Dan Hays, IBMA Executive Director, reports that the cumulative attendance over the course of the week was 22,790 – up 21.2% from the previous year. This figure includes each actual entry to the various events, and week long attendees will have been counted repeatedly in this figure. The stat is still a useful one in helping the IBMA track the actual traffic on site during the week.

During the Monday-Thursday Business Conference (10/24-27), 1918 unique attendees were registered, with 6591 cumulative visits over that time – an increase of 10.4%. Some other interesting numbers from the Business Conference:

• 91 Exhibitors
• 19 Showcasing Artists (Avg. Attendance – 700/Show)
• 306 “After Hours” Artist Showcases
• 21 Professional Development Seminars (Attendance up 38%)
• 148 Mentor Sessions on 30 topics
• 510 “Gig Fair” Appointments (Event producers and Artists/Agents)

The Awards Show at The Ryman Auditorium on 10/27 had a sold out attendance of 2,189 and has subsequently been broadcast on more than 390 IBMA Radio Network affiliates, up 18% from last year. They estimate the total audience for these broadcasts at greater than 25 million worldwide.

The weekend Fan Fest (10/28-30) reports 5630 unique attendees, with 14,010 cumulative over the three days – up 33.2%. More than 40 acts performed on four stages and 89 exhibitors were set up in the exhibit hall.

All in all, the numbers seem to be representative of positive trends for the association and their efforts to promote both bluegrass music and the artists, businesses and instrument manufacturers that support it.

IBMA has also announced the confirmed dates for the next two years’ conventions in Nashville:

• 2006: September 25-October 1
• 2007: October 1-7

Mike reports that they raised over $12,000 during the Fan Feast and Auction, held on October 29 in Nashville, but some of that will be absorbed by hotel costs. This event, where bluegrass luminaries serve breakfast to those who attend the event, was a staple of the early days of the IBMA convention in Owensboro, and it was brought back this past week for IBMA’s debut event in Nashville.

The funds generated by ticket sales went mostly to the costs associated with hosting the event (food, room rental, etc) with only about $2 from each $30 ticket making its way into the museum’s coffers. The bulk of the monies raised at the Fan Feast came from the auction proceeds.

The Museum’s VOHP is crucial work, dedicated to chronicling the lives of 223 performers which they have designated as being a part of the First Generation of bluegrass artists. As we prepare to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the birth of bluegrass music in 2006, we realize the importance of reaching the remaining pioneers of our music whose contributions have not been amply recorded and preserved in a timely manner.

Mike especially asked that we make an appeal on behalf of the Museum that anyone with a bluegrass or bluegrass music-related web site consider placing a copy of the Museum logo on their site, along with a link to the IBMM site to help spread the word about the VOHP, and their need to raise the requisite funds as quickly as possible.

To the IBMA,

I would like to thank you for the two awards that I received this past Thursday, October 27th at The Ryman Auditorium. It was a dream come true for me to have the honor of being named “Dobro Player Of The Year,” and also have my CD Slide Effects named “Instrumental Album of the Year.” I can’t even begin to tell you all the emotions that one feels when you hear your name called. I always dreamed of one day getting an IBMA award, but like I said, I only dreamed. I never thought in a million years this could happen to me! I am also very proud knowing that I am only the third recipient of the IBMA’s Dobro Player Of The Year Award. I feel so lucky to be in the presence of both Jerry Douglas and Rob Ickes who were the only players to ever win this award. I hope that I can carry it with the same dignity, class, and respect that they both have. I was also very honored to share the ballot with Mike Auldridge and Randy Kohrs, two players that I admire very much, and deserve this just as much as I do.

I also want to personally thank all the members of the IBMA, who voted for me this year on such a tough ballot. I want to thank all the radio personalities and stations, who added me to their play lists. Thanks also to the fans and friends who have supported me during the 32 years I have spend in this business.

Not only winning these two awards, but also getting to accept them on the stage of the world famous Ryman Auditorium made the event even more awesome!

I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart.

