Tuesday, August 01, 2006

To Fest or Not To Fest....

That is the question.

I've been going to The Fest for Beatles Fans (previously known as Beatlefest, but the name had to be changed for legal reasons) for several years now. This year, I didn't buy tickets in advance. It's coming up next weekend. Truth to tell, I didn't take notice of the date earlier; I'm used to it being later in the month. So now I'm debating whether or not it's worth attending this year. It tends to be very much the same year after year--same exhibits, same types of programming, same dealers in the huckster's room. Even the guests have been there before.
While it's fun for me to unleash my inner Beatlegeek and go around all day in a Beatles T-shirt and denim jacket listening to Beatles music and admiring photographs of them, it does get old seeing the same things every year. And thanks to more legal issues, the Fest doesn't show the movies in the main ballroom anymore. Yes, I've seen A Hard Day's Night and Help! and Yellow Submarine lots of times, but it's more fun to see them with other fans. Plus it's expensive. It would be $44 bucks just for a one-day admission, and that's not counting parking and food and all the goodies I'd want to buy. For comparison, WisCon is $45 for the whole four-day weekend, and you get access to the con suite with free food and a bag of souvenirs. I was originally thinking to skip the Fest this year and put the money toward our upcoming vacation in London.

So why am I having second thoughts? There will be people I know from Beatlelinks, the forum I belong to, that I haven't seen in a long time. (Unfortunately, I won't be able to go with one of my friends this year, as she can only go Sunday, and I have plans for that day.) Plus, it is a heady feeling to wander around the hotel and see other people who share your passion for the music. It can be fun listening to people play and sing; sometimes singalongs form in the hallways. If I don't go, I'll feel like I'm missing something.

I guess I can wait until next Saturday to make up my mind, since I'd have to buy a ticket at the door. Eugene's telling me I should go if I want to go; I'm still trying to figure out how much I want to go.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sandra, hi, loved your pics :) Okay, you'll probably have my head for asking this but, I am very curious so, I will ask. Do you, could you, have a favorite Beatles song? Now, I know this is probably a really stupid question, excuse me of course but, I am really, really, curious if there is such a thing as a favorite song for you and if so, why?

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan said...

It's not a stupid question at all, Dear NYer. My favorite song is "Strawberry Fields Forever." I identify with the way John felt when he wrote it, and I like the surreal ending. My second favorite song is "Hey Jude." Do you have a favorite Beatles song? How about anyone else?

Anonymous said...

Hi, I am a bit ashamed to admit I'm not sure of the correct name of my favorite Beatles song but, here goes. I believe it is called, "In My Life". It is a beautiful song, and not only my favorite Beatles song, but, one of my favorite songs of all time.

P.S. I bet you can tell me more about this song, what inspired it, and why. Do tell :)

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan said...

It is called "In My Life." John was thinking of childhood places when he came up with the song. It started out as a bus journey, with him listing places. He said the original lyrics were boring even though he struggled with them for days, but then he "gave up," and the lines we know came to him. The lines about dead and living friends were written for Stu Stucliffe, John's close friend and the original bassist, and Pete Shotton, another friend of John's.

Anonymous said...

Well, now I love this song even more. I can truly identify with it, thank you :)

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