Advertisement
Every year we try new things in hopes of making things better. The only way we can make the right choices is to hear from as many of you as possible. So please take a moment to tell us what worked and what didn't. This isn't intended to be a discussion but rather just constructive feedback.
I'll begin with a few of my own;
1) No more tiered tickets, , one price only.
2) Be more clear about "volunteers" from the beginning. Sorry, but this was one of those mid stream decisions I didn't clearly communicate from the beginning.
3) move the dates out at least one week to hopefully get past the rains.
4) your turn, , lets hear it,,,,,,,,
I'll begin with a few of my own;
1) No more tiered tickets, , one price only.
2) Be more clear about "volunteers" from the beginning. Sorry, but this was one of those mid stream decisions I didn't clearly communicate from the beginning.
3) move the dates out at least one week to hopefully get past the rains.
4) your turn, , lets hear it,,,,,,,,
posted by:
|
California
|
Advertisement
Advertisement
-
Re: Feedback
Fri, May 8, 2009 - 10:38 PMsome form of limit to the number of people in the fire circle or maybe 2 circles? it can be hard to really let loose and get yer groove on when you're worrying about running into the guy or gal behind you. -
-
Re: Feedback
Sun, May 10, 2009 - 8:11 AMget bassnectar to play a show for the spinners way late at night after the drummers go to sleep :P -
-
Re: Feedback
Sun, May 10, 2009 - 8:52 AMI agree with loki. I got pretty nervous when people with rope darts and other room taking toys were performing when there wasn't really room in the circle. There were several close calls with people almost getting whacked. Im not sure how heavy those things are, but i know that i wouldn't want to be hit by one. It seemed like safety took a back seat everytime those guys got in the circle.
I kinda liked the rain. It made for some sloppy conditions, but it also kept the temperature a little higher during the night. I was freezing my butt off on Thursday night and shivered my self to sleep. haha. The rest of the nights were cold, for a south texas man, but i the shivering was much less noticable the rest of the time. LOL.
Also, this was my first firedrums and i got to camp at night. I didn't really pay attention to where i parked and it took me about 2 hours to find my car. You might want to mention to really pay attention to where you park and what your camp site is called. LOL. I heard the drums and it just put me into a trance and pulled me to the fire. Next time i'm bringing some popcorn to mark the trail back to the car. :)
Well, thats all i have. I had a blast and it is a "must do vacation" for me and im already planning for next year. -
-
Re: Feedback
Sun, May 10, 2009 - 9:15 AMI think it would have been helpful to have signs saying "Workshop area 5" or "Lodge --->" or "Lower Parking Area". Or maybe just post a map at every workshop area. -
-
Re: Feedback
Sun, May 10, 2009 - 9:30 AMIt seemed to me like we had plenty of volunteers to go around, but I don't really know. Hopefully you had better luck than last year. But if you feel some areas were short handed, I think that the volunteer system could be a little more precise.
If everyone is asked to help for 4 hours, maybe don't leave so many slots open for certain jobs next year.
For example I volunteered to help park at the greeters station at 8am on sat. I got there and there were two of us to help park, and about 3 people arrived during that two hour period. It was kind of overkill. So maybe if there was only a slot availible for one person to help with parking, one of us would of had to sign up for something else that maybe needed more help.
Also I think Signage would be a great idea.
And lastly we need to make sure we hide the loudspeaker from the greeters between 2 and 10am.
-
Time and Locations
Sun, May 10, 2009 - 10:11 PMWhen I was stationed at the BooBoo Booth we had more people come to us asking two questions than asking for first aid.
1. Do you know what time it is?
2. Do you know where Workshop area "x" is?
We were very -well equipped for all sorts of emergencies, but almost none of us had the time, nor a map showing play areas.
Next year it might be good to have a cheap clock around and an information board.
Someone got part way with the logistics. I remember someone coming by one time and posting a schedule of the events. But with time and location, it was only one-third of the data required.
