Musikfest at 25

[boycotting musikfest]

celtic fest is cool. lots of culture and mature celebration. Yo... DA JUDGE... I think you are holding back. Tell us how you really feel. LOL like I did. ABC - I go to church in Bethlehem and DON'T GO during musikfest's pukeplatz bs. somebody in an earlier post stated that us musikfest haters don't like crowds. That generalization doesn't apply to me. The 25 reasons is a start of why I dislike this "festival" so much. sometimes, you just can't go public with all your thoughts because the wrong people become offended. Soooo, I grouch about it and avoid it, completely. Know what my number one gripe is how they come off saying it's culture and arts, go for volunteers, and the staff of musikfest laughs all the way to the bank with their salaries. the volunteers are genuine and very unpaid. the staff, sorry folks, I think the volunteers are being duped and I think that's just wrong.

[Michele of Bethlehem]

wish I was back in ny wrote:

great hickfest turns 25

If you wish you were back in NY then go back. What's keeping you here?

[radical moderate]

boycotting musikfest wrote:

reread all comments... sorry michele, all this trash happens during musikfest. it's the whole party atmosphere that attracts those people who do all the anti-social stuff. i am an entertainer and WILL NEVER perform at musikfest. I will not support insanity or the six figure income that parks inhales out of the volunteers. it's insane that people volunteer to help somebody gleen an income while raping our city. it's insane that people defend filth and trash. it's unacceptable for musikfest to encrouch itself upon the MAGORITY of people who don't like it. And next is a casino. Bethlehem is being turned slowly into a pig sty. it's out of control for the sake of money. there is no culture here.

There are some inconveniences that need to be addressed. It has become overgrown. Moving it to a fenced off area is a very appealing solution. Or have it just under the bridges totally and get rid of everything on Main Sreet. Another option would be to put up fences under the bridges and charge.


You have taken your gripes further in another negative direction. The use of the word rape to define people allegedly getting fleeced is inappropriate. In regards to money this is a free society. Businesses have a right to make a living and profit. If their product is good, people will decide to spend their money. It's called free enterprise. You sound like a whiny socialist. And, saying there is no culture here is laughably inaccurate.

[Michele of Bethlehem]

radical moderate wrote:

<quoted text>
There are some inconveniences that need to be addressed. It has become overgrown. Moving it to a fenced off area is a very appealing solution. Or have it just under the bridges totally and get rid of everything on Main Sreet. Another option would be to put up fences under the bridges and charge.
You have taken your gripes further in another negative direction. The use of the word rape to define people allegedly getting fleeced is inappropriate. In regards to money this is a free society. Businesses have a right to make a living and profit. If their product is good, people will decide to spend their money. It's called free enterprise. You sound like a whiny socialist. And, saying there is no culture here is laughably inaccurate.

Fencing it off and charging admission would essentially turn Musikfest into another Mayfair. If that ever happens that will be the end of Musikfest as far as I am concerned.

I agree that Musikfest/ArtsQuest should be responsive to reasonable requests of the people who live in the immediate area but moving it off of main street is not a solution that Musikfest should consider if it wants to remain sucessful.

[boycotting musikfest]

I agree with you Michele. it would become another Mayfair and with the fence, Musikfest, as it was originally concieved, would be finished. In the beginning, Musikfest was actually great. I went often with my family. It's the monster it's grown into that I object to.

And radical...those high gas prices you've been paying aren't rape, it's just capitalism, gouging and so on. I think you should pay $7 a gallon for gas because the guy at the pump deserves more money under your opinion. Culture goes away when anarchy reigns - which is what Musikfest has become. Your argument about people getting fleesed (raped- gouged and so on) is unsupported. The prices are over-inflated and do not provide any greater value. They are playing to a captured audience (tickets) and will not allow competition to balance out the price as a free enterprise system would. I refer you to the break up of ATT, Electric Utilities and other companies who had a stranglehold over specific markets. If there is any socialistic action going on, my short sighted friend, it's in the price setting and market control that musikfest has inflicted upon their guests. Try being a vendor at musikfest OR mayfair and you'll see what i'm talking about. they declare they are being fair by setting the market when in reality they are controlling the market as a socialistic society would.

