M3 Rock Festival 2011 at Merriweather Post Pavilion

Mercedes at May 14, 2012 at 7:46 PM

Earl at May 14, 2012 at 2:33 PM

Pros - the lineup this year was great. I liked having two strong bands close this year instead of just one. The timing of May is making the event far more bearable, thus making it easier to do this for a two-day event. Traffic management leaving was the best yet.

Con: Merchandise. Some bands had a lot to sell, but I'm surprised more bands weren't selling stuff and that some of those who did ran out or didn't have anything larger than 1X shirts. If they'd had 2X, I've have bought at least two more shirts. But the selection was still good and the service time was excellent, so it still gets three stars of five from me.

As to those who complain about the VIP price, keep in mind you get a great view, a laid-back area to relax, making it easier to hold up for two days with little rest (come on, who goes to bed right after the Kix-off?) and a few free goodies. The more hard-core fans can do meet-and-greets (but I didn't) if they'd like. Nothing's perfect, but it's still by far a better value than paying $60 for just a couple of bands at a stand-up dive.

The problem with VIP is that row T is not a premium seat.  I was in BBB so I don't really care as far as that goes, but if I can hardly get an autograph, especially with the way they do the meet and greets now, the VIP section is TOO large.  SHRINK it M3!

Husband had made the comment about merchandise.  You would think the bands would push their new CDs.  I know shipping is a pain and costs...but if you happen to like the new stuff or discover you like a band, there isn't too many places to grab it...and you might put it off to order online when you get home.  I know there are a couple of discs we would have picked up if they were available.  If people are paying in upwards of $12 for a beer, certainly they will buy a cd...right?

I know from my exfriends playing last year that the bands are only allowed to sell 2 items max.  So maybe they had to make a choice and maybe the CD's werent done from being printed or whatever its called.

I would have loved to have known NIght Ranger participated in the meet n greet Friday night.  Love the guys in Enuff Z'Nuff but seen/met them several times.  NEVER met Night Ranger and they were one I really wanted to meet.  I understand they didnt post it in advance because bands are subject to change.  But we know that going in anyway.

Stevie at May 14, 2012 at 7:32 PM

 

The only con for me was that it seemed like most of the bands sets were a lot shorter then in past years. Some bands only played like 5 or 6 songs.I guess with no over lapping you get in return shorter sets

I thought that too.  I'd rather them run the stages at the same time. 

Pros- The festival itself. I've been all four years and even though everything with the festival is not perfect, I'm glad we  have a Kick Ass 80's festival that we can still go to and enjoy.

Cons- I went to the fisrt two Rocklahoma's and the one great thing that they did was when you showed your ticket to get in, you were given a wristband and that was the last time you had to pull your ticket out of your pocket the rest of the festival. I would love to see M3 use that method. Also I'm not a big fan of the side stage. I wish they would just start the festival at noon on Friday, keep the same amount of national acts, let them all plan on the main stage over the two days and have local bands play on the side stage.

Once again this is a GREAT festival and as long as it stays a 80's hair/ glam rock festival I will continue to go every year.    

Pros: good bands, good music and good times.

Cons: The people in the pavillion were a fuckin snore!!! This is what happens when the wealthier people get the good seats. The lawn people were rockin all weekend long!

Let the Bands OVERLAP if the Main Stage is not ready. ..XYZ played for 16 minutes NO thanks to no overlapping rule...Still angry.

All tha hataz!

Peeps, we're lucky that M3 brings some of our old bands from the 80s for us to see again (or for the 1st time).  It's not their fault if some bands' lineups change, and whatnot!

That said, this year's date was much better than last year's, weatherwise.  Although I don't know that the organizers can really control that.  But a May date is GENERALLY better weather than a June date!

Stick with MAy dates please - June is too hot...