So perhaps a quasi-information Booth can be placed next to the BB Booth next year with these three event components (what, where, when)
Steve -
-
Re: Time and Locations
Sun, May 10, 2009 - 10:20 PMClocks would be easy, and we could post schedules at each workshop area, but I'm resistantant to printing out 500 workshop schedules and maps to hand out at the gate.
-
-
-
Re: Feedback
Sun, May 10, 2009 - 3:44 PM>When there wasn't really room in the circle.
As being a rope dart spinner primarily, and also helping out a lot with fire safety, I am really conflicted on this issue.
First of all, it was a flat out mistake to close the horseshoe into a circle. We haven't had a circle of fires since FD3 in '06, and I think that having the expandable space and pittering off towards the hill not only gives more room, but also benefits more self-conscious or less awesome spinners to have a place to perform, as well as a place to warm up with the fire. I really like to hide during my first couple of sets.
Yes, some props take more space than others, you can either wait forever while poi spinner after poi spinner jumps infront of you, or just be a jerk and bully people out of some of their space. I choose a libertarian stance on performance space, in that you have as much rights as you are willing to take, up to the point where you hurt someone else. Bulling people out of space is discourteous, but sometimes necessary to get your spins in. I've had to bully people around just to get enough space to spin staff. Say Sorry, and try to be polite about it, but often it's your only choice. (But yeah, be safe out there.)
Also, I talked a lot with sky, and next year, there are plans to flare the fire pits a bit out towards the Teepee on the side, and position some people there to create a shallow end for spinners. A place to warm up and practice without feeling like you are performing. I'm really keen on this idea. I love having all the rock star spinners, but it can sometimes create a feeling like you have to be this good to spin fire saturday night. That is absolutely against my interpretation of what firedrums is about, and I promise to work to make that not happen to the best of my abilities.
Also, I've had a lot of encouragement to do a semi-mandatory safety seminar to get across our interpretation of fire safety and lay the ground rules. I'm really loathe to actually do this, because I think that safety meetings are almost always complete wastes of time, but I'm open to hearing how this can be done, so long as we're talking sub 15 minutes, focus on fueling up, and a quick talk about spotters responsibilities. Feedback? -
-
Re: Feedback
Sun, May 10, 2009 - 5:59 PMI agree with sam about the horseshoe vs circle, less space for overflow, probably less welcoming to lower level spinners, nowhere to escape the smoke if it comes up, and significant difficulty bringing soaked props (whips, etc) in without having to push through a crowd with a dripping prop... -
-
Re: Feedback
Sun, May 10, 2009 - 9:10 PMI also liked the horseshoe better than the circle, although found that crowding wasn't as much of a problem this year as I thought it would be considering the attendance numbers. I had to be more aware than usual about what's behind me when I was spinning. I did not see any collisions.
As a safety measure, I think we should make everyone spin bigger wicks so people can see them better in the dark.
-
-
Re: Feedback
Sun, May 10, 2009 - 10:25 PMI definitely think closing off the horseshoe into a circle was not optimal.
I was standing either at the BB Booth or in the front row drumming, so I had a pretty good view of the playspace almost all the time. The circle seemed congested to me and at one time I was drumming next to one of the portals to the circle and there were fire artists lined up next to me - patiently - waiting to go in.
The closed circle can also potentially encourage the spectator vibe rather than the participant vibe. "Hey, let's pull out those lawn chairs and crack open some brews, dude!"
The circle was a good experiment. A good lesson was learned.
-
-
-
-
-
Re: Feedback
Sun, May 10, 2009 - 1:13 PMI wiould have to agreen that a little more sinage would be nice.
