As a result, organizers decided to create a smaller event by, in part, booking more jazz performers and fewer R&B acts, he said.
Those concerns are not spelled out in the grant application seeking state money this year. Rather, organizers touted the festival as an economic engine for West Oak Lane and Philadelphia.
The only hint of something darker was a $210,000 line item for security.
"When you have a festival where you are spending more for security than artists, there is something out of balance," Kitchen said.
Concerns about security as well as turnout will top the list of things organizers will discuss in the coming weeks as they begin to consider what next year's festival will be like, Kitchen said.
"I'm still very concerned about creating a safe environment," he said. "One thing we are batting about is whether the festival should end before dark. I just don't know where it is going next year."
How Many People Are
It would be more than seven sold-out
Eagles games at Lincoln Financial Field (capacity 67,594).
It would be just about 25 sold-out
76ers games at the Wachovia Center (basketball capacity: 20,444).
It's more people than live in
Kansas City, Mo. (482,000), and Miami (433,000),
and slightly less than five times the population of Allentown (107,000).
It is nearly twice the number of Philadelphians
who voted in the 2007 mayoral election (269,613).
Finally, it is five times the estimated crowd
at this year's Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
in Manchester, Tenn., which included such headliners as
the Dave Matthews Band, Stevie Wonder, and Jay-Z.
Contact staff writer Christopher K. Hepp at 215-854-2208 or chepp@phillynews.com.
