The Good:
-A decent crowd, unfazed by the relatively rotten weather. Indeed, some of the women-folk prospered with raingear sitting in their closets for God knows how long. Innovative and adaptive.
-The usual suspects of the regional brewing world, a Who's-Who if you will. Highland, Foothills, Catawaba among others. The Kashmir IPA from Highland ranked very high with yours truly.
-Plentiful and inexpensive merchandise. Kick-ass shirts for the most part, although pint glasses and other glassware were available at many tents.
- Several roaring cheers and toasts from approximately 5:15 to 5:45. Spontaneous and comradely. Easily this authors favorite moment of the day.
The Bad:
-Continued denial from the powers-that-be regarding the football schedule. Face it, UT football runs this town in the fall. There was an open date the weekend prior with better weather coincidentally. I forsee this being an issue in years to come with the rank-and-file target audience of these events.
-Food vendors were far less numerous this year. In basically what amounts to "Beerfest" you need more food for attendees, not less.
The Ugly:
Jesus Christ. Bad, bad idea. Some older women had gathered around these abandoned flops and prevented any attempt to break them loose. They may have been shit-faced. I certainly was.
Cheers!
"You've got talent kid, you don't have to work blue".
ReplyDeleteOr as Lenny Bruce said "If your going to work blue then you may as well start it early."
ReplyDeleteSKM
I don't think football will be such a big issue. I did not see that many people huddled around the TV set at the jam. weather could happen anytime.
ReplyDeleteWith that terrain I didn't see anyone up around the tenst but I did see plenty around that tv.
ReplyDeleteIf the team improves you most definiely will see 18-34 males staying back to watch a game like Bama. Someo ther game might get passe d over but not Bama. I do think it will be a conflict.
18-34 year old males, I mean. The prime demographic for both booze and football
ReplyDeleteAnonymous,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your contribution, although I respectfully disagree. Here's why:
I am guilty of using hindsight, but the fact is the weather WAS better the week before. Locals here can tell you about the miniature seasons that we have here...Blackberry Winter, Indian Summer etc. If you don't think a week or two can make a difference, ask the Dogwood Arts Festival from the mid-90's on. How many articles in the KNS I did read year after year where the leadership of the DAF would blame the weather for substandard attendance. What was only marginally reported is that a large number of the community urged the DAF to move the festival to avoid the yearly rain and cold, but to no avail. I merely urge the folks that conduct the jam to take advantage of the traditionally mild early weeks of October. Last year was a week earlier and it was gorgeous.
To answer your other point, you are right that a good portion of the brewing community doesn't care about football. But we also know many brewers(first name basis at that) that do care. We heard it last year when some vendors wanted AC access to run a TV during the UGA game. This year at the brewer's reception we heard it as well.
You may have not seen a lot of people at that TV, but the fact that there was one at all down there should tell you people cared about it. When I was in that area, you couldn't see the screen it was so crowded. Also saw plenty of UT gear on people of all ages(not just the 18-34 male demographic) including some folks rocking old-school leather. We even met one UT track letterman in full regalia.
You are right it might not matter if the Vols are playing a night game or lesser opponent, but October is CBS 3:30 kickoff heaven.
In short, how many drunks of college and early adult age will look at the rising ticket price of the jam, coupled with less of those tickets(starting this year) and decide to remain home in front of the plasma?
I myself stayed at home and enjoyed many, many, MANY bloody marys while watching the tense action in HD.
ReplyDeleteI have read many books on WWI...The only difference I see in the BJ and The Somme was the lack of machine guns and the presence of hippies.