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What's the story on Riverfest?
Posted on 7/18/17 at 8:28 pm
Posted on 7/18/17 at 8:28 pm
I went twice a few years ago and had fun.
Pretty sad to see it close shop.
Pretty sad to see it close shop.
2
Posted on 7/18/17 at 9:59 pm to RunningBlake
Nobody wants to see washed up 90's hip hop stars anymore. They didn't have the money to turn it into a quality festival and book good talent, attendance dwindled, and they couldn't make money.
Posted on 7/18/17 at 10:10 pm to beebefootballfan
The price of quality acts went way up, acts raised their price since the album sales money stream dried up.
At it's peak, Riverfest was drawing about 250,000. Acts sucked so bad this year is was down to 125,000.
Plus, 'for profit' festivals have grown and made it hard to get acts to 'non profit' festivals.
At it's peak, Riverfest was drawing about 250,000. Acts sucked so bad this year is was down to 125,000.
Plus, 'for profit' festivals have grown and made it hard to get acts to 'non profit' festivals.
Posted on 7/18/17 at 11:29 pm to WonderWartHawg
They also messed up moving it from Memorial Day weekend. The Riverfest people won't admit it though. They blame the weather for the big drop in attendance the last two years. The truth is, nobody wants to go see a mid tier act on a Sunday night when they have to work on Monday.
This post was edited on 7/18/17 at 11:32 pm
Posted on 7/18/17 at 11:42 pm to RunningBlake
Now that you have heard from Beene not sure WWH relaying Riverfest's press release, here is the real reason.
Lack of quality sponsors is the only reason they closed up shop, The other excuses are just spin. Sponsors have been shifting away to other smaller venues for the last 3-5 years. Local events/entertainment is the smarter play, not some half arse music festival that brings in the Dardanelle/Mountain View/Carlisle type folks.
Secondly, the changing/splitting of dates was a total failure.
To give credit, Beebe was correct about it being shitty lineups, been that way for a while.
Lack of quality sponsors is the only reason they closed up shop, The other excuses are just spin. Sponsors have been shifting away to other smaller venues for the last 3-5 years. Local events/entertainment is the smarter play, not some half arse music festival that brings in the Dardanelle/Mountain View/Carlisle type folks.
Secondly, the changing/splitting of dates was a total failure.
To give credit, Beebe was correct about it being shitty lineups, been that way for a while.
Posted on 7/19/17 at 7:33 am to beebefootballfan
quote:
90's hip hop stars
Would watch over any modern "country" artist out there.
Posted on 7/19/17 at 7:40 am to boogiewoogie1978
It was always gonna be hard to compete with Memphis in May which is considered one of the better music fests in the country and only 2 hours away.
Posted on 7/19/17 at 8:29 am to boogiewoogie1978
In my (non-insider) opinion, Riverfest was in a no-win situation.
Back when artists made more from album sales, they had lower appearance fees, so Riverfest could bring in quality acts and keep ticket prices low. For example, )as the Times reported yesterday), when Snoop Dogg headlined Riverfest in 2012, his rate was $75,000. In advance of this year's festival, the rapper wanted upward of $300,000. The entire music budget for Riverfest was $850,000. This was not an isolated situation.
When they raised the ticket prices to compensate, people started complaining that it was getting too expensive to bring the family. So, they split it up to make a family event and a music event. Then people complained about that.
It was the reality of the times we live in. The committee tried to be responsive and give people what they wanted, but there was no going back to the olden days of quality acts for cheap prices.
Back when artists made more from album sales, they had lower appearance fees, so Riverfest could bring in quality acts and keep ticket prices low. For example, )as the Times reported yesterday), when Snoop Dogg headlined Riverfest in 2012, his rate was $75,000. In advance of this year's festival, the rapper wanted upward of $300,000. The entire music budget for Riverfest was $850,000. This was not an isolated situation.
When they raised the ticket prices to compensate, people started complaining that it was getting too expensive to bring the family. So, they split it up to make a family event and a music event. Then people complained about that.