To fix Musikfest - a few things need to happen. 1. Either Pay people to work there or everyone volunteers up to and including Jeff Parks. 2. Pay the small act musicians to perform there. 3. Get rid of the ticket system for food. The debit card idea is great. People can charge it up and use it anywhere, local hotels, gas and so on. 4. CLEAN UP EVERY NIGHT! 5. Put trash cans everywhere in Bethlehem. 6. Onsite court for disorderly idiots is a fantastic idea. 7. More buses into center city, encourage parking OUTSIDE THE CITY to lighten the traffic load (give a $$$ credit on the debit card to park and use the bus) and finally - 8. allow merchants to charge their regular prices without attempting to "move in" on their business. OR move the whole thing to some field west of Allentown or north of Bethlehem put in rides and bozo the clown because now it's just another carnival with funnel cake and cabbage on a stick.

[Truth can hurt]

One other suggestion, STOP making outrageous, inflated attendance estimates. That hurts many other local events in their own efforts to attract sponsorship dollars.

300,000 (mostly repeat,local people for the week)that's all.

[TRIPLE K]

Michele of Bethlehem wrote:

<quoted text>
Fencing it off and charging admission would essentially turn Musikfest into another Mayfair. If that ever happens that will be the end of Musikfest as far as I am concerned.
I agree that Musikfest/ArtsQuest should be responsive to reasonable requests of the people who live in the immediate area but moving it off of main street is not a solution that Musikfest should consider if it wants to remain sucessful.

I agree but I was once at musickfest every night in the beginning, polkas, beer , I t was real good I enjoyed it, but it has grown into a monster, but its progress and that is hard to stop, every event doent go good for everyone , glitches all the time, but it will be around for many years after we are gone as well, I am ready
Michele of Bethlehem to be in your corner when you run for Mayor, I say we all meet at the Apollo and have French Onion soup and discuss the campaign!!! LOL..

[Feng]

boycotting musikfest wrote:

I agree with you Michele. it would become another Mayfair and with the fence, Musikfest, as it was originally concieved, would be finished. In the beginning, Musikfest was actually great. I went often with my family. It's the monster it's grown into that I object to.
And radical...those high gas prices you've been paying aren't rape, it's just capitalism, gouging and so on. I think you should pay $7 a gallon for gas because the guy at the pump deserves more money under your opinion. Culture goes away when anarchy reigns - which is what Musikfest has become. Your argument about people getting fleesed (raped- gouged and so on) is unsupported. The prices are over-inflated and do not provide any greater value. They are playing to a captured audience (tickets) and will not allow competition to balance out the price as a free enterprise system would. I refer you to the break up of ATT, Electric Utilities and other companies who had a stranglehold over specific markets. If there is any socialistic action going on, my short sighted friend, it's in the price setting and market control that musikfest has inflicted upon their guests. Try being a vendor at musikfest OR mayfair and you'll see what i'm talking about. they declare they are being fair by setting the market when in reality they are controlling the market as a socialistic society would.
To fix Musikfest - a few things need to happen. 1. Either Pay people to work there or everyone volunteers up to and including Jeff Parks. 2. Pay the small act musicians to perform there. 3. Get rid of the ticket system for food. The debit card idea is great. People can charge it up and use it anywhere, local hotels, gas and so on. 4. CLEAN UP EVERY NIGHT! 5. Put trash cans everywhere in Bethlehem. 6. Onsite court for disorderly idiots is a fantastic idea. 7. More buses into center city, encourage parking OUTSIDE THE CITY to lighten the traffic load (give a $$$ credit on the debit card to park and use the bus) and finally - 8. allow merchants to charge their regular prices without attempting to "move in" on their business. OR move the whole thing to some field west of Allentown or north of Bethlehem put in rides and bozo the clown because now it's just another carnival with funnel cake and cabbage on a stick.

