Street Scene Loses Name, Sponsorship of Michelob
As so often happens with worthy local attractions that develop into major public events, the Michelob Street Scene is experiencing some growing pains. As the two-day music-and-food festival gears up for its ninth annual installment (lineups for the Sept. 11 and 12 festival in downtown’s Gaslamp Quarter will be announced later this summer), one significant change is almost assured: the name “Michelob” will be lopped off the title of the event, which from now on will be known as the “San Diego Street Scene.”
Local entrepreneur Rob Hagey--Street Scene’s producer since its inception in 1984--and Coast Distributing, local distributors of Michelob and Budweiser, had a two-year agreement giving Coast first right of refusal on Hagey’s proposal for an increased title sponsorship budget. On Jan. 31, the day the contract was to expire, Coast informed Hagey that they wouldn’t be renewing their involvement in the event.
Hagey acknowledged in a phone interview Monday that the relationship between the event and its longtime title sponsor (Michelob) has changed because of that most divisive of issues: money.
“It’s gotten to the point where it takes almost a million dollars to produce Street Scene,” Hagey said, “and, frankly, the event has outgrown Coast’s sponsorship role. Last year, we just squeaked by, financially speaking, so we knew we needed to ask for more sponsorship money to maintain the event’s integrity.”
Coast’s decision put Hagey in the position of going out and drumming up what sponsorship he could in a short time, Hagey said.
“A number of potential sponsors, especially the ‘beer’ sponsors, couldn’t believe that Michelob was no longer involved,” Hagey said. “They’d been with us right from the beginning, and for a long time Street Scene has been looked upon as one of Michelob’s premier events.”
Besides looking for another title sponsor, Hagey decided both to incorporate the city’s name into the event and to seek out sponsors to underwrite individual performance stages (last year’s Street Scene featured 10 stages; this year’s might have more). Hagey claimed that the response from potential sponsors has been very good--even Budweiser might return as a stage sponsor--and he feels that the lack of a title sponsor might actually prove to be an advantage.
“Having a title sponsor can be limiting as far as certain possibilities are concerned,” he said. “The idea is to open up the event to more opportunities, and stage sponsorship is the best way to create greater flexibility.”
Hagey explained that it can be much easier to satisfy a sponsor’s needs on an individual-stage basis, as might happen if a company wanted to align itself with the surge in popularity of country-Western music by sponsoring that particular stage.
“For another example, a tequila company might balk at sharing title sponsorship of the whole event with a beer company, but they might be perfectly willing to sponsor an individual stage,” he said.
Hagey isn’t ruling out the possibility that a corporate entity will yet come forward with enough money to be the Street Scene’s title sponsor, but he insisted that such an arrangement would be conditional.
“There would have to be an understanding that the event has its own direction and character,” he said. “It’s important to establish a sense of teamwork that makes it a win-win situation for both parties.”
Hagey also intimated that the 1992 Street Scene could have some new features.
“We’re always looking to be creative with the music we add to the event,” he said. “This year, we’re hoping to put together a Gospel tent, which we think would have tremendous on-site appeal, and which certainly would be in keeping with the current artistic direction of the festival itself. But, again, in order to present this music properly, we’d have to ensure that it wouldn’t be overpowered by music and crowd noise from a nearby stage. The logistics of buffering a Gospel tent from its surroundings means spending money that only a sponsor can provide.”
Two artists already booked for this year’s Street Scene are characteristic of Hagey’s efforts to share his taste for the traditional music of Louisiana with San Diegans who have an adventurous musical palate. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Wild Magnolias will be added to the package of Cajun and zydeco bands, some of whose appearances at Street Scene will be made possible by Hagey’s nonprofit Festival Foundation.
On July 8, a fund-raiser for that foundation--sort of a “pre-Street Scene blues bash”--will be held in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of Chicago-based Alligator Records. The concert will feature that label’s Lil’ Ed and the Imperials, Koko Taylor and Her Blues Machine, the Lonnie Brooks Blues Band and Elvin Bishop, performing on a stage erected at the site of the Street Scene’s blues stage, on L Street, between 5th and 7th avenues, downtown. Ticket information is forthcoming.
Saturday’s “Celebri-T-Shirt Auction” raised another $80,000 for the San Diego Youth and Community Services organization. Out of hundreds of collectibles, the top grosser, bringing the highest bid ever in the event’s six-year history, was a trio of items donated by basketball star Earvin (Magic) Johnson. Local concert promoter Bill Silva, winning a bidding duel with radio deejay (Magic) Matt Allen of Q-106, paid $5,200 for signed copies of Magic’s jersey, his book, and a plaque. The next highest bids went for Madonna’s diaphanous tour dress and platinum album “True Blue” ($3,100) and Van Halen’s custom guitar ($2,700).
GRACE NOTES: Ian McCulloch’s June 26 concert at Iguanas has been canceled. Nothing wrong with McCulloch, who visited the States around Christmas and again shortly thereafter. But, according to his publicist, members of McCulloch’s British band had immigration problems that couldn’t be resolved in time to keep the itinerary intact. At this time, there is no word on rescheduling.
BOOKINGS: (Tickets for the following concerts will be sold at all TicketMaster outlets unless otherwise specified) British guitarist Adrian Legg, an acoustic picker and singer whose current album “Guitar for Mortals” is receiving raves, will perform June 19 and 20 at the Insomniac coffeehouse, the 49-seat venue above Croce’s sidewalk cafe, 820 5th Ave., downtown. Tickets are $8, and will be available only at the door.
CRITIC’S CHOICE TOP VOCALIST LYDIA PENSE AT BELLY UP
It was, I’m sure, an unintentional slight to put Lydia Pense and Cold Blood on the infield stage at last year’s Del Mar Fair, where this excellent R&B; horn band had to vie with noisy children’s games and sandwich shacks. One of the ‘70s’ premier tonsil-shredders, Pense proved to a tiny but enthusiastic crowd that she hasn’t lost a thing. She and band will be joined by the Blond Bruce Band for a 9:15 p.m. gig at the Belly Up Tavern Saturday night. Tickets are $7 either through TicketMaster (278-TIXS) or at the door.
