Aftermath

[jianantonic]

According to Anne Saunders and some other official FRFF types, financial losses this year may have been so steep as to render a 2009 FRFF impossible.  Basically there was rain on both ends of the fest.  At the beginning, it prevented several vendors from setting up until Friday (most are up by Wednesday night), and at the end, most of the Sunday shows were canceled and most vendors lost a ton of business that day, too, due to the hail storm and what I've since learned was actually a tornado.

So far, all the post-fest buzz has been about how crazy the storms were, and the drunk guy with the Subaru, but I never considered the financial hurting the fest endured as a result of the slow start and abrupt ending.  The fact that there may not actually be a fest in 2009 blows my mind.  This thought is devastating.

For four days out of every 365, I feel truly at home.  Come hell or high water, there's no place I'd rather be; no people I'd rather be with.  If I don't have that in 2009, or ever again, I'll be crushed. 

I know everyone wants the fest to keep going, so I expect that all will work toward making that happen.  There is talk of a benefit concert -- I may or may not be able to attend, but regardless, I'll make a donation.  This festival means so much to me; it'd be like tithing. 

Lots of people have also talked about making "I Survived Falcon Ridge 2008" T-shirts, which I think would be another cute way to raise some funds.  Anne hasn't calculated the damages completely yet, so who knows how far in the red they are, but it must be a lot if they're considering a hiatus (which is a bad, bad word in my circle of folkies).  I just hope we can all pull together like the awesome community that we are and keep on keepin' on.

And if we don't...well, I might just have to invite a bunch of folk singers and Shantytowners to MY farm next year. 

Peace.

Comments

[goob712.livejournal.com]

I can tithe, too!

We'll make it happen. There are enough of us that care, really they are.

[photomonk2.livejournal.com]

I think it's probably premature to play taps for the festival just yet. While I am sure the damage was devastating in all respects, I think we owe it to Anne to let the dust settle and details become clear to see how things stand. One thing seems certain - the FRFF community will rally around the festival so anything can happen!

[flamingophoenix.livejournal.com]

Oh no!! I was looking forward to coming next year since I missed it this year!

Well, if you want to have FRFF 2.0 on your farm next year, *I* will be there with bells on.

CafePress.com is a good place to make that kind of merchandise. I recommend it (although my experience is admittedly limited).