9. get those darn baby mamas like Michele out of the street with there gosh darn strollers. They drag these poor illigetimate kids all over knocking people over and raming your ankles.
These women are so boozed up they don't even see there kids getting beer spilled on them.
Childrens Agencies should take custody of these children.

[boycotting musikfest]

How can your #9 improve musikfest? Sorry. Your statements are unrelated and off topic.

[Resident]

@ Michele
My home was part of my family's estate. I was raised here. I've been here 6 years longer than Musikfest.

To give another example to dispute your "Have you been living there for more than 25 years? If not you should have known what you were getting yourself into when you moved there."

Neighbors of ours moved here from Washington (state) They had never heard of Musikfest. It was somewhat of a surprise for them. A surprise that the novelty fast wore off from.

@ megg
"Why don't you move?"

Why should I move?
355 days of the year I like Bethlehem.
Both my husband and myself live within 10 minutes drive from our workplaces. That's a huge bonus in any economy. Speaking of economy, how is the housing market? Is it good for sellers?

I think that what bothers me in addition to the points already stated in my previous posted comment. We purposely choose to patronize local Pennsylvania based and run businesses throughout the year. Yet the tourism money that Musikfest brings also brings intoxicated and disorderly conduct, DUI, destruction of private property, and noise ordinance violations. All too often ignored.

[Michele of Bethlehem]

Feng wrote:

<quoted text>
9. get those darn baby mamas like Michele out of the street with there gosh darn strollers. They drag these poor illigetimate kids all over knocking people over and raming your ankles.
These women are so boozed up they don't even see there kids getting beer spilled on them.
Childrens Agencies should take custody of these children.

This idiotic post just shows how wrong you are. Don't bring my name into this generalization. This "baby mama" is married to her baby daddy. I also don't get "boozed up" pushing a stroller around.

It is actually amazing how rude some people are to people with strollers. They cut in front of you then get mad if you clip their heels by accident.

[Michele of Bethlehem]

Resident wrote:

@ Michele
My home was part of my family's estate. I was raised here. I've been here 6 years longer than Musikfest.
To give another example to dispute your "Have you been living there for more than 25 years? If not you should have known what you were getting yourself into when you moved there."
Neighbors of ours moved here from Washington (state) They had never heard of Musikfest. It was somewhat of a surprise for them. A surprise that the novelty fast wore off from.
@ megg
"Why don't you move?"
Why should I move?
355 days of the year I like Bethlehem.
Both my husband and myself live within 10 minutes drive from our workplaces. That's a huge bonus in any economy. Speaking of economy, how is the housing market? Is it good for sellers?
I think that what bothers me in addition to the points already stated in my previous posted comment. We purposely choose to patronize local Pennsylvania based and run businesses throughout the year. Yet the tourism money that Musikfest brings also brings intoxicated and disorderly conduct, DUI, destruction of private property, and noise ordinance violations. All too often ignored.

You are excused. But your neighbors from Washington State should have had a better real estate agent.

[courtney love]

musikfest at age 25 is one dirty, used up, ho.

[Michele of Bethlehem]

boycotting musikfest wrote:

I agree with you Michele. it would become another Mayfair and with the fence, Musikfest, as it was originally concieved, would be finished. In the beginning, Musikfest was actually great. I went often with my family. It's the monster it's grown into that I object to.
And radical...those high gas prices you've been paying aren't rape, it's just capitalism, gouging and so on. I think you should pay $7 a gallon for gas because the guy at the pump deserves more money under your opinion. Culture goes away when anarchy reigns - which is what Musikfest has become. Your argument about people getting fleesed (raped- gouged and so on) is unsupported. The prices are over-inflated and do not provide any greater value. They are playing to a captured audience (tickets) and will not allow competition to balance out the price as a free enterprise system would. I refer you to the break up of ATT, Electric Utilities and other companies who had a stranglehold over specific markets. If there is any socialistic action going on, my short sighted friend, it's in the price setting and market control that musikfest has inflicted upon their guests. Try being a vendor at musikfest OR mayfair and you'll see what i'm talking about. they declare they are being fair by setting the market when in reality they are controlling the market as a socialistic society would.
To fix Musikfest - a few things need to happen. 1. Either Pay people to work there or everyone volunteers up to and including Jeff Parks. 2. Pay the small act musicians to perform there. 3. Get rid of the ticket system for food. The debit card idea is great. People can charge it up and use it anywhere, local hotels, gas and so on. 4. CLEAN UP EVERY NIGHT! 5. Put trash cans everywhere in Bethlehem. 6. Onsite court for disorderly idiots is a fantastic idea. 7. More buses into center city, encourage parking OUTSIDE THE CITY to lighten the traffic load (give a $$$ credit on the debit card to park and use the bus) and finally - 8. allow merchants to charge their regular prices without attempting to "move in" on their business. OR move the whole thing to some field west of Allentown or north of Bethlehem put in rides and bozo the clown because now it's just another carnival with funnel cake and cabbage on a stick.

