Stop Taunting Utah

[Lasolimu]

You guys came to Utah back in early 2008 and said on stage that you "look forward to coming back next year." This got me excited to see you in 2009, but you weren't scheduled. I didn't have a problem with this because I figured that because we had "Play! A Video Game Symphony" coming that year they didn't want to schedule another video game concert. So I started getting excited to see you back here this year, 2010. I watched the tour dates just waiting to see when it would happen. I was very excited when Salt Lake City was listed, even though there was no date listed with it, and started checking more often than I already was. Fairly soon, I notice that the 2011 list is starting and I notice that Salt Lake City has been pushed back to that list, but still doesn't have a date associated with it. I look again today and there is still no date.

How long do you intend to torture us like this?

P.S. I started a new thread because the old one hasn't had any posts for almost a year.

[ali beh]

I completely agree. I keep having that hope that Utah will finally be added but am constantly disappointed. I'm still informing people of VGL in hopes of getting a lot of people out there when they do eventually come here.

[Tommy Tallarico]

We are working on something now for the end of this year! (2011)

I guess the Utah Symphony tried doing a video game concert with the Play! concert and it failed. Not sure why they wanted to try something different when we had sold out 3 shows in a row and they could even fill one with Play!

:)

But at least we'll be FINALLY returning after 3 years! And it will be an entirely new show.

Tommy

[Darkwing Duck]

I wouldn't necessarily call Play! a failure. It had a better Zelda arrangement than the antiquated one VGL had. I believe Sonic got some love, as well.

The biggest problem it had was that the conductor was out with shoulder surgery, and the replacement, who I think was his brother, wasn't quite up to snuff, in my opinion. All in all, it was still a good performance for the patron.

That said, our group will be there should the deal pan out. Expect more catcalls for Earthworm Jim.

[Dreyth]

Totally can't wait! Was there the first time, and it was amazing!

[Tommy Tallarico]

I wouldn't necessarily call Play! a failure. It had a better Zelda arrangement than the antiquated one VGL had. I believe Sonic got some love, as well.

The biggest problem it had was that the conductor was out with shoulder surgery, and the replacement, who I think was his brother, wasn't quite up to snuff, in my opinion. All in all, it was still a good performance for the patron.

That said, our group will be there should the deal pan out. Expect more catcalls for Earthworm Jim.

I wasn't there so I was just repeating what I heard from a lot of the disappointed folks that went and some of the people locally who had helped to put on the show.

I think by failure they meant more of a financial one. Conductor or not, the show couldn't fill up a single nights performance compared to the 3 sold out shows we did. I'm sure that was a huge difference for the Utah Symphony.

In the concert business, doing things building up to a show are just as important than the show itself. We've been told many times over the years that our marketing, reach, knowledge of our audience, street teams, ability to partner with the right sponsors & retail outlets, PR, approach, mailing lists, price, etc. are far superior than the knock-off Play! concert.

I guess that's why we continue to do between 50 - 60 around the world and they only do about 3 or 4.

:)

Thank-you for the feedback on our setlist. I'll make sure to bring Sonic and a new Zelda arrangement this year for sure. I've been working on Earthworm Jim as well. Hope to see ya soon!

Tommy

[Tommy Tallarico]

I completely agree. I keep having that hope that Utah will finally be added but am constantly disappointed. I'm still informing people of VGL in hopes of getting a lot of people out there when they do eventually come here.

Please make sure to sign up to the mailing list and you'll be the first ones to know. We hope to have some news within the next month.

T.T.

[Darkwing Duck]

I wasn't there so I was just repeating what I heard from a lot of the disappointed folks that went and some of the people locally who had helped to put on the show.

I think by failure they meant more of a financial one. Conductor or not, the show couldn't fill up a single nights performance compared to the 3 sold out shows we did. I'm sure that was a huge difference for the Utah Symphony.

In the concert business, doing things building up to a show are just as important than the show itself. We've been told many times over the years that our marketing, reach, knowledge of our audience, street teams, ability to partner with the right sponsors & retail outlets, PR, approach, mailing lists, price, etc. are far superior than the knock-off Play! concert.

I guess that's why we continue to do between 50 - 60 around the world and they only do about 3 or 4.

:)

Thank-you for the feedback on our setlist. I'll make sure to bring Sonic and a new Zelda arrangement this year for sure. I've been working on Earthworm Jim as well. Hope to see ya soon!

Tommy

Hmm...yeah, I obviously can't say anything about the financial aspects of the concert, nor the marketing angle, really. We eat up any of that, anyway, so we're not the ones to market to.

Good to hear a better, or more accurately put, a newer Zelda arrangement is in the works. That was probably my biggest disappointment from VGL. I hope the Dark World from LttP will be in the arrangement.

I think the biggest appreciation of VGL was not using One Winged Angel as the finale. I know it's going to happen, and it's a good song, but the fanboys kind of ruin it, and our group would probably be the only ones in the audience happy to leave it out, this year.

The second biggest appreciation of VGL was finishing with Castlevania. I would love to hear that again in any capacity. I imagine it's kind of on the fringe, though, being played only occasionally.

I heard Oblivion at Play. That was quite good. I wonder if Skyrim music will be available by the end of the year.

I'm probably in the minority to plead for Dancing Mad, as that's the superior Final Fantasy final boss music.

Should you return, I may set the goal to have thirty in our group. We had six (9 total) for VGL, and I think somewhere around 16 for Play! We could take over one wing of one of the balconies with thirty, or half of the balcony in Ogden, or likely both.

[ali beh]

Please make sure to sign up to the mailing list and you'll be the first ones to know. We hope to have some news within the next month.

T.T.

I'm so glad to hear the latest news. I am on the mailing list and the Street Team...I just keep checking in hopes I missed something. Lol.

Play! was kind of a letdown. I didn't really enjoy watching the desktop instead of game clips for part of the show.

I'm really excited for the possibility of a show at the end of the year. I'll definitely be letting people know.

Also, just a little suggestion since it was one of the reasons I wanted to see Play! but it wasn't performed. Maybe some Silent Hill...?

Can't wait to hear more news!

[Lasolimu]

I just looked and noticed that there is now a date listed for Salt Lake City this year. I won't get too excited until tickets are on sale, but this is a good sign at this point.

[ali beh]

I just looked and noticed that there is now a date listed for Salt Lake City this year. I won't get too excited until tickets are on sale, but this is a good sign at this point.

I just saw that. Have to say I can't help but get excited...that usually comes back to bite me. I've already notified several people of the good news. Hope this is for real.

[mirrors]

December can't come soon enough! I bought tickets for my entire family (I haven't told them yet, it's going to be a surprise) and just got them in the mail. Maybe now mom will stop questioning my lifestyle. :p

I think as long as I get to hear Time's Scar I'll be satisfied. Though I'm rather looking forward to see if they do something from Uncharted 2. The theme song maybe? So exciting!

[Terraguy]

As a note, when I took my mother to VGL, she was impressed with the music itself, although she frowns on gaming habits though.

In any case, I'm sure you'll hear something from CT/CC. As for Uncharted 2, that's a possibility, although perhaps not a very high one. Who knows though?

Spoiler for the tracks in the Uncharted 2 segment if you don't want to know:
The two pieces represented are Nate's Theme 2.0 and Reunion.