The Wizard of Disappointment

[Bandito2510]

So I work at Toyota Park and was so excited to have Jimmy coming to our venue. We've had some pretty big names and knew that we would do what we had to do to make it as good as possible for my fellow parrotheads.

However, as the big weekend started drawing near, I started hearing weird requests. At first I thought it was the stadium, but it turns out it's coming straight from Jimmy himself. The first was no beer was to be carried by vendors except Landshark, Budweiser and Bud Lite. Then we were told all beer, water, soda, etc had to be poured into cups, but this is the norm at all his shows. This doubled the garbage and was very sad to see when everyone left and the floor was a layer of garbage. So much for the environment...

Then Thursday came and we were told that the seating area must be cleared of all workers while Jimmy did his sound check. This included guest services, security, vendors, etc. No other performer has done this before (Eric Clapton, BB King, John Mayer, Rihanna, Kenny Chesney, Dave Matthews). So everyone had to leave and then when we tried to go back to working and getting things ready, Jimmy shut down our only elevator and all workers were forced to use the service elevator (shared with garbage tubs, etc). The employee elevator was used by Jimmy's people and everyone else was not allowed to use it, even when empty. I could see using the elevator during the show, but not the whole time he's there.

Then on Saturday, we were told that vendors could not sell in section A, nor could they sell in the perimeter of section A (the most expensive seats in the house). When asked why, we were told that Jimmy said "the vendors were stealing the show" and taking the attention from him. The people in section A had to leave the seating area and go behind the stadium to a small lot by the bathrooms for drinks and food.

This was all so disappointing for me. Being a fan, it was sad to see how demanding he was and how it seemed like he was bullying the stadium. They bent over backwards for him and did not get much in return. He kept 100% of ticket sales and got everything he asked for. In return, the stadium kept the money from sales, which were less than they were for Dave Matthews earlier this year (probably due to the 9:00 am start on taligating). The early start time also meant the people who were beyond drunk were way more than usual. Vomit was erupting more so than usual, but fights were few and far in between.

It seems to me that Jimmy is more like a marketing gimmick with his countless products being plugged everywhere I turned. There was no laid back vibe with anything he dealt with.

I realized the fans are what make Jimmy Buffett what he is. The vibe, the fun, the whole aura is purely from the parrotheads. I have seen the wizard behind the curtain and am forever saddened... my only hope is that it was really his "people" and not Jimmy himself.

ps, the majority of the fans were super awesome and lots of fun to talk to!

[conched]

hmmmm. Interesting post. Thanks, I guess.

[Soraya]

+++The first was no beer was to be carried by vendors except Landshark, Budweiser and Bud Lite. +++

The rest of it sounds like what I've heard about things in the past, especially no one at all at the sound check....but the bit about only those beers doesn't ring true.

There were plenty of beer choice when he played in Raleigh.

[Elrod]

Welcome aboard Bandito!

Hang around, check out some of the other forums here. You will find some of those super awesome fans here.

[conched]

Yes! Like Elrod says...Welcome to BN.

[Bandito2510]

thanks guys... there were other beers available at the stadium, just not for the in-seat vendors. usually, at the soccer games, there is a variety of beer with the vendors including Corona, Modelo, Okocim, Heinekin and Tecate just to name some of them. Also, they had a TON of different types of mixed drinks everywhere...

[ScarletB]

thanks guys... there were other beers available at the stadium, just not for the in-seat vendors. usually, at the soccer games, there is a variety of beer with the vendors including Corona, Modelo, Okocim, Heinekin and Tecate just to name some of them. Also, they had a TON of different types of mixed drinks everywhere...

There always seems to be controversy over what beer is available inside the venue and for how long etc. I know it's a big deal to lots of people but when you figure everyone has pretty much been drinking all day it hardly seems like a big deal what kind of alcohol is available once you get inside. I don't bother to drink at all once I get in the venue, quite frankly I've had enough beer spilled on me even in the more expensive seats, to make me wish they wouldn't sell ANY.

[Tiki Bar]

Different perspective on what you think are weird requests...

The tour is sponsored by Landshark, an AB product... it seems normal to me that they'd request walking vendors to sell AB products.

Cups? Extra garbage yes, but it wouldn't be the norm if there weren't occasional idiots who find it necessary to throw things at the stage. I saw Jimmy get beaned by a cup full of whatever in Chicago in 2003, and he was NOT happy, but I'm sure it had less impact than a full bottle. And the garbage on the floor would have been there after the show regardless of the patrons drinking out of cups, bottles, or cans. That's on them, not Jimmy.

