. . . Next September Up North or Down South ?. . .

[alanbakewell]

There you have it then.

Send Ecca in, talk to the bloke behind the bar, tell him how much we spend on drinks.

Before you know it you have a venue that, not only charges you nothing, they supply cobs as well.

Now don't say it can't be done, he's done it.

All together now, HI-DE-HI.

[geoff1711]

Cobs?????????????? why would we need young swans?????????????????

[David Martin]

The Metropole Hotel at the NEC is ideal. Airport, road and rail links; all accommodation and parking in one venue; banquet style seating if you want it...

Maybe Bruce would attend - even play - if he didn't have to organise it all himself... And that might seduce our friends from abroad.

[dave robinson]

Without proper financial backing.... forget it, IMHO, I think it's had it and time to call it a day. Good whilst it lasted, and lots of fun, but it wouldn't be the same without Bruce Welch. He was the real draw and without him I can't imagine there would be a great attendance....


Jim

I agree Jim, without Bruce it would be meaningless.

[geoff1711]

You forget just how many Lakeside can seat.

Somewhere like The Metropole would want an up front payment, typically venues like this charge between £35 and £50 per head for a buffet meal and your seat, sometimes, but only sometimes, that may include 1/2 bottle of wine per head.

My industry has an award lunch for students who have gained their qualifications (Dip GAI) usually attended by 250 or so people, always early November non profit making, and costs £110 per seat, for which you get hire of the room and lunch, out of that ticket price they also hire in PA and lighting.

The Guild has to guarantee so many places and pay, in full, upfront.

Now I don't know what Lakeside charge, and I suspect they trust Bruce to fill the place, which he does, I think it seats close to two thousand, so a hotel with that capacity and wanting up front payment, someone has to stump up or guarantee close to £100,000. and that's without hiring in all the other bits and paying the musicians.

I would say conservatively you'd have to double the ticket price.

Geoff

[dave robinson]

You forget just how many Lakeside can seat.

Somewhere like The Metropole would want an up front payment, typically venues like this charge between £35 and £50 per head for a buffet meal and your seat, sometimes, but only sometimes, that may include 1/2 bottle of wine per head.

My industry has an award lunch for students who have gained their qualifications (Dip GAI) usually attended by 250 or so people, always early November non profit making, and costs £110 per seat, for which you get hire of the room and lunch, out of that ticket price they also hire in PA and lighting.

The Guild has to guarantee so many places and pay, in full, upfront.

Now I don't know what Lakeside charge, and I suspect they trust Bruce to fill the place, which he does, I think it seats close to two thousand, so a hotel with that capacity and wanting up front payment, someone has to stump up or guarantee close to £100,000. and that's without hiring in all the other bits and paying the musicians.

I would say conservatively you'd have to double the ticket price.

Geoff

Lakeside is around a 1200 seat concert room and Bruce once told me the cost - it isn't cheap, but it isn't anywhere near what you are saying.

[MikeAB]

Tribute bands such as Talon and G2 can afford and fill two nights at the Stables - sure Shads bands and fans would do the same.

[Iain Purdon]

A very good point Geoff.

It would need a real entrepreneur to make it work and that's Bruce to a T.

Some of the clubs put on special days or weekends and their organisers work their socks off to do it. Maybe we should get behind these events more?

Iain

[dave robinson]

What people need to remember is that Bruce is THE attraction of Shadowmania, simply because he has become 'hands on' to the fans. Sadly now that Jet and Tony are no longer with us, the bonus of being able to share time with them also has been removed and one has to face the fact that Shadowmania has been diminished by their absence.

Without Bruce it would be a giant club event and nothing more, why not let it rest and savour the memories and save someone a whoe load of hassle.

[MikeAB]

So the high attendance has mostly been about bathing in the reflected glory of the 'real' Shads being there and getting photos with them etc has it ? Probably, but what a shame - and whilst undoubtedly a great thing that is surely not the case for 'real' fans - hasn't the greatest thrill been the youngsters (and not so youngsters) stepping up to a really big stage and making the music so brilliantly. In any case G2 occasionally have Steve Hackett in the audience and he doesn't play despite still being a current world touring performer. Bruce and Licorice etc could do the same, and would quite like to I suspect. A smaller theatre type venue would ensure the real music fans got a proper tribute concert from these fantastic youngsters, without them having to twist sideways in chairs and sometimes having to block out inane chatter and knives and forks from people who it now seems sometimes don't have any interest in the sound or the music/performance and just want to meet the stars.

But on reflection I now fear and have to accept the venue would probably not be full - but I'd still travel a mighty long way to see Daniel, Justin and the Rapiers all together on one bill!