Couple of points. I'm not sure why everyone is so obsessed with Jeff Park's salary and Musikfest's use of volunteers. Every major (and even most small) non-profit organization has a combination of paid employees and volunteers. Do you think the head of the local red cross, united way, or PBS is volunteering their time? No. Do each of those organizations use volunteers? Yes.

Second, why is everyone also obsessed about the prices that food and beverage vendors charge at Musikfest? A festival of this size is extremely expensive to run. All but three music venues are free. People can choose to not buy anything at Musikfest and still see free music. Eat before you get there and carry a water bottle if you don't like the prices. Have none of these people been to a sporting event or concert?$5 for a 20 or 22 oz. beer isn't bad in comparison. What is it at a Phillies/Eagles game? About $7-8 bucks for a 16 oz?

[MonkeyMomma]

Michele of Bethlehem wrote:

<quoted text>
Couple of points. I'm not sure why everyone is so obsessed with Jeff Park's salary and Musikfest's use of volunteers. Every major (and even most small) non-profit organization has a combination of paid employees and volunteers. Do you think the head of the local red cross, united way, or PBS is volunteering their time? No. Do each of those organizations use volunteers? Yes.
Second, why is everyone also obsessed about the prices that food and beverage vendors charge at Musikfest? A festival of this size is extremely expensive to run. All but three music venues are free. People can choose to not buy anything at Musikfest and still see free music. Eat before you get there and carry a water bottle if you don't like the prices. Have none of these people been to a sporting event or concert?$5 for a 20 or 22 oz. beer isn't bad in comparison. What is it at a Phillies/Eagles game? About $7-8 bucks for a 16 oz?

I agree. Prices at Musikfest are completely in line with similar purchases at any big arena or festival. There is nothing wrong with the fest's prices.

Isn't Parks' salary based on more than Musikfest? It's all of artsquest he runs, right? I'm sure Musikfest takes up a good chunk of his time, but it's not the only thing he's doing. How many paid people have a hand in managing Musikfest?

[Michele of Bethlehem]

MonkeyMomma wrote:

<quoted text>
I agree. Prices at Musikfest are completely in line with similar purchases at any big arena or festival. There is nothing wrong with the fest's prices.
Isn't Parks' salary based on more than Musikfest? It's all of artsquest he runs, right? I'm sure Musikfest takes up a good chunk of his time, but it's not the only thing he's doing. How many paid people have a hand in managing Musikfest?

Yes, Parks is the head of ArtsQuest which runs the Banana Factory, Musikfest, Christkindlemardt, and as of last year the First Night New Year's Eve celebration and promotion of Christmas in Bethlehem.

They have about 30-35 employees listed on their websites contacts list.

http://www.artsquest.org/contact/default.asp

[Truth can hurt]

My problem with Musikfest is how overblown it has become. Does anyone really believe people are traveling here for hundreds of miles to see any act that will be appearing the next night, just 2 hours away?

Does anyone here really believe one million new people are being attracted to this community, people who would not otherwise be here?

Does anyone actually believe you can't get a hotel room in the Lehigh Valley tonight?

Musikfest is fine for what it is. It is an alternative location for local people to spend the SAME dollars they would have spent somewhere else in the Lehigh Valley. Where's the gain?