I did feel a little constrained in the fire circle, but I think alot of that had to do with the rain and everyone wanting to warm up. ;)
This was my first firedrums, and even with the rain it was still worth the drive up from Texas, and I plan to do it again next year. -
-
Re: Feedback
Sun, May 10, 2009 - 10:32 PMawesome time once again so first off, thanks to all!
in regards to feedbacky stuff, i noticed that a lot (read about a third of the scout cabin/tent things) were empty for the whole event, a bunch of them had reserved signs on them but no one ever showed up to take them. especially with the rain this year i think at least taking the signs down or letting people in soggy tents know there were dry places to stay would have been good.
and the circle shape was a bit sketchy at times though i didn't feel constrained room-to -let-loose-wise. i like the horseshoe shape idea having a spot awayish from the audiences focal point seems like a good way for people to warm up.
also, fuel station folks did a badass job this year, especially with the line on saturday night, and well really, everyone else for that matter!
-
-
Re: Feedback
Mon, May 18, 2009 - 12:14 PMoverall i think this was an amazing event
my two cents other than signage might be to have simple superficial treatment available at the first aid station. It was a well stocked medicine cabinet, but considering that most of the "burns" that came through were more superficial than anything, it might have been handy to have a cold compress/ water available to just cool down the skin and maybe an aloe plant available or other natural anti-inflammatory/cooling treatments. Raw honey can also be an option, but have heard some mixed reviews on it.
and i'm pretty sure ive mentioned this but a post-dinner/pre-burn yoga or stretching session would have been wonderful! -
-
Re: Feedback
Thu, May 28, 2009 - 12:00 PMAs to the crowding issue, and as a safety, I'd say that the best policy is requiring the dancers to check in with their nearest safety about whether there is space for them. Having defined entrance points would help this process and keep the soaked wicks away from the audience. It sucks to tell someone to wait and then have 5 people who you can't get to barge out in front of the once conscious spinner. A lot of times it seemed that there was too much fire for the space and for safety to keep a good eye on. I prolly don't need to reiterate the consensus on the horseshoe.
It's an easypie fix.
-
Re: Feedback
Thu, May 28, 2009 - 4:41 PMOOOHH, I like the post-dinner/pre-burn yoga/stretching idea. And lots of hugs and cuddling too.
-
-
Re: Feedback
Sat, May 30, 2009 - 11:10 PMThis was my first year, and I had an incredible time! I definitely can't wait to go again!
Things that would help.....
-Clocks....or one loud clear sound - a bell? - to indicate the end of each workshop period. Of course, next time I won't forget my watch!
-Signs, both for pointing this way ("Lodge this way") and for labeling workshop spaces. Get them laminated, staple them to a post, hopefully no other thought will be needed until cleanup.
-A bit more volunteer...planning? I volunteered at the greeter area, and it was really hard 1) feeling like I was helping when 6+ other people were already doing the same job....yes, there were way too many of us!..... and 2) (sorry, but I have to be honest) Elektra was breathing down everyone's necks. She was quite overbearing on us, in contrast to such a straightforward, friendly job. This really ruined things a bit for me, sorry to say.
-Clear entrance points for the fire jam - post a sign, erect a "doorway", just make it clear where the safety people are and WHO they are (wear brightly colored tee-shirts or vests perhaps!). It was hard finding them in the crowd sometimes. At one point I went in, lit my poi, and the safety immediately asked me to snuff my poi because something "big" was about to happen, but then it didn't happen and the soaking line was quite long at the point. I didn't spin again for a least another hour or more.
-Musical variety. I love drumming, but I also love dancing to music with texture, melody, layering. Maybe give the drummers occasional breaks and have dj sets in between? I totally loved the addition of the kit drummers on whatever night that was. It's all a blur now!
-Dancing? This is more of a question - why don't more people dance? I think there were about five of us at one point, dancing in separate spots around the circle. This whole thing we do is about movement, of both our props and ourselves, so it was really strange for me to see so little of it!
-Have a vendor-specific section on the firedrums site where they can list products and payment methods.
-Be totally clear about food! This was one of the most confusing aspects of the whole weekend. None of us knew what to expect. Going into it, we kept wondering if we could rely on "community meals" or not. As things turned out, yes!
