If and when these suggestions ever happen, movement/demf will just become another Ultra Music Festival with a pay per view special, and Paul Oakenfold or PVD spinning the closing set.
Yes, the festival was lucky enough to have even happened, but when you throw
budgets, audits, managers, etc. into the mix, the music loses priority to the
bottom line..
Fred Wilson
Business Services Department
International Rescue Committee
http://www.theirc.org
-----Original Message-----
From: Steward, Tim [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Friday, June 04, 2004 2:13 PM
To: 313 list
Subject: RE: (313) Future of Movement
I agree with Lisa, Kent and many of the other comments made.
I support Derrick and his company, but for the festival I think
there needs to be a few adjustments to make it happen.
1 a project manager, not an artist running the project but
a skilled project manager to make sure it comes together.
2 a detailed budget, face it nothing is free
3 a massive marketing campaign/team
4 Understand that running a festival is like a business, the
CEO (Derrick) can only be a success if he surrounds himself with
a successful/positive team .
Tim
-----Original Message-----
From: lisa [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Friday, June 04, 2004 1:46 PM
To: Kent williams
Cc: 313 list
Subject: Re: (313) Future of Movement
Hiya Kent - your post has me thinking a few things ...
I give Derrick credit for driving around as he did that day, asking for
donations. My impression of it was somewhat grassroots and showed that
he was willing to do pretty much anything to make this work. I'll never
fault anyone for caring. No matter what went on behind the scenes to
bring this about, it was both sad and inspiring to see someone do this.
I would suggest to those involved (planners, artists, sponsors, etc.)
that it would be a good idea to sit down and hold a formal & private
"retrospective" for Movement 04. That's where you review your original
goals/objectives against what really happened. People get to have a say
as well (it's important to talk about what went well & what didn't in
equal measure). At this time you would also talk about ideas for what
might be done differently or occur next time. It would be a good idea to
have someone experienced in facilitation run the session who was not
involved in the festival, that way they can be objective and help keep
it balanced. As you might imagine, these sessions can easily get out of
hand.
I can tell you there is always a debate (amongst those who do this kinda
stuff) about how this should be done. Should the planner know the
content/project intimately or be an outsider? My opinion is that it
works best if the person is an outsider *but* someone able to understand
just about anything that goes on (i.e., you can ask the right questions)
and make it happen. The best arguments for an "objective" person is that
they can see things that others cannot, if only because they are an
outsider and they don't let ego and politics get in the way (if they're
good, that is - LOL).
Another argument for having a person dedicated to planning/management is
that others can focus on doing what it is that they want to or are
supposed to be doing, instead of wearing so many hats that their head is
spinning and it ends up being an unpleasant time for all (at no fault of
anyone other than the situation itself). Of course there has to be
status meetings and such, otherwise things get out of hand.
Sorry if this is kinda geeky, but I think that if it can work for
complex, multi-million dollar projects, then some of the ideas can help
with any large undertaking, like a festival.
Lisa
Kent williams wrote:
We can go on and on about Movement, and I don't intend to do that here,
but
I have a few things to say on the subject:
1. There has been much criticism of Movement '04, some of it valid and
constructive, but every picture I took at the Festival had people smiling
in it. There was a vibe there that is rare. That, to me, is the most
precious thing about the Festival.
2. Without discounting in any way the time, money, and heart Derrick May
put into the festival, the disorganization and last-minute drama didn't
help. There needs to be someone involved with the festival who can sell
it to large-dollar sponsors, manage logistics, and get ahead of the curve.
Booking the lineup is the fun part, and only about 1% of the job.
Kevin Saunderson seems to be poised to take on this role. I don't know
Kevin personally, but in the press conference he seemed calm, articulate,
and tactful. The fact remains that these guys are at the top of their game
in the studio or in the DJ booth, but the skills required to put on a 3
day festival are completely different.
Beyond that, everything I have to say about the festival has already been
said by Brian Mccollum in the Free Press.
http://www.freep.com/entertainment/music/move1_20040601.htm
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