Clearing the area for soundcheck? Just a hunch, but perhaps there was a time or two that someone recorded audio and / or video of a soundcheck. I thought it was cool that I could hear it out in the parking lot though!

Service elevator with garbage tubs, etc? Doesn't seem like a big deal... I know some pholks would have rather had a service elevator than all of those damn stairs! And again, maybe they've gotten distracted by too many employees over time, sharing such backstage and private areas.

And I tell you right here, right now... had I had seats in section A, and there were vendors hawking drinks, I would have been p***!! I'm there for the show, to concentrate on Jimmy and the band... not to be distracted by vendors, and the people trying to get their attention and passing drinks and money back and forth down the row. NO THANKS!! Major kudos to Jimmy for that one!!!

(And by the way, section A was not any more expensive than my seats in the back of section 130 - and I'm glad I never saw a vendor up there either!! However, because you think they're the most expensive seats in the house, you think they're entitled to vendors, because they're too good to walk to go get one? No way!! If they're going to waste those seats by needing drinks, they should sit in the back!)

I'm sorry you were disappointed, but I don't think, from what you've said, that he was demanding or bullying at all. He is a professional, and is going to do whatever it takes to give his fans his band's best performance.

The lots opened at 9am, but they were still near empty around 2pm - both days were the only times in my life, for any concert, that I didn't have to sit and wait in a line of traffic to get in. I pulled up, pulled in, and parked! I doubt the 9am had much affect on the drunken-ness. And honestly, I didn't see all that much drunken-ness where I was, in the lot, and in the venue.

And it's also funny, because in describing my Toyota Park experiences from the last few days, I used the words laid back quite a bit. I felt the laid back vibe!!

And I call BS on the aura being purely from the parrotheads... without Jimmy, there wouldn't be parrotheads!! The aura is from Jimmy and the CRB, feeding off of the energy of the crowd, that is feeding off of the energy of the band!!

PS: The majority of the employees were super awesome and lots of fun to talk to! And yes, obviously there are countless factors that feed into each individual's perspective.

PSS: Welcome to BuffettNews!!

[SchoonerWharf]

Different perspective on what you think are weird requests...

The tour is sponsored by Landshark, an AB product... it seems normal to me that they'd request walking vendors to sell AB products.

Cups? Extra garbage yes, but it wouldn't be the norm if there weren't occasional idiots who find it necessary to throw things at the stage. I saw Jimmy get beaned by a cup full of whatever in Chicago in 2003, and he was NOT happy, but I'm sure it had less impact than a full bottle. And the garbage on the floor would have been there after the show regardless of the patrons drinking out of cups, bottles, or cans. That's on them, not Jimmy.

Clearing the area for soundcheck? Just a hunch, but perhaps there was a time or two that someone recorded audio and / or video of a soundcheck. I thought it was cool that I could hear it out in the parking lot though!

Service elevator with garbage tubs, etc? Doesn't seem like a big deal... I know some pholks would have rather had a service elevator than all of those damn stairs! And again, maybe they've gotten distracted by too many employees over time, sharing such backstage and private areas.

And I tell you right here, right now... had I had seats in section A, and there were vendors hawking drinks, I would have been p***!! I'm there for the show, to concentrate on Jimmy and the band... not to be distracted by vendors, and the people trying to get their attention and passing drinks and money back and forth down the row. NO THANKS!! Major kudos to Jimmy for that one!!!

(And by the way, section A was not any more expensive than my seats in the back of section 130 - and I'm glad I never saw a vendor up there either!! However, because you think they're the most expensive seats in the house, you think they're entitled to vendors, because they're too good to walk to go get one? No way!! If they're going to waste those seats by needing drinks, they should sit in the back!)

I'm sorry you were disappointed, but I don't think, from what you've said, that he was demanding or bullying at all. He is a professional, and is going to do whatever it takes to give his fans his band's best performance.

The lots opened at 9am, but they were still near empty around 2pm - both days were the only times in my life, for any concert, that I didn't have to sit and wait in a line of traffic to get in. I pulled up, pulled in, and parked! I doubt the 9am had much affect on the drunken-ness. And honestly, I didn't see all that much drunken-ness where I was, in the lot, and in the venue.

And it's also funny, because in describing my Toyota Park experiences from the last few days, I used the words laid back quite a bit. I felt the laid back vibe!!

And I call BS on the aura being purely from the parrotheads... without Jimmy, there wouldn't be parrotheads!! The aura is from Jimmy and the CRB, feeding off of the energy of the crowd, that is feeding off of the energy of the band!!

