Mike, I agree with your comments on 2039 being out of the loop and Club One as a nice venue. Some other thoughts:
* The Smokehouse seemed a little detached from the other venues, both in geography and the lack of acts there. A more complete lineup there would have helped.
* The other indoor venues were also outstanding. I'm not so sure about using the roof of the Spiral Garage. I saw a lot of acts there, and it was pretty cold by night's end. Also, 10-20 people up there watching some of the earlier shows looked like a tomb.
* The DJ scene at The Loft was a highlight. Very nice touch.
* Seemed like more of a late crowd, and some of the acts early in the day may have drawn better crowds if their shows were more in prime time.
* I'd like to see more shows starting on the half hour. That's better than having the dead time in the 15-25 minutes before the top of the hour when bands are setting up without much going on.
* The Downtown Club might make a nice venue, and there could possibly be some other prospective locales On Kern Street.
* It was nice to see a focus on a place where things ARE happening -- Van Ness -- rather than forcefeeding things to where we want them to happen -- the Fulton Mall. The city's downtown folks would do well to pick up on this theme.

My son and I also attended last year, and this was definitely an improved effort and something to build on.

I completely agree about signage, as someone who comes up from the South Valley, I'm not as familiar with some of the venues, so I just followed people with the orange wristbands.

Loved 40 Watt Hype, but I wish the venue had been more conducive to dancing. With all of the lights up, and the bar hidden behind a fake plant in the back corner, it felt reluctant. Sorry best word I could think of.

I really loved the spiral garage as a venue, and wish I had been prepared for the chilly night. What could be better that listening to a great band, under the stars, whilst gazing at the cityscape of downtown.

It's still a little scary, though to be a single lady walking around downtown by yourself. Signs and better lighting.

I thought the re:FUSE fest as a whole was awesome! I saw quite a few bands I was really impressed with. I was drawn to the festival to catch Down Word and 40 Watt Hype. I was able to watch Buffalo Guns, Down Word, Super Lucky Catz, Jay Rossette Project, Motel Drive, 40 Watt Hype and a few DJ's at the Loft. I was most impressed with Down Word, though 40 Watt Hype rocked it as usual.

Things I would change...I thought Joe's Steakhouse was a little small. It seemed like a more intimate setting for jazz music rather than rock. No one was rockin with the bands...kind of hard to do at the small venues.

Maybe having a shuttle to go to the farther locations like Tokyo Garden or the Smokehouse would have been a good idea.

It was actually my first time visiting many of the downtown venues and I love what downtown has to offer! I was very impressed with Fresno's music scene and I can't wait until next year!!

The party at the lofts was amazing, I wish we could have more up there. Plus I met the owner and she was a very interesting lady.

Very first thing I noticed was the venue at Club One and wondered "why don't they have more shows here?" (unless I never hear about them) It has a good stage with decent lights, fits a good amount of people and it even has a bar.
I don't even remember how many times I walked by 2039. I seen Mike Oz more than half of those on our way back and forth. It should have definitely been a venue (I realize is may not be easy). Also If I remember correctly when they first came around they did feature a few bands. Super Lucky Cats I think played there.

Suggestion: Maybe some outside performers (other than the top of the spiral) I'm thinking not so loud bands in areas like the empty lot near Club One and or some of those in-between fulton mall little side streets. Places where people will commonly walk by back and forth. I think this will make it more lively outside.

Great stuff guys, keep the comments coming, we are listening.

For the record, we tried to get 2039 as a venue, but they weren't interested - maybe this will change their mind for 2010.

I like the idea of more signage and as Israel suggested, maybe some action outside to keep it lively----like maybe some roaming buskers (something we won't have to get permits for would be best).

All in all, as a worker in the fest, I was happy with the results, but I do appreciate the suggestions thrown out---I think 'the committee' is supposed to meet soon and debrief, and also consider how to make it even better next time.

Big thanks to the many volunteers who helped the thing actually work!

And the sound guy Brian and co. at top the spiral---what a great system and great people--and those guys worked allll day and night!

did chuck dimes cut his act short?

HEy Mike,
How would one sign up to be apart of this festival next year? or do you have to be invited to play?

