Downturn in economy doesn’t hurt BamaJam

COFFEE COUNTY—Gasoline is $3.86 a gallon. Unemployment is rising. Business is slow. Unsold houses sit on the market. People have more debt than assets.

Times are not good. They are hard even, but a walk around at BamaJam Music & Arts Festival proves one thing. People will spend money on entertainment.

Perhaps it takes us away from our troubles. It is a diversion, or simply something we prioritize. It’s fun with a capital F.

“No doubt,” said BamaJam founder Ronnie Gilley of Enterprise. “The largest export for the U.S. is entertainment. People are always gonna entertain themselves. It does a person so good to come out and see their hero on stage, whether it’s ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd or Hank Williams Jr.

“We need it to get our minds off how horrible it is. People can just come out and enjoy entertainment.”

It appears more than 100,000 people – that’s right, 100,000 – decided they might as well come out ane enjoy this weekend. No matter the cost, no matter the heat, fun is a release from the pressures of everyday life.

Some BamaJam goers thought prices were reasonbale at the inaugural festival. Others thought they were a tad high. But almost everyone agreed, it ended up being worth the price.

“I thought the tickets were steep, but it’s a lot of good bands. It’s worth the money,” said Nathan Richey of Birmingham who has been camping since Thursday night.

“Yeah, the economy is bad but I don’t wanna sit at home and be depressed all the time. I wanna spend the money where it’s worthwhile.”

Richey’s wife, Cherise, bought a Jack Daniels tank top for $6 at BamaJam Friday. She’s seen them on the Internet for $30. She thinks prices are pretty good.

“They are not nickel and dimeing you,” she said.

The Richeys said between fuel for the truck and generator, admission tickets, supplies, food and beer, they have over $1,000 in the weekend.

Their friend, Whitnie Mock of Orlando, flew into Birmingham and rode down with the Richeys for the festival. She calculates $200 for the plane ticket, $120 to actually get in and another $150 in supplies and incidentals.

“Around $500 – that’s about right,” Mock said.

Who did they come to see? ZZ Top, Skynyrd and Hank Jr.
And that is one of Gilley’s second points. Tourism, festivals and such is big business.

“We have a horrible economy but we can change this with Country Crossing. We employed more than a thousand people out here for BamaJam,” he said. “Tax revenues are being generated. A lot of opportunity is being generated.”

Brandon Harris, who drove his Honda down from Birmingham Thursday night, was looking for that opportunity. Opportunity to have a good time, that is.

He’s here on the cheap. He got a free ticket from a radio station and has purchased two bags of $7 ice. He brought his own food and drink.

“I have less than $100 in this weekend,” he said. “I’m going pretty cheap.”

Just hearing that makes Frank Raniolo of DeFuniak Springs, cringe.

“It probably cost me $400 for one person,” he said. “Financially, coming out was a terrible idea, but it is worth it on the fun level. Poor economic decision. Great fun decision.”

Gene Harris of Dawson, Ga., said even though the weekend cost him between $600 to $700, it’s worth it. Despite the fact that business is slow and gas is high, Harris said weekend fun will continue to be a priority.

“Absolutely, you’re damn right!” he said. “I will continue to spend on entertainment. I wanna have fun.”