Why is the concert scene always so dead in Jacksonville?

[BridgeTroll]

Since the topic was about the "concert scene" it certainly seems appropriate to illustrate a wildly successful concert at Metro Park... if success is measured by turnout.  Do we really care what county the concert-goers come from?  My guess would be large concerts in say Orlando are attended from people from all around the state...

[02roadking]

 It may seem dead at times especially when you look at who is touring nearby and not coming to Jax during a Southeastern US leg of a given tour. If you look at say a 3 months worth of destinations for most any band, you'll notice bands (promoters) bypass many cities, large and small. I believe it is about making the most money per area. Bands probably return to the same area the next year and hit the cities they missed in the prior leg of the tour to get the most money (and butts in seats)out of that area. 
If you look at a stretch of concert dates, some bands may only be playing amphitheatres, some may only be playing small halls, then some may only be playing the casino circuit while bypassing some pretty large venues(cities) for whatever reason. If offerd enough money, they will play anywhere.
When Fleetwood Mac toured some years ago they completely bypassed Jax, on the first leg. Went to Nashville for the show and the following year they had a leg come to Jax. This has happened to me on a number of ocassions.
If there is money to be made, they will come, just sometime in the future.
Just my thoughts on why bands bypass some venues.

[CityLife]

Since the topic was about the "concert scene" it certainly seems appropriate to illustrate a wildly successful concert at Metro Park... if success is measured by turnout.  Do we really care what county the concert-goers come from?  My guess would be large concerts in say Orlando are attended from people from all around the state...

I think the thread has a lot to do with why we don't get quality acts or consistently get decent acts. Basically how can Jacksonville become more of a cultural center. I was trying to politely say that Rockville is terrible and the people who attend it aren't exactly the types that are lacking in the Jacksonville metro area.

Lack of good concerts in Jax is a push factor for educated, intelligent young people. Its one of many reasons for our brain/cultural drain. Getting concerts with bands like Korn and Evanescence doesn't appeal to the educated, intelligent types who have already left Jax or who are considering leaving. Generally speaking of course.

Saying Rockville getting 11,000 as a sign of our strong music scene is like saying 50,000 at a tractor pull is a sign of our strong sporting scene. 

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Since the topic was about the "concert scene" it certainly seems appropriate to illustrate a wildly successful concert at Metro Park... if success is measured by turnout.  Do we really care what county the concert-goers come from?  My guess would be large concerts in say Orlando are attended from people from all around the state...

I think the thread has a lot to do with why we don't get quality acts or consistently get decent acts. Basically how can Jacksonville become more of a cultural center. I was trying to politely say that Rockville is terrible and the people who attend it aren't exactly the types that are lacking in the Jacksonville metro area.

Lack of good concerts in Jax is a push factor for educated, intelligent young people. Its one of many reasons for our brain/cultural drain. Getting concerts with bands like Korn and Evanescence doesn't appeal to the educated, intelligent types who have already left Jax or who are considering leaving. Generally speaking of course.

Saying Rockville getting 11,000 as a sign of our strong music scene is like saying 50,000 at a tractor pull is a sign of our strong sporting scene. 

Aside from Simms, this is some of the most elitist babble I've ever read on here.  Way to stay classy CityLife.

And we wonder why the city doesn't seem to progress....   

[CityLife]

Since the topic was about the "concert scene" it certainly seems appropriate to illustrate a wildly successful concert at Metro Park... if success is measured by turnout.  Do we really care what county the concert-goers come from?  My guess would be large concerts in say Orlando are attended from people from all around the state...

I think the thread has a lot to do with why we don't get quality acts or consistently get decent acts. Basically how can Jacksonville become more of a cultural center. I was trying to politely say that Rockville is terrible and the people who attend it aren't exactly the types that are lacking in the Jacksonville metro area.

Lack of good concerts in Jax is a push factor for educated, intelligent young people. Its one of many reasons for our brain/cultural drain. Getting concerts with bands like Korn and Evanescence doesn't appeal to the educated, intelligent types who have already left Jax or who are considering leaving. Generally speaking of course.

Saying Rockville getting 11,000 as a sign of our strong music scene is like saying 50,000 at a tractor pull is a sign of our strong sporting scene. 

Aside from Simms, this is some of the most elitist babble I've ever read on here.  Way to stay classy CityLife.

And we wonder why the city doesn't seem to progress....   

Its reality. Sorry for not sugarcoating it (like I tried to). Would you like to engage in the argument that Korn and Evanescence are widely listened to by the educated and young professionals that the city has a hard time attracting and retaining? I'd love to hear that.