Michele, MonkeyMamma. Anyone?

[MonkeyMomma]

Truth can hurt wrote:

My problem with Musikfest is how overblown it has become. Does anyone really believe people are traveling here for hundreds of miles to see any act that will be appearing the next night, just 2 hours away?
Does anyone here really believe one million new people are being attracted to this community, people who would not otherwise be here?
Does anyone actually believe you can't get a hotel room in the Lehigh Valley tonight?
Musikfest is fine for what it is. It is an alternative location for local people to spend the SAME dollars they would have spent somewhere else in the Lehigh Valley. Where's the gain?
Michele, MonkeyMamma. Anyone?

A big reason I moved to the valley was because of Musikfest. I never knew about Bethlehem until a friend got me to attend Musikfest in the late 90's after I moved here from California. I guess I've probably been to about 10 Musikfests now, and I've loved each and every one.

Have you tried to get a hotel room tonight? They are not available - not sure how to refute that point other than to say hotels in the area have been sold out for months. Hubby and I usually book a room at Hotel Bethelem or the Morningstar Inn, but we're pinching pennies this year.

Not sure if the locals would spend the same $$ elsewhere in the valley if Musikfest were to disappear - I suspect many of the local restaurants and bars that benefit from the exposure Musikfest offers simply wouldn't exist. I used to travel from Doylestown to Bethlehem every 3 or 4 months for a good dinner downtown - not sure I would have done that without learning about those restaurants during Musikfest.

Finally...the music. As a huge music fan, I can tell you there is no other venue like musikfest. Some of these bands can be seen at local bars at other times during the year, but certainly not all or even most. Plus, it's just a different experience seeing these bands under the Platz tents for free instead of going to a bar or club to see the same act. I really enjoy the "wandering" part of the 'Fest - it adds a whole other element to things.

[boycotting musikfest]

michele...why obsessed with his salary??? hmmm... You make a good counter argument with PBS, United Way and so on. You got me thinking as to honestly WHY the problem with the salary...(grin) The organizations you mention serve a common good (in theory) and do not attempt to capture and/or corner the market or control surrounding merchants. Musikfest (and other such events) are self-serving. PBS, UW, Easter Seals, Miller Blood bank and so on, are not self-serving. They fund and pay salaries from their donations, yes. However, they do not...encrouch on other business nor do they burden the local community with unruly participants, increased need for security and other stuff. Musikfest is less a cultural event and more a tourist monster trap.

And, I'll conceed the point of the prices. I got into this discussion with my girlfriend and her first objection to my objection was a $5 slice of pizza I bought at an event. GUITY!!!((waving white flag))

Event size...each year, Hershey hosts the largest antique automotive show in the nation (possibly the world) and it's insane out there. But, as the event grew (and the locals became annoyed with stuff) the staff of the autoshow responded. It still isn't perfect out there, but there are always changes for the good. maybe, instead of all this grouching, musikfest needs to talk to the staff of other extremely large events, address issues and make changes in accordance with the local municipalities needs. Putting musikfest north of the airport would solve a tremendous amount of problems. spreading it out would too. Me, I'll scream cancel it when it's gotten so far out of control that its just a pain in the neck to have around. That's where I've gotten to with this event. note: palmer twp days has limited their size in spite of local pressure to increase to avoid similar problems.

[Truth can hurt]

MonkeyMomma,

Thanks!

I HAVE been here my entire life. I can tell you, the outrageous claims of Musikfest's tourism impact have adversely affected several other worthy local events. Events that are looking for the same sponsorship dollars.

Yes, you CAN get rooms tonight, almost anywhere you want, except the Hotel Bethlehem. Call around, you'll see.

I think Musikfest IS an asset to the Bethlehem community. I also believe all the "smoke and mirrors" over the years has been harmful to other events. The "beautiful people" of the Lehigh Valley are spinning a tale.
That's all.

Wanna bet Musikfest will claim another million person attendance?

Musikfest is NOT the Texas State Fair, the New York State Fair, not even Dorney Park. Go, enjoy, but don't be fooled by the circus hype that surrounds this week.