Handyfest Advance Planning

Do away with the Handy fest. No one in todays world outside of Florence really knows who W.C. Handy is. There is no reason to pay the Handy family any money. Who are they anyway? what have they done?

Sam Phillips on the other hand is more recent and more famous. Lets have a rock-n-roll fest with a BBQ competition and a Bass tourney! Maybe a fish fry competition or clam bake ( didn't Elvis star in a movie called "Clam Bake"?)

Anyone who knows anything about jazz, blues, or basic music history knows exactly who W.C. Handy is. That's why in the festival's peak in the mid 90's there were visitors from all over the country. Local politics killed the festival. Outdoor street parties should return and not have the border down the middle for drinking and non-drinking.

A Sam Phillips festival is also a good idea. Anything that is linked to Elvis will draw a crowd if it's planned right.

While your in Nashville, I want you to walk up to someone that you don't know and ask them who W.C. Handy is. Do it several times and let me know what happens.

I just asked a guy in my office who loves jazz. Not only did he know who Handy was, he's been to the festival a couple of times. A jazz fan who doesn't know who Handy was is like a rock fan who doesn't know who Page is.

What do you call a musician without a girl friend?

Yeah, I know.... homeless.

I think the cooking contest and arts and craft are a great idea. Would it be to much to have it around the same time as the Trail of tears? If not then maybe in late May??
I think getting back to the street party is vital to this festival and the serving of alcoholic beverages with lots of security. We all know that with crowds and alcohol there will be some problems. Being prepard to handle them is the key. Maybe get some pointers from the NOPD..get out the FPD police horses? Just some ideas....

Who's Page?

Hey i am supposed to call Nancy Goonce(sp?) back first week of jan. She was QUITE ABRUPT letting me know when the "committee" begins its planning. In other words, her polite way of saying" WE will let you come work,doing what WE tell you ,when WE tell you and WE have OUR way of doing things.
BUT I do think if enough newbie faces show up ,the great THEY will have to at least listen to some new ideas.
Now as for the cook off,why could we not get a group of all of the posters right here from this board together and check into maybe getting one of the resturuants allowing us to have it in their parking lot during Handy Festival? Bet the Times Daily would get a kick out of their forum members starting a cook-off.

headsup,sorry but simply because you do not know of WC Handy, nor those you keep company, does not mean a thing. There are several festivals each year and he is always honored at the Beale St Blues Festival in Memphis.

I'm glad you brought that up Smurph. I first learned of W.C. Handy while I was in the 5th grade living in Memphis.

I'm the one that posted the websites on here severl months ago that listed the other small town festivals. I have been to the Beal Steet festavl several times. I can promise you the people don't go there because of W.C. Handy. They don't even teach about him in schools in Memphis as much anymore. I know Tori Baily very well and speak with her on a regular basis.If you know anything about the Handy Festival you will know Tori.

If you want to see a crowd drawing event you need to attend the Memphis in May BBQ cook off and a Memphis in May concert. Now there is a crowd. IMO...a Sam Phillips festival would be a much better money maker. Florence would get a bigger bang for it's bucks.

Just look at who's coming to perform for the Sam Phillip thing this year. Last year we had Jerry Lee Lewis and this year it the Nashville Mafia ( Gretchin Wilson). Two much bigger money makers than anything W. C. Handy fest has ever drwan.

The Handy festival simply isn't planned properly. It's been done one way every year. The same acts, the same events, the same places. That's why people stopped coming. If the Handy planners want to make the festival a success, they need to bring back the street parties, bring in big acts, have a BBQ cook-off, maybe even a battle of the jazz bands. All this would require more work and I don't think the Handy planners will go for this.

Agree with most of the above posts.... it isnt done properly and the website doesnt work until the Handy week. Too much slacking by the committee. Maybe they are under-funded, i dont know. But the BBQ cook-off is a great idea, yet another way to get more people involved. BBQ, jazz, blues... yeah and a beer. And a Sam Phillips fest is a great idea too.... but like Handy in July/August is too hot for some, Sam in January might be too cold. Combine the two, or have two seperate events. With the right leadership both would do well, if done properly and with a little more planning. People love music and food... this area is really missing a golden oppurtunity... but thats just my thoughts.

So, would either the spring or autumn be a better time for the event(s)?

Also, I kinda' wonder about the wisdom of having two separate festivals.

But, having two festivals could be the beginning of something good for the area... you know, something like a music Festival Center or the sorts.

There are tremendous resources available in the area, both in musicians and in facilities. So, it's something to consider and research.

Which (research), by the way, is something that's been seriously lacking in the Handy Festival.

For example, who can or has assembled concrete statistics about revenue and tourism associated with the same? And, I DO MEAN statistics. For example, what is the average per capita expenditure of the average visitor to the Handy Festival?

