"We ran out of money to have the trash hauled off," he says.
And that's just the beginning.
Long figures that the fifth-annual music festival, held July 26-29, has left him and his wife, Suzie, in debt to the tune of $100,000.
By most accounts, the festival of more than 100 bands managed to be a pretty good time, but the biggest Dogstock ever was a nightmare for the Longs. They owe for services at Dogstock, they're more than a month late on their mortgage payment and under investigation by the Osage County Sheriff's Office. Gazing into the 81 acres he has called home for the past decade, Long declares, "This place is literally hanging in the balance."
Long is hanging the blame for the disaster on Eric Noble, the independent promoter he hired to manage Dogstock. "His big idea of a successful event was him riding around on a golf cart, looking important and smiling and waving at people like some sort of big dog," Long says.
Long alleges that while Noble was doing that, people hired by Noble were scalping tickets, failing to secure the main entrance and possibly even stealing money outright at the gate. Noble, who lives in Boonville, Missouri, spoke to me via cell phone. He denies any wrongdoing at Dogstock and says it's Long's fault that the festival failed. "He just didn't have the money to make it happen."
Noble says Dogstock's success depended too much on ticket sales, which were low because some of the biggest advertised acts dropped off the bill a couple of months before the show, including Ivan Neville's Dumpsta Funk and the Original Lowriders. And though Long says there were 4,000 to 6,000 people at Dogstock, Noble estimates the total attendance at closer to 2,000, including a lot of folks who got in with free tickets.
However it happened, the Dogstock debacle is depressing, considering its ultimate purpose.
Dogstock was supposed to raise a little money for the Akita Adoption and Rescue Foundation, which the Longs have operated for the past 10 years. Long also hoped that the festival would raise awareness about the importance of being a responsible pet owner. And what better way to spread a message than through music?
As Long is fond of saying, "Music is the universal language."
If that's true, then his dialect is hippie. When I paid him a visit, Long was wearing a purplish tie-dyed Grateful Dead T-shirt and a denim bucket hat. I followed him down several dirt paths through a maze of brush, spider webs, trees and wire dog kennels.
Within those kennels were nearly 80 hulking canines, barking and pawing excitedly at the dirt, eager for human affection. They're mostly fluffy Akitas or mutts with some of the Japanese breed's blood in them.
Long knows every dog by name and runs his big hands over their teddy-bear heads as he relays the typically horrific stories of what brought these animals to his shelter. Staring into a dog's almost-smile, it's hard to care whose fault it is that the music festival failed.
Maybe Noble isn't so noble. Or maybe bighearted Long isn't a savvy music businessman. Unprofitable events are facts of life in the concert industry. And it's heartbreaking that, in this festival's case, lives are at stake.
Fortunately, this weekend, there's another chance to help.
Friday through Sunday, Dogstock 6 happens at Fun in the Sun Campground (5927 Slough Road in Oskaloosa, Kansas). Tickets cost $60 at the gate and include camping. For more information, see dog stock.info. About 30 acts will perform, including the Gaslights, the Mississippi Flapjacks, and Melvin Seals and the Jerry Garcia Band.
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sounds like he's getting off scott free to financially ruin another large group of very good people.
sounds like he's getting off scott free to financially ruin another large group of very good people.
Does anyone know what is going on with the Dog Stock thing? I have not heard a word for a very long time. Would like to get an update of some kind Carl
Does anyone know what is going on with the Dog Stock thing? I have not heard a word for a very long time. Would like to get an update of some kind Carl
You are all right. It is pitiful. It shouldn�t have happened. But it did. It is.
What puzzles me most is, had the festival been a huge success, Randy
and Noble would both be basking in the glory. So why is it up to only Susie
and Randy to pay off the debt?
Had it been a huge success, would we all be here writing and arguing over
who gets the credit? No, I don�t think so. But maybe. People seem to want to
create drama. They don�t consider who may get hurt in the process. In this case
it unfortunately is the dogs who did nothing wrong and can�t fix any of it!
It�s shameful at the very least!
�Stella�
You are all right. It is pitiful. It shouldn’t have happened. But it did. It is. What puzzles me most is, had the festival been a huge success, Randy and Noble would both be basking in the glory. So why is it up to only Susie and Randy to pay off the debt? Had it been a huge success, would we all be here writing and arguing over who gets the credit? No, I don’t think so. But maybe. People seem to want to create drama. They don’t consider who may get hurt in the process. In this case it unfortunately is the dogs who did nothing wrong and can’t fix any of it! It’s shameful at the very least! “Stella”
Hypochondriasis and delusions of grandeur, physician heal thyself. I as anyone else can understand you signed the checks and have no option but to take responsibility financially. Ownership of the mess, way before the checks were written, is what neither of you are taking responsiblity for. It shouldn't have happened.
