[billethkid]

of TV....they have successfully caused the NYE celebration at the squares to be a mere shadow of the "good old days".
There was a less than normal weekday crowd at LSL....what a shame. I remember 2006 when everybody was there having a good time UNTIL MIDNIGHT!!!!!!
A facility capable of handling 70,000 (remember Palin's visit?) reduced to a mere weekday crowd..........
The head of entertainment...you know...her initials are BV....not concerned about the will of the people....
even the band had some indirect commentary about shutting down at 9PM....hoe ridiculous.....
Anyway......Happy New Year.....and may the linguine spined management rest easy there were no altercations that could be laid to rest at their doorstep.

Oh we miss the Schwartz emphasis on providing for the residents....without a lawyer looking over his shoulder!!

BTK

[JTW]

I absolutely agree with you about the decision that those in control made concerning the entertainment being shut down at 9pm on New Year's Eve. My junior high grandchildren party till after 9 on New Year's for goodness sake! I always had believed that we the residents had SOME say in what WE would like to see happen in The Villages, but it appears that this decision was made without even asking any of us what our thoughts were. Why did it go from a midnight close to nine in the first place? Is there any person or website that we can voice our opinion and somebody might listen? The same goes for that absurd charge of $8.00 starting in July to book tee times on The Villages.net....is anyone in management looking out for us??

[jandbrare]

I'm jumping on because I think that TV Entertainment is no longer doing a good job. Barbara and Paul Vesco, her entertainer/agent husband, are not running the kind of business that us old timers knew and loved. My favorite entertainer, Karen Hall, is seldom seen here these days. I've devoted a whole thread to that subject, which you can read if you want. Just use "Search" and enter Karen Hall. I'm in protest and seldom visit KB's or the squares anymore. Of course, the beverage prices at the bars are a lot higher than they used to be. Not TV Entertainment's fault, granted, but not mine, either. I'm just not going to pay those prices for a beverage. It's just not fun any more.

[Skip]

I believe Karen Hall isn't at The Villages any more because many of the entertainers do not want to have Paul Vesco as their agent and pay him a fee. That's why you see his Karacter Band performing so often now. I think this whole Vesco family thing stinks.

Our very first visit about 6 years ago had a "Big Band" every Sunday night at Katie Belles. I counted 21 pieces on the stage in the orchestra one time. So many of the good performers are no longer invited any more in favor of cheap entertainment like Bill Ramp and the other boring DJs (Scooter and Kip not included).

It's all about the almighty 'you know what'!

Skip

[Bogie Shooter]

I think you should all send a copy of your post to the entertainment department. Or did you?

[cabo35]

I don't have a horse in the race but as a 5 year Villages veteran, I agree that the quality of the entertainment has gone downhill since new entertainment management took over. Who would they be accountable to? In fairness, I would like to hear their explanation as I'm sure they are aware of criticism on TOTV and from Villagers generally.

[Skip]

Originally Posted by cabo35

I would like to hear their explanation.

Don't hold your breath!

Skip

[jandbrare]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

I think you should all send a copy of your post to the entertainment department. Or did you?

This is what I said in an email to Janet Tutt on April 17, 2008:

"from Jerry <jandbrare@yahoo.com>
to janet.tutt@districtgov.org
date Thu, Apr 17, 2008 at 10:48 AM
subject Where's Karen Hall? "No Rhyme or Reason"


Ms. Tutt,

I sent this to the Daily Sun. It was suggested on www.talkofthevillages.com forum that you might be interested. I hope so.

Jerry [.......]


Letter to the Editor Daily Sun

All of you who enjoy entertainers, Karen and Stan Hall, must be wondering where they are. They performed here only one time in March and will not have any bookings this month or next. This is very surprising and disappointing. We are accustomed to seeing them five or six times a month! We enjoy their performances and have grown to know them as friends, as have many who have seen them in The Villages.

I called Barbara Vesco, longtime head of The Villages Entertainment and recently married to Paul Vesco, an entertainer and agent. Her response, "There's no rhyme or reason for it. We are just trying to rotate other entertainers in and you will see them again, soon, probably."

No 'rhyme of reason' for such a drastic reduction in bookings doesn't make sense!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, we did not see them much in 2008, once a month, maximum, as I recall and some months, not at all. BTW: I got no response from Janet Tutt or the Daily Sun. Surprised? Thankfully, this forum provides an opportunity to vent, at least.

[Skip]

Janet would only say it's not under her control.

Skip

[SABRMnLgs]

The Villages Swing/Big Band is still here. It just seems we can't get any bookings within the Villages perse'. We practice every Thursday afternoon at Mulberry and have our "big three" dances every year.
The Villages dosen't seem to want any "locals" performing. Course after seeing the list of "favorite performers" a few weeks ago, neither do Villagers.
We had a gig out at the Central Florida Carriage Museum just before Christmas. Nothing in the local birdcage liner about that event. How many Villagers were even aware of it?
Nothing for either of the squares or for COTS although we have mentioned several times we would be willing to perform at either place for a lot less than some of these "rock" bands.