Sincerely,

Phil Leadbetter
2005 IBMA “Dobro Player of the Year”
2005 IBMA “Instrumental Recording of the Year”

Visit Phil online: www.unclephilonline.com www.wildfireband.com

The Nashville Metro Police department has recovered two stolen instruments. A banjo and a mandolin. If anyone wants to claim them they should contact Detective Mavity at 615-862-7611.

The Nashville police must be somewhat hip to bluegrass, since they contacted The Station Inn with the news. It isn’t clear whether these recovered instruments may have been stolen from or at the IBMA convention, but if anyone did suffer such a loss while attending the event, hopefully this will lead them back home.

Dan said that the trade show looked to have increased registration by about 7%-8%, and that attendance at Fan Fest was up in the order of 40%! I’m sure that the actual attendance figures will be released when final accounting has been completed

Those are great numbers, and everyone involved in planning and promoting the event should take a bow.

IBMA 2005 is now over. Most of us are home and sleeping in our own beds again. John and I had a lot of conversations throughout the week about the event, and people’s impressions of it. Overall, it seems that attendees found a lot of good things that happened with this year’s move to Nashville. There were also a few downsides that were mentioned.

Perhaps the biggest positive we saw was the increased focus on the “business conference” aspect of the event. That was a point raised repeatedly by exhibitors and folks who work in the industry, and as a business person in attendance myself, I appreciated the increased security and the clamp down on unregistered persons crashing the event. There are festivals all year long where a focus on jamming and hanging out are part of the scene, but the IBMA Trade Show is not meant to be the place for that. Nothing wrong with jamming, I enjoy it myself. It’s part of the music and should be facilitated, but might perhaps not be the primary reason people attend during the week. The increased focus on this being a business conference made it eminently easier to conduct business.

The Fan Fest on Friday through Sunday is slightly different, and jamming may play a larger role in that portion of the event, but a number of complaints were heard – from both pickers and business people – that a way needs to be found for both groups to coexist without either inconveniencing the other.

One suggestion that we heard about the Fan Fest is the idea that it either run only on Friday and Saturday, or perhaps end by 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. This last day of IBMA week has always been a “get away day,” and the stage show and the exhibit area both have a “also ran” vibe on Sunday that suggests an element of non seriousness, especially to someone who might attend for only that day.

We heard nothing but praise about the trade show exhibit area this year. The space is plenty large with ample room for growth, and the layout allows everyone to get good exposure without some booths being relegated to an adjunct room that is not visited as often. Traffic through the aisles was less hectic and we did not hear from a single exhibitor with serious complaints, or a preference for the exhibit space in The Galt House.

Also generating mostly positive feedback was the effectiveness of the new showcase arrangement. Instead of holding after hours showcases in hotel rooms this year, these were conducted in designated breakout or meeting rooms in the conference center, or in similar rooms in the Renaissance Hotel. All of them I attended had a sound system, with someone running it, and plenty of seating. This is a huge improvement which brings an enhanced level of professionalism to the showcase environment. Some missed the intimacy of the old arrangement, but it’s hard to invite industry pros to your big event, and then ask them to sit on the floor.

The one area that generated the most negative responses was the Thursday evening Awards Show. The historical significance of holding it at the Ryman can’t and shouldn’t be discounted, but seating there is very limited, and the seats aren’t particularly comfortable for a long program. In addition to that, the backstage area is so small that the logistics are problematic for a show with so many stage changes.

The biggest complaint we heard, though, is more with the presentation of the show itself. The talent level on stage was staggering, and no one suggested otherwise. All the best in our business were there, but we heard from dozens of people in attendance that we did not showcase them very well. John and I were in a conference room on the second floor watching a video feed and listening to, what I’m fairly positive, was the audio feed that went to XM satellite radio. It wasn’t good. Did we have someone who knows bluegrass, and sound, in the truck mixing that feed?

