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Eric/Raspberries Fest?


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This would also be a great time for people to perform the songs they submitted to Marvin for Reflections #3.

I love susana and Tony's idea of including a visit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame! I've always wanted to see it, and what better group of people to see it with than fellow board members. I would imagine that there is a Hotel within walking distance that also has adequate banquet rooms if we dare to plan this.

Tim

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Ok is it just me or are there others who think the R&RHOF is a waste of time and money? For years I had longed to visit this shrine, and when finally doing so the day after the 'berries November 26th Cleveland show, I was VERY disappointed. I know that nothing could have compared to the high of the previous night, but nevertheless, the Hall did not impress me at all.

Marv

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I've been to most of the Fest for Beatles Fans conventions here in NJ. The guy who runs them actually lives here, but they also have run them in Chicago and LA, and before NJ, in NYC.

Very similar to what all of you are discussing for the Raspberries convention, sound alike band contests, people closely connected to the band as guests, related activities, memorabilia, etc.

Sounds like a very cool idea if enough people are interested.

All The Best,

Joyce

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NRBQ used to do an annual Fest for their fans, usually in a large hotel somewhere in the NE (Connecticut, NY), although I think they did it one year out West. 300-400 diehard fans crammed into a hotel for a couple of shows and drunken foolishness throughout the weekend. If I recall, they charged their fans enough (between $600-$1000) for the weekend so the band made decent bucks for it....and just serious fans showed up.

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I'm sure this has been suggested before, but has anyone ever put serious thought into organizing a 2 or 3 day Eric/Raspberries event? I would think that with the solid group of active board members that we have, we could have a successful event. I've never been there before, but maybe have it at a Hotel in Cleveland sometime next Spring.

A 2- or 3-day Raspberries convention? What a great idea! :cool: Dare I dream? Okay, I'm drooling now. :spin: Yes, yes! It would be so much fun!

(P.S. At the meet and greet at LA HOB, I asked Jim Bonfanti, "So are you guys going to do an album together?" And I believe his words were, "We hope so," and he smiled -- a sweet smile. :) )

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I agree with Marvin on the Rock Hall of Fame --- way too much wardrobe (especially from currently popular "acts").

A better place to visit was the Hard Rock Cafe which in 2001 had a guitar on the wall from signed by Raspberries Wally Bryson, Scott McCarl, Dave Smalley and Jim Bonfanti, and it was also signed by Michael Stanley. At the checkout, there was a copy (I think a lot of those must exist) of Raspberries gold record for "Go All The Way") above the cash register.

On a RaspFest, I love the idea (the guys first formed in July of 1970, so an annual summer Fest would be a neat weekend event) --- perhaps the guys could do sets including Dynamite, Choir, Cyrus Erie, Quick, Fotomaker (their first album with Wally charted higher than Raspberries last two albums), and some solo stuff (I'd love to see a Berry-ized versions of Eric's "All By Myself"/"Someday"/"Take It Or Leave It"/"Tonight Your Mine," Wally's "Come Back" (the Fotomaker tune originally written for the "Fresh" album), Wally's songs from the Tattoo album in 1976 like "I Still Want You" (Wally is Pete Townshend here, period)/"Give It To Ya Easy"/"Send A Ship" and Dave's "Warrior At Rest" (love that song) --- all done without a lot of pressure over a three-day event (you know, culminating with an annual new CD release party by the band...)

A Cleveland Pop Festival might be a sure fire event, too, for drawing a 3-day crowd, too --- all Cleveland's past Top 40 pop acts like Raspberries and Michael Stanley playing the same venue (WMMS had a Father's Day event with a Choir reunion and a Michael Stanley set back in 1987 at an outdoor venue).

Anyway, neat idea --- can I plug Abbey Road On The River? Louisville stole the event from Cleveland this year and we have it here for the next two years (around Memorial Day), and it draws tens of thousands of people for a three-day Beatles' love fest with dozens of bands playing Beatles music. This year they had The Smithereens as headliners doing an all-Beatles set --- but I was dreaming of Raspberries doing an all-Beatles set all the while...

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Trindy,

I agree with you that the only place to have a RaspFest would be Cleveland. I really think the town would come alive for such an event if it was done right.

I know Cleveland gets a bad rap for not supporting Raspberries, but "Don't Want To Say Goodbye" sold 5,000 copies in Cleveland alone in 1972 and "Go All The Way" sold 100,000 copies in the Cleveland Region, according to Capitol Records, so there must be the "potential" for local fans to attend a Cleveland event --- the trick to "potential" being to get the word out and maybe something special, like a CD release party or a DVD release party (dare I say "and/or" here?), tied in with the event.

I don't dislike the Rock Hall of Fame and Museum, I just don't care for some of the exhibits and I wish they had a permenant Cleveland bands exhibit, but overall it is an interesting place to visit.

Don :)

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I would agree that Cleveland would be "the" place to hold such an event.

Now - Which of our Cleveland area board members has connections for Hotels, Media, Catering, etc...

I love susana's idea of an Indians game! How cool would it be to have 100 or so of us with our Raspberries shirts sitting together at a game. I'm sure they would show us on the big screen at least once!

Tim

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I noticed that one event for Frankie Laine was done at a festival for, mainly, something else once. From that time, his audience grew. This might be the fourth event in about six or seven years. Las Vegas might have had more than 700 people at a hotel once, for his celebration. When there is one event like a festival, people walking by can see a marquee(a sign) and walk in. Some people don't listen to the radio, or read much of newspapers, until they see it on the same days of the event.

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Trindy-I agree the only place for the Rock Hall was Cleveland. I just can look at only so much clothing and stuff, wish it was more interactive. The areas that were interactive were too busy with kids. (Where you could actual listen and experience some of the music.)

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It would be interesting to have the guys giving talks on various things like songwriting, guitar playing etc. I think this would be very interesting for people but you never know if the guys would appreciate doing that sort of thing. A two day event, including a performance, would be outstanding. I could see conmbining all the videos Bernie has and have a film for people to view. Ballgame and Rock Hall of Fame also interesting ideas. I think alot of people would attend such a Raspberries-fest.

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Count me in for a Raspberries convention,however, the only way I'd make the trip to Cleveland is if the band has some participation, whether it's a performance, discussions on songwriting etc. , or just a meet n greet.

Without the band's involvement, I can't see going through the planning, travel or expense necessary to make the trip.

Rich

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I am an event planner and I am kicking around the idea of planning something for this summer. I have had held several fan related events over the years with much success. The hotel rental and other expenses need to be covered and so tickets to the weekend have to be sold. That is why I was asking if $50 is a number people would be comfortable with to start looking into expenses in Cleveland. It takes a lot of time and effort to pull a fan event off and fan support is the important key to the success.

I have sent an email to Bernie and awaiting his input regarding my idea.

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My wife & I attended Beatlefest in Chicago a few times. Same principle. The amount of people that were there was incredible. They had a neat Sunday afternoon concert where 15 to 20 bands would come up & do their best Beatle songs and the crowd would judge them. They had solo performers, art exhibits, you name it - it was there. Major jing being spent! It was lots of fun for sure. Bunches of exhibitors with pictures, videos, books, etc. They would usually have someone there who had something to do with the Beatles, and they would give a talk that was always interesting. A Berrie weekend could be lotsa fun! I feel that had Capitol had their shit together in 1972, the Berries could have been the ones to take over where the Fab Four left off. We'd be at a Berriefest for sure. Wouldn't really care about a ball game though.

Just my 2 cents .....

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