I love M3 and I love Merriweather...have been all four years and hopefully many more.  However, with that said, I do think there are things that can be done to improve the festival overall.  The wristband idea should be implemented without question.  Having to pull tickets out every time you move back and forth from your seat to the grounds is a huge pain and the ticket usually ends up ruined by the end of the day for those who like to "save" them.  My biggest complaint about Merriweather, in general, continues YEAR AFTER YEAR to be the plumbing and the bathroom situation.  I heard more than several ladies comment that they are in such poor condition (and worsen throughout a long festival day) that they would prefer to do their business OUTSIDE.  I mean, really?!?  Even if the funds aren't there to do any capital improvements, more should be done to maintain the facilities throughout the day.  It is literally disgusting and unsanitary.  How about adding some hand sanitizing stations around as well?  It sure wouldn't hurt!  I just attended Orion in Atlantic City and they only provided portable potties but they were way cleaner and more sanitary at the end of two days than ANY concert I've EVER been to at Merriweather.  It's time to make some updates and improvements for the benefit of your loyal and paying customers.  Spending money on all those fancy lawn sculptures isn't really helping anyone, is it?. 

I always have complaints about the lack of merchandise but I understand that the bands' control much of this so I won't say too much on it except that there is never enough of a selection of quality, size, etc. to make it worth my while and practically nothing for the ladies, as evidenced by the lovely organization at M3 this year who makes its money by cutting up and adding safety pins to a perfectly good, brand new shirt just to make it current and suitable for a woman to wear.  Ridiculous.

Lastly, I really don't appreciate having to pay $14 for 2 chicken tenders and a small order of french fries.   I understand the monetary reality of having to pay the concessions/management company but come on!  You can't offer more affordable selections than that?  A little more creativity and variety and some assurances that they won't RUN OUT of things at day's end would certainly go a long way toward making the concertgoer's experience a little nicer. 

This festival is much less well-managed than other outdoor festivals/venues I've been to throughout the U.S.  There are just so many little things (like ditching the NO BACKPACK policy) that can be done to improve the experience overall.  It is a great venue but I find myself complaining more and more every time I go.

Pros:  The fact that there IS an M3 is pretty cool...especially since I live less than 10 minutes away!  Gotta love that.  Also love that they have KIX headline Friday nights.  Those guys rule...and have blown away the other bands every year (just my opinion). I also love the opportunity to get stuff signed. 

CONS:  I bought my VIP tix the INSTANT they went on sale and I was in Row R???  What's that about?  How is that VIP?  And because there were so many VIP tix sold, the line for the Meet N Greet was crazy long.  The only way to get stuff signed was to miss whatever band was playing at the time.  Oh well. 

Earl at May 14, 2012 at 2:33 PM

Pros - the lineup this year was great. I liked having two strong bands close this year instead of just one. The timing of May is making the event far more bearable, thus making it easier to do this for a two-day event. Traffic management leaving was the best yet.

Con: Merchandise. Some bands had a lot to sell, but I'm surprised more bands weren't selling stuff and that some of those who did ran out or didn't have anything larger than 1X shirts. If they'd had 2X, I've have bought at least two more shirts. But the selection was still good and the service time was excellent, so it still gets three stars of five from me.

As to those who complain about the VIP price, keep in mind you get a great view, a laid-back area to relax, making it easier to hold up for two days with little rest (come on, who goes to bed right after the Kix-off?) and a few free goodies. The more hard-core fans can do meet-and-greets (but I didn't) if they'd like. Nothing's perfect, but it's still by far a better value than paying $60 for just a couple of bands at a stand-up dive.

The bands were only allowed to sell 2 items and most of the bands had to pay to play. So the expense of having merch flown in was probably more than they could do. Bands on main stage had to pay like $5,000 side stage like $3,700. Something like that.

NO1AEROFAN at January 9, 2013 at 9:58 AM

Earl at May 14, 2012 at 2:33 PM

Pros - the lineup this year was great. I liked having two strong bands close this year instead of just one. The timing of May is making the event far more bearable, thus making it easier to do this for a two-day event. Traffic management leaving was the best yet.

Con: Merchandise. Some bands had a lot to sell, but I'm surprised more bands weren't selling stuff and that some of those who did ran out or didn't have anything larger than 1X shirts. If they'd had 2X, I've have bought at least two more shirts. But the selection was still good and the service time was excellent, so it still gets three stars of five from me.