PS: The majority of the employees were super awesome and lots of fun to talk to! And yes, obviously there are countless factors that feed into each individual's perspective.

PSS: Welcome to BuffettNews!!

The above is what we refer to as "drinking the Koolaid"

[Tiki Bar]

Different perspective on what you think are weird requests...

The tour is sponsored by Landshark, an AB product... it seems normal to me that they'd request walking vendors to sell AB products.

Cups? Extra garbage yes, but it wouldn't be the norm if there weren't occasional idiots who find it necessary to throw things at the stage. I saw Jimmy get beaned by a cup full of whatever in Chicago in 2003, and he was NOT happy, but I'm sure it had less impact than a full bottle. And the garbage on the floor would have been there after the show regardless of the patrons drinking out of cups, bottles, or cans. That's on them, not Jimmy.

Clearing the area for soundcheck? Just a hunch, but perhaps there was a time or two that someone recorded audio and / or video of a soundcheck. I thought it was cool that I could hear it out in the parking lot though!

Service elevator with garbage tubs, etc? Doesn't seem like a big deal... I know some pholks would have rather had a service elevator than all of those damn stairs! And again, maybe they've gotten distracted by too many employees over time, sharing such backstage and private areas.

And I tell you right here, right now... had I had seats in section A, and there were vendors hawking drinks, I would have been p***!! I'm there for the show, to concentrate on Jimmy and the band... not to be distracted by vendors, and the people trying to get their attention and passing drinks and money back and forth down the row. NO THANKS!! Major kudos to Jimmy for that one!!!

(And by the way, section A was not any more expensive than my seats in the back of section 130 - and I'm glad I never saw a vendor up there either!! However, because you think they're the most expensive seats in the house, you think they're entitled to vendors, because they're too good to walk to go get one? No way!! If they're going to waste those seats by needing drinks, they should sit in the back!)

I'm sorry you were disappointed, but I don't think, from what you've said, that he was demanding or bullying at all. He is a professional, and is going to do whatever it takes to give his fans his band's best performance.

The lots opened at 9am, but they were still near empty around 2pm - both days were the only times in my life, for any concert, that I didn't have to sit and wait in a line of traffic to get in. I pulled up, pulled in, and parked! I doubt the 9am had much affect on the drunken-ness. And honestly, I didn't see all that much drunken-ness where I was, in the lot, and in the venue.

And it's also funny, because in describing my Toyota Park experiences from the last few days, I used the words laid back quite a bit. I felt the laid back vibe!!

And I call BS on the aura being purely from the parrotheads... without Jimmy, there wouldn't be parrotheads!! The aura is from Jimmy and the CRB, feeding off of the energy of the crowd, that is feeding off of the energy of the band!!

PS: The majority of the employees were super awesome and lots of fun to talk to! And yes, obviously there are countless factors that feed into each individual's perspective.

PSS: Welcome to BuffettNews!!

The above is what we refer to as "drinking the Koolaid"

whatever!

[SchoonerWharf]

Different perspective on what you think are weird requests...

The tour is sponsored by Landshark, an AB product... it seems normal to me that they'd request walking vendors to sell AB products.

Cups? Extra garbage yes, but it wouldn't be the norm if there weren't occasional idiots who find it necessary to throw things at the stage. I saw Jimmy get beaned by a cup full of whatever in Chicago in 2003, and he was NOT happy, but I'm sure it had less impact than a full bottle. And the garbage on the floor would have been there after the show regardless of the patrons drinking out of cups, bottles, or cans. That's on them, not Jimmy.

Clearing the area for soundcheck? Just a hunch, but perhaps there was a time or two that someone recorded audio and / or video of a soundcheck. I thought it was cool that I could hear it out in the parking lot though!

Service elevator with garbage tubs, etc? Doesn't seem like a big deal... I know some pholks would have rather had a service elevator than all of those damn stairs! And again, maybe they've gotten distracted by too many employees over time, sharing such backstage and private areas.

And I tell you right here, right now... had I had seats in section A, and there were vendors hawking drinks, I would have been p***!! I'm there for the show, to concentrate on Jimmy and the band... not to be distracted by vendors, and the people trying to get their attention and passing drinks and money back and forth down the row. NO THANKS!! Major kudos to Jimmy for that one!!!

(And by the way, section A was not any more expensive than my seats in the back of section 130 - and I'm glad I never saw a vendor up there either!! However, because you think they're the most expensive seats in the house, you think they're entitled to vendors, because they're too good to walk to go get one? No way!! If they're going to waste those seats by needing drinks, they should sit in the back!)