Hypochondriasis and delusions of grandeur, physician heal thyself. I as anyone else can understand you signed the checks and have no option but to take responsibility financially. Ownership of the mess, way before the checks were written, is what neither of you are taking responsiblity for. It shouldn't have happened.
To "Unbelievable",
It is so easy to post suppositions, rumors and fabrications when you remain anonymous. Had you read and comprehended this forum and it's posts, you would realize I take full financial responsibility for Dogstock despite any extenuating circumstances. Your other comments are suppositions at best. I am ill and very tired of this, but I must soldier on to whatever conclusion develops.
Regardless of everything, our top priority at AARF is to care for and rehabilitate the dogs in our care, place those we can, and work out arrangements with debtors. Responding further to innuendo here is fruitless. Thankfully, there are many who have said it better than I could anyway. As for pity, I pity those who have so hollow a life they must attack others without any actual first hand information to improve their pitiful self image.
This is unbelievable. After 5 years of not making money but continuing to get bigger and bigger with NO sponsorships other than small (mainly friends and acquantances) giving donations to help push it a long and many people not being paid but forgiving, for the dogs, in the past why would you go bigger and bigger with no donation money still? Corporations donate to not-for-profits that do the work, fill out the paperwork and do the dance. Sitting around waiting for someone to hand you something doesn't fit the bill.
Maybe it is sad that you have to play a corporations game and show them a game plan in writing, but we are all responsible for being good stewards of what we are given whether an individual or a corporation. Throwing good money after bad with no actual game plan or budget in action, which does not feed or provide medical care to the dogs, is probably not where a major sponsor wants to place their money.
Ownership of ones actions is a good and moral trait regardless of your beliefs, position in life or faith. It does not sound like ANYONE involved is taking ownership for anything. There are definately two sides to every story but when no-one takes any blame and only points fingers and cries out for pity, its absolute no-one is credible. Pity of ones self or ones situation does no-one any good. Sounds like some people need to take a real long hard look in the mirror and get real with themselves and the pie in the sky thinking that the big break is going to come along.
To "Unbelievable", It is so easy to post suppositions, rumors and fabrications when you remain anonymous. Had you read and comprehended this forum and it's posts, you would realize I take full financial responsibility for Dogstock despite any extenuating circumstances. Your other comments are suppositions at best. I am ill and very tired of this, but I must soldier on to whatever conclusion develops. Regardless of everything, our top priority at AARF is to care for and rehabilitate the dogs in our care, place those we can, and work out arrangements with debtors. Responding further to innuendo here is fruitless. Thankfully, there are many who have said it better than I could anyway. As for pity, I pity those who have so hollow a life they must attack others without any actual first hand information to improve their pitiful self image.
This is unbelievable. After 5 years of not making money but continuing to get bigger and bigger with NO sponsorships other than small (mainly friends and acquantances) giving donations to help push it a long and many people not being paid but forgiving, for the dogs, in the past why would you go bigger and bigger with no donation money still? Corporations donate to not-for-profits that do the work, fill out the paperwork and do the dance. Sitting around waiting for someone to hand you something doesn't fit the bill. Maybe it is sad that you have to play a corporations game and show them a game plan in writing, but we are all responsible for being good stewards of what we are given whether an individual or a corporation. Throwing good money after bad with no actual game plan or budget in action, which does not feed or provide medical care to the dogs, is probably not where a major sponsor wants to place their money. Ownership of ones actions is a good and moral trait regardless of your beliefs, position in life or faith. It does not sound like ANYONE involved is taking ownership for anything. There are definately two sides to every story but when no-one takes any blame and only points fingers and cries out for pity, its absolute no-one is credible. Pity of ones self or ones situation does no-one any good. Sounds like some people need to take a real long hard look in the mirror and get real with themselves and the pie in the sky thinking that the big break is going to come along.
Well, now I see the lord Jesus has sent in a comment, and it is really one that don't make any sense. You see, if you have a place where pets are being cared for you surely need some form of communication. You know most people wish the Long's the best, because they took on a major task to take care of these wonderful animals, not many people dedicate their lives to something like this. I agree, they made a mistake hooking up with a partner in the festival. Most know partners in that type of event normally don't work out. Well dear lord, or Jesus, instead of firing this kind of comment, step forward with some help for the dogs, or step down from your throne, and shut-up.
if the long's are so broke, how do they afford the internet to keep posting comments on this thing?
talk is cheap, there is now a whole new meaning to that phrase now...