Those are my thoughts for now! Overall, an incredible weekend! Thanks to everyone for their amazing work putting this thing together. I'm ready for another one!
David
Vancouver, BC
-
Re: Feedback
Sun, May 31, 2009 - 1:25 PMGreat Fire Drums....! Memorable and a lot more opportunity for connections for sure!
Let's see....
PARKING/GREETING: 1)As a greeter I wasn't always sure where to send people for parking. Some events don't give you a choice. Real parking guides line em up and pack em in. Might be worth considering. 2) Electra is not overbearing. She is just LOUD! I love her enthusiasm and silliness!!!
CLOCKS: I have learned over the years that a watch is as much a necessity as a headlamp. Put it on your packing list next year!
MAPS: Laminated in workshop areas with a little red dot "you are here" is good. I also liked the experience of discovering new terrain every year. Keeps the perspective expansive in the physical plane too.
FIRE SAFETY: 1) LABEL your personal containers and store them in the correct place. In dry years storing in your tent is BAAD. I guess word is the car is ok? 2) On the last night around o-darkish in the morning a performer was down with her toys on fire which she was tangled in. I called frantically for a fire safety and there was none in site. I would like to see a "go to" spot where ANYONE can quickly and easily find Duvetine to handle the situation. (i.e. front and center... )
DRUMMING: It would be great to see Sky drum more. That was cool.
-
Re: Feedback
Mon, June 1, 2009 - 11:32 AMI would like to second Gage's Request, or rather.
Tap into the amazing local Santa Cruz Music scene, but dont advertise it. Santa Cruz DJs like Bassnectar, Matty G, Rastatroniks, 187 Soundsystem, the Dub Pirates, would bring a whole different vibe for those of us spinners who prefer not to dance to drumming. We have Santa Cruz locals that are fire spinners that come to our event, that are tied into this scene and could more than likely get the djs to come.
other than that....uh....
OH!
More regulated safeties. More importantly, SOBER SAFETIES. i was more scared about the safeties a lot of the time than the spinners.
thats all for now. -
-
Re: Feedback
Tue, June 2, 2009 - 9:22 AM"Tap into the amazing local Santa Cruz Music scene, but dont advertise it."
Not a good idea. What we all seem to be looking for is providing music for fire, not fire for music. Shifting the dynamic by bringing in any relatively big-name artist would not maintain the event as focused on fire, no matter how "under wraps" we try to keep it. Most DJs that we all know of are not going to come play the event for free, especially when it is not advertised, the event is relatively small, and the crowd will largely not pay attention to the artist. Thus, the cost of bringing in DJ-like entities must also be considered. Bassnectar don't come cheap, lemme assure you.
If we're going to bring in electronic music artists, please let them be small-time. Many of us prolly have DJ friends who would love a trip to the redwoods and an enthusiastic audience in a low-pressure situation. They get experience, we get a greater variety of music.
Another consideration here is the fragile DJ equipment and the smoke, dust, rain, drunken dancers, etc. We would need to make the infrastructure foremost in our plotting of a more refined music selection.
Musicians are artists just like us, and we should respect them as a luxury.
-
-
Re: Feedback
Tue, June 2, 2009 - 9:55 AMwhile my tastes have shifted more towards the electronic, I really appreciate the flavor of fireDRUMS. I think fireLAPTOPSANDMIXINGCONSOLES would be a somewhat different event. -
-
Re: Feedback
Tue, June 2, 2009 - 3:53 PMI agree with Randy. This is my favorite event, and the absence of DJs is a big part of that. -
-
Re: Feedback
Mon, June 8, 2009 - 7:53 AMI think more people would have been pounding drums if they weren't worried about trashing their instruments in the torrential downpours that soaked our weekend.
