Learn which type of music fan you are and how to plan your festival schedule.

The Midpoint Music Festival packs a ton of stuff into a short timeframe. It is indeed a schedule driven festival. Unlike festivals like Bonnaroo or Lollapalooza where the schedule is more straightforward because all of the performances take place on a limited number of stages, the concept of Midpoint is centered around a tightly scheduled agenda spanning over 20 venues over a 3 day period. The performances are numerous and immensely diverse and you can’t possibly see them all. So to enrich your experience it pays to do a little pre-work. Undoubtedly Midpoint is a world-class gig and doing little homework is not too much to ask. To what level is up to you. You man have only one act you really want to see or you may have a dozen. You may be going solo during the festival or you may be facing the complexities of planning for a group.

So I will categorize Midpoint fans as three basic types. Hopefully you find yourself loosely profiled in one of the descriptions below and gain some insight on how to go about your pre-work.

Type I – Casual Fan

You listen to music mostly in your car.

You believe Jessie’s Girl is one of the greatest songs of all time.

You prefer cover bands for the most part.

You own a Beyonce CD.

You are quick to admit Midpoint is more of a bar night for you than a music festival. That’s okay. Every festival needs crowds. Live bodies make crowds. You are a live body and therefore you are much needed. Not everyone needs to be so tuned in that they know the Ass Ponies recorded Earth To Grandma next to a dumpster behind Kroger’s because they thought the acoustics were perfect. My recommendation for you this year is about personal growth. I suggest attending with a Type 2 or Type 3 person this year. A type 2 or Type 3 can lay out a nice schedule that you might not only enjoy but actually learn something also. Give it a try this year. Just think how satisfying it would be to discover a little treasure of a band that you will be a fan of for the next decade. Also stay tuned into this column because I will have more specific band and venue guidance as the festival approaches. You need this guidance more than any of the other types.

Type 2 – Musically Aware

You can assemble a first rate playlist on iTunes in less than 60 seconds.

You don’t see as many live acts as you used to but still catch a few shows a year.

When you’re travelling in other cities you try to catch a live show.

You wish you had more time to keep up on new music.

You might be considered the glue that holds festivals like Midpoint together. You will visit the festival on more than one night. You will likely buy the CD’s of several bands. Without a lot of research you will find a way to make sure you see every group you have an interest in. The challenge for your type is staying interested in music by continuing to grow. You already ‘know enough’ and it is tempting and easier to simply stick with what you know. It takes energy to expand your current boundaries. But trust me, you must push your envelope at least a little or your interest in music will eventually whither. Try to recapture at least a tiny bit of those days in college when you were learning about new music constantly. That adventure is what made you love music.

Type 3 – Hardcore

You listen to WOXY.com internet radio in your apartment all day long every day.

You hear live music at least once per month

You often make ‘mix’ cd’s for friends.

The bartenders at the Southgate House know your name.

Your friends come to you with questions about music.

You often email me with comments about this music column.

You have posted many playlists on iTunes.

You understand the sound quality characteristics of all digital music file formats.

Preparing for Midpoint
Okay, so you might need to get a life to some extent but you already know that and have been made aware of it by many ex-girlfriends. Midpoint is truly the best week of your life every year. I’m sorry to say you don’t need any advice about Midpoint from me. You could give me advice and you probably have many times in the countless emails you’ve sent me regarding my column. The challenge I will give you this year is to do your part to help enrich the experience of the Type 1’s and Type 2’s. First of all, tell them about my column….they need it. Second, as Midpoint approaches, periodically send emails to your friend lists sharing your thoughts about specific acts you recommend. Third, recruit a group to attend the festival with you. COMMON PITFALL TO AVOID: Sometimes Type 3’s tend to ‘show off’ their knowledge by recommending too many obscure or unusual acts. Remember, you seriously risk alienating people if you don’t accommodate mainstream tastes to some extent. A gradual introduction to the unknown tends to foster more trust and acceptance.