The government in the city is so f*cked up right now that even if they wanted to support this festival, they really would not have the money. Now there's the scandal with the mayor (check Metro Times for the drama). The city does not support the hip hop summit, the mayor does. He's on the panel every year, which is a bit pretentious when the panel usually includes the likes of Russell Simmons (picture Kwame Kilpatrick on the panel anything dealing with techno and you'll get how ludicrous that is). I seriously think he does the hip hop thing gearing up for his next career when they boot him out.
I don't think the city is deliberately "milking" us, but they are deliberately letting something that obviously brings a lot of people to the city go down the tubes. Granted, they are not the only ones at fault. I for one, would argue that if the majority of the festival planning was completed in a timely fashion, tickets should be sold if that's what it takes. I don't think we would complaing if we all had to pay 50 bucks for the whole weekend, or something like that. If it give the organizers a budget to work with, it should happen. They just have to come correct: get the lineup set, maybe even take some interactive suggestions from the fans, come up with the lineup, set up pre-ticketing, then go to some sponsors with some real numbers. Nothing would impress a company more that some real numbers; not the fact that it's a "free festival" and that "a lot of people come each year." And like someone said on detroitluv, have someone with a keener pulse on what's happening in Detroit and elsewhere in the world to work on the lineup. Too many trumpets and not enough Akai, Roland, etc. gear on the main stage this year. It was interesting to note that the slogan this year on the banners was "Saving the world from bad music." If you're going to put some sh*t like that on a banner, back it up with extreme prejudice. And although many people talk about it, there is an ego monster killing this from within right now. If these people can't work well together, they need to move on. Everyone, including us, needs to wake up and realize that the idea of a free festival, while noble, was unrealistic from the get. Derrick May also needs to realize that he needs to stop being a martyr (bringing up how the festival is free to anyone that will listen..we know this) and make people pay to come see this, but also give them something folks would be willing to drop 50-100 dollars to experience. It's pretty sad when you have consistently better techno being dropped at a booth (Nefarious) that in the main bowl. On a positive note, I thought the crowd was a bit more balanced this year and all in all the weather was markedly better. Monday was a sunny day that reminded me of the first festival. Peace, Alex > I'm not saying anything negative about the Derrick,Kevin and co.. > it's my city Detroit I'm talking about the city does not support > the music like they do other events, just a couple weeks ago they > had the hip hop summit, which was supported. The city sees our event > as a chance to milk us listeners for the money, but not kick out any... > These are the same reasons why many artist have left the city... > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2004 10:48 AM > To: Steward, Tim; [email protected] > Subject: RE: (313) my personal experience at movement > > > was Red Bull there this year? I can't even remember if it was last year > -doh!- but Red Bull in Europe > do alot for clubs/events etc they really go out of there way to help...but > as you say blue chips would be good as well as bigger brands.... > > also Vestax are good for events but off course you gotta use Vestax's thru > and thru which aint bad ..I am sure they tried all avenues but to be honest > I find it hard ebough myself just dealing with family/work/djing and > producing net along trying to organise a free event for the masses so hats > off to Derrick, Kevin and Co... > > -----Original Message----- > From: Steward, Tim [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wed 02/06/2004 15:38 > To: [email protected] > Cc: > Subject: RE: (313) my personal experience at movement > > > > Yes the city does help out with some of the other festivals > But there is also tons of sponsors at other events, the booth > rental rates were too much for a small business to jump on at least > for me. > These were the cost $200.00 to the city for license $2200 for the > 10x10 booths with no sides $3700 for the 12x12 booth with sides. > so on the low end a small business would need to sell $2400 worth > of merchandise just to break even. So for me it was not in my > budget. > There were no major sponsors at all, a couple years ago Ford was a > major > sponsor, and I work for a big computer company that moved downtown > last year > and nobody approached them. These are they type of sponsors they > need the > clothing stores are cool, but they don't have the same level of > money to put > up. The economy is bad, yes but all the resources need to be tapped. > Now we have the pontiac techno house music festival july 11-12 > which I plan > to > attend, but the real question why start a new festival instead of > joining > forces > with the movement festival. > And maybe it's just me but the name change from demf/movement needs > to be > properly > communicated-did anyone notice that some restaurants/bars had old > demf signs > up. > I know that's petty but I noticed it. > Also I think everyone in the city with a small record label needs to > contribute > so that a city wide effort is put forth. > The logistics were poor, mainly due to city politics there were > politics > involved > last year, but this year they interfered with the festival, so it > was out in > the > open not behind the scenes like last year. > Derrick,(Transmat,High Tech)Kevin(KMS) worked hard to give us a good > show. > So I send them one big Techno Thank You...................... > Overall I enjoyed the movement 04, I played on Sunday afternoon > @nikkis > with negative-saucer which was a cool small set. > > > Tim > > -----Original Message----- > From: Redmond, Ja'Maul [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2004 9:09 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Erin Bate > Cc: [email protected]; /0 > Subject: RE: (313) my personal experience at movement > > > I still can't believe that the city doesn't pay a dime. Down here > (charlotte) the city pays for most of the chessy music festivals we > have > and they don't draw anywhere near a million + people. Do any of you > guys > in Detroit know whether the city helps for other festivals in the > city. > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2004 4:17 PM > To: Erin Bate > Cc: [email protected]; /0 > Subject: Re: (313) my personal experience at movement > > > > > > Well, it's not just Derrick, Kevin Saunderson is part of it as well. > > So what part of the business do they need to run better? > Is it the getting sponsors to support them during a crappy economy > part? > Is it the trying to convince the politicians/city to cough up some > cash > part? > Is it the part about putting up even more of your own personal money > or > getting monstrous loans just to throw an event and go into major > debt? > I'd like to know... > > Derrick can take all the business classes in the world but if nobody > is > going to give up some money to support Movement - it ain't going to > happen again. > > How long do we hold onto our checks before there isn't another > festival? > > MEK > > > > > > Erin Bate > > <[EMAIL PROTECTED] To: /0 > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > thms.com> cc: > [email protected], [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: (313) > my > personal experience at movement > 06/01/04 02:51 PM > > > > > > > > > > I would hold on to your check until derrick takes some business > classes. > ~E > > From the outside, Movement 2004 looked like a success. > But Movement 2005 is in a precarious spot. > Detroit > can't let this slip away. > > this is an excellent article - really says it like it > is. > I think everyone who has ever enjoyed Movement or the > DEMF > should read this > > I didn't go this year but I'd like to make some > donations so > I > can go again next year > where do I send my check? > > > > > > > > The contents of this e-mail are intended for the named addressee > only. It > contains information that may be confidential. Unless you are the > named > addressee or an authorized designee, you may not copy or use it, or > disclose > it to anyone else. If you received it in error please notify us > immediately > and then destroy it. > > > > > > > > The contents of this e-mail are intended for the named addressee only. It > contains information that may be confidential. Unless you are the named > addressee or an authorized designee, you may not copy or use it, or disclose > it to anyone else. If you received it in error please notify us immediately > and then destroy it. >