That said, I was out on Thursday night in the fire area until dawn and having the main PA mimicking what the greeters were playing worked just fine. I wondered why the following nights it wasn't turned on. =/
-
-
Re: Feedback
Tue, June 2, 2009 - 7:15 PMThen perhaps the drumming itself should be examined, and expanded beyond what sounded to me (most, but not necessarily all of the time) like basic African rhythms. I have a drummer friend who creates more variation and layering with his single drum than most drum groups I've heard. His influence is partly Indian, which helps. Drumming, for me, must be about providing a fabric against which movement can happen. Simply providing a steady tempo is not enough! -
-
Re: Feedback
Tue, June 2, 2009 - 7:30 PMDavid, you must not have heard the same drummers that i heard. I was blown away with the rhythms and the driving beats. I played drums for about 7 years so i know a little about music. These guys were amazing. Maybe you should just listen to your ipod really loud. :)
-
Re: Feedback
Tue, June 2, 2009 - 9:58 PM"what sounded to me (most, but not necessarily all of the time) like basic African rhythms"
Interesting feedback. There were some fantastic drummers that were professionals of other acoustic persuasions. The goal was to bring more diversity this year. I think we improved..... but sometimes it's hard to play over African.
.......Drums played with sticks generally dominate over hand drummers.
I loved Randy's comment. Thanks for the laugh. -
-
Re: Feedback
Tue, June 2, 2009 - 10:31 PMI started drumming in facilitated circles in Ann Arbor and have been generally disappointed with the quality of drum music I've heard on this coast. Maybe since this is fireDRUMS, some rhythm classes could be scheduled as well. Even just getting past the very basic african rhythms into some of the more complex song structures would be a drastic improvement an the general cacophony that usually occurs when bunches of different style drummers get together. Even if more songs aren't learned, just general "getting along" is stressed, you'd see a lot better mix.
-
-
-
-
-
-
Re: Feedback
Tue, June 2, 2009 - 10:27 PMI dont have anything against drumming in particular, but I have a problem with the fact that there is only one feeling to the energy of the music throughout the night.
Some people dont connect with some types of music, and everyone has their favorites. I just feel that some people might be more lyrical than rhythmic, or some people might be more into electronic music than organic music.
The event is called FireDrums, but we stand around all day playing with balls in socks....
Regardless of the name, I feel that the music is a sore spot for many people, and I feel at the very least we should open it up to the possibility of more styles of music, whether acoustic or electronic, live or recorded. -
-
Re: Feedback
Wed, June 3, 2009 - 6:24 AMPersonally I love the drums aspect of FireDrums because it seems very tribal and meditative when you are out there spinning to the basic rhythm of life. Drums are the backbone to all music and I love getting down to the core of music itself. It is one of the most ancient forms of making music. I think it is perfect to have an all drums oriented spin session because there are plenty of parties and raves and what not to spin to techno and other music of that sorts. This is just about the fire, and the drums (hence the name). -
-
Re: Feedback
Wed, June 3, 2009 - 6:49 AMThere were drumming classes everyday all day.
I love to spin, but rarely to drums. I love to dance to drumming at drum circles, and like to drum. I just don't usually like the pace of the beat and type of rythm that drums creates when spinning. I think a lot of people would have simular stories. I don't like fast electronica, or techno to spin to either.
Throwing out a radical thought to see what folks think. In my mind FireDrums has reached its capacity at the current venue. It went from a cap of 400 tickets to having over 530 people there this time. With the limited resources of land size (teaching areas, night spin area, dining hall, covered areas to teach under incase of rain), the event has to make some choices about focus that it never had to before. So what if FireDrums continues its original mission of focusing on a tribal feel, working towards bringing fire arts and drumming together. That is a great mission and got us here. Now what if there was another event. One that focuses specifically on the spinning/fire arts. There are enough people on the left coast to support that, and it could solve some of the cultural growing pains that FD is experiencing. Just a thought. -
-
Re: Feedback
Wed, June 3, 2009 - 7:36 AMThat sounds like a brilliant way to turn a once-a-year event into a twice-a-year event.
