I was talking about this the other day with a friend of mine who got me into mofro...Skippers is the bomb to see concerts, and when I've talked to JJ he flat out loves the place...but I'm curious to see if they'll play Jannus. If they can do multiple nights at Skippers, I know they can sell that place out on multiple nights...what do you guys think? I would like to see it happen.
I think Jannus would be great, they could easily fill it for a night. But it sure ain't got the same atmosphere as Skipper's. I'd like it if they could do one night at Jannus and one at Skipper's.
Someone I know who's in the know told me earlier this year that JJ does indeed love playing at Skipper's. He also told me that if left up to JJ's management, we'd be watching them at Jannus instead of Skipper's. But JJ is very loyal to the fans and to venues. It'll be interesting to see what happens over the next year.
BTW, I've got it on pretty good authority that they're going to play Skipper's in either Dec or Jan. ---------- MofroFan1
I think we have met in one of the Mofro Florida pride nights last year. But I'm a fellow Mofro taper, living in the Tampa Bay area.
I love your site and I'll be a regular poster. So you hear Dec/Jan for them coming back to Skippers? Awesome. In the meantime, I'm going to the Sarasota festival and I'm going to try and tape it...but since its a festival they usually don't allow it...but I'll stealth, or I might get saucy and ask for a SBD!
..but going back to the subject, I think that Jannus is a great place for them to place. Just like Skippers, Jannus Landing does have history in St. Petersburg and in the state of Florida.
I love both venues, skippers for the hometown feel..and jannus for the location, and hometown feel. But Mofro's getting bigger and bigger each year and jannus can support the ever growing Mofro crowd. I have no problem with JJ being loyal, and that is a great thing and I wish all artists still can be [loyal]. Either way its a great situation to be in for the band, and either way way i'll see them all over in the state of Florida..I just need people to ride with me to the shows b/c not all my friends like Mofro...even though I'm trying hard!
I think Janus is a great idea. I am currently not a Floridian, but I used to live in St. Pete for 4 years. I worked at a restaurant just around the corner from Janus. You could hear the bands playing all through downtown St. Pete. How lovely would it be to hear Orange Blossoms throughout downtown? You'd have people coming out of the woodwork saying, "What the hell is that beautiful sound I am hearing?"
I think it is not only a good idea but is necessary. I was complaining on my way out of skippers back in febuary about the cluddered, no room to dance, drunking "new" fans, ...i need space to get down at a mofro show...they have outgrown skippers!!!!!!!!!!!!! jannus is just as intimate with GREAT sound! they could probably do 2 nights there
I have a hard time disagreeing with you there mikep. Both of those shows in Feb were a little out of hand. I don't mean that like bouncers needed to jump in or anything, but it's just that everybody wants to crowd the stage and it just isn't set up for 700-800 people to do that. Dance hell, I could hardly move an inch.
My wife and I were talking about it last night. It's bittersweet. The guys have to step up to larger venues (and fill them), and have to expand their base. On the one hand we want them to stay like they are. On the other, it's like shit, JJ and Daryl have been at this for 20 years and while they've made a living, it's not like they've reached a level that's representative of the hard work they've put in. And that goes for the rest of the guys too. You want to see it all pay off for them.
Not only that, that big 'ol bus ain't cheap, they maintain a road crew, gas to put in that big 'ol bus ain't cheap, overall their expenses have gone up in the last 2 years. You got to sell a lot of CDs or MP3s or something cause $15 a ticket don't pay all the bills.
More exposure, larger venues, different markets (without forgetting them who brung you to the daince to begin wif), from what little I know about the marketing of a band, is what they have to do next. ---------- MofroFan1
Last Edited by on Jul 31, 2008 9:35 PM
i agree with you as well saying that they need to reach out to broader markets, which is why they need to move up to the next size venue which is Jannus, going from 678 (or something like that at skippers) to 1200 at Jannus. They sell out every show at skippers, I personally could easily bring another 10 to 15 people out to their shows but they generally sell out in advance, leaving no room for more income. Those of us who buy tix in advance also have already bought swag(cd's, shirts, etc) prior to seeing them AGAIN live. It is the new fans that bring the showtime added income that does help pay the bills. They need to move up
as much as would like to have more room to at skippers like when they played there in 2001 through 2003, jannus landing is not the place for this band. wouldn't feel right.
Last Edited by on Aug 07, 2008 6:14 AM
I've lived in Tampa for 26 years and I've been to Jannus all of twice. But, in keeping up with live music in the area, Jannus generally has bands way off from Mofro. It seems they've found their niche genres that appeal to twenty-somethings--everything from alt-anything, to ska, dance, electronica, etc.
Now that AC and UH have made their comments, I would probably tend to agree. (Is that a flip-flop?)
BUT, from what I know about band promotion (which is enough to be dangerous) they do have to step it up. Some band/promoters utilize a "move up/don't look back" strategy. Basically it evolves from a band establishing a solid following throughout the U.S. (and sometimes Cana-dah) by playing well-known clubs. Once done (whether it takes 1 year or 3 years or even more) the next step is to identify those markets that were the strongest, and that have larger venues.
Then, they go back into those markets and play the next sized venue (say 2,500). Next time they may play that again, or by some promoter's strategy, the move up every time never playing the smaller venue again. Their strategy is even if we fill 75% of a 10,000 seat/person venue it's better than if we have 100% at a 7,500 seat/venue.
