Jacksonville Jazz Fest 2011!

[tufsu1]

If anyone has any pics they would like posted but don't know how to, email the images to metrojacksonvillle@metrojacksonville.com.  I'd like to get them up on the front page for all to see.

btw...note there is a spelling error in the email address..it is

metrojacksonville@metrojacksonville.com

[Ocklawaha]

IN FRONT OF THE SWINGING STAGE AT 6:30

HERBIE, HERBIE, HERBIE, WOW... WATERMELON MAN! A freaking-mazing...

My day?

Went to Vilano Beach this morning, ate lunch, then to the Castillo De San Marcos, at about 1:30 it was the St. Augustine air show to watch the Corsair do it's stuff, lastly to the Jazz Festival where I made the discovery that I'm completely burned toast...  But hey, where else in the world can you take in a day like that?






OCKLAWAHA

[peestandingup]

IN FRONT OF THE SWINGING STAGE AT 6:30

HERBIE, HERBIE, HERBIE, WOW... WATERMELON MAN! A freaking-mazing...

My day?

Went to Vilano Beach this morning, ate lunch, then to the Castillo De San Marcos, at about 1:30 it was the St. Augustine air show to watch the Corsair do it's stuff, lastly to the Jazz Festival where I made the discovery that I'm completely burned toast...  But hey, where else in the world can you take in a day like that?






OCKLAWAHA

You forgot met a fellow MetJax member on the Skyway ride over there. Namely, ME! lol (I was the guy with the little girl).

I didn't realize it was you until later when I got to thinking about it (never knew what you looked like).

[ubben]

I love our Jazz Festival. I saw several great shows: Spam Allstars, Mavis Staples and several at the Old Church. But I hope next year the festival committee reconsiders the planning for the big Swingin' Stage. By devoting nearly a football field of space right in front of the stage to 'VIP' tickets, the energy is completely sapped from the performances. There weren't all that many people in the VIP area and it is very strange to see all the jazz lovers pushed an entire block away from the stage. What's with this Country Club mentality? Keeping the  'masses' away from the stage is not what Jazz is all about. It should be for everyone not just some elite core of ticket buyers (all our tax dollars are funding this festival, by the way). The performers must have been deflated playing in front of empty chairs and tables and having to look way into the distance to see the hordes of fans. I understand the need for VIP ticketing for cash flow, but the area devoted to the VIP patrons at the Swingin Stage should be a tenth the size that it was. The only shows I enjoyed were at the other stages where you could actually see the performers and by mid-Saturday, I had stopped going to the Swingin' Stage to see anything. I realize the event is still somewhat new to the downtown area. Overall, it's fantastic downtown, but please change the set up for next year's seating!

[peestandingup]

But I hope next year the festival committee reconsiders the planning for the big Swingin' Stage. By devoting nearly a football field of space right in front of the stage to 'VIP' tickets, the energy is completely sapped from the performances. There weren't all that many people in the VIP area and it is very strange to see all the jazz lovers pushed an entire block away from the stage. What's with this Country Club mentality? Keeping the  'masses' away from the stage is not what Jazz is all about. It should be for everyone not just some elite core of ticket buyers (all our tax dollars are funding this festival, by the way). The performers must have been deflated playing in front of empty chairs and tables and having to look way into the distance to see the hordes of fans. I understand the need for VIP ticketing for cash flow, but the area devoted to the VIP patrons at the Swingin Stage should be a tenth the size that it was. The only shows I enjoyed were at the other stages where you could actually see the performers and by mid-Saturday, I had stopped going to the Swingin' Stage to see anything. I realize the event is still somewhat new to the downtown area. Overall, it's fantastic downtown, but please change the set up for next year's seating!

Was going to post this same thing. Way WAY too much space for the VIP section there at Hemming. Sucks the life right outta a lot of those performances.

If you look through most of the pics floating around here, that section is hardly filled at all (most the time there's only a handful of people in it, especially during the daytime shows). Yet, there were people falling over each other in the rest of the park. The only time I saw it with any good crowds in it was during the headliners.

I'm just saying, would have been a much cooler more intimate vibe had they had that opened up more & let people close to the stage (esp if the VIP section is almost completely empty). That was really my only beef with the setup. Hopefully the planners took notice & will fix that for next year.

[tufsu1]

What's with this Country Club mentality?

its called raising money...without the VIP sales and corporate sponsorships, the festival would have either been smaller or cost more tax money (which isn't something in plentiful supply)...it wasn't too long ago when the main concerts at Metro Park required a ticket.

[peestandingup]

What's with this Country Club mentality?

its called raising money...without the VIP sales and corporate sponsorships, the festival would have either been smaller or cost more tax money (which isn't something in plentiful supply)...it wasn't too long ago when the main concerts at Metro Park required a ticket.

Now, I know you know better than to think anyone is saying to do away with VIP seating completely, so why argue that?? Everyone understands the need to raise money in this way.

The point was, it was way overkill in Hemming & was almost completely empty during most of the performances (esp in the day). Then it basically just served as a big voided space & it sorta took away from the experience.

I think maybe a "floating VIP" section would be a good way to solve the issue. Only use what you need. Or maybe just shrink it altogether. The Landing one was much more condensed & it didn't feel like the non-VIPs were a mile away from the performances.

[tufsu1]

I saw empty VIP sections during the day...but pretty full ones at night.

[ubben]

At the Swingin' Stage, even when the VIP section was 'full' it felt empty. Much of the space (behind the tables all the way to the street, and to the east near Burrito Gallery) was wasted as it didn't even have chairs or tables set up. It was just unused real estate that didn't satisfy anyone at all. It made the event look underattended and frustrated the fans that were kept behind the VIP fence far away from the stage. The same number of VIP tickets could have been sold and a much better use of the rest of the space could have been offered to the taxpaying Jazz fans. Next year, hopefully it will be.

BTW, did anyone else notice that on Saturday night and Sunday, MOCA and Cafe Nola sat there completely dark and closed up? There must have been 5,000 people in Hemming Plaza and neither of those places benefitted from it in the least. Brilliant!

[BridgeTroll]

BE IN FRONT OF THE SWINGING STAGE AT 6:30

if you want to say hello... Herbie Hancock ROCKS!

MAIN AND MONROE AT 6:30


OCKLAWAHA

I saw ya walk by but too crowded to try to move in your direction...

[Miss Fixit]

I agree with the posts regarding the VIP section - the performers deserve to have a crowd of enthusiastic fans up front, close to the stage!  Seems like the area immediately in front of the stage should be first come, first served and a VIP section (with umbrella tables, etc.) could be next.  I overheard a number of city officials express concern over the empty VIP area so hopefully that will be revamped next year.

I also heard a rumor that Jazz Festival would be moved out of downtown again next year - anyone else know anything about that?