-
-
-
Re: Feedback
Wed, June 3, 2009 - 8:42 AMIn the 3+ years that I have been on this tribe, the conversation about music preferences has been never-ending. You will never, ever, ever, be able to please all of the people, not even some of the time, at this event. -
-
Re: Feedback
Wed, June 3, 2009 - 12:38 PMbut you can please more than just the select group of people that likes to spin to drumming.
its a question of asking the community to come together to support this event that is structured after the tastes and decisions of those who created it, or asking the organizers to try to reach out to as many of the participants as they can, and making the event as enjoyable for everyone as they can. -
-
Re: Feedback
Wed, June 3, 2009 - 1:57 PMYou seem to be assuming that the majority of participants dislike the drumming and would prefer it was replaced (at least partially, but still significantly) with electronic music. I don't think that we have the data to support (or refute) that assumption.
My next question would be is there -any- music option that would make the majority of people happy. The distinction is often made between drumming and DJs, but I think we all know that the variety of electronic music is vast. Is there one genre of electronic music that would please a majority of participants? -
-
Re: Feedback
Wed, June 3, 2009 - 2:22 PMThis was discussed quite a bit actually prior to this year's FireDrums to get a preference of what type of music people wanted there:
firedrums.tribe.net/thread/0...d32296ae9
-
Re: Feedback
Wed, June 3, 2009 - 2:35 PMA simple solution:
Fuse electronic music and drums. -
-
Re: Feedback
Wed, June 3, 2009 - 9:54 PMHere is the problem. If we make DJ's second tier, we don't get good djs. If we make drummers second tier we don't get good drummers.
Imagine if at 11:00 on friday, it was time for firespinning to stop. All the props out. Then, ballet for two hours. Time for people who appreciate a different type of movement. I suspect the firespinners would not be pleased. Why should we expect drummers to react any differently.
So if we can't have both (and I don't think we can), do we want drummers of DJs? Hell, there will be DJs, at cutters, with firespinning, in about a week and a half. It should be a good time, a great opportunity for some fire and electronic music (I'll be there). I feel like I get a few chances at that experience a year (DJs and fire), this is the drums and fire party. Hence the name.
Maybe another argument. I'm sort of picky about my electronic music. I see a greater than 90% chance that I'd hate whatever got played. I'm pretty sure whatever genre gets picked is going to piss at least a good part of the people off.
-
-
Music Schedule
Wed, June 3, 2009 - 11:27 PMFor this past event, we liked the idea of allowing people to bring their music to me to amalgamate a huge playlist of random so that each participant could toss in their two cents. No one participated. I say that we toss that plan.
Here's an idea: different varieties of music work GREAT at a variety of events, with no artist feeling disrespected.
It's called a schedule, and we humans now possess the advanced technology to make them.
We could schedule specific flavors of drumming for specific times so that....
(a) drummers are not left playing only simple rhythms so that beginners can follow along (and beginners don't cloud out all of the NINJA that would be apparent otherwise) We can schedule a "free jam" time easypie.
(b) we can appreciate the difference because it's labeled
(c) the poor drummers get a rest and an idea of what is required of them in advance
(d) drummers get more recognition (much as you would congratulate a DJ on her set, you could congratulate a drummer on her skills)
(e) drummers are also more driven to impress because their names are on their work
(f) it would be super simple to plug in another kind of music, not necessarily electronic (there are WAAAY more varieties of music than drumming and electronic, people! Let's get some flutes and sitars in there!)
(g) everyone would know what the hell is going on with music
(h) we all start treating the drummers with a little more respect for what they do. We had some TALENT this year, it was just difficult to hear. (i) We welcome the drummers further into the event by highlighting their accomplishments. We would never write:
"Workshop. Poi. 2 pm"
We always afford the workshop the respect of the name of the teacher, the specific skill emphasized, etc. It don't take an ethics professor to figure out that we should be doing this for our drummers, too.