We also heard frustrated comments suggesting that the overall professionalism of the show left much to be desired. The pacing often seemed quite slow, and much of the show was described by attendees as feeling a bit disorganized. While some found Ricky Skaggs and Alison Krauss charming and amusing, many others found the flippancy and “cornball” humor to be inappropriate for an event of this type. Wichita Rutherford is funny, and perhaps we should leave that to him or people like him. One prominent bluegrass radio personality commented to us that Ricky and Alison looked like second graders trying to read the teleprompter. These shouldn’t be seen as personal criticisms of our hosts this year, as their main MC gigs are very different than this sort of scripted show, and they were asked to manage a show that may have been outside their comfort zone.

The need for a host or hosts who are experienced in this sort of presentation, and know how to pace a show, was brought up many times. In fact, it was mentioned to us several times that the show flowed most smoothly during the times that Eddie Stubbs was announcing. That is exactly what he does as his profession, and there are few better.

In frank discussions with some industry types – both individuals involved in IBMA week, and who put on shows of this nature on a larger scale – it was pointedly suggested that we might be well served to involve a production company that has shown an ability to control and effectively manage a presentation like ours. The sadness I heard expressed several times was that if Thursday evening was our chance to impress Nashville, we may have failed.

People could be seen leaving as the show progressed, and we heard plainly angry reactions over the next few days from people who had felt annoyed or even insulted by aspects of the show. People in the balcony who wanted to concentrate on the show reported that many in attendance were eating, drinking and talking almost as though they were at a club.

I think we would all love to see the award show televised. The increased attention that would draw to the music could only be beneficial. Bluegrass music is its own best ambassador, and can speak volumes in its own favor. All we have to do is get it in front of people. We can’t do that if the powers that be in television and the larger entertainment industry don’t take us seriously. The fear we heard expressed was that they won’t if we continue to act like we don’t know what we are doing.

No one who voiced these complaints or fears had any doubt but that the IBMA board and staff would be eager to learn of these concerns, and would work diligently with the membership to find solutions. Our intention is only to engage in that conversation.

Comments are enabled on this post, so please share your thoughts, opinions, concerns, or suggestions about IBMA’s first year in Nashville, or any of the more specific issues raised.

This morning, we found one on the BBC News web site, originally posted on Friday October 28. What a marvelous thing to see our IBMA covered in so many areas of the new media, and so soon after the awards were announced.

We would love to post any other links that people may find, especially any additional coverage in the US entertainment-specific media. Please send us anything you may find via our Response Form.

This has been a terrific week for The Bluegrass Blog. The positive response we have received from artists and businesspeople in the bluegrass community has been very encouraging, and the dramatic increase in site visits and your comments to us via our Response Form have been a shot in the arm as well.

We have recorded several hours worth of interviews here at IBMA which we will soon begin releasing in the form of a weekly podcast. We still have some technical and administrative details to conclude, but hope to have our first podcast with IBMA week interviews available next week.

Thanks to everyone who spent some time with us online this week.

After all the speculation and rumor about the Lonesome River Band was dispelled by Sammy, I was curious to go hear LRB. What a show! The addition of Barry Berrier on bass is a very good thing. The man can sing. And his bass playing was right where it needed to be. Sammy was fired up and driving it to the wall. With Mike Hartgrove gone LRB is a four piece again and the energy was amazing. It was the best show I’ve seen in quite some time.

I also caught Alison Krauss & Union Station. What can I say? They really are as good as you think they are. Their stage show is better than the record, and I don’t say that about just anybody.

Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder took the stage and lived up to the Instrumental Group Of The Year award, which they won for the seventh time thursday evening. It’s a very powerful show. Jim Mills also confirmed our faith in him as our Banjo Player Of The Year. And of course he was sporting the famous Jim Mills smile the whole time.

Closing the show was The Del McCoury Band. Del was in fine form last night as he took requests from an enthusiastic audience. He and the boys played some stuff from their newest record, but they did a lot of older stuff as well. It was a great show and the crowd was fired up, especially considering the late hour. The show had been running about 45 minutes late all evening, but Del didn’t cut the show short at all. I got the impression he would have stayed all night had he not been so tired. He said he had been talking so much this week that his voice was starting to give out a little bit. All of us that have been here for the entire week completely sympathize with that.

