Fest Music
Brainstorming

Overall, PFF does so much right when it comes to music. In recent years the expansion of the lineup likely led to increased cost. Before feeling confident in any decisions, it would be prudent for the festival director to spend some time pouring over profit and loss analysis from previous years.

I think everyone can agree that there needs to be a healthy balance between headliners, acts that would be a draw, and local or lesser-known performers.

The festival can manage their financial goals by balancing the amount spent on performers.

It seems crucial at this stage to expand our offerings for children. Families need to be encouraged to bring their kids with the assurance there will be thoughtful programming for children. Structural changes that take kids into consideration would be a welcome addition for young families. Building lifers is very good business and it is a testament to the fulfillment of the PFS mission.

It might be time to address the cultural shift that has happened in that we now largely refer to Folk as a more narrow genre that also includes Roots and Americana? Maybe the Philadelphia Folk Festival might adopt a byline for the next X years:

Philadelphia Folk Festival

A celebration of Americana and Roots Music

These words are a signal to younger attendees. Additional LGBTQ representation and public displays of celebration and welcome for LGBTQ attendees will also go a long way towards cultivating a life-long loyalty to the PFF.

With regards to music - some ideas below...

Camp Stage (and tangentally, college students)

Maybe Camp Stage, in an effort to reduce the number of more expensive performers required, while also expanding our focus on children, could become an extension of Dulcimer Grove by day.

Maybe parts of it could be tented to provide shade. Crafts, workshops, music instruction, water games, storytelling, juggling, hula hooping, pottery, dance parties, karaoke for kids, as well as 8-13 yr-old friendly music performances could be the focus here. Music educators and musicians within our membership could develop the programming.

Maybe by night this area transforms into party central. Maybe we include evening shows at 11pm - drag shows, burlesque, cabaret - Philly has really well-developed communities around these genres - not expensive, adds an enormous amount of word-of-mouth and expands our reach. (put the camp back in camp stage, so to speak)

Maybe this stage instead is devoted entirely to performers of color, world music, new voices.

Maybe each afternoon concert is a mix of college student groups - from bands to small ensembles to soloist. Working with college musicians can give them exposure and introduce them to the festival and PFS.

What if local university music organizations (marching bands, jazz or a cappella groups, gospel choirs, etc) were invited to perform? Students could be bused in - musicians are already on campus in August.

Better: give the students a camping wristlet that allows them access for the day (cut it off of them when they are all back on their bus to go home) - and show them the campgrounds.

Why not stage a full parade through the campgrounds featuring university marching bands? Serpentine their way around the campgrounds performing at the intersections of roads, then perform in the craft area, stay for the evening concert and then back on the bus by way of the campgrounds again so they see what the vibe at night is. Full head count on the bus, cut off wristlets and come back next year as a ticket holder or volunteer. How much could this possibly cost?

Craft Stage

Craft Stage does what it does very, very well. 90-120 min round-robin sets that focus on a theme has always been the meat and potatoes of what daytime concerts at Fest are all about. The only change I'd suggest is an addition of sun shades overhead if it can be done safely and inexpensively with permission from the owners of the land. As August creeps more regularly into the 100+ degree territory, these concerts can be under-attended due to heat.

Make these craft stage offerings the best possible - focusing on the evening concerts headliners and pairing them with lesser-known musicians

Tank Stage

Tank Stage, in an effort to reduce our financial outlay, might become a stage to feature 20 minute sets by local and less-established artists.

I wonder if this area could be partially tented to provide shade and eating space on the hill and sunny in the front, more level area to consolidate the density of the crowd. The artists might submit their set for pre-approval, they have the opportunity to introduce themselves to an audience and promote their upcoming performances.

Maybe instead of payment they are offered a day ticket or camping ticket. Maybe a headliner could pop in for some wow factor.

Charismatic emcee - excellent 11am-3pm offering.

Main Stage

The Main Stage concerts, I'd need to see a lot of data before I really knew if the financial outlay was an efficient use of funds. Maybe in the past few years the amount of outlay for artists has increased significantly, maybe it hasn't. I would work to keep this financial outlay under control.

What if each evening show had a set that was like the Philly Song Shuffle (remember that bit at XPN?) artists go onstage, the name and song title is displayed and without talking at all, 7 seconds to plug in and go - they perform their song and then exit without talking. Audience loved the novelty and excitement of hollering when inevitably an artist spoke. The audience participation of a seven second countdown chanted en masse.

I wonder if the Tank stage artists that day might be the ones to perform in this set? Interesting, expands our audience, increases ticket sales to each performers friends, mom, dad... And reduces one paid performer from each evening concert (maybe it's only one night or two).

Beyond that, the subject of a recurring emcee should be considered. People like the consistency, loyalty, and love that comes from seeing the same person each year. Something to consider.

Dulcimer Grove

If Camp Stage is 3rd-8th grade focused by day, Dulcimer Grove might maintain its kid and kid-at-heart vibe. I can't think of a thing that would improve it or make it leaner.

To add value for our attendees, I would add a Sunday morning non-denom memorial service because so many people do this privately it might be nice to formalize it and recognize the sheer number of people we've all lost (esp as our demographic ages) Invite a non-denom leader to lead it.

I wonder if Dulcimer Grove might be an interesting place for non-traditional instruments to perform all day? Renaissance instruments and world music instruments and glass armonicas and sackbuts - we have the players in and around this city. For a day ticket and a gesture payment, I wonder if they'd share an hour and their expertise.

Campground Music Enhancement

The Campground doesn't need much help by way of music sharing, but I wonder if a Rise Up Singing Tent might not be a good idea in the Campgrounds (heck, or on the concert side?). Having a few hours by day in which a few song leaders invite the crowd to circle up, instrument or no, and sing though some songs. The song leaders could bring their own experience and favorites, open it up to the crowd. I don't know that it has to be relegated to the evenings. Man, I miss Mike Miller thinking of this. But we need this tradition to continue - attendee value magic. Encouraging people to sing together is what it's all about.

Wonder if a large open-sided circular tent with a bring-your-own camp chair vibe might be the right setup. Call it the Circus cause it's like a big circus tent. Invite the Philly Circus School to perform there by night. (spitballing - but fun idea)

Camp-side yoga in the morning there, Friends of Bill W, memorials, reunions, Rise Up in the afternoons, community byo dinner at dusk, music by night, drop in camper-musicians. Could have a community vibe for the outlay of the tent and a few volunteers organizing it. Attendee value added.