We have to admit we're a bit caught off-guard by an email we just got from the Empty Bottle:
Empty Bottle Presents and the West Town Chamber of Commerce have just released a limited number of special VIP tickets for the forthcoming Do Division festival. Priced at one hundred dollars ($100.00), the two-day pass includes guaranteed entrance to both days of the festival as well as access to a special VIP area that has unobstructed views to the stage. This special section consists of a patio and tented area accessible only to those with VIP passes. VIP ticket holders will also be privy to complimentary beer, water and wine offered by festival sponsors, and will have access to a private portable restroom. These hand-screened commemorative passes, extremely limited in number, are available now.
What do you think? Is this reasonable? We honestly can't decide if this is a good or a bad idea. Non-VIP passes are only $5 a day, and even we would be hard pressed to drink and eat $95 worth of beer and food.
The Do Division festival takes place May 31 to June 1 and kicks off at noon both days at Division and Damen. There's a full list of bands participating after the jump.
BANDS
Saturday, May 31
Lucero
Mucca Pazza
Tally Hall
Occidental Brothers Dance Band International
Tight Phantomz
The Muldoons
Sunday, June 1
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
Gil Mantera's Party Dream
The 1900s
Frightened Rabbit
Bear Hands
Tully Monster
Bubble Beat DJs
in the Wicker Wash car wash & detail center
2123 W. Division St.
programmed by LAVA, Funkshion Clothing & Image Chicago
Saturday, 5/31
The Sound Republic
Imphinity
Dj Pickel
Nathan Scott
Zebo
Jordan V
Sunday, 6/1
Victor R
The Beat Giants
J Funk
Shala
RockCity
MTM
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I'm going and I'm not paying. How's that for VIP?
I wouldn't pay $100 to have all of them play in my living room. Anyway isn't this supposed to be a city event? Is selling off better access for a premium kosher?
I don't know, I've worked the beer tents at some of these festivals in the past for some extra cash.
If you were planning to do 8-10 hours a day and consumed 2 beers an hour (plus tip). . .well, that's almost $100 there.
That being said, no I wouldn't pay that much. I opt to bring my booze with me
I would never pay for it, but given the number of artists, it would make sense as a kitty from which to pay them. I mean, why not let all of the area's $700k+ condo owners foot the bill for the rest of us to hear some decent music.
The $5 entry probably covers cleaning up after the event, port-a-john rentals, maybe publicity, and not much more.
city events held on city property can only solicit donations they cannot refuse you entry. Pitchfork doesn't seem to get this either. More and more street fests force people to pay but they cannot charge admission. One of these days i'll ask a city bureaucrat to write me a letter to this effect (at least that's how I understood it in 1991 when I worked a Taylor street fest, probably to be resurrected next year with some "really great bands") and to the bands: there are so many of you playing at soo many venues that the publicity itself should be worth it.
YoknapatawphaTourismBoard,
I don't think the bands get paid from Daley's sur charge to enjoy events on OUR streets, which is why I don't pay. If the bands got a cut I would.
And if you noticed that every year these festivals get more commercial and less about local arts vendors
there are so many of you playing at soo many venues that the publicity itself should be worth it.
I think you severly underestimate the cost of being in a band. To wit:
- You must own a vehicle to cart your kit around or rent one (or rent a trailer). Owning involves parking, insurance, etc.
- If you're carting your gear around for paying gigs (even if the street fair isn't one), your renters insurance probably doesn't cover it in case of theft/accident.
- Playing to sunburned, mostly Dave Matthews fans isn't going to net you more than three or four attendees for your next show. Maybe a few CD sales if anyone in the audience still buys CDs.
So, for a band that plays out regularly, there's no good reason to play without some form of reimbursement for the incredible hassle of just getting there. And, if they want something to promote on the poster, they need a band that plays live on a regular basis.
It's only worth it if you get to pound beers with Ted Leo ...
Seems to me if one were to spend several hours a day there, and drink heavily this would easily be worth while. However it is also easy to spend little to no money by paying the minimum to get in, and bringing in beverages.
