PHIP/MOTM to Go away Key West in 2023

PHIP, the organizer of
MOTM, has introduced they’re pulling out of Key West in 2023. The
Casa Marina might be doing main renovations in 2023 and initially,
PHIP does not see the renovations accomplished in 2023 and have
hesitations on it being prepared for 2024.

Of their assertion posted
on their Fb web page on August 2^ndconcerning the
adjustments being made on the Casa Marina:

“…it
is clear that the deliberate adjustments to the grounds would make it
bodily impractical to carry Assembly of the Minds on the location
in future years…”

Then,
concerning different Key West places:

“The
Committee has researched different potential venues and decided that
no different venue in Key West is appropriate for producing Assembly of the
Minds…”

These
two statements primarily state that, until PHIP change their modus operandi, they’re out of Key West for good. The brand new Casa format will not
work sooner or later and no place else in Key West suites their wants,
as they see it.

PHIP
did state that they’re wanting into different places in Gulf
Shores, Al. Punta Gorda, Fl. And Ft. Myers Fl. Simply taking an
educated guess, I am pondering that they’re on the lookout for a location
which affords the obtainable actual property that may deal with distributors, as
nicely because the acreage for a live performance venue. If that is so, they’d
be taking a look at a resort.

Total,
I see this plan as a danger.

This is the primary purpose:

In
my second yr residing in Key West, one thing turned obvious to me.
Once I was rising up, my household vacationed in Cape Cod yearly.
All of us seemed ahead to it and liked it dearly!

In
my second yr in Key West, I began seeing guests that I met the
earlier yr coming again to the island. This continued increasingly
because the years went on. Simply as my household returned to Cape Cod each
yr, these folks returned to Key West yearly.

Individuals love their trip locations! It is their anticipation utopia when they don’t seem to be there. If a company can improve that for the traveler, it is fabulous! Nonetheless, trying to dictate the place folks take their holidays, I really feel is a significant mistake.

Many vacationers come right here twice a yr, whereas others, three, 4, and 5
instances a yr. When it comes right down to it, the crux of it’s: folks have
their very own trip locations that they consider all yr, from
the second they depart, to the second they return. That is their
battery re-charge. It is their breath of contemporary air.

The
level right here being, individuals are hooked up to their trip locations.
I imply they’re actually
hooked up
to their trip locations.

Key
West MOTM is the
trip vacation spot for seven to 10 thousand folks a yr, and has
been for twenty-five years, as of this yr.

Usually,
folks do not need to change their trip locations and
actions. That is what they stay up for yearly. Cease and
give it some thought. Would you need to spend your high quality time sequestered
in an enclosed resort, in Punta Gorda, Ft. Myers, or Gulf Shores?
Keep in mind, lots of people who dwell in Gulf Shores, Punta Gorda,
and Ft. Myers, trip in Key West.

I
recall final yr studying that Key West was the #1` trip
vacation spot within the nation.

There
is not any alternative for Key West, and that is a reality, not an opinion. Anything is a compromise.

Cause #2

One
factor that can not be missed:

Key
West is a dwell music city, 12 months of the yr.

An
fascinating factor occurred through the years at MOTM. Associated musical
occasions began to pop up outdoors the Casa Marina, the place the MOTM
occasion was held by PHIP. These have been related culturally music clever to
the MOTM occasion, nevertheless, weren’t related with PHIP/MOTM in a
enterprise sense. They have been unbiased productions. This has grown
through the years as nicely. Places corresponding to Captain Tony’s, Durty Harry’s,
The Tiki Home, Hog’s Breath, Sundown Pier, Blue Heaven, Ram’s Head,
Dante’s, Island Canine, Sloppy Joe’s, Sundown Tiki, Willie T’s, sails on
the water… the record goes on and on, all of them had occasions happening with
artists not on the PHIP/MOTM roster. It acquired to the purpose that artists
who have been on the Casa Marina stage, of their contract with PHIP, it
retained the performers from enjoying anyplace however the Casa Marina for
the MOTM week.

As
it is not related enterprise clever with MOTM, it stays to be seen how
the skin music will evolve, if in any respect, within the location PHIP settle
on?

Over
the years, these unbiased occasions have grown exponentially. In the present day,
on it is personal benefit, they draw a bigger crowd than the MOTM occasion at
Casa Marina. As well as, nearly the entire MOTM followers on the Casa’
depart and go to the unbiased occasions round city. Who can blame
them? There is a ton of fabulous music to be heard, to not point out the
city itself affords a lot to do and discover!

