Comments on: Meet John Doe: The iPod killed On the Waterfront?

By: Goner

Goner — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 03:45:58 +0000

This is why I bolted from Rockford when I graduated from high school long, long ago. There’s a reason Rockford is the 3rd most miserable city according to Forbes, and is permanently in the bottom 10 according to Money Mag; and the backbiting, corruption, and all around bad attitude is it.
Rockford sucked decades ago and not a single thing has changed.
Good thing I skipped the HS reunion…..

By: Delbert Grady

Delbert Grady — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 22:09:22 +0000

When your “headliners” who played in Davis Park to 10 full rows of white plastic seats see another 20 empty rows of of white plastic seats between them and the hundreds of common people behind those rows and then they pronounce during their set that the arrangements are downright stupid and they will never return, perhaps it was time for the decision making knuckleheads to listen. Nine dollars for some carnie truck cheesedog as opposed to local food venders forced out by “regulations” may have hurt as well. And, how many H20front golf carts did the badge wearing VIP’s need to parade around in during that weekend? The organizers had access to the Metro Centre/Harris arena during the fest, perhaps a real live A-list performer scheduled in that forum might have been a good idea as well. Poor management, high prices, bad food and stale performers put the nail in that coffin. The damn thing would have prevailed with some new blood.

By: Gordy

Gordy — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:26:16 +0000

I personally don’t know about the local “over pay” out of time spoke of ,but the good ole boys club part is dead on .I tried for several years to jump through the hoops to get a spot. I finally gave up realizing It wasn’t going to happen. There has been some chatter on a local facebook page from some area musicians trying to get a “LOCAL” music festival going, but so far it seems to be getting stonewalled because of insurance,security,and permit fee’s as well as location.

By: on out time

on out time — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 01:31:48 +0000

I do have proof. I know the bands, personally, and it is no offense to them, but facts are facts, they (bands) didn’t violate any rules made by OTW in the paper. OTW contradicted their own printed, stated policies with local artists. If you state 300 for local acts and pay several others over a grand that same year then it (the festival) becomes a good ol boys club. This had nothing to do with crowd draw, because some of those groups had minimal crowds. I won’t post their names here, you write for this publication so you can contact me through my unlisted email and I will tell you names.

By: Paul Gorski

Paul Gorski — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 21:27:16 +0000

out of time – do you have any proof of the pay difference or difference in booking policy? I did hear pay was negotiable, depending on what leverage you had. (Popularity mostly and how well booked the festival was already.) But that’s the case with many performance venues, right or wrong.

I don’t how favoritism or insider dealings killed OTW though. Residents simply didn’t show up. Did all these folks know about these goings on? I doubt it.

By: out of time

out of time — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:51:04 +0000

OTW has overpaid, a select few (connected people), local bands since the beginning. When OTW declared local bands would only get 300 bucks for playing the event, the OTW heads paid over 1000 to several local rockford groups. Those groups didn’t even have to submit anything to OTW to be showcased at the festival, the festival called them and offered over a grand each to play the event. Yet, other bands, that had to go through the so-called process were only getting 300 bucks. OTW also in the past stated that no local band would play more than one year at a time, they could not be booked year after year after year. This was so other local talent could get a shot at the big stages and the festival, however from the day that statement was made 5 local groups continued to play each and every year, and when questioned the response was, “They are staples in the community”. Well, who gave them the excessive pay and showcase year after year? You did! Many politics involved in local artists picks and even on who did the sound for the stages. That is what killed OTW.

By: Paul Gorski

Paul Gorski — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:04:53 +0000

See this article http://rockrivertimes.com/2013/01/30/guest-column-live-blues-music-lives-but-will-it-continue-to/, it seems that even when we’re providing a variety of talent, folks still are coming out to live shows.

By: Paul Gorski

Paul Gorski — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 06:06:51 +0000

Gordy, you may have something there. I remember a “speed polka” band at the festival a few years back. Polka played at break neck speed. Somewhat odd, but interesting, hadn’t quite heard anything like it before.

Thanks for taking the time to comment.

Paul Gorski

By: Gordy

Gordy — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 21:08:45 +0000

Its seems to me that Waterfront killed the Waterfront .In the beginning they used to showcase a great deal of local talent .It became more and more difficult for local artist to get a shot at a time slot .Every year it was the same old local bands mixed with whichever nostalgia group happened to be passing through at the time.It became stale and cumbersome for most,not to mention the exuberant cost. People still enjoy live music ,but they grow weary of the same old same old.