Well, now I see the lord Jesus has sent in a comment, and it is really one that don't make any sense. You see, if you have a place where pets are being cared for you surely need some form of communication. You know most people wish the Long's the best, because they took on a major task to take care of these wonderful animals, not many people dedicate their lives to something like this. I agree, they made a mistake hooking up with a partner in the festival. Most know partners in that type of event normally don't work out. Well dear lord, or Jesus, instead of firing this kind of comment, step forward with some help for the dogs, or step down from your throne, and shut-up.
if the long's are so broke, how do they afford the internet to keep posting comments on this thing? talk is cheap, there is now a whole new meaning to that phrase now...
I was there for the second year vending our tie-dyes. My wife and I leave the kids at grandmas and get to kick up our heals a bit. So you can see I'm already a bit biased. I just love this festival and I love dogs. Was anyone else at this festival Saturday. What an incredible evening of music, especially the Kim Manning Project. Thank you to all of the people that worked there asses off to make that night happen. We met some wonderful people and reunited with some wonderful people, Super Dave especially, that we had met the year before. As far as the postings on here about who's at fault and all, I know nothing and really don't have anything to add. I just thought that these comments needed more love. I sure hope that everything works out. You know the saying "don't sweat the small stuff and it's all small stuff". Hang in there Randy
I was there for the second year vending our tie-dyes. My wife and I leave the kids at grandmas and get to kick up our heals a bit. So you can see I'm already a bit biased. I just love this festival and I love dogs. Was anyone else at this festival Saturday. What an incredible evening of music, especially the Kim Manning Project. Thank you to all of the people that worked there asses off to make that night happen. We met some wonderful people and reunited with some wonderful people, Super Dave especially, that we had met the year before. As far as the postings on here about who's at fault and all, I know nothing and really don't have anything to add. I just thought that these comments needed more love. I sure hope that everything works out. You know the saying "don't sweat the small stuff and it's all small stuff". Hang in there Randy
This whole debacle has been very unfortunate for all parties involved. That being said I would like to point out several things that came to mind after I read this article and the ensuing comments:
1. All of the checks issued to cover the costs associated with Dogstock 5 were signed by Randy Long. The same is true of all contracts. Every single band that played the event and every employee that worked at the festival received a bad check. NOT ONE PERSON that I am aware of received monetary compensation. This constitutes fraud, plain and simple.
2. Regardless of what anybody says there were not more than 1,000 people at the event. The idea that there was a huge contingent of folks hiding out in the woods for the duration of the festival is ludicrous.
3. The fact that tickets were initially sold as "buy one, get two free" is worth noting as even in the best case scenario this wouldn't raise nearly enough money to offset the costs of a festival with five stages and 100+ bands.
4. "Noble says Dogstock's success depended too much on ticket sales." I can't imagine any knowledgeable promoter making this statement while keeping a straight face. The financial success of virtually every event is contingent upon strong ticket sales. The only exception that is even remotely possible is a festival that is underwritten by a sponsor with deep pockets. Obviously this wasn't the case.
5. The only people that truly know why Noble no longer works for Wakarusa is Noble and a few people within the Waka organization. Anything else stated is nothing more than rumors. Just because you saw Noble handing someone a VIP wristband does not mean he was stealing bracelets.
6. The areas where catered food was being served had no running water which is a clear violation of health codes. The fact that credentials weren't laminated is laughable.
7. Golf carts at a smaller sized festival such as this one are pointless and a waste of resources. I timed the walk between the main stage and the farthest placed side stage and it was not more than 3 minutes.
8. This post is worth quoting again: "I do know one thing... if Noble and Long are dumb enough to air out accusations on a public forum with lawsuits and legal proceedings in the near future, well, it's no surprise the festival was a failure. I can only imagine neither one of you has secured legal counsel. Lionel Hutz could even tell you that your ramblings on the message board over the past week is completely stupid and can only hurt your legal standing." I couldn't have said it better although I feel that Mr. Hutz is a both a fine lawyer and drug keeper away-er.
9. Bands that pulled out of the festival were listed on the website for weeks and even months after it was clear they would not be playing the event. You can't hide behind the "acts are subject to change" one-liner when removing the band's name off the website would take less than 10 seconds. I've never seen a clearer case of false advertising.