It was the reality of the times we live in. The committee tried to be responsive and give people what they wanted, but there was no going back to the olden days of quality acts for cheap prices.
This post was edited on 7/19/17 at 8:42 am
Posted on 7/19/17 at 9:10 am to Miz Piggy
Little Rock is ghetto as shite and you can count on one hand the decent bars/places to eat.
That is what happened.
That is what happened.
Posted on 7/19/17 at 2:23 pm to STLhog
Sounds like you've been in the wrong part of Little Rock. There are some very nice areas that aren't "ghetto as shite". As a matter of fact for the most part Little Rock is ok. It just has some really poor areas where you find most of the violence.
Posted on 7/19/17 at 2:38 pm to Porkmeister
Yeah, most of the NWA crowd, a large percentage non-Arkansans or never been through the tunnel, don't know shite about Little Rock, other than it's the state capitol.
Posted on 7/19/17 at 3:36 pm to STLhog
quote:
you can count on one hand the decent bars/places to eat
Posted on 7/19/17 at 4:33 pm to STLhog
quote:
STLhog
I believe you have Little Rock confused with St. Louis
Posted on 7/20/17 at 2:50 pm to STLhog
quote:
you can count on one hand the decent bars/places to eat.
Which ones then? Or are you taking out your arse?
Posted on 7/25/17 at 4:12 pm to HogFanfromHTown
HAve you seen the murder rate lately?
Ridiculous. You can count on one hand the decent places to grab a drink there and shopping mall bars in West Little Rock dont count. Sorry.
Ridiculous. You can count on one hand the decent places to grab a drink there and shopping mall bars in West Little Rock dont count. Sorry.
Posted on 7/25/17 at 4:21 pm to STLhog
quote:
Ridiculous. You can count on one hand the decent places to grab a drink there and shopping mall bars in West Little Rock dont count. Sorry.
I hope you are joking. Little Rock is by no means a great city but I go there quite a bit and it isn't close to that bad.
Posted on 7/25/17 at 5:07 pm to STLhog
quote:
HAve you seen the murder rate lately?
How is that at all relevant?
quote:
You can count on one hand the decent places to grab a drink there
Name them then pussy.
Posted on 7/25/17 at 5:18 pm to STLhog
quote:
Ridiculous. You can count on one hand the decent places to grab a drink there and shopping mall bars in West Little Rock dont count. Sorry.
That's just silly. There are at least 5 breweries there, now. That doesn't even count the numerous bars for cocktails. Between Argenta, Riverfront area, Old Cantrell, Hillcrest/Heights and a couple of areas out in West Little Rock (that aren't really my taste), you have some good little bar/restaurant districts.
This post was edited on 7/25/17 at 5:19 pm
Posted on 7/25/17 at 10:19 pm to hogfly
This thread could just have easily been named, "When will Little Rock get the death penalty?"
The demise of Riverfest is but one example of a city in distress. With what seems to be at least one murder daily I saw where Little Rock was named the most violent city (of its size) in America. I didn't think I would ever say this but I really wonder whether the city will recover. Granted, a lot of outsiders have always viewed Little Rock with some disdain but now it appears that a substantial number of insiders are getting fed up with the state of affairs.
I hope it becomes a shining city for all to enjoy but I think it has a long ways to go from where things are now.
The demise of Riverfest is but one example of a city in distress. With what seems to be at least one murder daily I saw where Little Rock was named the most violent city (of its size) in America. I didn't think I would ever say this but I really wonder whether the city will recover. Granted, a lot of outsiders have always viewed Little Rock with some disdain but now it appears that a substantial number of insiders are getting fed up with the state of affairs.
I hope it becomes a shining city for all to enjoy but I think it has a long ways to go from where things are now.
Posted on 7/26/17 at 1:32 am to boogiewoogie1978
quote:
Would watch over any modern "country" artist out there.
Even Stapleton?
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