SITE| THE OFFICIAL SITE |
7 mi. N of Galax, VA THE GREATEST BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL IN HISTORY |
Reasons The Festival was regarded as such a memorable event and drew so well:
1.) Hal promoted his ass off. The marketing reached all over the country and was extremely aggressive. Hal got too many people there in fear of not getting enough.
2.) The low ticket price ($12 for 3 days) Concert tickets that year went for $5.50, $6.50, $7.50 Folks really wanted a place to raise hell that year.
3.) The Marketing: The Marketing: was mostly generated by the force of rock radio in many east coast cities. The major reason so many people showed was Hal's fear of failure. Afraid of not drawing enough, he went nuts in promoting. Showed a unique personal drive to make the event succeed unparalleled by a new promoter. We went promotin' nuts !
The marketing was very energetic and besides widespread radio, Hal sent teams to dozens of other concerts and festivals. Billboards and Aerial ads were also used extensively in many states from Florida to Massachusetts. Ads appeared in the New York Times, Village Voice and in many other Atlantic market newspapers. Posters, flyers and special long lasting vinyl bumper stickers were distributed extensively.
Most of the advertising encouraged ticket buyers to mail in for tickets or to buy them at local predetermined independent outlets. Advance sale was very important.
Hal at this time was becoming proficient at writing and producing exciting radio spots. More than 50 radio stations were used all over the east coast. Because Ticketmaster did not exist yet, so, the chief means of selling tickets was mail order and the 20 or so independent ticket outlets recruited. The word " Bluegrass" was not used in any of the marketing. There was very little public relations. Newspapers picked up the story the days of the show and displayed aerial pictures of the "Woodstock effect" as people backed up in their cars were starting to park on the interstate 11 miles away and walk in. This was reported to Hal by the State police who threatened to arrest Hal if the congestion continued to worsen.
What went wrong?
1.) Hal got too many people there!
2.) Allowing Nick Litrenta and CES ( the Baltimore based security company Hal contracted for local shows) to handle security. On Saturday August 7, Nick Litrenta walked into Hal's trailer, threatened him with a Colt .45 and demanded more cash.
Hal requested to be shot. That Nick's men had already allowed most people without tickets in. Hal then contracted the Pagans, the motorcycle group, to take over perimeter security. They helped immensely and helped the promoter take the festival back.
3.)Pricing the ticket too low. That show should have been, even then, at least $20.
Needless to say, Hal will not be making these mistakes again. Not repeating mistakes meant getting away from the negative people in Baltimore who attacked Hal after the event.
Summation of Hal:
In September 1976, with nothing, Hal bought a one way ticket to Jamaica and moved to Negril to see GOD in the hills with the RastaMon, even though Hal has remained an uptight cranky Yankee all this time. In a year he moved back to Las Vegas, worked their for awhile, then moved back to the D.C. area and obtained his first executive position with The Greatest Shows on Earth and Ice and started touring the U.S. finally seeing how the big guys do it. When they realized what a marketing maniac he was, they hired him over hundreds of applicants. Hal was on the road alone and poor for 3 years. Later, Hal would move back to Vegas and become Director of Marketing for 4 casinos there.
Over the years Hal has served as Director of Marketing for a number of firms in Florida, Maryland and Virginia. Most of the time revising the festival proposal as he learned more on how to improve on his dream. Now, it is about to happen again. In East Tennessee…
Now 43, he is a highly trained corporate promoter. Has lived in Ft. Lauderdale for the last 10 years. Hal has just returned to his home in Maryland to re-energize and prepare for a year away. He can feel the sprit of Stompin, it has returned and there is no stopping it. Hal never married. Now reclusive, he enjoys the company of a few select friends and enjoys talking to fellow Stompers from all over.
Hal's experience after Stompin:
| Regional Marketing Director: | Ringling Bros & Barnum and Bailey Circus Ice Follies & Holiday On Ice |
| Promotions Director | 4 Las Vegas Casinos |
| Director of Marketing | 4 travel companies over 15 years |
| Marketing/ Internet Consultant | Presently and for the last 2 years |
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