And you do realize that you are the one happy with the status quo right? No wonder the city doesn't progress, when you get called out for being brutally honest about the status quo....

[tufsu1]

well I did buy the first Evanescence album 

[CityLife]

well I did buy the first Evanescence album 

It came out 10 years ago and you probably just thought the chick was hot.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Would you like to acknowledge the fact that because people were afraid that an outdoor ampitheater on the river would only attract show such as Korn and Evanescence so they clubbed the idea over the head like a baby seal. 

Thus no facility to draw in whatever music it is that educated people like to listen to these days.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

well I did buy the first Evanescence album 

he said educated, young professionals

[CityLife]

Would you like to acknowledge the fact that because people were afraid that an outdoor ampitheater on the river would only attract show such as Korn and Evanescence so they clubbed the idea over the head like a baby seal. 

Thus no facility to draw in whatever music it is that educated people like to listen to these days.

I've never once said anything that would indicate I'm against the amphitheater. I was furious when it happened and still am. Nor would I ever want bands like Korn and Evanescense to not be able to play there.

Was just a commentary on the fact that Jax will never have attendance issues with concerts like that. Getting 11k to attend a concert like that when you are in proximity to Baker, Nassau, Lake City, South Georgia, etc isn't really indicative of a strong concert scene in Jax.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I'm not trying to say you did, just alluding to some facts that are being discussed in quite a few threads right now about how developments are being hindered by a groups trying to keep out 'undesirables'. 

In this case, you seem to feel that most if not all of the 11k that showed up are not the kinds of people you want in Jacksonville.  And I'm sure many will agree with you, but that's also (assuming) one of the driving factors for killing the ampitheater idea. 

In another case, Mellow Mushroom seems to only cater to the canned-beer drinking, rowdy frat boy type.  So Avondale doesn't seem to want it.

Hemming Park needs to be ripped up and leveled becasue it only appeals to the homeless, panhandlers.  And by doing that the city could then draw the young, professional crowd to sit on the bare concrete and eat their bag lunch.

Underbelly had the music that you like (assuming) but was run out of their space in 5 points because the 'undersirables' were there every weekend in full force.  You know, loud, raucous hipsters.

I'm not pinning any view on you particulaly, City, but if you're following the trend that I see, it seems that elitist comments and viewpoints, like yours, are not really helping the situation.

[Tacachale]

As a veteran music snob, the tastes of young educated people are, more often than not, every bit as bad as everyone else's.

Look, it doesn't matter who plays what type of shitty or (less frequently) non-shitty music, what matters is the money. If promoters think they can make money off an act and the logistics are there, it'll happen. If not, it won't. Our lack of mid-sized venues really affects this.

Having been involved in several successful concerts of various styles and sizes at UNF, I strongly believe there's a unmet demand for live music in town that we haven't managed to tap. I hope we figure it out.

[CityLife]

I never once said anything about those 11k not being people I want in Jacksonville. I just said we have plenty of them already and pointed out that many of them do not even live in Jacksonville. It was solely meant to convey that having 11k come from Lake City, Baker, etc once a year doesn't make Jacksonville's music scene vibrant.

You are getting really off topic here and jumping to conclusions. I'm advocating for Jacksonville to become more cultured. Which is pretty much counter to you lumping me in with "elitists" who want to stifle development. FYI, I've co-written a position paper and strongly advocated against the ideas of the Hemming Plaza committee.

Sorry to all that this thread has been sidetracked...

[CityLife]

As a veteran music snob, the tastes of young educated people are, more often than not, every bit as bad as everyone else's.

Look, it doesn't matter who plays what type of shitty or (less frequently) non-shitty music, what matters is the money. If promoters think they can make money off an act and the logistics are there, it'll happen. If not, it won't. Our lack of mid-sized venues really affects this.

Having been involved in several successful concerts of various styles and sizes at UNF, I strongly believe there's a unmet demand for live music in town that we haven't managed to tap. I hope we figure it out.

Based on my experiences growing up in Jax and also moving away for college, students at UNF or those who stay in Jax after high school aren't exposed to nearly as much "good" or diverse music as those who go to Gainesville, Tallahassee, Orlando, or out of state. Generally speaking of course. That probably has to do with there being terrible radio stations in Jax and limited concerts.

The problem is probably a little deeper than just lack of mid size venues, but I agree it is likely a strong factor. I think the old Library could be a great mid sized venue and would do great with proximity to BG, Dos Gatos, Burro Bar, Indochine, and everything else around there. What specific size range do you think we lack? 1,000 to 2,000 people?

[tufsu1]

well I did buy the first Evanescence album 

he said educated, young professionals

well I was young 10 years ago!