NY Promoter Wants Springsteen to Upstage Bush

[Khephra]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A New York concert promoter has mounted an online campaign to "draft" Bruce Springsteen to headline a rock 'n roll show to upstage the Republican National Convention on the night it nominates President Bush to run for another term.
The "Concert for Change," would be held Sept. 1 at Giants Stadium, across the Hudson River from the Republicans' meeting at Madison Square Garden, said promoter and Democratic activist Andrew Rasiej, who has reserved the date at Springsteen's New Jersey home venue that he routinely sells out when he tours.

"This is a simple idea that captures the imagination of Americans opposed to George Bush," Rasiej told Reuters.

An online petition at www.draftbruce.com has been signed by about 50,000 people in 10 days since it was launched, Rasiej said, adding he had also reached out to acts such as REM, The Dave Matthews Band, Bob Dylan and Carlos Santana.

snip..........

"I've spoken to the manager of REM, to Bon Jovi's people and the rest of the names I've mentioned and they all said, 'if you build it, we will be there."'

more..............

http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=5483370

[dArKeR]

1. Promoter wants Springsteen vs. Bush - MSGOP

NEW YORK - A New York concert promoter has mounted an online campaign to “draft” Bruce Springsteen to headline a rock ’n' roll show to upstage the Republican National Convention on the night it nominates President Bush to run for another term.

The “Concert for Change,” would be held Sept. 1 at Giants Stadium, across the Hudson River from the Republicans’ meeting at Madison Square Garden, said promoter and Democratic activist Andrew Rasiej, who has reserved the date at Springsteen’s New Jersey home venue that he routinely sells out when he tours.

“This is a simple idea that captures the imagination of Americans opposed to George Bush,” Rasiej told Reuters.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5269402/

[cybildisobedience]

2. They should get Howard Stern to do the intro

the place would go wild!

And have the waiting time for the acts be a chance to show F-9-11 on big screens.

[jdsmith]

3. Yet he offers no information on ticket-pricing

Many of us will have nothing to do with this if it turns into some $150/ticket soaking of the upper middle class. I REALLY thought that Springsteen was talking about a different venue (eg, Central Park) and I still think that's what he should do to show the Republicans they can't take over NYC. I simply can't support this idea if a promoter is trying to horn in and take over with an eye to profits and the economic exclusion of poor people.

[Missy Vixen]

5. I hope it'll happen

>Many of us will have nothing to do with this if it turns into some $150/ticket soaking of the upper middle class.<

You know what? Bruce Springsteen doesn't set the ticket prices. The promoter and venue sets them, and they have to pay the bills. There will be some costs involved unless those who own Giants Stadium are willing to donate it, for security, for printing, publicity, etcetera. It looks like there are sponsors involved already, so hopefully, they'll be able to spread costs out amongst themselves.

I hope the show's on pay per view. I'll save my money to see it, especially when the proceeds go to funding voter registration.

Julie

[jdsmith]

16. I KNOW Springsteen doesn't set ticket prices

I was, of course, refering to a promoter who may, I fear, be looking to co-opt what seemed to be starting out as a generous, public-spirited event-in-the-making.

[mountainvue]

17. The band's

guarantee also helps set the ticket price. So yes, they do have something to do with it.

[President Jesus]

4. The Boss's campaign donations

He's been generous before...how about a free concert in Central Park, Bruce? That would be a terrific distraction!
http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?first=Bruce&last=Springsteen

[JerseygirlCT]

6. The only problem with Central Park is that

it would be somewhere between very hard and impossible to get the permits. All the cops and other security in the city will be at the Garden dealing with the convention. They're just not likely to be able to handle an event as huge as a free Springsteen concert at the same time.

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

7. For God's Sake Don't Sign! The Republicans Will Retaliate!!

They'll schedule a Pat Boone concert on the night Kerry gets the nominiation! Who'll tune in?!

[truthisfreedom]

10. NU-GENT! NU-GENT! NU-GENT!

and the crowd goes wild...

[senseandsensibility]

15. LOL

Yeah, that's just their speed....

[FlemingsGhost]

8. That's 50,000 people not on the streets, protesting Bush.

Nice idea, but I have other priorities that evening.

[David Zephyr]

9. It's Still 50,000 People Protesting Bush.

I don't think it would take away from the street protests.

[truthisfreedom]

11. there's plenty to go around. remember the 1M in the streets protesting

the Iraq invasion? this is a national television event... it would totally upstage bushco, and it would be a fantastic idea.

[itsnoteasybeingreen]

13. The big march is on that sunday n/t

There's also a lot of teach-ins and the like going on at the same time as the convention.

Although there will be some direct action going on that wed night for sure, but I don't wanna get thrown in jail til the end of week.

[JusticeForAll]

12. Woodstock?

The first happened long before I was an idea.... Is this an example of history about to repeat itself?

[The Political Eye]

14. Thanks for the link

signed up