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When does a concertgoer deserve his/her money back?


As yall know, planning a ‘concert/show’ is difficult. S0000 many factors+resources+time+energy go into the planning of an event, and that’s even before the day of the show. Planning an event/concert/show/live-experience takes the time and dedication of one, or a group of alternative entrepreneurs. It seems like something can ‘go wrong’ very quickly. Tons of different people/elements can be ‘at fault’ for a failed event:

  • unruly fans
  • alcohol + drugs
  • bands who ‘have an attitude’
  • the venue
  • governmental restrictions and limitations
  • structural collapses of temporary stages
  • unqualified staff and security
  • Mother Nature
  • lack of necessary amenities, such as bathrooms, potable water, and Sparks

It seems like the factor that is most likely to get out of hand is the combination of substance abuse with ‘a shit load of people.’ It’s kinda weird how much ‘trust’ u must have in humanity in order for an event to go smoothly, both intrinsically and financially. I’m sure yall have been at a concert where 1 unruly bro has been kicked out, and u were sort of relieved. That 1 bro could have ruined the entire experience 4 every1. It seems like if one thing ’sucked’, then the ‘mob mentality’ of tons of fans could cause some sort of ‘riot’ that ends with a death/buzzkill.

Just read abt 2 failed events due 2 completely different reasons.

Failed Event #1: The Big Valley Jamboree, 2009
It seems like there was some sort of windstorm at a country music festival called ‘The Big Valley Jamboree’ held somewhere in Canada that likes country music. Apparently the winds picked up, and a stage collapsed, and some1 died. It seems like this video of the wind destroying a music festival is like ‘hell on Earth.’

This video seems ’solemn’ and ’serious’–like you possibly should not ‘make fun’ of the event since some1 died, making it an official ‘tragedy.’ I think if some1 is injured, then it is just an ‘accident’, but ‘death’ makes it a tragedy because people united for some fun, but then got something that they weren’t expecting. Feel like I’d be bummed/pissed if I went to a music festival, and then Mother Nature ‘fucked it up’ totally ruining my ‘buzz.’ I feel like Christians think that ‘God makes things happen for a reason’, so maybe this was God’s way of saying that music festivals are ‘terrible ideas.’ Wonder if this would have been a ‘bigger story’ if it happened at Coachella/Lollapally/ACL.  

I think every one probably ‘deserves a refund’, and the event was possibly insured for some sort of disaster like this.

Failed Event #2: HARDfest Summer AltPartie, Los Angeles, 2009

I also read about some event in Los Angeles called HARD. It was apparently shut down by the riot squad because it became a ‘huge fire hazard’ after unruly teens overran the event. It was held in the basketball arena where Magic Johnson used to play b4 he caught HIV. Tons of relevant electro artists from the year 2k7 were playing to an arena full of California alts + mexitween alts who think that ‘everything is a rave’ so it seemed like it was destined to end poorly.  

It seriously seems like ‘hell on Earth.’ Like when you are in a position with ‘tons of people’ who ‘feel like they are entitled to something’ that is no longer going to manifest itself. Sort of reminds u of when ur a kid and ur somewhere with ur parents, and some sort of ‘consumer injustice happens’ and an entire room of 30-50 year olds ’stand up for something’ and complain to the manager.

It seems overwhelming to have ‘grown up’ and now be in positions where ‘young people’/'alt people’ experience ‘consumer injustices’

‘Consumer injustices.’ They seem pretty subjective, I guess. It seems like the ‘customer is always right’, so it seems like a consumer injustice is likely to happen a lot. It seems like ‘dumb people’ are the most liberated when they get to ‘complain’ about being ‘fucked over’ at a restaurant/store/concert/etc. Like this is ‘their time’ to fight for justice, or something. I feel like that’s why I h8 ‘dealing with failed consumer experiences’ the worst–u have given this sort of ‘power’ as a ‘crusader’ to people who only have a high school education.

