Extravazaster

After attending the two day “Extravaganja” at the Eastern Michigan Fair Grounds, one might have to consider the harsh reality of these events. There simply aren’t enough people. I thought the point of an event like this, besides the obvious monetary incentive, would be to get the word out about medical marijuana; either way it failed.

There was a small collection of political groups and vendors; local bands and comedians paraded the outdoor stage.  For those with MMMP cards, there was a vaporizing lounge in which to medicate and a few places to score a burger and Coke.  Common sense would dictate, however, that these participants, already involved in our community and movement, no longer really needed to “network” with other clubs or caregivers.  More to the point, for a more than nominal fee, cardholders were given the privilege of trekking out into the rainy weather, sitting in an open pole barn, and medicating with total strangers; as opposed to, say, sitting in the comfort of their home, watching  T.V. with their friends and getting medicated for free .  Hard sell, if you ask me.  

The same entrance fee was just high enough to scare a possible interested non-card holding public away from participating at all. All the organizations at the fair already have web sites and most have advertisements in a myriad of periodicals, and signs around the state.  Finding information on them is as epic as googling the nearest Carl’s Jr.   Again, there is little reason pay for something that on any normal day, under any other context, would be free.  Either way, you can throw all the festivals you want, but if no one shows up, the purpose was unmet.

Unfortunately, this event is just one on a long list of recent festivals that have not met the needs of our movement, and as a reporter, it will be a long time before I am coaxed into going to another one.   It would seem that if event coordinators were truly interested in tackling public awareness, they would begin to rethink their approach.  At the very least, events like these should be free.  

Logically, we should nix movement-based affairs altogether and instead try to tie ourselves to larger, well established attractions.  Now I know I sound a little anti-movement, but by making something else the main focus of our event, not only will we have the potential to tap into new streams of the public, but we will gain the leeway on the edge of the spotlight.