Giant Village 06, Nation’s Largest Over 21 New Years Event, Put On Ice
June Caldwell
January 01, 2006
Dave Dean, the event’s organizer lost $1.5 million in one day as a result a source disclosed, and was very disappointed and shocked at The Standard downtown while news reporters convened upon him. Fire officials had warned that since the full 6 city blocks could not be covered for attendees, the attendees would all riot and push into the covered areas, and other public safety issues would cause them to close the event. So the organizer complied with their recommendation to close down.
The previous New Years Eve it rained and stopped by the same time, and the event went on without a problem. So, it is questionable why the Fire Marshall would threaten to close the event once it started under the same circumstances. Furthermore, the rain had all but stopped by 4:30 pm when the decision was made. Are Los Angelenos so uncontrollable that we cannot be trusted not to riot when there is rain? So much so that we need to be protected from ourselves, and the event promoters must be threatened with dire consequences if they do not shut their event down?
Interestingly the LAFD’s Website has a headline that the event promoters made the decision to shut down completely on their own, and were not coerced. Why would they feel the need to post that if it were true?
The event was planned for 6 city blocks and starred such bands as Black Eyed Peas, Flaming Lips, and Death Cab for Cutie, and The Crystal Method. Interestingly, a similar event was planned for Orange County that was not shut down for the same weather issues. Are Orange County citizens more trustworthy not to riot in the rain?
I talked to event attendee hopefuls that had come from New York, St Louis, and Nevada and had paid from $80 to $150 for tickets. 20,000 tickets had been sold.
Earlier in the day, Wayne Coyne from Flaming Lips and Ben Gibbard from Death Cab for Cutie discussed the weather in the Sheraton bar. They decided that whatever they decide they will do together – either all performing, or all declining. There was concern over the equipment that was uncovered and the electrical exposure to water. But, they decided that if the rain stops by 5 pm like it did the previous year, they would most likely go on. As it turned out, they did not have that choice to make.
Dave Dean’s Giant New Years Eve celebrations that have gone on for 6 years were one of the starting points of downtown Los Angeles’ major renewal.
A follow up event is being planned for the ticket holders. Information at: www.giantvillage.com.
The previous New Years Eve it rained and stopped by the same time, and the event went on without a problem. So, it is questionable why the Fire Marshall would threaten to close the event once it started under the same circumstances. Furthermore, the rain had all but stopped by 4:30 pm when the decision was made. Are Los Angelenos so uncontrollable that we cannot be trusted not to riot when there is rain? So much so that we need to be protected from ourselves, and the event promoters must be threatened with dire consequences if they do not shut their event down?
Interestingly the LAFD’s Website has a headline that the event promoters made the decision to shut down completely on their own, and were not coerced. Why would they feel the need to post that if it were true?
The event was planned for 6 city blocks and starred such bands as Black Eyed Peas, Flaming Lips, and Death Cab for Cutie, and The Crystal Method. Interestingly, a similar event was planned for Orange County that was not shut down for the same weather issues. Are Orange County citizens more trustworthy not to riot in the rain?
I talked to event attendee hopefuls that had come from New York, St Louis, and Nevada and had paid from $80 to $150 for tickets. 20,000 tickets had been sold.
Earlier in the day, Wayne Coyne from Flaming Lips and Ben Gibbard from Death Cab for Cutie discussed the weather in the Sheraton bar. They decided that whatever they decide they will do together – either all performing, or all declining. There was concern over the equipment that was uncovered and the electrical exposure to water. But, they decided that if the rain stops by 5 pm like it did the previous year, they would most likely go on. As it turned out, they did not have that choice to make.
Dave Dean’s Giant New Years Eve celebrations that have gone on for 6 years were one of the starting points of downtown Los Angeles’ major renewal.
A follow up event is being planned for the ticket holders. Information at: www.giantvillage.com.
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