Surprising Ticket Surplus

[completejohn]

I think that most of the availability of tickets is due to LIFE.  Life happens and sometimes it change our priorities.

Just in my camp we've had work problems ("take your vacation now?  are you kidding?"), health problems, legal problems, etc.  It just happened to be all at the same time.

[zack_adcock]

I think that most of the availability of tickets is due to LIFE.  Life happens and sometimes it change our priorities.

Just in my camp we've had work problems ("take your vacation now?  are you kidding?"), health problems, legal problems, etc.  It just happened to be all at the same time.

Agreed - lots of the content of the posts suggests this more than anything else. I think many people are likely realizing, too, that a 4-day (or single day) festival pass does not have the currency that other tickets do (i.e., even though tickets sell out fast, 4-day passes don't tend to have much currency in trying to acquire the more coveted Nightgrass or camping tickets).

I know my group had a sort of combination of things -- we got 8 4-day passes since our minimum travel group was 5 and the maximum was 7 and if only one of our group got tickets we didn't want to have to track down lots of passes. We didn't have firm commitments by return ticket deadline and hoped it wouldn't be tough to unload them (hopefully in exchange for some Nightgrass tickets), and it was. We'll be seeking commitments from our folks by the resale date in the future, but that still doesn't guarantee that everyone will be able to come by June.

The bottom line is that I've sold all of my extra 4-day passes and gotten most of the Nightgrass tickets I want, but those exchanges were not connected - something I'll keep in mind in the future.

Like several have said, though - it all works out for the most part. What's life if not a series of stressful events that all complement and balance each other out?     

[blazes_boylan]

^the yonder fall off certainly seems to be part of it, and the strength of the overall lineup is not what its been in recent years

[FaceOnMars]

I suspect the addition of the JAB to the TBF could only help with the overall "Yonder market", regardless of who's side one might be on.  Personally, I really hope JAB is considered in the future.

I noticed JAB is playing at Huck Finn this weekend in Ontario, CA ... which might be having some effect regarding the draw from the Southwest overall.  They actually have an excellent lineup this year, perhaps rivaling the TBF lineup.  Last year SCI played there and it's possible many fans will return due to the nature of the lineup this year ... which seems to be equally appealing to both "traditionalists" and "jamgrass" enthusiasts alike.

While the venue is great for LA, it doesn't have much on Telluride ... nonetheless, it's possible some who live in SoCal and the SW are taking a more convenient path this year in light of their strong lineup.

[Maple Al]

This weekends Blue Ox Festival in Eau Claire WI has both Jeff Austin Band (2:30 Friday) and Yonder Mountain String Band (10:30 Saturday). Really have a hard time believing that anyone not named Sam Bush would have that much effect on ticket sales at Telluride. And that tickets for sale this year are not much different than other years.

[BuckeyeDog]

Don't know about ticket sales, but since She Who Must Be Obeyed will not let me attend this year, beer sales will be off.

 Listening to: Dave Rawlings Machine--Cortez the Killer

[maronson12905]

Don't forget The Dead's "Fare Thee Well" and post-show "The Music Never Stopped"

They're Just 2 weeks after the festival this year and there is a ton of overlap

Hornsby, Greensky, Keller Williams, The Infamous Stringdusters, Railroad Earth to name a few

That's why I'm not coming this year.  Bought Telluride passes the minute they went on sale, then this historic event came up in Feb.  Can't do both.

 Listening to: Grateful Grass

[jiclark]

FWIW, I would say that's primarily the fact that the sale date/instantaneous sell-out require a major commitment before anyone knows either the fest schedule or their own schedule. So we've all been trained to over-buy, then see how the lineup and our schedules shake out. I would say that the lineup is surprisingly underwhelming this year, especially compared to recent years with the likes of Steve Winwood, and that certainly plays into it.

Don't flame me for that last comment. I'm very much looking forward to this year, but find it odd that Friday seems to be the highlight of the weekend!

See you all next week!

 Listening to: David Grisman Quintet - Hot Dawg (bring the DGQ back, please?!?!?!)

[helixer]

I'd chalk it up to the the staff simply pulling back a bit. It's been a wonderful run, and although it's great for business to be called #1 festival, it also creates needless headaches. I am satisfied with this lineup- hell, 98% of everybody here could play circles around most other musicians. I say if you really want to see a national rock act, then go see one. Personally, I'd like to see things stay a little more local and a little more attended by their core audience- which are generally fun-loving serious music lovers...All the best events I've attended throughout my life eventually lost their shine due to over marketing, over attendance and eventually folded because they tried to be too much to too many people.
  That being said, I'm happy for a little 'pulling back the reins'. And again as I mentioned above, even the most basic TBF lineup is beyond spectacular, right?

 Listening to: Scott and Obrien

[porto]

I put up the initial post and after reading all of the responses, I do think the most compelling reason for so many surplus resale tix are a combination of 3 factors: 1. Competing events of high stature this year that are funneling off some attendees. 2. A slightly less compelling line up this year. and the most important 3. After sell outs and tight resale tickets over the last few years, more and more people are preemptively grabbing tickets to have the OPTION to go, but haven't made firm plans. This creates redundant and false demand, and crowds out people who would plan on it but can't or won't commit money in December to own the option. Bottom line, none of this is bad at all. Over commercialization of TBF is worse than whining about the line up when all of our favorite guys are still there every year and always plenty of delightful new acts. ONE WEEK FROM THIS VERY MOMENT THE MAGIC BEGINS!! I (WE) could not be more excited.

[bodegahwy]

I think the points made are all right on target.  We have a number of friends heading to Chicago in a couple of weeks and that used up their "festival" budget this time around.  There is also no rock headliner (I am not sorry about that... they are never my favorite part of the festival).  I also would bet that some of the scalpers got scalped in the last couple of years and I am not sorry about that either!

Many of the highlights for me over the years have been the acts that I have never seen or even never heard of.  The festival is getting a bit repetitive for my taste.  I understand we all have our favorites that we could see every year and be happy... but this festival has a few too many of those favorites.  I will refrain from mentioning any specific ones...  just that there are too many.  I would rather see more new acts or performers that I have not had a chance to see.

For me this year, the show I am most excited to see is Ry Cooder.  He has been a musical hero of mine since long before I started coming to T-ride and is on the very short list of musical heros I have never had an opportunity to see live.

See you all soon!

[Schlagger]

What happened to Yonder?

[BillyBeru]

What happened to Yonder?

IMO, Yonder is now like Creedence Clearwater Revival without John Fogerty

[Schlagger]

I just read up on it.  No bueno.  I think I would much prefer Telluride without a major headliner if that means fewer people.

[Hot Sugar]

Jeff Austin and the rest of Yonder have parted ways. Some are upset about it, some are excited, and others are indifferent. Personally, I'm enjoying Yonder more now than I have in years. I believe many fans are overstating Jeff's importance. Yes, he was the front man, but Ben was always there with him on the banter and song introductions. However, Jeff was not the lead singer, nor was he the primary songwriter; I don't believe anyone in Yonder held those positions.