I know this that is a grass roots festival, which I think it's awesome..and there's alot of really good people putting all this together ..and volunteering lots of time..so I hope I don't offend anyone at all, I just have good intentions with my suggestions(yes i know.. "good intentions pave the road to hell")

I'm probably dead wrong on everything...it's just how I would do things..but I'm just all talk, so it doesn't mean much, but for what its worth, here goes:

LAYOUT -
I think everything is too spread out. I feel bad for out of towners coming to the FUSE, I'm sure they were lost. VIsalia's VAM festival is much more friendly in this aspect. Personally I think it would be cool to use the fulton mall itself. LIke have two big stages on each end and have mini stages in between. You could have one big stage near where fulton plaza used to be and and one stage on the other end. And maybe just keep it to a two block minimum so everything is not so sprawled out and everything is more visible and easy too see so you know exactly where to do.

PROMOTION -
It'd be nice to get the publicity up and running a little better. I know its hard to do all this with no budget and try to create all the hype from nothing, but it can be done. I'm not sure if anyone tried to get radio support on a mainstream level? but also places like 90.7 ..88.1..91.5...and bug the crap out of Ray Appelton until he gives in..like I did.

Also more tv exposure...with all the acts and volunteers, there should been exposure on every single station. I know commercials can be expensive, but most of the local stations are willing to help if you come to them with a good pitch.

Again this year, I talked to MANY people who knew nothing about it, which was my experience last year as well. And as much as you can sit and blame the people of Fresno for not coming out...its doesn't do any good, because in the end...well...they didn't come out, and the majority didn't know it was happening.

--MORE VARIETY
I've like to see more variety in the music..don't get me wrong there was some...but 1 or 2 jazz acts wouldn't hurt, Basura was a start..but there's a rock en espanol scene in the valley that seems to get NO love from the majority. I think if you could get a 'classical music cafe' that would be the only venue indoors(because of volume issues) that is right near everything it would be pimpish. Also maybe the idea of having a singer/songwriter stage. ..
to make the variety work...maybe have 8 stages..and each is reserved for a genre..like jazz , and another for latin/mexican/in that realm...i saw that FUSE did this with DJ's in the Loft. but once again, you have to work way to hard to get to these places..they need to be closer. i just think have acts that play on a certain stage based on genre is so cool.

--EARLIER BOOKING AND INFO AVAILABLE

I know its alot of work..but I think all the bands should be booked and given a time that they are going to play at LEAST a month and a half ahead...and it is quickly put up for the public to see. Of course changes happen, but the earlier the better on this...getting those times up the week of is just not acceptable, in my opinion.

Better info needs to be given on where everything is and what venue are used. Maybe I'm stupid( I kinda am) ..but I had a difficult time finding this info, which probably means others did too.

-- RE:FUSE MINI EVENTS DURING THE YEAR

I think having RE:FUSE mini concerts throughout the year like the ROGUE Festival does is good for a few reasons. It keeps the name in the public eye throughout the year, and for the many people who haven't heard of the festival they not only learn about it, but it builds anticipation for the actual festival. and EXPOSURE EXPOSURE EXPOSURE.

--BEER
if you moved the festival to the fulton mall, you have to have a beer garden. Beer and Music Festivals go hand in hand, they just do. Plus there's alot of money in it, so you can probably get the beer donated.(its been done)

Although I wasn't in town for the weekend of Re:Fuse, I'm pretty sure I agree with Patrick on most major points cuz I was thinkin' the same thing as it came closer to event time.

More of a variety in music, stages in closer proximity, and more of an advanced notice (if at all possible) on who's performing.

Beer Garden sounds nice and 2039 makes me mad every time I think about that wasted space.

Anyway, I'm glad we have a successful music festival. I'll try my best to make it out next year.

~Rell.

First, I love love love the spiral garage as a venue for more acts throughout the year. Monthly at least, during the seasons that permit it. Did you hear me? I said I love it.

Some things for your consideration:

1 - Signage is a must. If one were driving through town, and did not know about the event, they would drive right past the venues and have no idea what was happening indoors.

2 - Tickets at the door for individual concerts. While $15 is a steal for 40+ bands, sometimes you just have time for 1 or 2 and I think people would be quick to pitch in $2 at the door. If you consider that residual cash, I'm willing to wager that you'll get 30% of your overall cash from two-dollar tickets.

3 - Move the ticket tent to the street to draw attention to it. I love the spiral (see above), but having the main booth up there served no one.

