Why is the concert scene always so dead in Jacksonville?

[Tacachale]

^Stephen, we don't have anything comparable to the St. Augustine Amphitheater up here. What we do have in that general size has various deficiencies. And very many people from Jax go to concerts there, I'm sure a number of the people on this forum have. But you're right, a lot of people from up here don't make that trek, meaning a show that does well out there would have done even better closer to more of the region's population if there were a workable venue.

[I-10east]

I suppose that those people who don't have a car, don't even have any friend drivers, right Stephen? Most people know that Jax is an auto centric city anyway. Since we are all in the same freaking metro, your 'Jax vs St Auggie' argument doesn't have any traction.

[Shwaz]

The upcoming events at Jax's  Florida Theatre, Arena, and Performing Arts respectively, and it's not that shabby esp when you consider the sporting events at the Arena.

www.boxofficeticketsales.com/venue/florida_theatre_jacksonville-tickets-for-sale.aspx?gclid=CK-2lOi1ibYCFQexnQod2TQAow

www.jaxevents.com/venues/veterans-memorial-arena/

www.jaxevents.com/venues/times-union-center-for-the-performing-arts/

Oh man, that arduous 40 mile trek down I-95 is so grueling! Quit looking at St Augustine as comp to Jax, and look at it as an extension, geez man. Hell, those St Auggie acts probably won't come here for the simple fact that the two cities are so freaking close! It's not like you're driving to Winter Park or something. I personally don't see what all of the fuss is about, but I'm not least bit surprised that people on MJ will find a way to complain about anything, even a short lil' trip down the highway to see your favorite act...

Personally, I've had to skip quite a few shows in St Augustine because of the that 100 mile round trip drive... 101.6 miles to be exact... for me : /

I have tickets for the 'GOTR' show and a hotel booked for the weekend.

As long as we have great venues that go unbooked... I'll continue to be disappointed.

[I-10east]

I noticed that people are saying that the Jax venues are 'unbooked'. So do yall realistically believe that an act is supposed to perform at the JVMA, TUCfPA, the FL Theatre venues everyday with no hiatuses? If that's the case, then there's an indictment against yall beloved amphitheatre down there in St Augustine, because they aren't any everyday consecutive acts there either.

[I-10east]

Next two Auggie acts.

Yo Gabba Gabba! Live: Get the Sillies Out! (Mar 22)

Chicago (Apr 7)

Not exactly a bustling roadie congested atmosphere.

[Shwaz]

You're missing the point. Jacksonville is lacking in available concert / tour booking. Period. Whether it's losing shows to St. Augustine, Orlando, Atlanta etc. etc. - Regardless of where, we are being over looked as a national tour stop on a regular basis.

[TPC]

Having lived in Jax for about 8 years now I can truly say we have a pretty lame music scene as far as bringing in acts. We have some decent venues but I feel we lack the booking aggressiveness as other Florida cities. When I lived in Tampa I felt like I was going to a show every weekend and if a band passed on Tampa, they usually played Orlando which meant a little road trip.

Don't get me wrong we have a few good shows here and there but no where near the consistency of some of our peer cities.

I would say Freebird's is our best venue in terms of booking diverse/current bands but I don't think a pleasant person works there, from the ticket booth, door guys and bar tenders it's nothing but bad attitudes.

I would really like to see Underbelly step it up and bring some bigger acts, they have the space and good location Downtown but seem to primarily host the same local acts over and over..

[Shwaz]

You're missing the point. Jacksonville is lacking in available concert / tour booking. Period. Whether it's losing shows to St. Augustine, Orlando, Atlanta etc. etc. - Regardless of where, we are being over looked as a national tour stop on a regular basis.

I'm starting to pick up on that 

[fsquid]

Charlotte just put one in their downtown since their only mid sized venue was out at the racetrack in the burbs.

[Tacachale]

Having lived in Jax for about 8 years now I can truly say we have a pretty lame music scene as far as bringing in acts. We have some decent venues but I feel we lack the booking aggressiveness as other Florida cities. When I lived in Tampa I felt like I was going to a show every weekend and if a band passed on Tampa, they usually played Orlando which meant a little road trip.