While some may see that as "forgetting the fans," it's the way of the world. Most (all?) bands start small and get big or go by the wayside. If you want to get big you have to look big. Consumer psyche is behind the strategy from both a fan standpoint and a potential fan standpoint.
I'm not saying I agree with the strategy, nor am I saying that this is Madison's and JJ's strategy--I have no idea--but it is something that's done in the industry.
Have to consider too that the big bus ain't cheap, gas to fill it has doubled in the last 4 years, there are 2 additional band members on the payroll, when they aren't staying on the bus they're not staying in suites, but they're not staying at the $39 Red Roof Inn either. Plus, they've got what, 4 crew members on payroll and traveling with them too? IMHO, they can't continue playing clubs that hold 250 to 750 people forever with those kind of expenses. Not that touring pays all the bills. Album sales pay the bills, but they go hand in hand.
But again, I'm no expert. I don't even play one on TV. ---------- MofroFan1
Both venues are great. But I am over the amount of traffic that Skippers can hold when a hughe act is there. I mean, its insane...especially as a taper, and as a fan.
I know that some people want to hold on to skippers, and the small venue crowd (Hell, I love both Skippers and Jannus)...but eventually we'll be seeing JJ and the Ford Amphitheater..how are we going to feel about it then? $40-$50 tickets just to see JJ and Mofro? Its eventually going to happen. I like progress b/c it can either make or break a a band, with music and with the fanbase..all important; and all with a positive upside, IMHO. JJ Grey and Mofro, are progressing...not regressing, so bigger venues are a must for their survival.
But as it was stated before...a Big Prevost bus, 4 roadies, 6 band members, someones got to pay for it and as the fans we are going to no matter what b/c we love the band. I mean, its all about the music to us, and them but these guys need to make a living too.
They won't be playing the Ford Amphitheater. Only if they're touring with some big name act or fest type tour with a bunch of bands.
I record myself, and skippers has always sucked when flying mics when a lot of people are there. Any band. Sound wise and the packed house wise. There are a lot of conversations going on.
I think that point is that if the band is to go to the next level, they have to break into the amphitheatre mode someday. I agree they won't be playing the Amp this year, maybe not next, but could happen.
I imagine Phish fans were having the exact conversation 20 years ago. They started in '83, released their dorm room-mixed The White Tape in '85, tried to book the Paradise Rock Club in Boston in Jan of '89 and the club owner didn't know who the hell they were so the band rented it for the evening...and by '93 they were headlining at major amphitheaters and festivals.
Phish is but one of many examples of bands that, with their avid fan-base, music sharing, and down-to-earth nature can go from clubs to headliners in a few short years.
And jeez, there's people out there who I think actually believe that Trey Anastasio is the second coming of the Messiah.
I'm not sure either ac about where the money's at. Lot's of things have changed in the last 30 years...the web and digital music the biggest. Used to be you went out on tour in support of an album. The money was in 2 places: album sales and radio airplay (royalties every time a song is played.) Typically a band that's in the stage Mofro's been in, they tour because they really like it, and to establish and broaden their fan base. Then comes even more album sales and radio airplay and downloads, then comes more demand for the band and then they have no choice but to play bigger venues, and then I would agree that there's money to be made in touring that way.
Lastly, I'm no authority on this stuff, and I don't want to appear like a know-it-all cause I ain't. AND, let's everyone continue to keep the spirit of this board going. I think a civil debate is a fine thing, it's good to talk and share our differing opinions--after all, one of them is going to be the right one. So if we (myself included) all keep that in mind, this post will continue to be fun!
(Oh, I almost forgot to throw this in: last 2 Mofro shows we went to at Skipper's we almost got squooshed. There were some people not happy. We live 15 minutes from Skipper's and go often--going tomorrow night!--but none get as packed as Mofro. That's a good thing, but some people were downright uncomfortable; didn't really bother us, but I saw people that it did. Maybe Mofro could start doing 3 nights in a row there. I bet they could still sell them out but sell about 50 to 100 less each nite. That would resolve the atmosphere and crowding situation, cause I agree, I don't know of anything between the Amp and Skipper's in the Bay area that fits. There's just...nothing. Skipper's IS where it's at.)
---------- MofroFan1
Last Edited by on Aug 07, 2008 11:43 AM
ya but there not phish though. not that there better or worse, but phish got huge around the time when there wasn't a hole lot of bands like them out there. The internet and digital downloads/trading and such has made it easier for bands to get out there these days.
honestly, I don't ever see them at any large amphitheater on there own. Small arena/large theaters at best. Maybe in some city's but I think they will be more on the lines MMW, Galactic.. Larger places in some citys, smaller in others, large festivals.
Seeing shows here and being in tampa and in florida is so different then in a lot of other states/citys. Like in hampton/virginia beach/richond area of Virginia. Everyone knows how big phish and the dead are these areas right. I saw them least 4 times in last couple years there, 2005/2006. And it's night/day compared to anything that was happening back in 2002/2003 here in florida. I went to a show in april 2005 and there was maybe 20-30 people there. They pack the house in other states and citys, but still don't have a huge fan base in a big part of the country. It will grow in these places I have no doubt, but not sure amphitheaters are in the cards. Small ones like where the Soul Revue and Pompano Beach Amphitheater type ones. just my 2 cents.
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