N e ways, from what I have read, HARD is a Los Angeles ‘party’ brand that attempted to increase the scale of their production. Instead of being held in some ‘vacant lot’ where relative tweenlectro chaos could be isolated, they attempted to move into a basketball arena where Magic Johnson used to play. From what I understand, the Great Western Forum is probably just waiting to be torn down since the Staples Center was built and the Lakers moved there. It seems like they probably just hold ‘Second Class events’ and try to turn a decent profit. It seems like this is the risk of holding a non-mainstream event–u will attract the wrong type of people into your facility, and the even will go horribly wrong.

Seems weird to see alt ppl ’sitting in seats’ at an electro event as opposed to ’standing’/'dancing.’ They seem to have ‘restless leg syndrome.’

Looking into the distance, wondering how much more meaningful their lives’ would be if they were ’sitting in the front.’

The desire to not be a ’second class citizen’ relegated to the bleachers caused tons of alternative ppl to ‘jump down’ from the second level, in a quest to put themselves in a position to have a meaningful electro nite.

Because of bros like this, the event was a ‘huge disaster’ because there was no sense or order/control.  I feel like people who didn’t ‘get’ why you had to go to high school usually have a difficult time understanding ‘how to act’ in public.  Like their parents never ’scolded them’ when they were young for ‘running around a restaurant’, reinforcing the need to conform for the sake of social order.

After watching this video, u can see how the alternative culture in Southern California ‘totally ruined’ the event because they had no sense of order. I feel like this would never happen at a predominantly white, college educated Grizzly Bear concert. I think part of the California electro music scene has been ‘branded’ as ‘crazie and out of kontrol’, but u can see in this video that they are not meant to attend an event held in a ‘real facility.’  It seems like you should put them in some sort of ‘field’ and just have a huge pool of water for drinking + swimming + using the restroom.

I have heard ‘internet rumors’ that HARD oversold. Seems like maybe people all got the feeling that they would be ‘on the floor’ but then had to ’sit in the bleachers’ or something. Seems like a ‘huge nightmare.’ Wish there were just illegal underground parties where people did tons of drugs and listened to ‘electronica’ or something. It would be an absurd celebration where people dressed in sillie, bright costumes.

It seems like all of the ‘evacuated’ concert attendees ‘milled around’ the parking lot, looking to create their own meaningful experience as they rallied around the ‘disappointment’ and ‘hate’ of the ‘unfair police’ who shut that shit down.  

Maybe these micro-parties were more ‘memorable’ than a night where you sit in bleachers watching an electro DJ play from several hundred feet away.  What is an ‘authentic experience’?

I feel like the people evacuating at the JAMBOREE Natural Disaster seem ‘legitimately panicked’ or something, as if their lives’ are in danger.

Seems ‘drastically different’ than the videos of the pissed off electro bros.

It’s just so weird, yall. It’s like there is this demand for an event that authentically unites people, rallying around the power of music, and ascending to a higher level of consciousness…but u have to pay $15-$35 for it, and then there are all these other fuckheads there. Just wish things happened naturally, like if Deathcabs played in a public space 4 free, and it got viral twitter buzz on the day of the concert.

Have yall ever gone to a concert/festival where ’shit went wrong’?
Whose fault was it?
Did u get a refund?
Can festival brands recover after 1 bad event?
Have concert organizers totally forgotten about ‘the consumer’?
Would u be pissed if u died at a music festival?
Does God make things happen 4 a reason?
Do u know how to get an ‘internship’ with the riot police in Los Angeles?
Should all concerts require riot cops, or is Los Angeles ‘more likely to have a riot’ since there is so much minority unrest?
Is it a bad idea to go to an event that involves too many ‘immature teens+tweens’?
Does every1 deserve a refund when ’something doesn’t go ur way’?

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33 Comments

  1. firstbro
    Posted August 13, 2009 at 1:16 pm | Permalink

    looks like HARD attendees were a bunch of ‘lil turds’

    Reply

    //////////Reply by fawkes
    //////////Posted

    lol kids

    Reply

    //////////Reply by brad
    //////////Posted

    @firstbro, ‘lil beaners’

    Reply

    //////////Reply by ne pas
    //////////Posted

    @brad, lil carlos mencia fan

    just want 2 ‘get inside his head’, see what’s ‘on his mind’. might tune in 2 comedy centric 2 find out.

