Losing popularity of Sree Rama Seva Mandali Concerts (FHS)

[badari]

A million dollar question comes to my mind.. Is the long season of most awaited music festival in Bangalore - Sree Rama Seva Mandali Ramanavami Concerts.. at Fort High School losing its populatiry ?

OST had not more than 100 audience
Vijayalakshmi Subramaniam - < 100 audience
Vijay Shiva - < 100 audience
TMK - < 200 Audience !!

Whats happening to Bangalore Rasikas ?

[srikant1987]

Please don't count the Vijay Siva concert! Don't even mention it! I almost drowned that day!

Personally, I found the FHS Grounds TOO BIG to my liking. (That is not to mention that I've been spoiled by free concerts, even elsewhere in Bangalore ... in lovely places like Ananya, which offer such an intimate listening experience).

That said, I attended a few concerts. (Gayathri Venkataraghaven, the pre-Vijay Siva concert, Amrutha Sankaranarayanan, TVS, Hyderabad Brothers.) I tried to attend E Gayathri too, but found that her programme had been replaced by another. And might attend Abhishek today.

[arasi]

Badari,
Is it because it's too long a season? The Rama Navami festival used to be a big attraction for rasikas when not many music programs were taking place in Bengaluru.
Is it also because of the terrible traffic? Folks choose to go to concerts which take place within a few miles of where they live, I think. Such traffic makes it impossible for them to reach the sabhas on time on a week day after work. So, they perhaps give up the idea of going to a concert and return home from work!

[squims]

Please don't count the Vijay Siva concert! Don't even mention it! I almost drowned that day!

I missed that concert and a few others during that week solely because of the rains.

And I think Arasi ma'am has a point about the season being too long. Don't mistake me, I love that the concerts last that long, but I can totally see how it might be too long a fest to hold everyone's attention for the entire length of it. As has been pointed out, there might be other venues that each individual prefers. Like Srikant says, I too would prefer a concert at a place where the performance feels more personal. So all these might be factoring into the decreased crowds at FHS.

[PUNARVASU]

In chennai(the then Madras) Ramanavami concerts used to be held at Venus colony, long back.I think it used to be in a big maidan. Are they being held now also?

[Sreeni Rajarao]

Badari,
I remember the 1980s when the fort high school grounds used to be fully packed for Jesudas's concerts.

I think it is a combination of all these factors - changing life styles (longer hours at work, longer commute), increased traffic, easier availability of recorded music, too long a season (30 days +?), more number of sabhA-s which means more frequency of concerts around the town, and the excess rain this year, that is resulting in less number of people attending the concerts.

[squims]

I remember the 1980s when the fort high school grounds used to be fully packed for Jesudas's concerts.

That has not changed to this day. I attended his concert last year. Was almost killed in a stampede. And from what I hear, it was the same this year as well.

[badari]

This year.. Sudha Raghunathan, Ranjani Gayathri, Jesudas and Kadri pulled near stampede crowd... They are able to pull but not all the stalwarts.

BTW.. Do we have any suggestions for Rama Seva Mandali... I can forward them to the organisers.?

[srikant1987]

I've been saying there should be a separate mic for the shruti, and it was done in Abhishek's concert.

The organizers seem to have felt they need another "permanent" venue for their concerts and it seems to be in the pipeline. Actually as large halls go, I like outdoor ones more, because the sound is easier to manage. Though not the rains.

I didn't know that the very grounds are what is called makkaLakUTa until yesterday!

almost drowned that day!

Was almost killed in a stampede.

Kind of things people are going through to attend concerts and you say "losing popularity"! What is this, badari?!

[ranjanimalavi]

I suggested these in other thread also. These are not complaints more of suggestions.
I do drive 9 kms to come to this place.

I find it difficult to bring my kids because there are no toilets.
One toilet for hundreds of people is ridiculous.

Also they have to have some way of providing some kind of snacks.
I did see somebody selling some snacks which I didn't see on TVS concert day.
For people in walking distance, these doesn't matter.
The nearby decent eating place is Brahmins cafe a km away, or few sagar kind of restaurants.

On rainy days they have to do something to make atleast the gates accessible.
Last three years I really have to navigate in the muddy puddles.

Its too big.
It doesn't have the closeness (easily connect to the artists) you can have in seshadripuram college, vani kendra, odukathur mutt, unnati centre etc.
I really enjoy sitting closer to have a much better effect.
I will not shell Rs 500 for 6/7 concerts to sit closer, as we have other venues with free option.

To come as a family you need to have some basic facilities if you are coming from a distance.

All said and done, I do enjoy the concerts, whether its rain or shine.

Raman

[badari]

I didn't know that the very grounds are what is called makkaLakUTa until yesterday!

makkala kUTa is the name of the park behind (west) the compound.. This compound /premises is called kOTe high school Grounds ( with reference to tippu sultan kOTe )which is also adjacent (north) to the school compound.

[badari]

Was almost killed in a stampede......
Kind of things people are going through to attend concerts and you say "losing popularity"! What is this, badari?!

I never had this complaint last year.. Barring a few low attendance .. many concerts had decent crowd..

Its only this year... i got this feel of losing popularity.

[kssr]

Out of the artists listed, less crowd for TMK is the only surprise (Was the count OK?!). For the others it is the same, wherever they sing.

Jesudas, Kunnakkudi and MS have been crowd pullers right from beginning. Why Ranjani Gayathri is a puzzle.

Being one of the most prestigious CM festivals in Bangalore, it is strange why they do not provide basic facilities. It is not dearth of money. The programmes conducted by the same organisers at the J.P.Nagar Hall are superb. Heartening to know that there is one toilet now. Good improvement. Previously it was the dark wall behind the stage.

[gardabha_gana]

Only sudha and visakha hari were packed that I attended. RG was good in turnout but not *full*. Of course, as I have reported RG gave a wonderful concert despite chits raining on them. I did not go to KJY or TMK. My bro said that KJY was packed not just in the pandal but also outside. badri, I will reply in the next couple of days with some suggestions that I hope you can pass on to the organizers. My family always compains about the restrooms or the lack of it.