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OT: Ultra Miami the new Fyre?

Canez1 said:
Sorry Canedog I ended up falling asleep after being up all night. Glad you figured out what Ultra was. I was worried I would get hammered for this post but instead this was all interesting to read. I agree that comparing Ultra to Fyre is ridiculous and the fact that many chose to just sit and be stranded instead of walking was just as ridiculous. I just hated seeing people trashing Ultra (mainly rival venues) because the talent packed into those three days every year is insane and everything started with Ultra festival wise right in the city of Miami. I love Ultra without needing anything other than a drink to enjoy it. Looking forward to 2 more nights! I was a little worried that some of our guys might be there. I forgot to put that in my original post.
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To be specific it started on Miami Beach. :) The first ULTRA was out of control. kids were stripping naked on the beach. its was nuts!!
 
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SayWhat said:
Ultra spawned out of the WMC. Crazy that it all began just over 30 years ago and really hit its stride mid to late 90's. Starting after college I got into throwing parties, having club nights, and writing or photographing a lot of these large events for publications. It took me all over the country and even overseas once, some great times. Crazy part, never tried a drug the entire time, but just enjoyed the music and general friendliness of it all. Fun way to make money is a bonus and constant travel.
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I grew up with the founder of ULTRA and his brother. The ULTRA idea came from a concert we went to at Bicentennial in the 90's called Divine Playground. When we were leaving the Concert Russell said his dream was to do big music festivals one day and since his dad was loaded it wasn't hard for him to find the right players to hook up with.

Do you know why he came up with the name ULTRA?
 
canecrazy23 said:
I grew up with the founder of ULTRA and his brother. The ULTRA idea came from a concert we went to at Bicentennial in the 90's called Divine Playground. When we were leaving the Concert Russell said his dream was to do big music festivals one day and since his dad was loaded it wasn't hard for him to find the right players to hook up with.

Do you know why he came up with the name ULTRA?
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That would be correct and now they are worldwide. I never envisioned them being able to expand the brand that much but glad they pulled it off.

The answer would be Depeche Mode
 
Canez1 said:
That would be correct and now they are worldwide. I never envisioned them being able to expand the brand that much but glad they pulled it off.

The answer would be Depeche Mode
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Yup.

We’ve been big fans since the Violatir tour and ULTRA is Russell’s favorite album.

He tried getting them 3 years ago. Even had a in person meeting with Fletch and their agent but the timing didn’t work out. It’s the goal to get them before they retire. 🙏

Now that CURE is coming out with a new Album I’m going to ask him to try and get them again. They were awesome at ULTRA the first time.
 
Canez1 said:
I listen to all genres but EDM will always be my favorite. I was just getting a rep built as a DJ when I had my spinal cord injury that put an end to that dream. D1 football was my main goal but bringing people from all over the world together dancing and having a good time despite their differences was always very appealing to me.
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How’d you get injured?
 
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Canedude08 said:
Or it could have meant that you weren't going to(or couldn't afford) spend hundreds of dollars on a pass, which entitled you to spend a day around a bunch of idiots stoned out of their minds. I went to Ultra a couple of times during my undergrad years, and had I not had comp passes due to a friend being a performer on one of the side stages, I wouldn't have. Not into EDM, and I don't suffer fools. The only good thing was the female talent, but it's Miami, you could have seen talent just hanging out at the UC Pool. At least those women wouldn't have been stoned or drunk to the point where you didn't want to hit on them.

Ultra, like pretty much all music festivals is extremely overrated, and a way for companies to scam money out of people with more cash than sense.

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This is why I said "probably". The vast majority of UM students could afford to spend a hundred dollars or so on a a day pass. Some of the most succesful kids in my graduating class were "stoned" at ultra. What are you 70 years old talking about kids being stoned like it is a sure fire way to be unsuccesful. Go spend a day on wall street you will be surrounded by "stoned" guys pulling in tens of millions a year.
 
canecrazy23 said:
I grew up with the founder of ULTRA and his brother. The ULTRA idea came from a concert we went to at Bicentennial in the 90's called Divine Playground. When we were leaving the Concert Russell said his dream was to do big music festivals one day and since his dad was loaded it wasn't hard for him to find the right players to hook up with.

Do you know why he came up with the name ULTRA?
Click to expand...

Out of curiosity...

How did it turn into an EDM festival? (as opposed to other genres)

Was that his preference?
Or what he thought would generate the most money?
 
canecrazy23 said:
I grew up with the founder of ULTRA and his brother. The ULTRA idea came from a concert we went to at Bicentennial in the 90's called Divine Playground. When we were leaving the Concert Russell said his dream was to do big music festivals one day and since his dad was loaded it wasn't hard for him to find the right players to hook up with.