10. The bottom line is that the whole event from start to finish was a huge trainwreck. Clearly poor management along with big egos and short-sighted planning played a large role in the downfall of this festival. It's too bad as approximately 80 dogs, over 100 bands, and who knows how many hard working folks were left holding the bag. Shame on Randy and Noble both. They can blame whomever they want but the bottom line is that they both fucked up big time. Only time will tell if they will attempt to make things right but somehow I doubt it.
Only my two cents folks, take it for what it's worth.
This whole debacle has been very unfortunate for all parties involved. That being said I would like to point out several things that came to mind after I read this article and the ensuing comments: 1. All of the checks issued to cover the costs associated with Dogstock 5 were signed by Randy Long. The same is true of all contracts. Every single band that played the event and every employee that worked at the festival received a bad check. NOT ONE PERSON that I am aware of received monetary compensation. This constitutes fraud, plain and simple. 2. Regardless of what anybody says there were not more than 1,000 people at the event. The idea that there was a huge contingent of folks hiding out in the woods for the duration of the festival is ludicrous. 3. The fact that tickets were initially sold as "buy one, get two free" is worth noting as even in the best case scenario this wouldn't raise nearly enough money to offset the costs of a festival with five stages and 100+ bands. 4. "Noble says Dogstock's success depended too much on ticket sales." I can't imagine any knowledgeable promoter making this statement while keeping a straight face. The financial success of virtually every event is contingent upon strong ticket sales. The only exception that is even remotely possible is a festival that is underwritten by a sponsor with deep pockets. Obviously this wasn't the case. 5. The only people that truly know why Noble no longer works for Wakarusa is Noble and a few people within the Waka organization. Anything else stated is nothing more than rumors. Just because you saw Noble handing someone a VIP wristband does not mean he was stealing bracelets. 6. The areas where catered food was being served had no running water which is a clear violation of health codes. The fact that credentials weren't laminated is laughable. 7. Golf carts at a smaller sized festival such as this one are pointless and a waste of resources. I timed the walk between the main stage and the farthest placed side stage and it was not more than 3 minutes. 8. This post is worth quoting again: "I do know one thing... if Noble and Long are dumb enough to air out accusations on a public forum with lawsuits and legal proceedings in the near future, well, it's no surprise the festival was a failure. I can only imagine neither one of you has secured legal counsel. Lionel Hutz could even tell you that your ramblings on the message board over the past week is completely stupid and can only hurt your legal standing." I couldn't have said it better although I feel that Mr. Hutz is a both a fine lawyer and drug keeper away-er. 9. Bands that pulled out of the festival were listed on the website for weeks and even months after it was clear they would not be playing the event. You can't hide behind the "acts are subject to change" one-liner when removing the band's name off the website would take less than 10 seconds. I've never seen a clearer case of false advertising. 10. The bottom line is that the whole event from start to finish was a huge trainwreck. Clearly poor management along with big egos and short-sighted planning played a large role in the downfall of this festival. It's too bad as approximately 80 dogs, over 100 bands, and who knows how many hard working folks were left holding the bag. Shame on Randy and Noble both. They can blame whomever they want but the bottom line is that they both fucked up big time. Only time will tell if they will attempt to make things right but somehow I doubt it. Only my two cents folks, take it for what it's worth.
Joshua
First off, let me say, do you think Randy just made up the allegations he has stated?
Also, desperate man? Yes. But why?
Are you smart enough to know what kind of stress Randy and Susie are feeling?
Do you have any kind of idea what it�s like to care so much for someone or something
other than yourself to try and do what they do on a daily basis in caring for these dogs?
Don�t you think it�s silly to state things like:
Eric, Dan, myself and many more would have been happy to step up and help make this bad situation better.
When did that ever even enter any of your heads?
And further more, yes I do expect you and all others who have a heart to send money to help.
Better late than never!
You can�t tell me you and Eric and Dan had no fun or games or drugs or alcohol during dogstock just like
a lot of the other attendees.
Finally, Randy has stated over and over again that all he owes will be paid! He is working as hard as he
can to make it all good. Give him a break! If he were capable of performing miracles on demand, none
of this would be happening to start with! He can only do so much each day. He is dealing with a potentially serious medical issue along with all this and his wife being barely able to function thanks to a drunk driver who has yet been punished as he should.
Just how much do you feel Randy and Susie should suffer just because someone you know has been called some names based on what others have told them?
One more thing. Just who are :
the many in the business
Can we have their names and contact info so we can talk with them about it directly?
Stella
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