This kind of clarity and representation is STANDARD at almost any other event out there that involves music to a similar extent as FD.
-
Re: Feedback
Wed, June 3, 2009 - 11:41 PM"Here is the problem. If we make DJ's second tier, we don't get good djs. If we make drummers second tier we don't get good drummers. "
This is making an assumption that we attract the highest caliber of drummers to the event, which (no offense to the wonderfully talented drummers that did attend the event), just isnt the case. We had to go out in search of high quality drummers. And even doing that, there was not a change in the energy of the music for the night.
"Imagine if at 11:00 on friday, it was time for firespinning to stop. All the props out. Then, ballet for two hours. Time for people who appreciate a different type of movement. I suspect the firespinners would not be pleased. Why should we expect drummers to react any differently. "
The fire spinners provide a wide variety of different energies in their performance, megs contact staff is a stark contrast to alien jon's poi. I just would like a comparable variety from the musicians -
-
Re: Feedback
Thu, June 4, 2009 - 1:12 AM"just would like a comparable variety from the musicians "
We had that at Fire Drums a couple years ago, with some of the drummers doing amazing solos with unusual instruments. Now we seem to have gotten too large for that to work. -
-
This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.
Re: Feedback
Thu, June 4, 2009 - 4:57 AM"Now we seem to have gotten too large for that to work."
Nonsense! -
-
Re: Feedback
Thu, June 4, 2009 - 7:47 AMGood point tank... Can you please add your reasoning behind your points. It will help the discussion more.
We do put the drum teacher's names by their classes. Some didn't get up there, as they didn't use the ticketing system to signup, but most were there.
Why not just have two events. One in the spring that focuses on getting drummers and fire spinners to create art together, and one in the fall that focuses on teaching spinning/fire arts? For the later one, we use all "plugged in" music, with play lists pre-created from what people suggested (just like what was on the music thread), and include some pre-recorded great drumming in that as well.
We are discussing two fundementally different cultures at the event. One that is all about tribal/live music with spinning, and one that is totally focused on spinning. These two things are pretty fundemental on how many major decisions about the event can be structured. My concern is that this is going to continue to be a sore spot. -
-
Re: Feedback
Thu, June 4, 2009 - 3:10 PMI think it would be cool to maybe introduce some string and wind instruments. But honestly I find this argument with drums really ridiculous cause this is the ONLY even I know of that features drumming and the only complaint of heard about it, is it's most unique quality.
FireDrums is already catering to a nieche audience, people who are so passionate about fire that they will camp out for 4 days and do nothing else, that already is not your everyday party folk. FireDrums is catering to a slim demographic and it owns that, and that's why it's such a badass event.
FireDrums is really successful and has no problem selling out, so why water it down to make everyone happy? FireDrums is unique in the fact that it doesn't have Electronic music. If you despratley want to hear techno you can get that at literally EVERY other party/event.
And if you need to constantly be surrounded in a bubble of techno with every event you go to, then I just think you are being unreasonable and FireDrums shouldn't have to cater to such needs.
Tank(or anyone) don't take it personally, you know I love ya. -
-
Re: Feedback
Thu, June 4, 2009 - 4:16 PMHow about incorporating more music during the day for some free spin sessions that might help cater to those techno-junkies that want to get their down on their electro dance groove? I agree with chains in the firedrums already caters to a paricular crowd and primarily attracts those who are completely consumed by both fire and drums simutanerously in whatever sense may be, but it would be nice (coming from a drummer/spinner) if during the day there could have been some music playing on the loud speaker to jam with. I know that it might contradict with the teachers/classes but for me at least having a beat to spin too just helps brings things together and really brings together the words fire-dance .