    Reply

  2. Patrick
    Posted August 13, 2009 at 1:17 pm | Permalink

    damn

    second

    Reply

  3. Posted August 13, 2009 at 1:29 pm | Permalink

    third?

    Reply

    //////////Reply by altBro
    //////////Posted

    @wtf pwm, your fail is greater than slavery

    Reply

  4. Posted August 13, 2009 at 1:34 pm | Permalink

    feel like n e kind of ‘jamboree’ is going 2 b more authentic than _____________

    Reply

  5. no
    Posted August 13, 2009 at 1:56 pm | Permalink

    christ i hope gap is paying you shitloads for that ad up there, carles

    Reply

    //////////Reply by anon
    //////////Posted

    @no, They have totally copied AmAppy’s aesthetic.

    Gap is soo 90’s.

    Reply

    //////////Reply by no
    //////////Posted

    @anon, yeah, sorta
    but helvetica is everywhere from good design and shitty chinese restaurant awnings

    Reply

    //////////Reply by anon
    //////////Posted

    @no, more importantly, Gap is lame.

    //////////Reply by Al x
    //////////Posted

    @anon, khakis ya’ll

    Reply

    //////////Reply by B
    //////////Posted

    @anon, If Gap is 90’s, and the 90’s are back ‘in’, wouldn’t that make Gap now?

    Reply

    //////////Reply by stephen hawkings
    //////////Posted

    @no, GAP HAS BEEN AT THIS GAME WAY LONGER THAN AMERICAN APPAREL YOU A-HOLE

    Reply

    //////////Reply by no
    //////////Posted

    @stephen hawkings, whoru

    Reply

  6. r4ph431
    Posted August 13, 2009 at 2:02 pm | Permalink

    *facepalm* @ quality of writing

    Reply

    //////////Reply by bbbbb
    //////////Posted

    @r4ph431, who the fuck r u w/ ur stars and weird “A” symbols asshole, crls is always right

    Reply

    //////////Reply by no
    //////////Posted

    @bbbbb, let a thug be a thug
    leave raphael alone
    he was orphaned at the age of six and is dealing with not knowing his family this way

    Reply

    //////////Reply by r4ph431
    //////////Posted

    @bbbbb, any jack ass who believes that “crls is always right” is horribly mistaken.

    don’t worry about me, worry about yourself.

    Reply

    //////////Reply by b4hc
    //////////Posted

    @r4ph431, ya srsly, it’s every bro 4 himself on the Internet

    //////////Reply by Al x
    //////////Posted

    @r4ph431, it’s a bro eat bro world man

    //////////Reply by yea
    //////////Posted

    @bbbbb, just kiss carles already

    Reply

  7. r4ph431
    Posted August 13, 2009 at 2:18 pm | Permalink

    >>”It’s kinda weird how must ‘trust’ u must”

    FUCKING CRLS CAN’T EVEN PROOFREAD HIS POST ANYMORE

    Reply

    //////////Reply by anon
    //////////Posted

    @r4ph431, spelling it wrong makes you read more closely.

    Reply

    //////////Reply by r4ph431
    //////////Posted

    @anon, maybe. In this case though, I believe that whoever is writing for this blog now is just doing a half-assed job “/

    Reply

    //////////Reply by anon
    //////////Posted

    @r4ph431, Carles only has a high school education. He is only human. Human after yall. I am Carles. You are Carles. We are Carles. Carles is us. We are only human.

    Try not to be so hard on yourself/Carles.

    //////////Reply by charles
    //////////Posted

    @r4ph431, it was intentional. a clever poem shrouded by a peace of hard-edged, ‘journalism’. i think it’s beautiful :)

    Reply

  8. geedorah
    Posted August 13, 2009 at 2:46 pm | Permalink

    mexitween alts who think that ‘everything is a rave’

    its funny cauz its true.

    Reply

  9. ammer
    Posted August 13, 2009 at 2:49 pm | Permalink

    don’t think i’ll come here anymore.

    Reply

    //////////Reply by anonyt
    //////////Posted

    @ammer, srsly- i usually disagree with the haterz, but this was fucking weak…

    worst. post. ever.

    Reply

  10. Posted August 13, 2009 at 2:51 pm | Permalink

    “mexitween alts”

    new favorite phrase

    Reply

    //////////Reply by b4hc
    //////////Posted

    @bob, TWEENLECTRO

    Reply

  11. lulz
    Posted August 13, 2009 at 3:02 pm | Permalink

    i think i have carles’ phone number… kinda wanna call him… kinda scared tho

    Reply

    //////////Reply by jvac
    //////////Posted

    @lulz, you should txt him instead

    Reply

    //////////Reply by chong
    //////////Posted

    @lulz, u should sext w him

    Reply

    //////////Reply by lulz
    //////////Posted

    @chong, i like both of these suggestions. not really sure if it’s his real numba. i ordered his faggy expensive shirt and paypal listed a phone number! i will try sexting him right now and report back

    Reply

  12. chilichow
    Posted August 13, 2009 at 3:43 pm | Permalink

    i was at hard and it was a fail. “It seems like you should put them in some sort of ‘field’ and just have a huge pool of water for drinking + swimming + using the restroom.” hahah yesss! that is exactly what is needed, toilet pool drinking water!

    Reply

    //////////Reply by yea
    //////////Posted

    @chilichow, CREEPY!

    Reply

  13. akuma
    Posted August 13, 2009 at 3:46 pm | Permalink

    went to apw in ny
    apart from the rain it totally sucked

    what do we call a mddl aged blk ppl who wear ‘black’ in an attempt to b more alt/mianstrm?

    jayz?

    Reply

    //////////Reply by chong
    //////////Posted

    @akuma, y did we have to take a lightpathtramrail just to walk another 6.7miles to the show

    Reply

  14. Mia
    Posted August 13, 2009 at 4:05 pm | Permalink

    I hope they have HARD next year…HAHA

    Reply

  15. Posted August 13, 2009 at 4:05 pm | Permalink

    hard summer was just EDC 2 for the ppl dumb enough to roll to a pretty whatever set list cause they didnt make it inside EDC aka innercity mexikidz just ‘down 2 partie’

    Reply

    //////////Reply by Dickhead
    //////////Posted

    @TGRSHRK, The only way you couldn’t make it into EDC is if you were a total retard. They were 5k under their claim of “100k capacity” and security was a joke. You could have jumped the fences anywhere. Money obviously couldn’t have been the problem because 1 day of EDC cost as much as HARD.

    Reply

    //////////Reply by TGRSHRK
    //////////Posted

    @Dickhead, r u kiddng me bro they were 5k under bc they stopped letting ppl in by 11:pm and 2 many ‘fggts’ tried to rush the fences. obvs way more ;fggts; rushd them this time

    Reply

    //////////Reply by brosb4bags
    //////////Posted

    @Dickhead, Get off this board, raver!

    Reply

    //////////Reply by chilichow
    //////////Posted

    @TGRSHRK, LOL the lineup from EDC was completely different genre than Hard. You are a fool.

    Reply

  16. testicular dancer
    Posted August 13, 2009 at 4:41 pm | Permalink

    carles creates ‘I am carles’ t-shirts 2 get famous/money…seems terribly executed/lame.

    Reply

  17. carkeys
    Posted August 13, 2009 at 4:44 pm | Permalink

    went to tinie vipers show where the tiny viper had what looked like an “extreme anxiety attack” after a cupple songs. she said “thank u” and walked offstage

    was meaningful tho like almost seeing catpower in 1997 or sumthing when she was still “rly fucked up”

    Reply

  18. Posted August 13, 2009 at 4:54 pm | Permalink

    teh gap sucks

    Reply

  19. pupilsRhuge
    Posted August 13, 2009 at 5:22 pm | Permalink

    b.. but… everything IS a rave!

    Reply

  20. altBro
    Posted August 13, 2009 at 5:33 pm | Permalink

    HIS FEET WERE TORN
    BY HIS SKATEBOARD
    RIPPED JEANS TO SHORTS
    WON’T DO NO CHORES

    Reply

    //////////Reply by ne pas
    //////////Posted

    @altBro, got ‘these chores’ yall!!! just want 2 get s000 st0ned [via the end of the day]

    Reply

  21. gentleman
    Posted August 13, 2009 at 5:53 pm | Permalink

    “Is it a bad idea to go to an event that involves too many ‘immature teens+tweens’?’”

    In CA at least, yes. Went and saw Ratatat surrounded by 14-20 yr old douchebags. Went to the back to stand with other oldAlts and drink beer and had a good time.

    All Ages = All Bullshit

    Reply

    //////////Reply by agreed
    //////////Posted

    unfortunately la is terrible when it comes to the crowd unless its something is very exclusive. im guessing ny is cool because even if you dont have money u can still party in an authentic atmosphere. in l.a. its not like that, unless your from the hills and know lots of people, your not gonna get a chill party. la is for the rich.

    yay im rich!

    Reply

  22. Posted August 13, 2009 at 6:29 pm | Permalink

    hey just wondering if you could post a link to my photos if people want to see more

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/holymountain/

    Reply

    //////////Reply by le CEECEE
    //////////Posted

    @holy mountain, ur pix suck bro mine r better

    Reply

    //////////Reply by holy mountain
    //////////Posted

    @le CEECEE,

    thanks i appreciate the love :]

    Reply

  23. zoetrope
    Posted August 13, 2009 at 7:02 pm | Permalink

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPaiXpVBthM

    fuck electro busts

    dnb busts are EPIC

    Reply

    //////////Reply by you're so right
    //////////Posted

    personally, I think dance floors should be off bounds to german sheppies

    Reply

    //////////Reply by ne pas
    //////////Posted

    @you’re so right, unless mikey vick is the dj…does n e 1 kno if german shepherds like 2 fight eachother? just want 2 see a dog ‘rip in 2′ another dog yall…

    Reply

    //////////Reply by NONO
    //////////Posted

    @ne pas, mikey vick is your anyol dj. do it up ne pas.

    //////////Reply by ne pas
    //////////Posted

    @ne pas, u barely even answered my question

  24. enx
    Posted August 13, 2009 at 7:47 pm | Permalink

    I was there – my first time in L.A and I got tickets not knowing it was a tween rave. I left before that shit even got cancelled.

    Reply

    //////////Reply by ne pas
    //////////Posted

    @enx, wuld have helped some hot mexis in ’short skirts’ down 2 the floor 1st. then left. that 1 pic ‘gives me goose bumps’.

    Reply

    //////////Reply by enx
    //////////Posted

    @ne pas, Haha, there were tons of cops just waiting for you to touch their lil’ jailbait tacos. I felt seriously old and perverted, surrounded by lil’ 12 year olds dressed like they were on a neon am appy porn set. And lil’ LA doucheboys sweating next to me with tilted lids and nasty zits… Damn, that’s the last all ages show I will ever go to…

    Reply

    //////////Reply by enx
    //////////Posted

    really happy it got cancelled at least I get my money back and didn’t have to sit through a bland underworld set. Wanted to see Chromeo, they’re fun, but not from the bleachers…

    //////////Reply by yea
    //////////Posted

    @enx, u are all disgustingly creepy and stupid fucks for attending stupid shitty shit like that!

  25. Posted August 13, 2009 at 9:40 pm | Permalink

    thats why LA sucks

    Reply

  26. bANANAS
    Posted August 13, 2009 at 10:00 pm | Permalink

    i went to apw (all points west) in ny / nj along with akuma. it was pretty awesome for only its second year being a music festival. the line up was smashingly pleasant and impressive–the atmosphere was just moderately right-not too many tweens and not too many dads. there was tons of mud—and some kids danced in it desparately trying to be hippies like woodstock back in ‘69. that kinda ticked me off. other than that, it was a great time and the mud was appropriate due to the rain, not an excuse to wrestle.

    Reply

  27. uh-oh..
    Posted August 13, 2009 at 10:07 pm | Permalink

    thats what happens.. srsly tons of tweens who want to go ‘raving’..

    Reply

  28. I am the Psn Mouth
    Posted August 14, 2009 at 1:26 am | Permalink

    Skinny Puppy = Technical Difficulties/Smelly annoying people… But they always make up for it. And they always have Otto von Schirach on before them and it’s amusing (at least the way he performs before Skinny Puppy). Other than that… I’ve never had problems at any concert.

    Reply

  29. alec
    Posted August 14, 2009 at 7:37 am | Permalink

    can i get my money back from this blog?

    Reply

    //////////Reply by yea
    //////////Posted

    @alec, u dont deserve ur money back cus ur the dumbass who went to buy it

    Reply

  30. yea
    Posted August 14, 2009 at 9:48 pm | Permalink

    ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

    HARD is disgusting! I cant believe I actually went last year and supported this now and day disgusting brand of music ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww….there wasnt any kandie kids last HARD summer though…they spreaded like a virus!
    stupid lil kandie kids….they dont even know how to riot right…hahahahaaa

    Reply

  31. HOMOSAPIEN_FUCK
    Posted August 15, 2009 at 5:24 am | Permalink

    It’s in the paper every day
    You see it in the headlines and you feel so sick, yeah
    Another life leaves this world (this world) so full of hate
    But short
    Short on compassion
    Short on humanity
    Asking myself in vain, shaken by the shock,
    “do we even have a chance?”

    [Chorus: x2]
    I don’t wanna die
    (I don’t wanna kill)
    I don’t wanna kill
    (I don’t wanna die)
    We are all human.
    It’s time to prove it.

    This is a plea for peace (world peace)
    To the oppressors of the world and to
    To the leaders of nations, corporate profit takers,
    to the every day citizen
    Greed, envy, fear, hate – the competition has to stop.
    When you see someone down, now’s the time to pick them up
    Set our differences aside and never look back, no

    [Chorus: x2]
    I don’t wanna die
    (I don’t wanna kill)
    I don’t wanna kill
    (I don’t wanna die)
    We are all human
    It’s time to prove it.

    Isn’t everybody tired of the fighting? (hey, hey)
    Isn’t everybody tired of the killing? (hey, hey)
    Isn’t everybody tired of the dying? (hey, hey)
    Isn’t everybody tired of the hatred? (hey, hey)
    Violence… (hey, hey)
    fighting… (hey)
    killing… (hey)
    dying.. (hey)
    aaaaaah!!

    [excerpt from Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech:]
    And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow,
    I still have a dream
    we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children,
    black men and white men
    Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join
    hands and sing
    “Free at last, free at last.
    Thank God Almighty, we are free at last.”

    [Chorus: x2]
    I don’t wanna die
    (I don’t wanna kill)
    I don’t wanna kill
    (I don’t wanna die)
    We are all human
    It’s time to prove it.

    We are all human
    It’s time to prove it.
    We are all human…

    Reply

  32. yep
    Posted August 16, 2009 at 12:41 am | Permalink

    BVJ 2010!!!!!
    I love country music ya’ll.

    Reply

  33. brosb4bags
    Posted August 16, 2009 at 11:49 pm | Permalink

    Why is Carles posting stuff about HARDFEST? It’s a fucking rave and ravers are carpet combing greasetards. Fuck raves and ravers. They aren’t alt or anything worth blogging about.

    Reply

    //////////Reply by sharq
    //////////Posted

    ((late and delayed comment))

    @brosb4bags, HARDFEST is not just a rave. It’s a confusing brand of electro in LA that has come to include both alts, ravers, mexitweens, inbetweens, n combos (…a weird reality in LA)

    Rave scene =/= Alt scene
    Both yearn for meaning and ‘authentic feelings’, as in any scene. Alts make it complex and kinda stupid, ravers just use drugs… but are still kinda stupid.

    Reply

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