Do you know why he came up with the name ULTRA?
Click to expand...

I believe that you grew up with the founder, etc.

It wasn't an original idea as it was simply a one day event, granted a big one which progressively got bigger. Without the WMC, I doubt it takes off like it did. At the time, it was simply an event, much like the dozens of other events associated with the WMC through the week.

Now Ultra has become the bigger name as it's more visible due to the big crowds, branding, etc. Awesome job in that.

Still, nothing was unique or new about Ultra. I doubt you're saying that, but there were already huge festivals and events like it around the globe. Anyone who had an interest in the scene dreamed of these big events and putting then together, he just happened to do it! Fantastic job on the longevity of it as well. Bayside, the charm of it's days there will never wear off.
 
Coach Macho said:
Out of curiosity...

How did it turn into an EDM festival? (as opposed to other genres)

Was that his preference?
Or what he thought would generate the most money?
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I pretty much answered that above.

WMC, winter music conference was already a week long event that happened yearly in Miami. For that one week, every big DJ and anyone of note that was associated with that scene was in Miami for it. It was a great time in electronic music. Events at all the big venues nightly and you could cross off many DJ's you wanted to hear and see in that one week.

Ultra, while done by Russell and Alex, was an event associated with WMC. They split some years back, with Ultra no longer being part of the WMC lineup.

These events can make you a lot of money. I stepped away from the scene years ago, but back then it was very hands on. You could easily talk to and form friendships with the massive international dj's and I don't know if that's the case anymore. You could get guys like Carl Cox, Paul Oakenfold, the Detroit founders of techno, etc for peanuts compared to now. Forr 3 to 5k a night back then with airfare, hotel, etc you could have any DJ you wanted. Now they are commanding tens of thousands of dollars, have booking agents, etc. Before, it was by email and phone, within a minute I could book just about anyone.
 
OriginalGatorHater said:
This is why I said "probably". The vast majority of UM students could afford to spend a hundred dollars or so on a a day pass. Some of the most succesful kids in my graduating class were "stoned" at ultra. What are you 70 years old talking about kids being stoned like it is a sure fire way to be unsuccesful. Go spend a day on wall street you will be surrounded by "stoned" guys pulling in tens of millions a year.
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Hey, man. I'm more than 70 years old and we used to get stoned in the day. Don't need dope to be unsuccessful.
 
TheMatador said:
So I searched Google for a detergent named Ultra and 2/3 of all detergents have the word "ultra" in the name so I have no idea what this is all about.
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That being said, why would anyone use anything less than something ultra to wash their clothes?
 
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Coach Macho said:
Out of curiosity...

How did it turn into an EDM festival? (as opposed to other genres)

Was that his preference?
Or what he thought would generate the most money?
Click to expand...


Yes. When we were young we were into the electronic scene with bands like Front 242, Meat Beat manifesto, Die Warrzau, Moby etc...

He usually brings in bands as one of the acts. Recent years it's been Chainsmokers, The Cure, Prodigy etc....
 
SayWhat said:
I believe that you grew up with the founder, etc.

It wasn't an original idea as it was simply a one day event, granted a big one which progressively got bigger. Without the WMC, I doubt it takes off like it did. At the time, it was simply an event, much like the dozens of other events associated with the WMC through the week.

Now Ultra has become the bigger name as it's more visible due to the big crowds, branding, etc. Awesome job in that.

Still, nothing was unique or new about Ultra. I doubt you're saying that, but there were already huge festivals and events like it around the globe. Anyone who had an interest in the scene dreamed of these big events and putting then together, he just happened to do it! Fantastic job on the longevity of it as well. Bayside, the charm of it's days there will never wear off.
Click to expand...


Without the WMC, I doubt it takes off like it did.

You're absolutely right!! But the big DJ's were looking for a venue that could hold big crowds and the WMC pool party's weren't going to cut it.
 
SayWhat said:
I believe that you grew up with the founder, etc.

It wasn't an original idea as it was simply a one day event, granted a big one which progressively got bigger. Without the WMC, I doubt it takes off like it did. At the time, it was simply an event, much like the dozens of other events associated with the WMC through the week.

Now Ultra has become the bigger name as it's more visible due to the big crowds, branding, etc. Awesome job in that.

Still, nothing was unique or new about Ultra. I doubt you're saying that, but there were already huge festivals and events like it around the globe. Anyone who had an interest in the scene dreamed of these big events and putting then together, he just happened to do it! Fantastic job on the longevity of it as well. Bayside, the charm of it's days there will never wear off.
Click to expand...


Oh do I miss it already.
 
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