many favours here).  It
doesn't have to be bigger than Ben Hur but gradually build it up again.
7 Look for new musical challenges including some 'upmarket' thoughts for
broadening the audience pool.
8 Make some hot music cool or cooler and cool music hotter with the aim of
attracting both types of fans to perhaps double your audience.
9 Try some foot at the door tactics for promotion of new exciting/versatile
ideas that will gain more respect for the Dixieland image.
10 A new recipe is needed, try not to cheapen it with the same old routine
stuff, use 'dynamic lifter' on everything including organisers, volunteers
and musicians.
11 Simply promote a joint venture with another successful, or 'flavour of
the year' type entertainment business (Swing dancing Clubs, Capella Groups,
Barber Shop, Youth groups).  Offer a door prize (trip to OZ?) where people
have to give their name and address to enter thus giving you an instant
mailing list for next year. World Championships for Dallas group at event.  
12 Another 'out of the box' thought, why is the date cast in concrete?
Maybe if you can hook up with another festival either the weekend before
and/or after.  This would provide a financially viable opportunity for some
overseas groups to attend with playing engagements at both events.

Tom (it's traditional you know, don't rock the boat) Wood
www.sydneyzenith.com


-----Original Message-----
From: dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com
[mailto:dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com] On Behalf Of Steve barbone
Sent: Sunday, 4 June 2006 5:54 AM
To: DJML
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Jubilee note

Just a thought that while individual comments are great feedback, from a
marketing standpoint, they need to be filtered somewhat.

IMO, from a marketing point of view, any venture needs a goal or mission
statement. Then all activity should be focused on the mission.

Should the Jubilee be all Dixieland? Good question. As individuals we might
say yes, but then does that satisfy the mission? etc.

If Sacto wishes to draw large crowds, and make money fore their various
programs, then they faced with appealing to the mass audience, as well as
individual trad oriented fans. That would seem to indicate that a music mix
is necessary. But even so, from DJML comments, it seems that there is plenty
of Trad there, however much of the good stuff couldn't be heard by all who
wished to hear it.

What is the Jubilee's Mission? Once it is clearly defined, then the courses
of action will become a bit clearer to attendees.

Another consideration is that Sacto now faces mass audience competition with
the Aspen Snowmass produced Sonoma Jazz Festival which is not far away, on
the same weekend and seems now to be permanent, after their second annual
festival event last week.

This is a major mass audience festival, with headliners like Tony Bennett,
Natalie Cole, SF Gypsy Swing Band, Houston Person, Rebirth Brass Band,
Herbie Hancock et al in addition to about 20 less well known jazz bands of
various types, including Dixieland, (Mal Sharpe) from the Bay Area.
Different music, to be sure, by they are competing for the same mass
audience and charging special admission for the "big time" headliners who
perform in special venues.

As Nancy Giffin pointed out, the jubilee is not easy to produce. And it
takes a dedicated group of special people to think it out and satisfy most
of the people who attend. Can it satisfy everybody? No and that shouldn't
bother anybody. 

Cheers,
Steve Barbone