City Stages: Difference between revisions
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Over the years City Stages has grown to a dozen or more stages occupying several blocks of the city. Between 2001 and 2003 the festival was moved to a weekend in May in hopes of milder weather and more flexibility in securing bookings. Inclement weather in each of those years contributed to mounting debts which threatened the continuation of the event. It was returned to its "traditional" Father's Day schedule and the scope was somewhat reduced (while ticket prices crept up incrementally). Talent bookings were pursued more scientifically and fund-raisers were instituted as part of a three-year plan to eliminate the festival's debts. | Over the years City Stages has grown to a dozen or more stages occupying several blocks of the city. Between 2001 and 2003 the festival was moved to a weekend in May in hopes of milder weather and more flexibility in securing bookings. Inclement weather in each of those years contributed to mounting debts which threatened the continuation of the event. It was returned to its "traditional" Father's Day schedule and the scope was somewhat reduced (while ticket prices crept up incrementally). Talent bookings were pursued more scientifically and fund-raisers were instituted as part of a three-year plan to eliminate the festival's debts. | ||
In 2004 the law firm of [[Vines & Waldrep]] signed on as "title sponsors," providing a significant boost to the balance sheet. | In [[2004 City Stages|2004]] the law firm of [[Vines & Waldrep]] signed on as "title sponsors," providing a significant boost to the balance sheet. The firm split the following year, but both successors continued as title sponsors through [[2006 City Stages|2006]]. Ticket sales continued to fall below expectations and recent festivals have managed only to break even. In [[2007 City Stages|2007]] it cut its overall budget to $2.25 million and raised the price of weekend passes to $50. | ||
The festival operates as a non-profit and awards music scholarships for high school seniors and has participated in AmeriCorps' INTUNE program in [[Smithfield]] and [[West End]]. | |||
==Chronology== | ==Chronology== | ||
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:: [[1997 City Stages]] | [[1998 City Stages]] | [[1999 City Stages]] | [[2000 City Stages]] | :: [[1997 City Stages]] | [[1998 City Stages]] | [[1999 City Stages]] | [[2000 City Stages]] | ||
:: [[2001 City Stages]] | [[2002 City Stages]] | [[2003 City Stages]] | [[2004 City Stages]] | :: [[2001 City Stages]] | [[2002 City Stages]] | [[2003 City Stages]] | [[2004 City Stages]] | ||
:: [[2005 City Stages]] | [[2006 City Stages]] | :: [[2005 City Stages]] | [[2006 City Stages]] | [[2007 City Stages]] | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 10:27, 10 June 2007
City Stages is "Birmingham's World Class Music Festival." It was launched on Father's Day weekend 1989 by George McMillan. The first year's festival occupied three stages arranged around downtown's Linn Park. The festival was an immediate success with music lovers and downtown promoters. At the time the idea of holding a major music festival on city streets was relatively novel. It inspired the creation of Atlanta's Music Midtown, Chattanooga's Riverbend Festival, Mobile's BayFest, and others (several of which have been managed by McMillan's company).
Over the years City Stages has grown to a dozen or more stages occupying several blocks of the city. Between 2001 and 2003 the festival was moved to a weekend in May in hopes of milder weather and more flexibility in securing bookings. Inclement weather in each of those years contributed to mounting debts which threatened the continuation of the event. It was returned to its "traditional" Father's Day schedule and the scope was somewhat reduced (while ticket prices crept up incrementally). Talent bookings were pursued more scientifically and fund-raisers were instituted as part of a three-year plan to eliminate the festival's debts.
In 2004 the law firm of Vines & Waldrep signed on as "title sponsors," providing a significant boost to the balance sheet. The firm split the following year, but both successors continued as title sponsors through 2006. Ticket sales continued to fall below expectations and recent festivals have managed only to break even. In 2007 it cut its overall budget to $2.25 million and raised the price of weekend passes to $50.
The festival operates as a non-profit and awards music scholarships for high school seniors and has participated in AmeriCorps' INTUNE program in Smithfield and West End.
Chronology
- 1989 City Stages | 1990 City Stages | 1991 City Stages | 1992 City Stages
- 1993 City Stages | 1994 City Stages | 1995 City Stages | 1996 City Stages
- 1997 City Stages | 1998 City Stages | 1999 City Stages | 2000 City Stages
- 2001 City Stages | 2002 City Stages | 2003 City Stages | 2004 City Stages
- 2005 City Stages | 2006 City Stages | 2007 City Stages