BillyDaMt wrote:
debutante_daisy wrote:
According to Trendy's sig, "Frank Zappa left the ZFT in Control of his Vaults and Artistic rights. We the fans are not in control. We have a choice to use our eyes and ears or read it and weep."
I beg to differ. WE the fans are in control of our choices regarding how we spend our time and money are we not? Unless ZPZ comes up with a fresh line each tour (i.e. new alumni perfomers)to warrant such a high ticket price for their show, I doubt I will fork over that kind of dough.
Yup vote with your wallet.
It is the most effective way.
Always.
Fans can go see Led Zeppelin, The Who or The Rolling Stones for $500. Eric "I'm God" Clapton and Steve Winwood tickets are $250 face. If anyone was interested or lucky to get em' through ticketbastard they were about $300 with charges. Ticket agents, the ones who always get the majority of tickets may want up to 1,000 for prime seats. Honestly I would not pay more than $100 to see any of these bands or any live entertainment in general but professional entertainment cost money and that is what ZPZ is. They are fairly priced where the promoters place them. With bands that have high demand bar band cover acts do not make that much of an impact on their touring unit sales but with Zappa the interest level is limited so even though the artistic integrity of performance standards is one thing that ZPZ delivers that covers do not how these cover bands affect demand for premium quality touring act like ZPZ is another quotient. In my economic analysis Cover acts do not promote ZPZ Concert sales. They diminish the demand of a professional act while at the same time they do not deliver artistic standards.
Radio has limitation on how many songs by an individual artist can be played consecutively. The same should hold true for Non-Official Cover bands playing someone else's music. They devalue the artists intellectual property.
Just because there are in the ballpark bands performing with alumni at garage band standards for 25 buck fans should not have expectations to see a professional act like ZPZ in a professional setting at bar band prices. ZPZ is priced fairly for what it is regardless of an alumni quotient.
As far as ZPZ
Unexpected perfection regardless of any Alumni Quotient but this fan vote with your wallet mindset seemed to have leaked into how they support the ZFT business because of fans fanatical desires for Alumni and or becoming there own executive publisher. From my memory how many Alumni were in Ensemble Moderne. Can I get a ZERO. It's about the music not the alumni. What musicians are used in the Canon evolved but now as we look at Zappa the composer the music is more important than alumni quotient ejectamenta. Hey alumni are a fun part of the ZPZ show but alumni does not make the music.
The ZFT are going to continue to follow production protocols. While we the fans may very well get specific projects that are top on the list of fanatical interest the fans can not set the production protocols for living on reproductive data.
Don't be no fool, don't be no dope
Common sense is your only hope
When the Fanaskeptasaureous tells you it's time to vote with your wallet
Tell the motherfucker to take a hike.
I don''t know Billy could you be unhappy about something? I am not quite sure. Most are pretty happy with how the project object is moving forward. I am not trying to be some hard ass but many fans seem to be harboring some boycott for ulterior motive/ hidden agenda.
I am not saying what you do but your comment certainly wants me to get some clarification on your stance. My guess would be if support for ZPZ diminishes so will yearly production on projects. Touring helps promote the business. I do expect DZ to spend some time in the near future on other projects but ZPZ is something very special and I for one am delighted regardless if they have Alumni. Now as far as what Alumni could be used there are some obvious choices that would be very interesting as a guest of ZPZ but unfortunately some of these obvious choices of interest have extreme difficulties in how they conduct there day to day life. A human being regardless of his life's accomplishments at one point in life does not guarantee he can perform at the required level at another point ion life. there are many factors that diminish performance. If they as an individual could focus their energies the way the core band does I'd welcome that with open arms but some of these alumni if not already deceased have problems that are outside the realm of just getting old and grey. I just don't think some of these alumni can take care of themselves on a daily basis never mind focusing their energies for what ZPZ requires. The resume does not get you the job. What you can deliver based on job requirements is a very big factor. The amount of focused energy and commitment on a daily basis for ZPZ is quite the task some just don't have what it takes to take care of themselves never mind what ZPZ requires.
ZPZ, Vaulternative & Zappa records is something most are thrilled about. Somehow all these weekly downloads and AUD trading sites get fans itching for something every week. The schedule of new releases and production quality of each and every ZFT business unit have all been top notch. It all takes time to do it right.
What have you done for me lately, for some this seems to be the agenda. Make Zappa's art my way with my alumni quotient variable... what percentage I don't know, be it what some fans expectations are in ZPZ or ZFT releases seems to be on some fanatical cycle shorter than a womans period. It cost time and money for each release. It takes time to get that return on investment. Some may very well not care how much money the ZFT have spent on upgrading UMRK, invest in engineering fro projects or the time and money that goes into ZPZ . To get each business unit to perform at the levels required takes a special type of investment. Leather is two tours old now. The fanaskeptqsaureous need to come up with some new shit. The complaints on how the ZFT are not filling the metaphorical needle wit the proper dose of their personally desired Zappa narcotic just makes no sense whatsoever. Some fans need to cease and desist ignorance. The artist is in control 100% not the fans and some union striking mind set. Frank made his art his way. No one was going to tell him how to run his business or how to make his art. If the fans liked the project fine. He took chances knowing very well certain projects would not have a return on investment.
Do the majority of fans not see how the ZFT are investing in getting a variety of engineering masters involved in new projects. They get paid. The same goes for ZPZ they are a top act. The core lineup is one of the most talented groups of musicians ever assembled to play Zappa music. Their diversity and execution to Zappa standards is unparalleled by any live Zappa touring lineup. They perform in promoter based theaters at normal prices. That type of tour costs money. They are not a bar band playing in some garage in Canarsie or on a lawn with flamingos in New Jersey. They are focused at their objectives and don't have outside influences getting in the way of what they must do on a nightly basis. They don't have the problems of the 1988 band be it personal or substance.
We as fans should remember the market feasibility for new Zappa products and touring is what it is. It's not like they are going to sell Platinum or sell out Madison Square Garden or Stadiums on any given project no matter how crazy the general fan base would be about any given project. There is over 80 projects to enjoy while others are works in progress. ZPZ with our without Alumni icing on the cake is amazing. Hey I like the icing don't get me wrong but the cake and filling has the substance of unparalleled density of any live zappa touring lineup. G-Spot Tornado and Dog-Meat is prime example of how that core band can achieve unexpected perfection with a 0% Alumni quotient. While ZPZ and Vaulternative/Zappa records are different business entities they fit together like a well oiled machine.
What I find important is how Gail as executive producer follows specific standards, regardless of if it's a selection of nuggets for such as the Corsaga's Joe's XMASage release or the Full Show releases such as Zappa Wazoo, Buffalo and FZ:OZ. Just because some fans may not be overjoyed with special nuggets such as Joe's XMASage does not change the production protocols for each project.
It seems if some fans would just be happy if they transfered these to digital format ASAP and sell them as cheap as possible. Fans should take a long hard look at the overall plan and not their immediate desires for specific material.
Juan Valdez suggests to wake up and smell the worlds finest optional entertainment.
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