BBQ Blues & Bluegrass Festival This Coming Saturday!
Decatur Metro | August 15, 2012
Here are all the details from a recent press release…
Decatur’s 12th Annual Decatur Barbeque, Blues & Bluegrass Festival is brought to you by three non-profit groups the Community Center of South Decatur, the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association and Decatur Active Living. All proceeds of the festival will be invested directly into the Decatu community.Featured music- Mama’s Blue Dress, Dejablue Grass Band, Heather Luttrell, Roxy Watson and the Electromatics. For more information visit http://decaturbbqfestival.com/and purchase tickets at www.ticketalternative.com
Location: Harmony Park
Time: 4-10pm
Cost: $9 in advance, $10 day of the event
Kids11-20: $5
Kids 10 and under- Free
Latest from Decaturish
I just went to buy tickets online in advance to save a couple of dollars and found out that the $9 tickets in advance actually cost more than the $10 tickets at the gate because of a per ticket service charge.
Doh!
Not being able to bring my own food or drinks is a deal breaker for me. Otherwise I’d gladly pay $10 for the music.
The festival is a fundraiser that benefits a range of non-profit organizations and activities throughout the city of Decatur. The way it makes money to support those good works is through receiving a cut of the food and beverage sales. Gate receipts and sponsorships alone are not enough to cover event expenses (musicians’ fees, sanitation, equipment rental, insurance, advertising, etc.) and make any profit. Letting people bring in their own refreshments would undercut sales, which would make it difficult to recruit concessionaires to participate; make it necessary for inside-the-fest food & drink to cost a lot more; and require much higher ticket prices.
“Letting people bring in their own refreshments would undercut sales.” Possibly. Or maybe it would increase the number of attendees, like me and my friends, who want to support these causes without spending a fortune. I think people would still buy bbq and beer if coolers were allowed. I hear you though.
Chris, there is no doubt allowing coolers would undercut food and beverage sales inside the venue — would the gate receipts increase enough to outweigh that loss? At $10/person, it’s doubtful. Furthermore, it’s extremely challenging to attract food vendors and negotiate a revenue share that is worthwhile for them and for the event if they have to compete with people bringing in food from home and take-out from nearby restaurants. And there’s no way it would be worthwhile for a beer distributor to deal with the festival if people are bringing bev’gs in the gate. It’s a fundraiser. It’s for a good cause. It’s the cheapest chance you have all year to support good works in Decatur. (Decatur Ed Found Low Country Boil – $60 (food & bev incl). Decatur Craft Beer FEstival – $40 (limited tix, incl food?). If they allowed coolers, then the price of food and beer inside the venue, not to mention the price of admission, would have to go way up. Then it would become a different type of event. I don’t know what the prices will be this year, but in the past the cost of both beer and BBQ plate has been in line with (or cheaper) than you’d pay at a bar. It’s fun and it’s all for many good causes. If it’s beyond what you are able or willing to pay, fine. But please don’t criticize how it’s done. A lot of people work hard for many months to make this event happen every year, and a LOT of people work HARD the day of the event. The proceeds filter out into the community in many ways. It’s a good thing.
Agree that the ‘no cooler’ rule is unacceptable to some. However, these same groups (some really good ones, by the way) have performed at places like Eddie’s Attic, where there’s a cover charge (usually $15-$20). Needless to say, Eddie’s has a similar ‘no cooler’ policy.
But you do usually get a chair or bar stool to sit on there.
@Chris
The BBQ Blues Fest is still looking for volunteers. Volunteers will receive free admission into the festival. As mentioned by others, this is a great event that gives back to the community.
If the $10 is turning you away, think about volunteering so you can still enjoy the festivities and give back.
Why is there always a complainer trying to cleverly disguise as a do-gooder full of suggestions?
+1 Sharron. It’s worth noting that the gate price is $5 less than last year. Ben Bernake will be happy that the festival is doing its part to combat inflation.
Still, $10 ain’t cheap. But if you are into, well, bar-b-q, blues and/or bluegrass in your own proverbial backyard, then it’s probably worth it. Knowing that the proceeds help out local non-profits is icing on the cake-or maybe the cake itself. If it’s not your bag, then don’t come. More BBQ for the thousands of us that will be there. . . .
There are other issues involved with allowing coolers besides money. First, there is the trash problem, particularly when folks bring beverages in glass bottles. Then there is the problem of people getting absolutely hammered on their cheaper booze. This festival has always been pretty family oriented as well.
“Then there is the problem of people getting absolutely hammered on their cheaper booze”
Not sure I would categorize this is as a “problem”. Besides, those who are gonna get that drunk will do it regardless of whether they can bring in their own beer, or they will “pre-game” to minimize their alcohol expenses.