I'm sorry you were disappointed, but I don't think, from what you've said, that he was demanding or bullying at all. He is a professional, and is going to do whatever it takes to give his fans his band's best performance.

The lots opened at 9am, but they were still near empty around 2pm - both days were the only times in my life, for any concert, that I didn't have to sit and wait in a line of traffic to get in. I pulled up, pulled in, and parked! I doubt the 9am had much affect on the drunken-ness. And honestly, I didn't see all that much drunken-ness where I was, in the lot, and in the venue.

And it's also funny, because in describing my Toyota Park experiences from the last few days, I used the words laid back quite a bit. I felt the laid back vibe!!

And I call BS on the aura being purely from the parrotheads... without Jimmy, there wouldn't be parrotheads!! The aura is from Jimmy and the CRB, feeding off of the energy of the crowd, that is feeding off of the energy of the band!!

PS: The majority of the employees were super awesome and lots of fun to talk to! And yes, obviously there are countless factors that feed into each individual's perspective.

PSS: Welcome to BuffettNews!!

The above is what we refer to as "drinking the Koolaid"

whatever!

Wow. I forgot that a "moderator" opinion, even if sad and pathetic is not one to be messed with....my 7 year old could probably match that clever bit of posting...can she be a moderator?

[ejr]

Thanks for your perspective. TikiBar is correct that the cup issue has unfortunately become a necessity. At Wrigley, they would give you the bottle of water, without a cap at either day, but, by the second day, you could not take the bottle onto the field-it had to be poured in a cup, because there had been bottles thrown on and at the stage.

And, in the 25+ Buffett concerts I have been to, I have seldom, if ever seen vendors selling in the stands. I was in 130 the first night, and C2 the second, and, while I am sure the sales were enjoyed, I did not enjoy having vendors block my view when they stopped to pour a beer and wait for money to be passed to them. I have no problem if folks have to go and get their beer, margarita or water-given some of those around me buying multiple drinks, maybe that contributed to the drunkedness talked about.

As far as his demands, many artists have demands that seem odd or excessive to me, but I have not experienced the demands of a concert tour. I am sure that performers, particularly veteran performers such as Jimmy ask for what they ask for with good reason, and not to be difficult.

The manager of the venue told me how much they wanted this to work, and I, and the folks I was with all felt that was successful. Given Jimmy's comments about coming back there next year, it appears he thought so as well.

[popcornjack]

two words: Green m&m's.

[the good fight]

Then we were told all beer, water, soda, etc had to be poured into cups, but this is the norm at all his shows. This doubled the garbage and was very sad to see when everyone left and the floor was a layer of garbage. So much for the environment...

It's not his fault that people are too lazy to throw their trash away after the concert. I went to a Jack Johnson concert earlier this summer, and as everyone knows, he's really big on protecting the environment. There were booths promoting recycling, alternative energy research, among other environmentally conscious things. However, after the show, I was disgusted to see how much trash was laying around on the lawn (it was more than at any other show that I've ever been to). So my point is, don't blame Jimmy, just as I couldn't blame Jack Johnson, because some people are too inconsiderate to clean up after themselves. I'm not trying to say that Jimmy never messes up or does anything wrong, so please don't take it that way.

[Tiki Bar]

Wow. I forgot that a "moderator" opinion, even if sad and pathetic is not one to be messed with....my 7 year old could probably match that clever bit of posting...can she be a moderator?

I may be a moderator, but I do have a right to an opinion, which I expressed. If you think it's sad and pathetic, that's your opinion, which you also have a right to. And then again, I expressed my opinion of your opinion.

Address what I said specifically, like I did the original post, and I may have a more mature reaction. But merely labelling me, and then mocking me just because I happen to be a moderator, doesn't merit much more than a childish reaction.

[SeattleParrotHead]

I'm not gonna take sides here, but TB is absolute correct and SchoonerWarf can take a long walk on his short wharf . . .

[Capt.Flock]

I'm not gonna take sides here, but TB is absolute correct and SchoonerWarf can take a long walk on his short wharf . . .

so you just want to him to walk back and forth on his wharf ????

[Bandito2510]

Different perspective on what you think are weird requests...

The tour is sponsored by Landshark, an AB product... it seems normal to me that they'd request walking vendors to sell AB products.

Cups? Extra garbage yes, but it wouldn't be the norm if there weren't occasional idiots who find it necessary to throw things at the stage. I saw Jimmy get beaned by a cup full of whatever in Chicago in 2003, and he was NOT happy, but I'm sure it had less impact than a full bottle. And the garbage on the floor would have been there after the show regardless of the patrons drinking out of cups, bottles, or cans. That's on them, not Jimmy.

