If
I were to hazard a guess, I’d say 99.9% of the stuff I’m throwing up online is
positive. This post however will be the caveat to that calculation and
probably one of the only times I’ll allow myself to rant on the internet.
That
being said, is it just me or has life as we know it turned into one giant
popularity contest with the amount of shows, festivals and concerts attended
being the direct indicator of how “cool” you are.
It’s a god damn popularity
contest out there for bragging rights and Facebook likes and frankly, it’s
fucking lame. There’s a new festival every other weekend, each one trying to
outdo the next with its own version of a “stacked line-up.” And as much as this has become almost impossible to keep up with, I don’t even
think that’s the major problem … I've always been the biggest supporter of shows and
have felt very blessed to live in a city that provides me with the
opportunity to see some of my favorite talents, night after night.
If promoters want to keep announcing shows, festivals and played-out production events than all the power to them. The problem, in my opinion, is US the fans.
It’s
the endless countdowns on Facebook, reminding your friends, families and devout
followers that yes, you are going to Ultra, Coachella, Shambhala and the like.
Let’s be honest here, we’ve all heard of day timers and calendars and we all
know the reason why you've thrown up 25 “countdown” status’s reminding us of
how awesome your summer is going to be. Your ego boost online has NOT gone
unnoticed.
Or
what about the people that have chosen their three festivals for the summer and
then spend the rest of their time degrading and calling down the other shows
that didn't make the cut. Nothing pisses me off more than people blowing up my
online universe hating on other peoples events. Hey you know what, you chose
EDC and I chose Shambhala? Big fucking deal. You enjoy your event and I'll enjoy mine and the only reason I can think of why someone would want to knock a festival they decided against is insecurity in their own decisions.
And
for anyone that would address this by saying that I’m just jealous of their
festival punch card…well that’s just laughable. I've done Coachella, I did EDC
before most of my friends even knew what the hell it was and I've been to
Ibiza, the island where dance music finds its home. I’ll probably head to COG
this summer, maybe Badlands and you better believe I’ll be at Shambhala. I’m
not jealous. I just think at some point, someone needs to address the fact that
festival prices continue to sky rocket as the masses keep dishing out
the cash and I’m starting to think it’s not about the music (because even the
good stuff its getting scarcer) and it’s not about the intimate experience you
have with the culture, it’s about throwing a few pics on Facebook and letting
the world know how cool your life is.
I think its important you remember a few things before this season unfolds, things I've had to remind myself of as well.
Firstly, just enjoy your summer; enjoy the beautiful music,
the sunshine, the camaraderie with friends and have yourself an experience you
won't ever forget. Just remember to allow everyone the right to enjoy their
summer the way they want too. Comparing festivals and judging levels of “good
times” is counteractive and ultimately futile.
Second and
MOST IMPORTANTLY, remember that all the money you’re spending on these
experiences is going to a very select and greedy few. Its become impossible to keep up with each new "festival" that has
emerged (and I use the term loosely because three headliners over
two evenings with a hot dog tent and a wristband now seems to constitute a
festival). Even as I write this, presale tickets for Chasing Summer, a festival
I didn't even know existed, just came and went and as per usual, prices to
attend have raised since this morning. Just know that if you miss this one, it'll be there next year, even bigger and even more
expensive than before and with so many producers, DJ's and promoters competing for you, the fans top dollars, you'll have another chance to see the same artists within
the month.
In
the end, its just a competition for your money and they know you'll spend your
entire summer racing around trying to hit every last festival because…. well,
“everyone’s going” and that little attending check mark just looks so damn good
on your Facebook wall.
Lastly, I think before any of us buy any more event tickets we should stop and remember what the measures are that we use to evaluate a good time. Is it hearing Clarity from the parking lot, because you've been standing in a line-up for three hours, still just waiting to get in the gates? Is it 16$ water bottles and 250 dollar-a-night hotel room stays? Or is it a moment of music with good friends and a positive atmosphere? We ALL need to take a time out and establish where our priorities lie before racing online to buy that next ticket.
The amount of events out there to choose from will only continue to grow. We as fans need to stop and reevaluate.
