Thank You For Our Independence, No Thanks To 4th On Broadway

We did the 4th on Broadway thing for many years (FMX that is). We thought we had a really unique take on the whole situation.  We were proposed with a “Battle Of The Bands” which we quickly changed. You have to remember if you do a Battle of The Bands with 10 bands, 9 bands and 90% of the crowd are going to go away MAD. Our solution was simple, make it a “21 & Under Battle of The Bands’”.  More after the break.

The cool thing about the “21& Under Battle Of The Bands” is for many of the bands it was the first time they every played in public.  The bands also weren’t all bitter. They knew that they were just starting and they had plenty of time to come back next year.  The bands also had a camaraderie that older bands don’t have.  So what happened?  Well a few things.

First off, the bands dried up a bit. I’m sure there’s more out there now, but you can only ‘go to the well’ so many times before it’s a little dry.  Next, I kind of felt like the bands were being taken advantage of.  All the other bands in the other tents were being overpaid and we had the only full tent (yes the tent that cost the least to produce was always the most full).  Next “4th on Broadway” is supposed to be a ‘community event’ but don’t fool yourself, there are people making money….and a lot of it.  I don’t really begrudge them a buck, but this whole thing is portrayed as a giant community/public service thing and it’s not. Lastly, there are the other volunteers. Man these are some real choads. Trust me, the worst thing you can do is put someone in a position of authority who has never really been there before. I like to call ‘em “Barney Fife’s”  because they got that ‘one bullet’ (their power for that day) and they are just shaky and nervous to use it.  Add some incredibly hot weather to the mix, and it’s just a matter of time before someone (and probably the ‘Barney’s” themselves get beat down.

So anyways, have a great Independence Day. I hope you enjoy the 4th on Broadway Festivities, and I hope you make a point of visiting the booths that are run by actually charities.  I myself am going to stay on an air conditioned vacation after ten plus years of that nonsense.