Don't get me wrong we have a few good shows here and there but no where near the consistency of some of our peer cities.

I would say Freebird's is our best venue in terms of booking diverse/current bands but I don't think a pleasant person works there, from the ticket booth, door guys and bar tenders it's nothing but bad attitudes.

I would really like to see Underbelly step it up and bring some bigger acts, they have the space and good location Downtown but seem to primarily host the same local acts over and over..

Underbelly does great for its scale. They're a lot smaller than Freebird or even Jackrabbits, let alone larger venues that attract the bigger acts, but they still manage to get some of the best shows in the region. And they certainly don't "primarily" book the same acts; they do that because they've committed to having shows every single night, which is all too rare in Jax.

[I-10east]

schwaz you can literally explain this as many times as you would like.  it will change nothing.

OMG, look who talking! I can think of many times were you couldn't back up your past arguments; I'm backing up what I say. All I'm saying is that St Augustine isn't a million miles away and it's in the metro, that's all; Don't try to make it sound like you're travelling to the Alabama state line. I never said that I disagree with yall concerning other cities like Orlando etc getting alot of good acts, but that's to be expected because Orlando is a big tourist town. Most major sports arenas are gonna have sports most of the time playing in them, with a smattering of concerts which are usually the biggest acts; Even the Amway Center's current concerts is okay but it's not like it's back to back stunningly spectacular euphoria. I'm aware that the other acts in town will of course go to the smaller venues (performing arts centers etc).

www.amwaycenter.com/events/category/concertsshows

[Shwaz]

schwaz you can literally explain this as many times as you would like.  it will change nothing.

OMG, look who talking! I can think of many times were you couldn't back up your past arguments; I'm backing up what I say. All I'm saying is that St Augustine isn't a million miles away and it's in the metro, that's all; Don't try to make it sound like you're travelling to the Alabama state line. I never said that I disagree with yall concerning other cities like Orlando etc getting alot of good acts, but that's to be expected because Orlando is a big tourist town. Most major sports arenas are gonna have sports most of the time playing in them, with a smattering of concerts; Even the Amway Center's current concerts is okay but it's not like it's back to back stunningly spectacular euphoria. I'm aware that the other acts in town will of course go to the smaller venues (performing arts centers etc).

www.amwaycenter.com/events/category/concertsshows

Let's compare Jax to Orlando overall. Here's what pollstar shows:

                   Events
Orlando, FL    397

                        Events
Jacksonville, FL    95

[I-10east]

Yup jabberwocky, as all I'm doing is making links with FACTS on them, while alot of yall use dumb cliched phrases like 'unbooked' and 'passed by everyone' etc with no backing.

[Tacachale]

schwaz you can literally explain this as many times as you would like.  it will change nothing.

OMG, look who talking! I can think of many times were you couldn't back up your past arguments; I'm backing up what I say. All I'm saying is that St Augustine isn't a million miles away and it's in the metro, that's all; Don't try to make it sound like you're travelling to the Alabama state line. I never said that I disagree with yall concerning other cities like Orlando etc getting alot of good acts, but that's to be expected because Orlando is a big tourist town. Most major sports arenas are gonna have sports most of the time playing in them, with a smattering of concerts; Even the Amway Center's current concerts is okay but it's not like it's back to back stunningly spectacular euphoria. I'm aware that the other acts in town will of course go to the smaller venues (performing arts centers etc).

www.amwaycenter.com/events/category/concertsshows

Let's compare Jax to Orlando overall. Here's what pollstar shows:

                   Events
Orlando, FL    397

                        Events
Jacksonville, FL    95

I'm getting 176 for the Jax metro vs. 520 for Orlando, but the point is made. More to the point, beyond the tourism connection, Orlando has a number of well used mid-sized and upper-mid sized venues that we lack. As I've said before, that's what we're really lacking in Jax.

[I-10east]

Let's compare Jax to Orlando overall. Here's what pollstar shows:

                   Events
Orlando, FL    397

                        Events
Jacksonville, FL    95

I'm not sure how you got that number, as freaking Universal Studios probably got included in that mix, but I get it Orlando is a big tourist town like I said already, and it is definitely known of it's entertainment. I was just picking out the Amway Center because usually the arenas have the really big act concerts.