If the Fests really aren't making a profit, why don't they just raise the price of admission a little bit? Also, if some people aren't coming back to the Fests because they feel there isn't enough excitement and they've been there/done that, why don't Jim Pierson and "the committe" use some of the suggestions the fans have made over the years to make the Fests more fun? Several years ago they had questionnaires at the information desk for fans to fill out to make suggestions for things to do and places to have the Fest at, but none of those suggestions were taken up on, and they have the same events year after year. So why not go through the questionnaires and try some new activities to get more people to come?
ITA w/this Mary! I've been coming to these things since 1990 and they have always been $25 for the entire weekend. There have even been years where it was $25 for TWO ppl. So I find Nancy's assertion that a profit must be made for them to continue a little ridiculous since not only are they NOT raising prices after at least 16 years, but in some instances charge LESS. I realize that the stars are flown in on the ¢â‚¬Ëœcompany dime' and their expenses are paid, but there must be another source of revenue going on here. It can't ALL be contingent on the admission price or the amount of ppl attending, for the reasons I've mentioned above.
I too am scratching my head over WHY they bothered w/that survey when they did NOTHING w/it. What, I ask you, was the point of asking fans to list the top 10 cities they'd like the Fest to go to, then not use the information?! I find it impossible to believe that a majority of fans stated NYC or LA as their top choice, thus negating the need to move it to another, possibly CHEAPER city! I know many fans who said they'd love for it to go to cities OTHER than the usual two. Some have said DC, Orlando and Chicago to name a few. They could have the Fest go to a ¢â‚¬Ëœsuburb' of any of those cities to keep the costs down rather than having it IN said city where the prices would be higher (hotels, food, etc¢â‚¬¦), but still be close enough for fans to reasonably get TO said cities to site-see etc¢â‚¬¦
The other day, victoriawinters and I were discussing how much we miss the presence of Dennis Patrick at the Fests. I suggested that it would be neat if the Fest ran footage of previous Fest Q&As from when people like Mr. Patrick, Joan Bennett, Michael Stroka, or Clarice Blackburn were still alive. That way new fans who weren't attending when these people were still around can still hear from them and enjoy watching their interactions with the other cast members. If the Fest were to do this, people would be able to at least hear and see Bennett and Frid, though not in person. It would sure beat yet another screening of DS Bloopers.
Excellent suggesstion Professor! I would love to see a panel for Clarice as I never got to meet her. Who wants to see the bloopers AGAIN!? Especially since most of us own either the VHS or DVD copy of it and can watch it anytime we like in the comfort of our own homes?
We don't need the same thing every year--the same clips of DS, the same type of programs, the same stage talks and Q & A sessions.
Totally agree Brandon! I for one am sick to death of Marcy Robin's self-serving ¢â‚¬Ëœfan panel' which is neither informative nor entertaining. I'd rather sleep in on Sunday morning, LOL! Your suggestions were good ones and should be at least considered by Pierson and company.
The so-called "committee"/ those who have been associated with the festival (the so-called committee)
Question, why do you keep saying the ¢â‚¬Ëœso-called committee', as if one doesn't exist. For the record, that's how they refer to themselves in the Fest program. Maybe you've never read yours, but on page one it lists, FEST COMMITTEE-Jim Pierson, Chairman, Marcy Robin/Kathy Resch et all, Guest Relations, and so one. We the fans did not come up w/this phrase, they did.
Now, having had my say on all this, why are we even discussing the possibility of there being no more Fests? Didn't we establish in another thread that there WILL be a Fest this year? Didn't Charles Ellis post that he heard from Jim Pierson himself that plans were being finalized as we speak and an announcement is forthcoming?