To
be chained to a single resort for 5 days feels like a visit to Purgatory. In Key West, you may go to dozens and dozens of places
throughout city. Moreover, these services do that 12 months a
yr and are licensed with BMI, ASCAP, and SEASAC (often known as the PROS)
to take action. Perceive, you may’t simply stroll right into a bar, arrange, and
begin enjoying music. The bar/restaurant must be licensed.
Moreover, in case you are a songwriter and affiliated with any of the
three PROS (who is not?), you can’t play cowl songs, or
your individual songs
in an unlicensed bar. Fines to the bars in violation have run as excessive
as $400,000.00. plus court docket and legal professional charges. The PROs at all times win. The annual fee for a
bar to run music is predicated on seating. Prior to now they ran between
about $5000 – $10,000 per yr.

All bars
in Key West which have dwell music are totally licensed.

Cause 3

PHIP
does have an excellent level in that lodge charges have risen
considerably since COVID. There is no arguing that. Nonetheless, it actually is not a plus to carry the MOTM
occasion yearly the place it has been, sandwiched between the 2 greatest cash
making festivals in Key West.

Fantasy Fest, runs the week earlier than MOTM, is way and
away the most important Key West competition of the yr. Cash flows and
motels are at capability. Then there are The Boat Races, the place entrants
spend $3M- $10M a yr… on a interest. The cash flows like wine once they come to city.

I
suppose MOTM would have at all times been extra clever in the event that they held their occasion
in late September, the place charges are rather more enticing.

Checking
at 24 North for charges between September 21 – 27, six days, this
yr for 2 adults is $1,066, or $177 an evening. Proper subsequent door is The
Gates Lodge with charges of $1,100, or $183 an evening for a similar six
days. With an occasion package deal possibly even these charges could possibly be made extra enticing?

The
two motels share the identical possession, share the identical property, and
moreover have the attractive Sundown Inexperienced Occasion Garden, the place main music acts play.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhyAroHziiw

(Allman Betts Band ,,, and mates, enjoying Sundown Inexperienced, Key West)

Going again to PHOP’s assertion of

“…“The Committee has researched different potential venues and decided that no different venue in Key West is appropriate for producing Assembly of the Minds…”

I would be curious what obstacles stand in the way in which for PHIP/MOTM with Sundown Inexperienced, The Gates, and 24 North which make them unsuitable?

The Casa is rated at 4 1/2 stars, whereas The Gates and 24 North are 4 star motels, so it is not like they’d be going from an opulent setting to a flop home. The Gates and 24 North are solely a half a star off of The Casa’s score.

One other
factor price taking a look at is that PHIP stands for Parrot Heads In
Paradise.

Parrot
Heads are Jimmy Buffett followers. What’s taking place within the outdoors occasions
are an off shoot of Buffett. Whereas you’ll hear Buffett songs at
these gigs, overwhelmingly you’ll hear precise artists enjoying their
personal music, impressed by the tropical theme. The sort of music has
been labeled “Trop Rock” or “Coastal Americana”. There are a
few who do not feel that Parrot Heads and Trop Rock/Coastal Americana
ought to combine. I do know one Parrot Head group head who truly hates
Trop Rock/Coastal Americana music.

A
couple of years in the past, Invoice Brehm was elected president of PHIP. He
contacted me about helping him with the group of MOTM right here
in Key West. It made sense as I dwell in Key West and I am well-known
on the island. Invoice had some excellent and progressive concepts at that
time, tying within the outdoors occasions round city with PHIP/MOTM.

Regretfully,
Invoice was unseated through some sort of Coup d’etat inner upheaval at PHIP. Then, I am guessing
about six to eight months later Invoice was re-instated as president,
nevertheless, I by no means heard something from Invoice after that.

PHIP = “Parrot Heads in Paradise”.

Is Key West “Paradise”?

Oh,
hell yeah!

Is
Gulf Shores, “Paradise”? No. Gulf Shores is listed, together with
Gulf Port, Biloxi, Pensacola Seashore, Panama Metropolis Seashore, and some
extra, as The Redneck Riviera. Good locations, however “Paradise”? Properly,
not my concept of Paradise.

How
about Punta Gorda, or Ft. Myers? Good areas certainly, however “Paradise”? I feel good suburban coastal cities is a greater description. Great locations to dwell. An important shoreline as nicely. Not a paradise tour, nevertheless.

