Comfest: What was bad? What was good? « Columbus Underground Messageboard

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Comfest: What was bad? What was good?

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Started 3 years ago by turnedNOTburned
Latest reply from michaelcoyote

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comfest

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turnedNOTburned
Grandview/Columbus, Ohio
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Ok,
This is a follow on from this thread that was going Waaay OT regarding the "straw" sculpture.... Here: http://www.columbusunderground.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=15129&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
What's good about Comfest? What are opportunities to improve.
Lets turn this into a GREAT feedback loop for them...
(On a side note: many of us have chaired some events similar to this , those who volunteer for things like this do so out of the goodness of their heart, and we hear many more criticisms than thanks. Not saying they're aren't opportunities for growth and change, but, I'd personally ask that the "suggestions" be framed in positive light (like its been in the other thread). Not saying we should sugar coat it, but, at least acknowledge the good with the bad as well..)

Posted 3 years ago #
Bear
The woods
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I'll import my take on Comfest from the other thread:
Bear wrote I found myself kind of ambivalent about Comfest, to be honest. It kind of made me realize that I have a hard time telling the difference between a lot of people getting together to relax and have fun, and a lot of people looking for an excuse to go get drunk and stoned. It might be a matter of degree, or it might (dear God please no) be a function of me getting older, I don't know. But when I found myself feeling that Comfest fell into the latter category, it got very boring very fast.
Subsequent comments haven't changed that perspective, though they've prompted me to think a bit more about it. It seems, from what little I know about Comfest (this having been my first), that there are two potentially unhealthy dynamics. The first is the revenue model, which funds the festival largely (entirely?) on alcohol sales. The second is a social dynamic in which the promise of public drunkenness, drug use, and nudity is either (a) a bigger draw than community and independent art, or (b) more salient than same. Regardless, debauchery seems to feature more prominently in characterizations of Comfest as time goes on, which draws more people interested in debauchery, which makes debauchery feature still more prominently in characterizations of Comfest, which draws still more people interested in it....
If the revenue model is a problem, a different one can be discussed, though perhaps few would be as lucrative.
If the debauchery-dynamic cycle is a problem, it's a real problem, and I'm not sure how to fix it.

Posted 3 years ago #
AmyArt21
Short North
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I helped get the last thread off-topic *grin*
So here's my list:
THE GOOD
* Easy set-up for vendors
* Friendly volunteers (BIG thanks to the volunteer who let us use the special clean volunteer port-a-potty)
* GREAT vendors like Lucky Kat, GirlPie, Alison Rose, Wholly Craft, Leapin' Lizards, ChopChop, What The Rock, TakeWrning/Umbrella Girl Productions, Mary Martineau, Devon P., Rivet, Etsy Team Columbus, Wish Art Glass, Mary Moon, ArmandoJavier/Mando2, to name a few
* Meeting cool, friendly folks as they stopped in to our booth
THE COULD-HAVE-BEEN-BETTER
* Unavoidable, but the rain and the foot traffic destroyed the grass
* Many vendors selling mass-produced, cheaply-made wares. ComFest should limit the tie-dye vendors to only those who hand-dye their clothing, IMO.
* The info booths seemed sparse this year
* Rowdy-ass people. Mellow out, it's ComFest!!!
Overall, I had fun this weekend!
And, like Devon and I had mentioned before, if we want more of a spotlight on awesome local artists, designers, & craftspeople...let's get together a local arts fest!!
I'm serious.

Posted 3 years ago #
brothermarcus
West Siiiide
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Good things about Comfest:
The bands, it might be an honor to play - but I still appreciate them coming out. I like that at any given time I can meander from hand drumming to old-school soul to grungy rock 'n roll to a tight jazz set.
Being a volunteer, taking some pride and ownership of a part of the festival, picking up garbage even when I wasn't volunteering - having a conversation with a documentary filmmaker about what it means to participate in the world, even in the on-line world... and realizing that I should probably be making some changes to what my hands are shaping outside of myself.
eating salty caramel while walking in the rain.
The advice of strangers, who after a workshop with Daniel Pinchbeck I'm not seeing so much as strangers anymore but as important connections to the information from the world... as are plants... and the internet... that invaded my headspace with an enhanced idea of the union of organisms. I can still justify eating plants an animals as well, my argument for being an omnivore is still strong - food can teach me.
I had a total of zero comfest beers with the 50+ tokens I earned volunteering this weekend- I was enjoying myself too much to want to get fuzzy. I sampled just about every food vendor by the end of the weekend though.
Bad things about Comfest:
The fact that some of the most conscious people in town litter so much was disappointing. I really didn't see a downside to anything I experienced there, expecting any unified behavior or total message adoption is totally off what I expect from Comfest attendees. People who come to Comfest generall either draw outside of the lines or avoid coloring books altogether. If you don't like drunken folks with no agenda I think festivals in general aren't going to be your preferred space - and in a lot of cases leaving the house might not be an optimal situation for you.

Posted 3 years ago #
dru
IV
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good:
- i enjoyed the company of friends for 3-straight days, sitting on a blanket, having some beers and listening to music. its a simple premise, i don't understand why so many people cannot take it for that value and enjoy it.
- i heard the music of 3 bands that I had never heard before that I would now consider going to see again: Guinea Worms, Paper Airplane, Apocalypso (this adds to the list of several bands I already enjoy)
- i took a nice nap in the sun on Saturday
- beer lines weren't too long, 1/2 pours were generous
- some nice woman on the blanket next door gave me a blueberry donut on Sunday morning
- purchased a nice Ohio Rocks t-shirt
- enjoyed the hospitality of several friends and neighbors (many of them CU contributors) who hosted parties at their houses.
bad:
- we volunteered on Friday, they did not have a record of our signing up (this would be my sincerest complaint to pass on)
- Firdous ran out of falafel.
- Some people need to learn that not all dogs like hanging out for 10-hours with a few thousand random strangers
- i learned my weather proof blanket does not imply water proof
- ferrets on strings creep me out
- it seemed a few vendors i used to like have disappeared (one is a neighbor, and they like attending vs. working all weekend)

Posted 3 years ago #
michaelcoyote
!seabus
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Comfest can be a good time.. It's a good way to run into friends you haven't seen in 5 years and see bands that you don't feel like going to a bar to see.
I'll freely admit it's not my scene, but it is a big deal for a lot of people..
I've been to most of them for the last ten years. Usually for an hour or two to see a show and meet up with a friend, but one memorable year we set up a renegade sound system on the other side of Goodale and ran DJs for 2 days from noon to close..
It was great fun.
But that was 7-8 years ago and they were only running 4 stages and not 6 and there were less people.
Bear wrote
If the debauchery-dynamic cycle is a problem, it's a real problem, and I'm not sure how to fix it.
I think the real question needs to be "How big does it need to be?"
My answer is make it smaller(at the park). Then involve the community to do something else... A SxSW type deal with expanded workshop and talks and discussion groups on topics like film, interactive media, etc. or better yet, recycling, gardening and composting during the day and bands and concerts during the late afternoon and evening.
Put the last band on at 9pm and then let them trickle out to shows elsewhere.
On the other hand, WRT debauchery, I think I've seen more public intoxication and waay more fights on OSU campus on a normal football Saturday than I have any year at Comfest.

Posted 3 years ago #
brothermarcus
West Siiiide
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damn - I forgot my total biggest highlight of the whole damned weekend! A videographer from the archive group was interviewing an attendee from the original Comfest and he was wearing the grey "Indie Art Capital of the World" T-shirt from Skreened. That was pretty fn cool to see the old dude supporting the cause.

Posted 3 years ago #
josephp

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I was surprised they didn't had many water/soda booths, I found only 2 or 3 .. That's bad, they need more booth that sells water/sodas so people can buy n drink them ...

Posted 3 years ago #
michaelcoyote
!seabus
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brothermarcus wrote
I had a total of zero comfest beers with the 50+ tokens I earned volunteering this weekend- I was enjoying myself too much to want to get fuzzy. I sampled just about every food vendor by the end of the weekend though.
Bad - me not recognizing brothermarcus in his oh so crafty "Comfest volunteer disguise"..

Posted 3 years ago #
Rocking The Suburbs
Galloway
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dru wrote
- ferrets on strings creep me out
After taking my 5 year old to his first Com Fest (On Safe Sunday), we survived the downpour, enjoyed the company of someone with more metal in his face than one can buy at Lowe's, and explained why swimming in the pond was, in fact, not a great idea - the ferret on a string was the end of the day for him.
He screamed and fought off tears, yelling that it was hairy snake and he'd had "ENOUGH OF COM FESTIVAL"
I just thought I"d share - and for next year I'm totally renting out his services - because there is nothing like experiencing Com Fest with *MY* son. 8)
GOOD - easy to find a place to park, good music, fun children's activities, good overall atmosphere on Sunday, funnel cake and drums.
BAD - need I say it? The Rain. We were also pushed out of a vendor tent that we'd taken refuge in because we weren't purchasing anything.
Overall - Com Fest takes on a whole new flavor when you bring a kid - not a bad flavor, just a different flavor.

Posted 3 years ago #
LauraA
LaLaland
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i think comfest needs to hang up a giant sheet and have a movie/film area, my college used to do this, but it was usually john water's films since it was baltimore.
it could just be a different way to show the archives great old footage or some local filmmakers works. i volunteered in archives and think the history is overlooked by most festival goers. honestly never would have stumbled on it if i hadn't volunteered there, or known it existed, if it weren't for brothermarcus.

Posted 3 years ago #
LauraA
LaLaland
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oh, i should also state that i am amazed at the plethora of good bands here in columbus. some highlights: brainbow was awesome with the orchestra backing them, i really like this is my suitcase and pirate did a great job closing out the festivities.

Posted 3 years ago #
XLD
There's not even room enough to be anywhere
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The way I understand it, the pervading spirit of comfest is one of open arms to one and all. That would necessarily include the, to quote Basil Fawlty, riffraff. Is it possible to repel certain persons or behavior without violating the spirit of comfest? I suppose some of the suggestions have been geared toward accomplishing that by tweaking the focal points, but will anything that succeeds in maintaining the openness (e.g. accepting the free flow of alcohol and other drugs and nudity) be sufficient to repel the riffraff? (not that those things necessarily imply riffraff)
I'm not saying it's impossible. But this would seem to be the challenge of any changes to the festival.
Highlights for me:
-the Paul Brown Science Gravy Orchestra - reminiscent of Bill Frisell's East/West.
-the many solos by Eddie Bayard

Posted 3 years ago #
th0m
Beechwold
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yes. film.

Posted 3 years ago #
LauraA
LaLaland
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th0m wrote yes. film.
as i typed that i thought, i bet this is something that go getter thom can get behind.

Posted 3 years ago #
turnedNOTburned
Grandview/Columbus, Ohio
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Ok,
I have to bring up the topic of Breasts (of the female variety)
I thought it was kinda funny how mildly uncomfortable it made me trying to have a conversation with a topless woman. Its like trying to ignore the white elephant in the room. Don't get me wrong, I think its the ultimate in equality and dig the headspace around it, but, do they HAVE to be decorated so they they're noticed? (J/K)
They're just not things I'm used to seeing...
Good:
- as always, Volunteers. Had it not been for Comfest 2006 (my first ever show) and the opportunity/$$ from that, I wouldn't be where I'm at today with my craft. For that, I'm grateful
- setup/teardown seemed easier/faster this year
Bad
- dogs walking on the hot pavement of the afternoon sun - c'mon people...
- what was the message? Seemed like Comfest used to have a stronger sense of independent political speech - I didn't see war protesters marching/chanting, I didn't feel the energy of the "no planet - no party" theme of the previous, championing environmental or social preservation. Darfur/Tibet/Zimbabwe, who will be their voice? Animal Rescue organizations? I can't decide if its a matter of attendees not "getting" the message, or not "being" the message. Kinda a tail wagging the dog argument... I could go either way.
- In regards to the weather, Mother Nature - why do you hate us? ....oh yeah, sorry...
I'm hesitant to offer more criticism, because frankly, I don't have the balls to back it up with action. I've got other priorities involving the growth/promotion/support of the art/craft community and leveraging collective energies/goals to further their cause.

Posted 3 years ago #
michaelcoyote
!seabus
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Rocking The Suburbs wrote
dru wrote
- ferrets on strings creep me out
After taking my 5 year old to his first Com Fest (On Safe Sunday), we survived the downpour, enjoyed the company of someone with more metal in his face than one can buy at Lowe's, and explained why swimming in the pond was, in fact, not a great idea - the ferret on a string was the end of the day for him.
He screamed and fought off tears, yelling that it was hairy snake and he'd had "ENOUGH OF COM FESTIVAL"
that's a great story you can tease him with when he hits the teen years.. probably even sooner...
Rocking The Suburbs wrote
Overall - Com Fest takes on a whole new flavor when you bring a kid - not a bad flavor, just a different flavor.
Yeah, I met up with my cousin and his 9month old daughter, and she loved it (as much as she could from the blanket). It was definitely more fun to sit on a blanket under a tree and play with a kid and keep her entertained for an hour and chat with my cousin and brother than to walk around in the mud. On the other hand, next year, she'll be making mud pies with the other kids.

Posted 3 years ago #
brothermarcus
West Siiiide
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LauraA wrote
th0m wrote yes. film.
as i typed that i thought, i bet this is something that go getter thom can get behind.
who wants to start going to the monthly meetings and trying to plant this seed? I'm down for trying to pull this off, we lost out on a film Saturday night because our space/crowd wasn't big enough for the artist who brought his film to be screened - the original Comfest map we had with the datagang stuff had a section of Comfest just for film screenings, and I know there's no shortage of local people shooting film after this past weekend.

Posted 3 years ago #
GW_Justice
Grandview Hts.
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brothermarcus wrote
LauraA wrote
th0m wrote yes. film.
as i typed that i thought, i bet this is something that go getter thom can get behind.
who wants to start going to the monthly meetings and trying to plant this seed? I'm down for trying to pull this off, we lost out on a film Saturday night because our space/crowd wasn't big enough for the artist who brought his film to be screened - the original Comfest map we had with the datagang stuff had a section of Comfest just for film screenings, and I know there's no shortage of local people shooting film after this past weekend.
There is a long history of films being shown at the ComFest late at night after the stages are shut down, dating back to the 16th Ave location.
Andy Klein used to do films in Goodale park back in the late 80's or so.
I think it died out just for lack of people to do the organizing and such. So yes, do come to the ComFest meetings and make a suggestion that late night films return. As in most good ideas that are suggested to ComFest, taking charge of the organization of a film crew yourself will be the key to making it happen.

Posted 3 years ago #
roy
Downtown
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GW_Justice wrote Andy Klein used to do films in Goodale park back in the late 80's or so.
Did anyone see Andy standing at the edge of the Friends of Goodale/Turned&Burned booth handing out packets of free incense? It was fun to watch people's reactions, they just couldn't believe it was actually free, like they expected him to hit them up for a donation Hari Krishna style. Instead he kept repeating 'everyone likes sandalwood!'

Posted 3 years ago #