Over all it was a great first day of Fan Fest 2005. The crowd was quite large. The hall that is the home of this year’s Fan Fest strikes me as considerably larger than the ballroom at the Galt House was, and yet it was full to overflowing last night. That’s a great sign for the future of this event, and for bluegrass music in general.

The Nashville City Paper had a story earlier in the week about the IBMA Business Conference, and a new one yesterday about the Fan Fest.

The Herald Dispatch in Huntington, WV has a story about Don Rigsby being recognized as producer for Larry Sparks’ Recorded Event Of The Year and Album Of The Year awards for 40

Here is a link to the story filed by John Gerome of The Associated Press, with whom we shared the makeshift “press room” at The Ryman on Thursday night. It’s from The Washington Post’s online side.

The selections of Cherryholmes, Phil Ledbetter twice, and Bryan Sutton for major awards by the members of IBMS says a great deal about their commitment to the future. Awards ceremonies like the Academy Awards, The Emmies, the Grammies, and CMA frequently take the easy road by giving major awards to performers whose best work is in the past and, they believe, deserve to be recognized by their industry for past accomplishments.

IBMA members have taken a very different approach. They have said that bluegrass music is a young, vigorous, growing form that must reach out to a young audiences with music that appeals to them. At the same time, they continue to honor bluegrass tradtions by giving major awards to Ricky Skaggs and Doyle Lawson.

Few people would argue that Bela Fleck and Jerry Douglas are not the foremost masters of their instruments. They have received recognition for their work and the continued adulation of the bluegrass community. By awarding Jim Mills and Phil Ledbetter, the members of IBMA have said that the world of bluegrass is broad and includes many important musicians beyond the easy choices.

The variance between the awards actually given and those voted for in the Bluegrass Blog poll suggest that IBMA members are more forward looking than the fans voting in the popularity contest sponsored by this blog. That’s an interesting outcome that in no way diminishes the important contribution made by bluegrass blog.

Ted Lehmann

So, share with us your thoughts and opinions of last night’s awards. Please remember that John and I are on site at the IBMA Fan Fest, therefore comment moderation may be delayed slightly.

Instrumental Performers of the Year

Special Awards – These are awarded by special committee

• Bluegrass Broadcaster of the Year – Cindy Baucom; “Knee Deep in Bluegrass” syndicated program; Elkin, N.C.


• Bluegrass Event of the Year – WinterGrass; Tacoma, Wash.; Feb. 2005
• Bluegrass Print Media Person of the Year – Stephanie P. Ledgin, author of Homegrown Music: Discovering Bluegrass (Greenwood Publishing
  Group)


• Best Graphic Design for a Recorded Project – Wayne Brezinka (designer),Various Artists, The Unbroken Circle: The Musical Heritage of the Carter Family, Dualtone Records


• Best Liner Notes for a Recorded Project – Jon Hartley Fox (liner notes), Red Allen, Lonesome and Blue: The Complete County Recordings, Rebel Records

We are working on getting some photos up from last night. We have a LOT of photos and we are trying to choose the ones that best represent the spirit of the event. Dan Loftin and Tami Roth both worked hard last night, as they have all week, to capture essence of the Awards Show in photos, and they did a wonderful job.

We will also be publishing an analysis of the winners, with some thoughts and opinion, as well as a comparison of last night’s awards to the winners of The Bluegrass Blog Awards Poll.

The exhibit area opens in about 2 hours, and we’ll be heading down to record some reactions from the fans and performers alike.

Stand by…

Sorry for the server problems. That is first thing on the list when we get back to the hotel – as soon as we grab some dinner!

We hope it wasn’t a major annoyance, and thanks for spending Awards Show night with The Bluegrass Blog. We have a ton of photos which we will get uploaded as soon as we can.

The Bluegrass Broadcaster Of The Year for 2005 is:

The Best Graphic Design for a Recorded Project for 2005 is:

The Best Liner Notes for a Recorded Project for 2005 is awarded to:

Del McCoury then rendered I Hear A Sweet Voice Calling with Alison Krauss cutting the tenor part.

For their final number the ensemble tore into a rousing rendition of Bluegrass Breakdown.