Quote from: BuzzH on May 24, 2007, 08:20:04 PM

I'm not happy either that Johnny K won't be there either.  I look forward to seeing my boy every year and really, how many years does the poor man have left?   :-   And, as he indicated at a previous Fest, he's retired and he just waits around for the Fest's every year. I took that to mean he was joking and I certainly hope he was. He could have been joking when he said that of course, but if not, how doubly sad for him that his annual highlight won't come to pass this year.

Yes, it would be and I am assuming JK was joking.  If a festival like this the social highlight of someone's year/life each year there are obviously deeper rooted problems than just being retired or lonely.  It's too sad to think that someone - anyone - would have to fly or drive a long distance in order to be with any friends or feel good about life.  There are lots of fun, interesting fans at the fests too with lots of outside interests. I think that may be what keeps those fans from being devastated or at a loss when something unexpected happens regarding the fests.  They were nearly cancelled out altogether a few  years ago so that's a clear message that no one should expect anything in particular from year to year.

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I too would have enjoyed seeing the two Johns onstage together in a Q&A.

Me too.

I don't blame Jim if he wanted to end it period after this one.  Maybe all this negative reaction will be enough to let go altogether and not try anymore.  I certainly would not encourage him.  The grief isn't worth it.

It is a shame, but considering how the gala has been treated in the past, even at "real" Fests, I'm not surprised.  Even though the event regularly draws lots of participants and is reasonably popular, it is still the next-to-last-thing scheduled on Saturday nights and always gets pushed even farther back, usually in favor of videos that could probably be shown any other time during the weekend (these aren't exclusive films of Joan Bennett on "The Dating Game" either; I remember waiting an extra hour to go on-stage one year so that "DS Bloopers" could be screened).  As you said, adamsgirl, the gala is the only truly fan-centric event and I really wish it would get more respect (e.g. schedule it earlier in the day so that more people can stick around to watch it or take part in it instead of worrying about missing the last subway home). The fan videos, skits, and gala have always been my favorite events.

I'm beginning to feel better about missing this celebration, although I will still miss seeing my friends.