4 - Wider reach. this one is hard, but Patrick is right. I don't think many people knew about it. Twitter and Facebook are neat tools, but they don't reach the people that are ready to open their wallets. Not to mention, you're advertising to the same people that put it together. You want a quick way to gather some heads? Print a flyer with a $3 coupon and give it to every high school band director in the valley to hang in their band room. Then, to attract a slightly older set, offer a free beer to anyone flashing a Fresno State or City College ID at the venue of their choice.

Anyway, those are my two. I love music, and I love festivals, but I had to duck out of this one early on account of the Caruthers Fair.

For starters, I had a f-ing blast!

The DJ Loft, spiral garage, club one, and all of the acts that I saw were amazing.

However, a more consolidated fest would be an improvement. Because last year was smaller, the venues were closer. I liked the journey from the different venues last year. It was nice running into/chatting with other (inebriated) fest goers. This year, since the acts were spread out, fest-goers used many different pathways to get around. So while inside the venues were hoppin, outside was definitaly more desolate than last year.

maybe start and end the fest later next go around

Joes's and Heroes, while I love them, aren't good small venues.

Oh and promotion. While the blogosphere (sorry, I hate that word too)was very well educated about the re.fuse details, most Fresnans were left in the dust. If the purpose of re.fuse was to promote local music, local establishments, and downtown to unaware Fresnans, then the fest was a failure. But it was a party and a half for those who love and seek out local music, local establishments and downtown Fresno.

Speaking as someone on the organizing committee, I do know that all the comments and suggestions are highly welcome. I also know that one of the ideas of the FUSE festival is to focus on existing venues---not only does it make it easier for us (no extra permits, etc.) but it also holds the hopes that we introduce some folks to some restaurants/venues that they may not have already explored.
--this is a contrast to the sort of festival that sets up along the Fulton Mall outside--does a whizbang cool thing--and then is gone without necessarily impacting the businesses in the area.
(The Spiral Garage of course, stands in direct contrast to this idea---it was introduced at first because we thought we'd lost *all* of our venues on the other side of the Mall (Milano, Cafe' Corizon and Smokehouse), but then Smokehouse was not, in fact, out of it. The Spiral Garage turned into, in my own opinion, The Jewel in the Crown---a place that caught people's interest and imagination.

------so, centrality and walkbality are all ideals we're into, but we're limited by venues and their location.

On a personal level I agree *heartily* with those that suggest we :

* get the sponsorship side of festival-throwing together

*create more visibility through signage

* try to communicate *outside* of the folks who are already tuned in to Tower/Downtown activities.

I do not doubt that these will be high up on the list of goals for Year Three.

----we're definately learning as we try and build this happy little beast.

City: sponcer this event once a month. Sick of useless talk, do something that actually works.

Some of the downtown buzz came from the hundreds of motorcycles and the thousands of people came Fresno and throughout the state that came for the annual bike run. The Half Way Run is where ALL the bike clubs from San Diego, LA, LV and all the bike clubs from the Bay meet 'half-way' in Fresno.

The clubs anticipated approximately 5,000 participants, some which came downtown for food/dining, the clubs and to lodge during the weekend.

It was great that FUSE, the Fuego soccer game, and the bikers were all downtown this weekend.

As usual for Fresno, the venue I visited (the Sprial Garage) had a crappy turnout. Here's my gripe, and it's the same gripe I have about the Rogue Festival-- too many venues for too few people. Why have five venues when none of them are going to be even half full? Why not take the best three sites and spread the event out over two days? Same with the Rogue, who can possibly see all the performers they desire when there are eight or nine venues running each night?

Second gripe: I don't watch tv or listen to the radio so someone help me out here-- where was the FUSE advertised? Local public radio only? Why? Those listeners are the ones who already know about the festival! If the FUSE wants to step it up to the next level, they are going to need to find some additional cash to advertise on the teevee and the mainstream radio stations.

We (The Neptunes) had a great time at RE:FUSE

(Just for the record... does anybody know what refuse is?
–noun
1.something that is discarded as worthless or useless; rubbish; trash; garbage.
–adjective
2.rejected as worthless; discarded: refuse matter.)

Certainly not this event! There seemed to be bigger more diverse audiences, and a high caliber of music acts as well. Thanks for including us! A special thanks to Blake, who really keeps music alive in Fresno...

Tom