"Pleasantville Music Festival Director" Bruce Figler Interview
www.PleasantvilleMusicFestival.com
Interview by Roger Zee (05/18/22)
Roger Zee: How does it feel to stage the Pleasantville Music Festival (PMF) 2022 after cancelling the past two years?
Bruce Figler: Feels great to get back, especially when hearing all the excitement coming from past attendees about the return. The challenge now lies in getting the train rolling again after two years off.
RZ: Will you bring the festival back full force or produce a more stripped down version? Please share the line up.
BF: By no means did we strip it down or scale back. We even increased our music budget! This year, X Ambassadors headline our Main Stage. They follow 10,000 Maniacs with Mary Ramsey. Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears will also play the Main Stage. And we've just added Glenn Tilbrook, the lead singer for Squeeze, to the Main Stage schedule.
This year, Paula Cole headlines the Chill Tent stage while Illiterate Light headlines the Party Stage. We also selected a wonderful bunch of local acts to fill out the day.
RZ: What pricing options and cancellation policy do you offer? What Covid protections will you take and enforce?
BF: Tickets prices, as usual, remain ridiculously inexpensive for a full day of eighteen acts. Right now, they go for $60 for adults and $30 for students (12-21) and seniors (65+). As always, kids 11 and under get in free with an adult. Prices will increase as we get closer to the date.
If state regulations force us to cancel, we will work out ticket refunds. In terms of Covid protocols, we currently insist that everyone provide proof of full vaccination status (two shots) or take and pass an on-site, free Covid test at the gate before entering. I emphasize the word "currently" because of course, it's subject to change.
RZ: Putting together a music festival requires an enormous amount of time and work. Who selects the artists and what's the process?
BF: First of all, when choosing the headliners, I really try to vary the artists based upon their music style as well as our audience demographic. We attract a diverse crowd in terms of age and tastes, so I try to check off as many different boxes as I can.
Then I combine my own experiences, staff recommendations, and a bit of research. I generally make the calls on who we book except for on the Party Stage, where Pam Condron advises on much of the selection process.
I want to point out an important thing that many people fail to realize. We can't simply say, "Here's who we want," and then go out and get them. They need to fit into our budget, have an open date, and be near enough to us so they can route their tour to get here.
At the start of every year, I put together a long wish list of who I would like to appear on stage. By the time we finalize the line-up, I feel happy if we get one or two of the acts on that list! Some years we get none of them, but we still make it work.
RZ: Describe some of your PMF highlights over the years.
BF: So many highlights over the years. Chronologically, I loved how in 2015 everyone's jaws dropped when pint-sized "Taz" (Brandon Niederauer), at age 13, blew away people with his guitar shredding from the Party Stage. In 2016, I loved how KT Tunstall electrified the crowd from two different stages. In 2017, I experienced sheer magic watching Living Colour's Vernon Reid jam on stage with Blues Traveler. In 2018, what a wonder to behold Robert Randolph do his steel guitar thing on stage.
In 2019, Aimee Mann performed a superlative set. Additionally that year, it felt so gratifying to see both alternate stages simultaneously overflowing with fans as The New Respects rocked the Party Stage at the same as Matthew Sweet's acoustic set wowed the Chill Tent. I can't ever remember both stages with crowds that big happening at the same time in the fifteen year history of the Festival. I loved that.
RZ: What advice do you give to musicians who want to play this gig?
BF: A couple of things. Get out there and work. Make fans. Be seen. The more buzz you generate, the more likely you will capture our attention. Also remember, literally hundreds and hundreds of bands apply for a handful of spots. In any given year, the chances of selection remain low. But keep submitting. If you're really good, the odds just might eventually swing in your favor.
RZ: And now, something totally non-related. Do you live with any animals?
BF: No. Though I do love animals, I don't think I could do them justice as an owner.
RZ: Anything else you'd like to add?
BF: Yeah, I'd like to thank TheWorkingMusician.com for all the good you do for the music community. And I hope to see you all on July 9, 2022 at Parkway Field for the Pleasantville Music Festival!
YouTube - "Suddenly I See" - KT Tunstall live at the 2016 Pleasantville Music Festival
YouTube - "Behind the Wall of Sleep" - Smithereens live at the 2016 Pleasantville Music Festival
YouTube - "Carolina Blues" - Blues Traveler with Vernon Reid live at the 2017 Pleasantville Music Festival
YouTube - "Save Me" - Aimee Mann live at the 2019 Pleasantville Music Festival
©2022 Roger Zee