How much increase in food and liquor sales have area dining establishents experienced during the Handy Festival? Percentage-wise, how much of their annual revenue is generated during the Handy Festival?

What about other retailers? How are their sales affected, and by how much? What incentives (traditionally, discounts) do they create for folks to spend money?

Also, what considerations have been given to having more than one "headline" act? Why not have one each night, or, at least two?

One could kick it off, and another would close it down.

And, here's another creative idea...

What about having some events on the Old Railroad Bridge?

In fact, if a dining type venue were established on it, it could be an outstanding place - right ON the river!

Also, how far away is the Handy Festival promoted, and for how long? And I don't mean a measly 4x4 display ad buried deeply in some obscure position in a newspaper.

Recordings of the artists is something that could be worked out with their management to create a Handy Festival CD to be sold though the Internet and on the Handy Festival website (which hasn't been updated in eons - and STINKS to high heaven).

Finally, we ALL need to call the folks at the event and get in on making things happen!

Yes, I agree that a street festival and a BBQ cook off would be wonderful. Changing the time of year to be more inviting outside would also help. Fall or Spring would be great. Selling liquer beverages would be a draw for many people and well worth the few issues that may come up.

Promotion needs a litte work too. Dates should be on TV and other media well in advance to register for the cook off ect...

there have been some really good ideas that are not outragesously costly to get started. we had a good thread on the WC handy festival on the old forums full of ideas. The problem is that clique of folks running it.

Fortunately, for everyone's benefit, I happen to have part of that old post from the old forum.





Shoals Lover

Posted: 07/10/06, 07:14:00 PM

Has anyone noticed the W.C. Handy Music Festival website?

To put it kindly, the website and festival need an overhaul!

The schedule is exclusively in PDF. While PDF files are useful, I don't like dealing with them unless a printout is needed.

They clearly don't have anyone doing their web development for them.

And their marketing campaign is non-existent.

Here's a brief 'laundry list' of festival changes that should be made POST HASTE!

• 1 - First and foremost, trademark and copyright the festival name. "W.C. Handy Music Festival," "Handyfest," "W.C. Handyfest" and "W.C. Handy Musicfest" should all bear the seal ©™.

• 2 - Re-Establish street parties. At Bayfest, Mobile's fall music festival, several city blocks are cordoned off, and the whole area is open to adult sale & consumption of adult beverages. Vendors must be licensed, however, and some type of armband or other ID is used to verify age and paid status. Drunk and disorderly conduct is not allowed. Families, teens and children are equally welcome.

• 3 - Expand performance venues. Within a four block radius in Florence there are at least three auditoriums in which bands can perform - the Shoals Theatre, the Norton Auditorium, and the Zodiac Theatre. And in Sheffield, the Ritz Theatre, another old theatre with an equally intimate performance environment has held and can host musical performances. In Tuscumbia, there's the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, and there's an intimate auditorium in Sheffield City Hall! In fact, I recall having seen the Platters perform there many years ago. The old Bradshaw High School has an auditorium, as does the former Florence High School. Then, there're other auditoriums in other area schools. And let's not forget Handy's birthplace! That ought to be the epicenter and headquarters of of the entire event!

• 4 - Integrate food cooking contests, such as Barbecue. Memphis in May is considered a top barbecue contest in the United States and world. Winning several smaller regional barbecue cook-offs enables the winners to obtain entrance to ultimate BBQ contest event, including the American Royal Barbecue Championship. A similar cook-off at part of the festival would lend more credence and renown to the event and area.

• 5 - Create and sell Official Sponsorships. Increase business and corporate sponsors. NASCAR has an official tool, official pain reliever, official insurance company and an official pizza delivery. There's no reason why Gibson Guitars, Fender Musical Instruments, Benge, Besson Meha, Getzen, Ludwig, Pearl, Zildjian, and others could not be official sponsors of trombones, trumpets, cornets, guitars, amplifiers, drums and cymbals. Without the financial backing and enthusiastic support of the business community, the efforts of the festival would be in vain. It takes cooperation from all possible interested parties to make it happen.

• 6 - Establish a music scholarship to UNA and Alabama A&M University. Since Handy was born in Florence, and taught at A&M, it would only be appropriate to endow a scholarship fund to send at least one or two talented. promising and deserving students through university.

• 7 - Endow an Eminent Scholars' chair in Music and Preeminent Jazz & Blues Visiting Lecturer Series Chair at UNA. Imagine what it would be like for musicians of all stripe in their higher education endeavors to have the opportunity to learn from people like Dave Brubeck, Maynard Ferguson, Branford and Wynton Marsalis, the Original Dixieland Jazz Band members, Herbie Hancock, Lionel Hampton, Max Roach, Ornette Coleman, Stanley Clarke, Kenny Burrell and a host of other living jazz legends. And, imagine what it would do for the area!