Clearing the area for soundcheck? Just a hunch, but perhaps there was a time or two that someone recorded audio and / or video of a soundcheck. I thought it was cool that I could hear it out in the parking lot though!

Service elevator with garbage tubs, etc? Doesn't seem like a big deal... I know some pholks would have rather had a service elevator than all of those damn stairs! And again, maybe they've gotten distracted by too many employees over time, sharing such backstage and private areas.

And I tell you right here, right now... had I had seats in section A, and there were vendors hawking drinks, I would have been p***!! I'm there for the show, to concentrate on Jimmy and the band... not to be distracted by vendors, and the people trying to get their attention and passing drinks and money back and forth down the row. NO THANKS!! Major kudos to Jimmy for that one!!!

(And by the way, section A was not any more expensive than my seats in the back of section 130 - and I'm glad I never saw a vendor up there either!! However, because you think they're the most expensive seats in the house, you think they're entitled to vendors, because they're too good to walk to go get one? No way!! If they're going to waste those seats by needing drinks, they should sit in the back!)

I'm sorry you were disappointed, but I don't think, from what you've said, that he was demanding or bullying at all. He is a professional, and is going to do whatever it takes to give his fans his band's best performance.

The lots opened at 9am, but they were still near empty around 2pm - both days were the only times in my life, for any concert, that I didn't have to sit and wait in a line of traffic to get in. I pulled up, pulled in, and parked! I doubt the 9am had much affect on the drunken-ness. And honestly, I didn't see all that much drunken-ness where I was, in the lot, and in the venue.

And it's also funny, because in describing my Toyota Park experiences from the last few days, I used the words laid back quite a bit. I felt the laid back vibe!!

And I call BS on the aura being purely from the parrotheads... without Jimmy, there wouldn't be parrotheads!! The aura is from Jimmy and the CRB, feeding off of the energy of the crowd, that is feeding off of the energy of the band!!

PS: The majority of the employees were super awesome and lots of fun to talk to! And yes, obviously there are countless factors that feed into each individual's perspective.

PSS: Welcome to BuffettNews!!

I guess the point I was making was just that it was more than what other artists have requested. Many of the points you make are very much correct and apply to things we do for a lot of concerts (like the garbage), but you have to remember that there is a lot more that goes into running a concert than just the performance.

There are only three elevators in the entire stadium. Before the gates open, there are only two points of entry for workers, and only one they can use. Toyota Park is not a giant stadium. It is a small outdoor arena that is perfect for a summer concert. Thus, when everyone needs to leave the area and then get squeezed back in right before gates open, it makes everything very difficult. Maybe it's just me, but when you run every concert basically the same way and then suddenly have to jump through hoops, it is a bit of a pain. The artists don't share anything other than a few walkways with the workers and he shut those down as well... they get a large private area to hang out.

I'm sure the manager of the venue did want this to work, and this is just me being devils advocate, but what incentive does a venue have to hold a concert like Jimmy's? If he keeps ticket sales and everyone is smashed by the time they get in... why would you want it? As a fan, it was cool to watch the show and work, but I'm just curious what you guys think.... don't forget they have to pay all those workers (security, parking lot, sellers, guest services) by the hour and many were there at 9:00 for the tailgaters that never showed up!

Also, on a side note, I think it's funny you guys posted that vendors were in the way because it is supposedly Toyota Park policy that vendors have to duck down when selling in the aisles... maybe they only do it for soccer games when the lighting is better, not sure. Either way, I'm sure not one squatted like they are supposed to.

As for the aura, it is the fans and not Jimmy that make him what he is and I'll stand by that. Actually, that goes for most musical performers. If it weren't for his fans, he would not be what he is. He couldn't have his own alcohol, shrimp, blenders, casinos, etc. if the fans weren't there to support him.

[GumboPirate]

Thanks for sharing, Bandito, and welcome to BN!

[C-Dawg]

As for the aura, it is the fans and not Jimmy that make him what he is and I'll stand by that. Actually, that goes for most musical performers. If it weren't for his fans, he would not be what he is. He couldn't have his own alcohol, shrimp, blenders, casinos, etc. if the fans weren't there to support him.

Actually, you're both right....and here's why I think so..... without fans, Jimmy is just another musician. But JB has gotten where he has because of his talent, charisma and "vibe". It's something his fans have picked up, and now he feeds off it in his performances. It's infectious and a two way street.

I'm expecting a post any minute hearing I've drank the Kool-aid! If so, I haven't, but will take mine with a shot of vodka