would you go to a JACKET festival.. PLEASE VOTE!!!

[upstatestruggler]

absolutely. MMJ has an upstate posse.

[LEATHER KID]

I'm in.  Doesn't Moe. do something like this?

[blainesanders]

yeah, moe. has a festival called moe.down in which they play 3 nights and bring in some other bands.  i do believe they do this on Labor Day weekend every year.  We would be trying to do something similar, only with a few less bands during the DAY and more activities... then once that sun starts to go down, have an opening band play a FULL set.  Then have MMJ play from say 10 til 1 or 2 AM.  This is just the beginning of the planning stages, I just want to know if the demand is there or not.  I just think this fan-base is itching for something like this!!  If you're gonna do it, why not do it in the middle of the US and do it RIGHT!!!  3 nights would be great, but 2 is probably more affordable for us right now.  We shall see... We've got to put the business plan together and then see about further partnership and financing.  Then we would take that plan to the band and see what they think.  I strongly feel that if enough of you guys are interested, the band will be too.  They are all about crazy ideas and I think this one is the perfect mixture of sanity and craziness!!

[Bigsky]

One Big Holiday with My Morning Jacket...

[danz]

sounds awesome, i'm in

[peanut butter puddin surprise]

Hello,
If you're totally serious about this (as in you have backing and all that), you may want to consider approaching the band's management ASAP to present your idea to them.  Scheduling, insurance, pricing, etc. are all serious concerns (as I'm sure you're aware) when garnering the attention/support of any major band.  

That said, go to the contact page and let 'er rip, if you haven't already.

Peace.

[whitebread]

festival yes. dj tents yes. but i would be much more creative with the other activities. without being goofy or overly artsy, there should be some unique things to check out or get involved in even though the activities you mentioned sound great. I just got back from Coachella (for example) and that place was a field day at night with all types of crazy displays and interactive things to stumble into, a big part of the experience. even on a smaller scale, that approach i think would make the difference.

[crookedheart82]

Hi there,

Long time fan, new member to the forum. I would definitely be in.

Jessica

[.Walt]

If you're totally serious about this

that's it right there. is this serious or is someone getting their rocks off? i don't think asking people on the forum is a good way to poll probable attendance. of course most people would say yes, and i'll be one of them. would i go? yes...if you're serious.

[peanut butter puddin surprise]

If you're totally serious about this

that's it right there. is this serious or is someone getting their rocks off? i don't think asking people on the forum is a good way to poll probable attendance. of course most people would say yes, and i'll be one of them. would i go? yes...if you're serious.

Yes, my point exactly.  You can plan all day long on 5K people showing up, but will they?  And you can plan all day long to have MMJ show up, but will they?  I'm guessing no, unless of course this went through management and whatnot.

Why not just say Led Zep are playing?  ;)

[blainesanders]

we ARE serious about this.  we are working on the business plan right now!!  again, this is for NEXT year.  our plan totally revolves around MY MORNING JACKET playing this thing.  They are the only band we want because they have the only nation-wide crowd we want.  If MMJ doesn't want to play the festival, then it is a "no-go".  Again, I'm not just trying to get my "rawks" off here.  I can pay $30 for a ticket to see MMJ.  There is no way I would risk say $200,000 of my life just to see a weekend of shows.  We won't do this thing unless it makes fiscal sense... which we think it will.  We still have some work to do before approaching the band.  IE: we want to make sure ALL of our ducks are in a row before we shoot the idea their way.  No worries about the fest being "weird and eclectic", that will NOT be a problem.  In fact, that's the whole idea!!  The thing is, the nature around this area will provide most of the day time entertainment by itself.  Especially considering most Jacket-heads are city-folk.  I just decided to poll this message board (and many others) to see if the interest was even there at all.  As per this thread, it seems as if many of you would make it out there if the timing were right.  We want to put on a festival that the band, fans, and festival management leave saying, "Damn, I can't WAIT to do that again."

soooo.... who's coming with me!!???  Votes STILL welcome!!

P.S.  once this thing gets off the ground, I probably won't post again.  It will be a little while before we find out, so I feel safe posting until then.  feel free to drop by with ideas.  We want this thing to be as interactive as possible.  A "choose your own adventure" per say.

[peanut butter puddin surprise]

We still have some work to do before approaching the band

Um, isn't getting the headlining band Job #1?  I'm confused.  You state emphatically your seriousness, but haven't even approached the band and/or management about this at all.  (or maybe you have, and won't admit that yet)

If you are serious, you best contact them ASAP to see if its even in the realm of their schedule.  Don't get me wrong, I'm pumped that you want to do this, but I'm just confused about your "plan".

[logan5ive]

I can only say "maybe" at this point.

[orbison]

seems a little presumptuous to think that you could secure the band for something like this. especially as a new promoter. festivals are notoriously difficult to organize, i doubt you'd be able to get such a big band with little experience. not trying to be an asshole.

[blainesanders]

Just to clear a few things up.  (I don't really want to concentrate on this, but I want to make sure you all know our intentions are good.)  

We are not new to the game of "promoting concerts".  The first festival that I promoted took place over 10 years ago (before MMJ was even a band).  But that festival was with a MUCH different team and located in Colorado, not Arkansas.  The people we are working with have put on NUMEROUS festivals in this area.  All of which have been a great success.  They just have NO IDEA who MMJ is, or what the MMJ community is like.  That's where our specific company will come into play.  We want to break barriers here between promoters, fans, and the band to make something ENTIRELY unique.  If it doesn't happen, then the only thing wasted is our time.  That said, time has always been something that I've always been willing to give up in order to explore a good idea.

No worries here fans, we aren't trying to do some sub-par, half-assed event.  We have a wonderful team of experience professionals that are excited about the idea!!
All I am looking for in this thread is whether or not you would attend if given the opportunity.  We know the pros and cons of putting on a festival.  Each of the different groups involved have been down this road many times before.  So please, don't worry about us.  There are PLENTY of things to do before contacting the band.  TRUST ME on this one!!  If certain things don't come together like they need to, there is no point in contacting the band at all.  I know many of you are wary of this just because I am a fan of the band.  But just so you know, most festivals are put on by fans who have the resources to make an idea come into fruition.  I know that none of you are trying to be an asshole (thats what we LOVE about the MMJ community), and you are just trying to look out for our best interests, and the interest of your favorite band.  I totally understand, appreciate, and respect your comments.  Rest assured, we know what we're doing and have got this thing under control.  

In order to keep from jeopardizing the event, this will be my last post in THIS thread, (you'll definitely see me around in others!)
If this thing does come into fruition, it will be something special and we'd hope to see as many of you there as can make it!!  The Ozarks of Arkansas are AMAZING this time of year, and we have NO doubt this would be something very special!!

Please feel free to keep voting!  And have fun seeing MMJ this summer and fall!!!   :D