• 8 - Establish the W.C. Handy Music Festival as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. When any organization can offer something in return for support in kind from companies and financial contributions from individuals, the growth simply compounds. As well, the establishment of a Board of Directors and operating procedures associated with the same will strengthen the festival and significantly contribute to its longevity and success.

• 9 - Begin planning for the festival the next week after it ends. There is absolutely no excuse for this ORIGINAL W.C. Handy Music Festival to be relegated to a position as a second-class occupier in Alabama's or the southeast's regional tourist events. The festival can and should be developed into a Nationally and Internationally Renown event in which talent throughout the nation competes to perform. The W.C. Handy Music Festival is not even listed on the regional tourism website EscapeToTheSoutheast.com!



I agree... street parties are 'where it's at.'


However, keeping the W.C. Handy Music Festival mostly free is not necessarily an easy task. That is why, I'm certain, that many events are held in conjunction in revenue-producing environments, vis a vis restaurants, or shopping centers.

However, the headline act at the culmination of the event has - to the best of my knowledge - never been free.

If the festival were to include other paid events, I'm certain that it would have enormous growth. And, it's not as if artist performance venues is an issue.


It's time the W.C. Handy Festival had some new blood with fresh, bold and innovative ideas!

Want to know what the biggest Handy Fest problem is? Get any schedule from years past and take a look at it.You only need one, they are all the same. Look at the names of the people serving on the board. A large percentage of the acts contain one or more of the board members. The Midnighters, Decoys, Fiddleworms, Muscle Shoals All Stars, Mefford and who ever, etc. Not that these aren't fine groups, with great musicians, but they perform here all year round. A statue of W.C.Handy in the park on Beal St. in Memphis has the inscription, "Father of the Blues". If the Fest was billed as a Blues Fest with real blues acts I believe it would have a worldwide appeal. Blues Fests staged everywhere else draw huge crowds. An example is the Sunflower Blues Fest in tiny Helena, Ark. I attended the Handy Fest event held in the parking lot of Bunyan's B.B.Q.(without even a stage) in Florence this past year. The music was mostly blues. This event had by far the largest crowd I have seen at any Handy event, yet the size of the crowd or the event wasn't even mentioned in the Times Daily. Could it be because it was a mostly black crowdwith mostly black acts? Whether or not it was intentional I can't say, but I have also noticed that there are a lot more white acts than there are black acts performing at the Fest. How can you have a Blues or Jazz Fest either one without a majority of the acts being black. Go figure. All of the above problems have been presented to the Handy Fest board over and over, with no changes. Attendance keeps falling, sponsership money keeps dwindling, and the musicians who are on the board keep getting all the best paying events. Check out how many events Bob Ray, David Hood, Russell Mefford were envolved in. My solution would be, if you serve on the board, you can't perform at the fest for pay. This rule would cause several of the board members to resign and then we would have a new Handy Fest board, which is what is needed.

They have it during the worst time of year. It is too frickin' hot here in August to enjoy anything outdoors.

quote:

Originally posted by _Joy_:
Who's Page?

DITTO.....?????

Handy Fest Forum from 2006 - Deja Vu all over again.....

I think the festival should be more blues & jazz. It also needs better promotion.

The musicians at the events published in the official handy flyer have to be approved by the Handy Fest Committee. If it's not, you have to pick someone who is. I don't think it's necessarily the fault of the muscians who are on the board.

I know of one situation where a group had to choose another band because of a scheduling conflict. One of the Handy organizers suggested a band, and they went with it. The organizer said they would call the band's leader and get it scheduled. When a member of the group contacted the band's leader about a week later, he did not know anything about it! The event was on the same night as his standing gig. The band leader did some finagling, and did perform at the event, and made his other gig later. If the group had left it to the organizer, they would have had a huge problem.

I've met Tory, she seems nice. I think she really wants to improve the festival. Some of the other ones want to keep doing the same old same old stuff. It seems like they are not open to new ideas, or allowing anyone else take the reins. I think some of them need to retire and let fresh blood in. I think some of them are just really burned out and don't care anymore. It happens to the best of us.

I would LOVE to be a part of the planning process. Being that I already have a FT day job I couldn't devote all the time that I would like to, but would certainly help in any way possible. If there is any one on here that has any "pull" with getting the so-called fresh blood involved, please let me know.

quote:

Originally posted by tinabeth:
I would LOVE to be a part of the planning process. Being that I already have a FT day job I couldn't devote all the time that I would like to, but would certainly help in any way possible. If there is any one on here that has any "pull" with getting the so-called fresh blood involved, please let me know.

Me too!