Royce76 (btw are you in the band Royce? because if you are I know you) you are incorrect thinking the donation rule applies to Pitchfork. It is only for city street festivals. Pfork and Lolla are allowed by the city to charge admission, and refuse entry for those unwilling to pay the fee. I have walked into many a street fest w/oout donating, but one can not do this for Pfork/Lolla.
I'm not surprised someone would try to offer a VIP section like this, but I do think that the price point is a bit high for some free drinks and a shorter toilet line at a street fest. Of course if there's people willing to pay it, I could be completely wrong.
If the VIP section is on private property, it might be kosher, but Navin makes an interesting point.
Royce, Thunderbelly has it completely right. You can't close off a street, and charge people to get through or to their homes which may be on that street. You can however close off a park, be it Union Park for p4k, Grant Park for Lolla, or Millennium Park for any number of high roller events. Also, if you feel like you need a note from your alderman to get into a street fest for free, you probably haven't been trying too hard. Most of the volunteer ticket-taker people don't really seem to care all that much in my experience.
Royce, I think that applies to street, but when you rent out a park from the park district and file the appropriate permits and such, you are actually hosting a private event. Just like if you filed to have a wedding or family reunion at one of the parks. I'm sure Pitchfork and Lollapalooza held at public parks are private events that rent out the park space.
But, you can't rent streets for private events.
Just a sidenote Royce, I think its moan about the Pitchfork fest not being free. . for the line up. . the ticket prices are a steal. I mean, its the same price per day as a single concert at most of the venues in Chicago. ABSURD to bitch. . .without a little bit of income from the fest it wouldn't happen.
I know people that help organize and fund the festival, its very well organized as well. I also like the fact they restrict the ticket sales and crowd to an amount relatively lower than the park capacity, ensuring that people have enough space to relax and enjoy.
I forgot to add BS before moan there. . whoops.
I think you severly underestimate the cost of being in a band.
you're right it's hard to find career musicians who don't struggle with costs...for the hobby people though??? How many of these acts are performed by people who have regular paying salary earning jobs? If some band's flying in from germany that's one thing as far as ticket price but local acts transpo logistics costs are almost negligible plus you get free meal and beer/can bring in your own dope and liquor. I guess what I'm hating on is the high cost of legitimizing an outside performance and how much of that cost is passed on to music fans. if bands performed free (with aforementioned perks) it might lower the fee.
royce76, I'm in a band, and have a decently paying day job, but even I have problems keeping up with all the drum sticks and heads I need to replace, along with paying rent for a space.
And if you have to tour at all, even just regionally, god help any band trying to shoulder the burden of gas money.
I'm not saying I want to play a show with a $100 VIP area, but I am saying that I think it's unreasonable to ask bands to play for free at a street festival that ends up turning a tidy profit.
Please pay the %5 donation to get in to the fest! The Do-Division Street Fest (and West Fest) is planned by the local merchants and a small non-profit with a small budget, not a big event planning company! The street fest portion of the event has an OPTIONAL $5 donation to enter. The $100 2 day VIP passes gain the buyer access to a VIP area which offers free beer, wine, food, private porto john and seating. This option was made available in an attempt to help pay for the MANY expenses of the fest (since many fest goers choose not to pay just $5.)
A small non-profit organization, the West Town Chamber of Commerce, plans this event and counts on approx. the first $20,000 raised at the gate to JUST TO COVER THE EXPENSES OF THE FESTIVAL: the bands, rentals, security and maintenance crews etc... IF it rains and/or no one shows up and pays this small and reasonable donation of $5, the small non-profit organization stands to lose a lot of money! Since many people choose for whatever reason not to donate $5, we came up with the VIP area concept to raise additional revenue.
Any proceeds generated from the event go to the Division Street Committee which plans events, markets and beautifies the Division Street corridor. So this is truly a neighborhood event and it is planned by a small group of volunteers and a non-profit organization. If you plan to enjoy the music, the vendors, the portojohns... the Division Street corridor... then please plan to pay the $5 donation. Thank you.