Everybody
is totally different, however talking for myself, if I have been sequestered in a
resort for the higher a part of per week, I’d really feel like I used to be in
jail. Really, if I have been shackled in a resort for over 4 hours,
I would go stark raving mad! No thanks. Not for me, anyway. I would like to go and discover the
space past the venue.

Exploration! What number of instances have I been talking to a
customer right here in Key West who mentioned “We have been strolling up a facet road
in Previous City and out of the blue there was this fabulous, quaint little
restaurant in the course of an Previous City neighborhood!” All of the nooks and crannies Key West has to supply is nothing wanting wonderful. Be it stumbling throughout Cafe Soliel, or Cafe Azur, or only a stroll down a a method quaint little lane, armed with a digicam. I’ve lived right here for over fourteen years and I am nonetheless discovering issues!

Moreover, Key West is protected. It isn’t as if you run the chance
of being held up, beat up, or murdered in Key West. The #1 crime right here
is bicycle theft.

I
used to work with a really stunning girl who bartended at The Cork
and Stogie. She was petite, below 100 lbs. and got here to Key West after
residing eight years in New Orleans. At this level she was residing in
Key West about six years. When requested what she appreciated higher, Key West
or New Orleans, her reply was “Unquestionably Key West!

#1)
It is clear.

#2)
I can stroll down any
road of this city, day or evening, at any hour, and I haven’t got a
concern on this planet”

That is
Key West.

For nearly everybody attending previous MOTM occasions, it is not only a music occasion, it is a Key West Journey!

The
phrase began getting round across the starting of the yr that
PHIP was pondering of pulling out with the Casa Marina renovations. On the road right here in Key West phrase was getting round that The Casa Marina will not be
sheading any tears…inside phrase from somebody on the Casa who requested to not be recognized, mentioned the Casa makes extra money on weddings and there could possibly be extra to that once you reread PHIP’s assertion concerning the unsuitability after the renovations are accomplished. Whatever the reasoning, PHIP themselves said the Casa is finished and as they really feel there isn’t any place in Key West that matches their plan, Key West is finished.

PHIP/MOTM are going to do what they need to do and regardless of the actual fact
that the Gates Lodge and 24 North Lodge have a improbable facility,
full with the Sundown Inexperienced Live performance space, they’re going
elsewhere. So, we want you a bon voyage.

NOW
FOR THE GOOD NEWS!

For
starters, lets recall that the entire outdoors occasions are unbiased
of PHIP/MOTM. This implies they haven’t any allegiance to PHIP.

At
one other occasion earlier this yr a broadcaster was requested “Will you
be on the new MOTM on the new location?”

The
reply he obtained was “No. In 2023 we’ll be in Key West!”

Tiki
Man Radio’s Danny Lynn introduced on August 7^th
that they are going to be in Key West in 2023 with their Songwriters Showcase
– Key West Certain, once more being held at Rick’s/Durty Harry’s Stage!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDewlcZeYIw

Examine
out the video!

Co-Host,
Brian Fields posted that they may proceed with the Key West Certain Tiki Man Radio Songwriters Showcase in 2023 on his Fb web page, and the response was
overwhelmingly constructive. As a matter of reality, there have been posts saying that
others have been in progress of figuring out offers for occasions at different
venues round Key West for 2023 and past.

This
is a superb factor for everybody! The actual fact is, no matter PHIP do,
they’ve a choose group of musicians they’re going to do it with. That is not
going to vary. With them pulling out and a very new facelift,
it frees up the attention and publicity of the various different musicians to
lastly get the popularity they really deserve!

How
does this impact me? For starters, it goes with out saying that my
pursuits are in Key West. I play between 300 and 400 gigs a yr in
Key West, so I’ve a vested curiosity in my little island house. Thoughts you, it is
not taking sides, it is simply my alternative as to the place I will be in 2023. I
haven’t any want to be a captive buyer at a resort on the Redneck
Riviera. That is simply not my cup of tea. On the flip facet, I am positive
there might be these of us who prefer it.

I am not leaving Key West, regretfully PHIP is. I want all of them the most effective and thank them for his or her earlier 25 years of participation in Key West.

I am already wanting ahead to Key West 2023 and all who come to go to and revel in!

I am sticking with Key West, my little island city!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOhCByREaxc