JJT
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Hey all.. yeah, it's me. I read these lists from time to time, but I just get too swamped to write in...
I got a wireless card for my laptop and was doing some casual browsing for a change, mostly because I just can't handle any more Trading Spaces... but my wife is sick and she gets the remote!
I understand where you're coming from, and I am in the same boat *personally* as almost everyone here. I have been out of the loop quite a bit this fall, but I'm meeting with John Herrin soon to download some booking thoughts.
The bottom line is that for all the committment Cstone has had for the veteran artists, the demographics of the fest have shifted... or maybe they have stayed the same and we have grown up... whatever. I know that the fest never targetted any particular audience, but over the last few years I did some surveying and we were surprised at who was coming. Agerage age: 18, Average Number of Years at the Fest: 1.8... not really a dominant youth group demo either (though I have been trying to increase that particular niche.) The unfortunate fact is that the younger artists are not clicking with the great music being made by the vets. Also, though there are certainly some exceptions in this group, for the most part the fans of the veteran acts are not coming to the fest the way they used to. I don't think that can be blamed on the fest, as the bands have been booked consistently for years. The fans have gotten older too and they just don't care as much about the fest. That's OK though...
I will suggest that each of you send personal notes to the fest (info@cornerstonefestival.com) and let them know your plans and concerns. I will also remind you that the line-up announced in December is never the final thing. And finally I will confirm that budget concerns and scale-backs are definitely a factor. Also I would ask you to pray for the event and the staff as this is a critical time. Whether I like any of the bands anymore or not, I believe in the ministry and hope the event continues for another twenty years.
I hope some of you come and play your DA CDs at your campsites and meet kids with lip-rings and befriend them and hip them to the amazing treasure of music by them and the Sevens and The Choir and everyone else. This scene needs to deepen, and if the hardest core fans don't make an effort to pass the torch onto the next generations the flame will go out. We don't have radio, print, distribution.... anything. All we have is word-of-mouth and the net.
And if there is a drop-off this year I hope next year the whole crew is back and there is some real excitement about it all. I remember several years with no 77s, or no DA, or no Adam Again... they just made me that much more excited for the next year. Also, I hope you check out some of the other smaller bands like Anathallo, Airline, Eisley, Jacobstone (RIP,) Ester Drang, etc... there are some great young bands out there. We need to find the next generation of classic artists.
Sorry for being so long-winded. I'll try to check back here, but if you want to make sure I get your email you might want to send it to me off-list.
I'd also like to hear your opinions of the Twenty Years DVD. We got some great old DA footage and a wonderful interview with Terry and Mike. It's not perfect, but it is what it is what it is...
Peace
JJT
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