21,000 "Freaks" Can't Be Wrong

After a busy holiday season, I was lucky enough to get out of town for a few days and meet up with an amazing group of friends in Atlanta over New Year's weekend. Our crew, consisting of folks from Bozeman, Los Angeles, Chicago, Green Bay, and San Diego assembled in ATL to ring in the New Year together with 21,000 other good people and Widespread Panic at Philips Arena.
It was an amazing weekend, to say the least, as any excuse to get together with this bunch is always a good one. However, Dec. 31, 2006 was certainly a special evening, as the band opened up with a first set complete with gorgeous covers of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" and Vic Chesnutt's "Expiration Day". It was enough to let us know it was going to be a beautiful night. Colonel Bruce Hampton joined the effort in a tight black tux, complete with coattails, adding his rambunctious vocals on "I Can't Stop Loving You" and "Fixin' to Die". Many of the band's old stand-by's were in the mix, such as "Wondering", "Driving Song", "Pigeons", "Barstools and Dreamers", "Chilly Water", and "Ain't Life Grand" to name a few. Anyway... it was 3 sets of a lot of fun and a great encore, which can be checked out here.
The people at Philips Arena honored the band with a banner that will hang permanently in the arena, in recognition of their 15 consecutive sold out performances. It was nice to be a part of one of many accolades the boys have deservedly received over the last 20 years.


I've been a fan of this band for many, many years, and I've come to realize as I get older what makes me so attracted to what they do. Sure, it definitely starts with the show they put on, and the music they release, which certainly speaks to me very clearly. What keeps me going back are the people I've met over the years in and around shows, but beyond that what makes Widespread Panic so impressive to me is the way they run their business.

The first thing I admire is their longevity. These guys have been together, for the most part, for 20 years. You can't find many businesses, in any form, where people last that long together. Then when you think about travelling together on a bus continuously for much of that time, it makes it even more amazing.

Secondly, they knew what they wanted to do because they loved it...they went for it, and they never gave up. The road from playing Frat Parties in Athens Georgia in the 80's to selling out 15 consecutive 21,000 seat shows at Philips Arena did not come without their share of stumbles along the way. It makes me wonder how many times one or all of the band members wanted to quit but didn't. And, of course, when thinking about the death of their guitar player and namesake Mikey "Panic" Houser in 2002, it sure seems like it would have been an opportune time to choose an alternate path, but they're still here today, 2 guitar players later. And not just here, they're HERE, filling up the joint...every joint.

Third...they've managed to mix art and commerce and do it in a graceful way that is both fair to the fans and profitable to the band. Ticket prices are still very reasonable considering the quality of the product, at least in my humble opinion. They continue to understand the importance of thier fans, and they're truly humble and grateful in that regard. Panic was featured in a Fortune Small Business Article in 2003, where drummer Todd Nance was quoted as saying, "Here, the band and the audience are responsible for each others existence." They treat their customers well, make money, and have fun doing it. It's simple, but is there a better overall business model available?

Finally... and this is where this group of guys and their organization (and many of thier fans) really impress me. They are successful and they give back. Whether it's the Hannah's Buddies Charity Golf Classic for Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Panic Fans For Food, various benefit concerts, or the Michael Houser Music Foundation, the band and those associated with it find a way to contribute positively to thier communities and support good causes. Many businesses give money, but few are as actively involved.

I'd be doing a damn good job if I could run my business 1/10th as well as these guys have been able to.

Hmm...I certainly didn't mean to go that far down the road when talking about my weekend in Atlanta, but I reckon it's been on my mind. Although there are many who don't understand it, this band and their fans have been a positive and integral part of my life for about half of it now, and I'll never apologize for it.

Between my amazing friends, Panic, some whale sharks, and a raucous "Deepo's 4D Undersea Wondershow" at the Georgia Aquarium... I couldn't have waived goodbye to 2006 in any greater fashion. I hope everyone had a NYE that suited them well...