Santa Barbara - Buffett in paradise

[captain zaffo]

Show was really fun. I had my 2 year old with me and he loved it.
It was 80+ all day with light offshore winds and crystal clear views of the channel islands. The American riveara at it's fall best! 75 and perfect at show time. JB commented that he thought it was still summer. It is ALWAYS summer here. He spend the day on the Hollister Ranch, riding a bike out at the watefront, and sailing w/ David Crosby. Crosby was on stage w/ guitar for Southern Cross. Jack Johnson sang pirate looks at 40 (well 31 for him.) Great time at a great venue. Not an Irvine meadows show or the Coors w/ busses full of drunks shoshing in from PB, but a fun show.

I work in the lighting industry, and all I can say is JB is a VERY smart man. That producton is the most stripped down thing I have ever seen outside of college bands playing in back yards. His entire lighting rig can't cost more than $10,000 a week to keep on the road including the labor - Bandit Lighting. That is 10% to 20% of what other comprable acts spend on similar tour components - stage, decoration, sound, etc. The profit margins must be wildly high compared with other outfits. 3 tractor rigs of gear. I remember him laughing about the 15 rig tours that other acts take on the road. Luckily we all go to see Jimmy and the music we love, not all that glitz and go-go.

Feeling a bit tired.
CZ

[jackiesic]

Gald you enjoyed the show and interesting comments on the lighting.

[parrotheadedrhino]

Ditto Jackie's comments. In the half hour that i did hear, it was pretty obvious that Jimmy had enjoyed a wonderful day. Kinda wouldn't shut up about it! Ok, we get it, sailing on a bluebird day with David Crosby is kinda fun. Got it, check. lol. Good thing you saw this show and not from a few years back. He was a lot tech-heavier then, and a lot of us agree the simpler the better, it's the music we're after, not a production...

[parrotpartygod]

Who needs a Big Rig?

...............

But meanwhile wait a minute
What's that thing I see
It's a good lookin' woman with a bottle of Scotch
And she wants to go home with me

[parrotpartygod]

Ditto Jackie's comments. In the half hour that i did hear, it was pretty obvious that Jimmy had enjoyed a wonderful day. Kinda wouldn't shut up about it! Ok, we get it, sailing on a bluebird day with David Crosby is kinda fun. Got it, check. lol. Good thing you saw this show and not from a few years back. He was a lot tech-heavier then, and a lot of us agree the simpler the better, it's the music we're after, not a production...

Pyratetechnics

[captain zaffo]

When you read about snow in Buffalo and freezing weather early, then land in Santa Barbara with unlimited visibility and light dry winds.... you really can't ask for a more perfect day. He was gushing over it, and this from a man who knows how to find the good weather.

Last year by comparison it was a bit cold during the show, probably down in the low 60s (yes, were wimps).

I saw the Carnival tour and it was a bit much.

Lighting perspective. His rig this year had 18 moving lights (the ones that twirl around and turn purple, yellow, green - mardi gras std.) , 4 audience blinders (big white lights he shines on us for video) and the rest were all standard can lights with colored lenses (just like recessed lights only more powerful). It probably takes 2 guys no more than 3 hours to set it up or take it appart. By comparison - U2/Stones probably have 100 - 150 moving lights, huge format video screens, lots of colored LED screens, etc. Their packages can cost $50 - $80,000 a week plus labor. I like what a well done show looks like, but damn it gets expensive. With a setup like this JB can be very flexible with his schedule. You can rent the entire rig wherever his show is locally cheaply.

Part of JB's staying power is that he has the formula down. Delivers excatly what we want for the lowest price. More $$ in his pocket and lower streess on him as a business man. He can branch out to Sirrius, the food, the margarita makers, the resturants... lets see where it goes from there..


CZ

[parrotpartygod]

By the Wave, Welcome Aboard the Parrot Ship Matey
Beeried Treasure & Buffett Loot Awaits You!

[Carolinadreamin']

Not an Irvine meadows show or the Coors w/ busses full of drunks shoshing in from PB, but a fun show.
ICZ

But aren't the busses full of drunks amusing?

[parrotheadedrhino]

But aren't the busses full of drunks amusing?

Um, you just reminded me of starting a sing-along on a bus from the street party to the show at Vegas a year or two ago....and I'm not a sing-along kinda guy....

[Crazy Navy Flyer]

Welcome aboard and thanks for the interesting perspective.