As for a possible solution to the main play performence area music of choice I think Saturday night this year kind of showed us a working example of the what could be done to end this debate between drummers/dj's music selection. Eventually at some point during the night, the drummers just kind of lost their cohesiveness, energy and just needed a break and wanted to hear something else besides just drums. I am an avid fan of drums circles, participate in many myself, and did at this firedrums but I know that when I'm drumming eventually I get tierd of only hearing the drums and want some layering added ontop of the rhyhm. I think that can go for the entire consesus of drummers, and many feel that we're just repeating the same beat after a while. I enjoy drumming as much as anyone, but do so a shit ton more when a bass, guitar, tamboreen, kazoo or whatever is added in and I think that goes for everybody.
I think Saturday showed us that eventually the drum circle is going to die down, which was was pretty obvious to all of us, and when someone threw on their i-pod to the main speaker it changed the scene and really added a second wind that appealed to all the late night rockers. Anyone that doesn't want to listen to that kind of music is going to be asleep in their car by that point anyways, so I'd say after all the tribal hand drummers have their fill and make their way back to the campsite, and eventually they will, noone can play an all night set from dusk till dawn, throw on someones i-pod and let all the late night ravers who are still up and ready to rock till the break of dawn, get what they want. It worked on Saturday and it was completely random/spur of the moment idea that I think worked spectacularly. It added a whole new feel and second life to the main play area.Both types of music appeal to different crowds, different syles, and that firedrums attract a particular crowd, but I think the people who want drums, and the people who want electronica live at two totally different times of the night. By the end of the night everyone who is still up could use some rock your face off electronica to add to their second wind.
Cheers
all this talk makes me wanna go spin fiya!! -
-
Re: Feedback
Sat, June 6, 2009 - 12:37 PM>>Anyone that doesn't want to listen to that kind of music is going to be asleep in their car by that point anyways,<<
I'm going to have to disagree with that. The switch to the iPod drove me and several of my friends away because of the music choice. It's not that we expected the drummers to keep on drumming (We were actually very impressed that they lasted so long. Longer than most FireDrums!), or that we hate electronic music, it was just that we didn't like the particular music that was playing. (And no offense to anyone that did enjoy it. To each his own. Just not my cup of tea.)
My point being, I don't know if this has been clear enough in my past posts, is that no matter what we do and what music we play, we will be driving people away. Clearly the past strategy of having primarily drumming has been successful. Remember all of those threads begging for tickets? Why fix what ain't broken?
-
-
Re: Feedback
Thu, June 4, 2009 - 5:33 PM>FireDrums is really successful and has no problem selling out, so why water it down to make everyone happy? FireDrums is unique in the fact that it doesn't have Electronic music. If you despratley want to hear techno you can get that at literally EVERY other party/event.
Except that firedrums has always had electronic music. After the drummers get tired sometime between 1 and 4am... with the exception of this last saturday night. -
-
Re: Feedback
Thu, June 4, 2009 - 9:40 PMLet's PLEASE stop confusing electronic music with techno. Just because it is plugged in, doesn't mean it has to be techno. Reviewing the music request thread shows that a lot of people want non techno.
So for all the people that would like to spin to non-drums, under current conditions we have to wait until 1am or later. If that happens, I will miss classes and breakfast in the morning.
There are a lot of spinners that perfer spinning to different types of music. Drums, classical, swing, techno, slow, rock, etc. Spinning is a type of dance that takes on many different forms depending on the music you are dancing to. FireDrums is currently focusing specifically on druming (leaving out the post 1 or 2 am stuff). I love that FireDrums has its focus on this type of feel/style, but that does leave out a lot of spinners other dancing preferences. My point is that there are now enough spinners that would like to dance to other types of music, that FireDrums could stay and even increase its Spinning+Drums focus, and there could be another event that is not one specific music genre centric.
-
-
Re: Feedback
Thu, June 4, 2009 - 10:12 PMI think the more opportunities to bring the family together to spin and play and enjoy each other, the better. And I am more than happy to help organize if additional events are created and more help is needed.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
