live on penn cancelled...

It appears that Live on Penn has cancelled their remaining dates, citing crappy sales. Another blow to the local music scene. Not that the bands were anything special, but the fact that we can't support a concert series like this is really a sad thing. Are people really not going to see show anymore? It doesn't really matter to bands like Better than Ezra or Gavin degraw, but it hurts the Exit Clovs of the world, who really caught a break getting to play in front of so many folks.

Where did you hear this?

I'm sorry but I've had it out for Live on Penn from day one. It reeks of a city forcing a cultural event, and to be honest, it's not that far from the murky depths of the National BBQ battle.

I bet it was the Old 97's that did it.

Originally posted by alex:
Where did you hear this?

I am close with one of the bands, and they got an e-mail saying it was cancelled. I have no idea if this week's is the last one or if its done as well. I know the site is still up and promoting the shows… which says a lot about an organization's commitment to being upfront to the public.

The schedule was just too chock full of jam bands and has-beens for my taste, at least in terms of the national-level bands. And the local bands pretty much weren't radar-level, at least for me.

Originally posted by redsock:
Not that the bands were anything special, but the fact that we can't support a concert series like this is really a sad thing. Are people really not going to see show anymore?

I tend to believe that is the reason people probably aren't as interested in attending Live on Penn. Add in to the mix that the past few weekends have been rainy, who wants to stand outside in a sectioned off area listening to bands who've played Live on Penn the past two years?

I think people are being more selective with the shows they attend (I am, at least). Considering the majority of the acts headlining Live on Penn are not from the DC area, why and how does it hurt local bands? What's stopping them from going the Local 221 route and booking shows featuring local bands?

Bummer. I never made it to one show. I always miss everything.

I agree with Random Citizen.

Paying money to stand in a penned-off area listening to second rate bands does not appeal to me in the least.

How many people were showing up to these gigs anyway?

Originally posted by Random Citizen:
Considering the majority of the acts headlining Live on Penn are not from the DC area, why and how does it hurt local bands? What's stopping them from going the Local 221 route and booking shows featuring local bands?

It's hurting local bands that were scheduled to play the cancelled dates. For a band like Exit Clov, or The Low Life, this would have been an opportunity to play in front of potentially thousands of local folks, who, if they liked the local bands, might go see them again at other local gigs. It's a huge missed opportunity to grab more fans. And I can't believe you compared Live on Penn to a Local 221 show. I'm not about to go into the merits, or shortcomings, of Local 221, but to compare their average draw (of what 50 people at most?), to Live on Penn is laughable.

Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
I agree with Random Citizen.

Paying money to stand in a penned-off area listening to second rate bands does not appeal to me in the least.

How many people were showing up to these gigs anyway?

On this point I agree as well, the same bands playing year after year gets old. Especially considering who the bands are. But people still like these bands for whatever reason. I doubt very few folks on the board are heading out to these shows, but the casual mix 107.3 listener might be. The weather has really sucked of late.

it's a shame, but with such a crappy lineup, they had it coming.

i think live on penn didn't have a niche. at all. everything they tried to do, someone else was doing better.
other venues book better acts.
other venues are outdoors, but free.
the times were wrong (saturday afternoon, duh!), the acts were wrong, the whole thing was just unimaginative.

Originally posted by redsock:
And I can't believe you compared Live on Penn to a Local 221 show. I'm not about to go into the merits, or shortcomings, of Local 221, but to compare their average draw (of what 50 people at most?), to Live on Penn is laughable.

And I can't believe you're assuming that the people who actively listen to radio stations like 103.7 would even be interested in checking out a local band.

First, that presumes they'll show up early in the day to actually see the local acts. Second, it assumes that they will venture into the club setting to see said local band again.

Also, considering the series was canceled due to poor ticket sales…how can you call 50 people attending a Local 221 show laughable. At least the show still happens.

I thought old 97's and the They Might Be Giants/ Fountains of Wayne bills were well worth the price of admission.

So what if they booked the same bands both years. Does anyone object to seeing bands they actually like once a year?

Originally posted by Rhett Miller:

So what if they booked the same bands both years. Does anyone object to seeing bands they actually like once a year?

I agree with Rhett. (gasp) Jimmy Buffett fans dont mind. and i could think of about 10 bands that i would LOVE to see every summer. None of them were playing Live on Penn though.

they should've gotten Andrew WK…he NEVER comes to the area ;)

Originally posted by Random Citizen:
At least the show still happens.

if a band plays a show and no one goes, does the band still play?

Originally posted by sonickteam2:
if a band plays a show and no one goes, does the band still play?

Dunno…still trying to figure out if a tree falls in the woods, does it make a sound, over here. :p

Originally posted by sonickteam2:

Originally posted by Random Citizen:
At least the show still happens.

if a band plays a show and no one goes, does the band still play?

Not here in Pittsburgh. Sign on door @ club for recent scheduled Icarus Line show:

Show cancelled. No one bought any tickets

Who was Live on Penn's target audience? It seems like whoever put this on just threw an event together and hoped people would go to it. Sure, you can't beat five bucks. But who wants to pay that for something they don't even listen to?

Where did Live on Penn do their promotions? Besides reading posts on this message board on the shows, I don't recall seeing anything else on it. No ads in the Metro stations like the Smithsonian does when they have a new exhibit. Was it plastered in the Post's Express or anything?