As to those who complain about the VIP price, keep in mind you get a great view, a laid-back area to relax, making it easier to hold up for two days with little rest (come on, who goes to bed right after the Kix-off?) and a few free goodies. The more hard-core fans can do meet-and-greets (but I didn't) if they'd like. Nothing's perfect, but it's still by far a better value than paying $60 for just a couple of bands at a stand-up dive.

The bands were only allowed to sell 2 items and most of the bands had to pay to play. So the expense of having merch flown in was probably more than they could do. Bands on main stage had to pay like $5,000 side stage like $3,700. Something like that.

didn't you say that last year and a member of this forum whose band played the first slot of the day confirmed he did not pay to play and was never told such a thing

matt at January 10, 2013 at 6:05 AM

NO1AEROFAN at January 9, 2013 at 9:58 AM

Earl at May 14, 2012 at 2:33 PM

Pros - the lineup this year was great. I liked having two strong bands close this year instead of just one. The timing of May is making the event far more bearable, thus making it easier to do this for a two-day event. Traffic management leaving was the best yet.

Con: Merchandise. Some bands had a lot to sell, but I'm surprised more bands weren't selling stuff and that some of those who did ran out or didn't have anything larger than 1X shirts. If they'd had 2X, I've have bought at least two more shirts. But the selection was still good and the service time was excellent, so it still gets three stars of five from me.

As to those who complain about the VIP price, keep in mind you get a great view, a laid-back area to relax, making it easier to hold up for two days with little rest (come on, who goes to bed right after the Kix-off?) and a few free goodies. The more hard-core fans can do meet-and-greets (but I didn't) if they'd like. Nothing's perfect, but it's still by far a better value than paying $60 for just a couple of bands at a stand-up dive.

The bands were only allowed to sell 2 items and most of the bands had to pay to play. So the expense of having merch flown in was probably more than they could do. Bands on main stage had to pay like $5,000 side stage like $3,700. Something like that.

didn't you say that last year and a member of this forum whose band played the first slot of the day confirmed he did not pay to play and was never told such a thing

M3 is not pay-to-play... But it is true that each band was limited as far as the amount of merch it could sell.

As an artist who performed last year and hopes to be back this year, I can confirm that M3 is NOT pay-to-play. 

D-TOXIN at January 10, 2013 at 6:56 AM

matt at January 10, 2013 at 6:05 AM

NO1AEROFAN at January 9, 2013 at 9:58 AM

Earl at May 14, 2012 at 2:33 PM

Pros - the lineup this year was great. I liked having two strong bands close this year instead of just one. The timing of May is making the event far more bearable, thus making it easier to do this for a two-day event. Traffic management leaving was the best yet.

Con: Merchandise. Some bands had a lot to sell, but I'm surprised more bands weren't selling stuff and that some of those who did ran out or didn't have anything larger than 1X shirts. If they'd had 2X, I've have bought at least two more shirts. But the selection was still good and the service time was excellent, so it still gets three stars of five from me.

As to those who complain about the VIP price, keep in mind you get a great view, a laid-back area to relax, making it easier to hold up for two days with little rest (come on, who goes to bed right after the Kix-off?) and a few free goodies. The more hard-core fans can do meet-and-greets (but I didn't) if they'd like. Nothing's perfect, but it's still by far a better value than paying $60 for just a couple of bands at a stand-up dive.

The bands were only allowed to sell 2 items and most of the bands had to pay to play. So the expense of having merch flown in was probably more than they could do. Bands on main stage had to pay like $5,000 side stage like $3,700. Something like that.

didn't you say that last year and a member of this forum whose band played the first slot of the day confirmed he did not pay to play and was never told such a thing

M3 is not pay-to-play... But it is true that each band was limited as far as the amount of merch it could sell.

All I know is I was told by a band that did play there that they had to pay $5,000 to be on the main stage and that the side stage had to pay but less amount. The only bands that didnt have to pay would be like Night Ranger, Warrant, whoever the headliners,etc. I'm not in a band just know what they told me.