The annual music frenzy is upon us. Jazz Festers and our clients are coming to the office in droves, coming in to say hello and to pick up mass quantities of the Jazz Fest Bible for themselves and their friends. The “Jazz Fest Bible” (we’ve put this moniker on our May issue since 2001) is as user friendly as we can make it: there’s a lot of information about artists who are playing at the Fest, stage schedules and cross-references to stages and times, plus a map. There’s also our handy-dandy pullout stage “cube” schedule that’s been copied by so many others in town. And of course, there’s a comprehensive night show schedule included, as well as calendars for most of New Orleans’ better clubs in our pages.

It’s gratifying to know that people actually pick and up and read the “baby” you’ve worked so hard to produce.  In fact, they even fight over who gets more copies. There are plenty of copies ready to be distributed at the Fairgrounds entrances, just as we’ve done for many years, so when you see a friendly OffBeat person approach you, take a magazine, it’s for you.

We’d love to be able to give you a free copy inside the Fairgrounds, but that’s a no-no for us. The Jazz Fest sells its own program on the grounds and won’t allow any other publications (even if it’s free). To refresh your memory, we had to go to court to get the right to distribute OffBeat free even outside the Fairgrounds.  We discovered there was a city ordinance that prevented the distribution of any free “commercial literature” outside the Fairgrounds. The NOPD was harassing our distribution people, so we had to file a restraining order against the city to prevent  this. The results of a court ruling clearly ruled in OffBeat’s favor, as we have a monthly magazine that covers music. We distribute it free every month. Distribution of editorial content is clearly protected by the First Amendment (freedom of the press), as long as the paper that’s distributed is actually legitimate “press,” not just a quickie calendar that’s purely being used to capitalize on the Jazz Fest for commercial reasons.  So all those calendars you see outside the Fairgrounds that are being handed to you by cute little girls in skimpy dresses—well, they’re not legal. And anything that calls itself a “Jazz Fest Bible” that isn’t OffBeat, is not legal either. There’s only one!

A couple of years ago, we introduced OffBeat Mobile, a comprehensive guide for music in clubs all over the city, with information straight from our updated listings at OffBeat.com. OffBeat Mobile is easily accessible via any portable phone that has internet access at “offbeat.com/mobile”. This year, we’ve jumped on the iPhone app wagon and created a OffBeat’s Jazz Fest Bible iPhone app for your use during the Fest, for nighttime music and concerts, and one that we’ll continue beyond the Jazz Fest.  It’s available free in the iPhone app store. We got this up in a hurry and encountered a few glitches when we first set it up, but it seems to be working fine now. We hope you enjoy it, and will give it a positive response when you see how easy it is to use. We plan to continue access for the app even after the Fest, so you’ll be able to get a taste of New Orleans via OffBeat’s iPhone app anytime you want to.

I can’t believe the Jazz Fest is this coming weekend. It seems like it was only a few months ago. It’s always an exciting time for the OffBeat staff because we get to see a lot of our readers and subscribers from around the world, and feel the love they have for this city and her music.

I’m positive that HBO’s “Tremé” will expose our music to even more folks than the Jazz Fest has. Maybe we could create a Tremé Festival in Armstrong Park (yes, I am still trying to get some positive activity in Armstrong Park!). With the title “Tremé” on everyone’s lips now as a recognizable label, surely some festival producer in town might consider a festival in the park?

I noticed that Trombone Shorty’s new CD got a positive review in the most recent issue of “Entertainment Weekly.” Is that because “Tremé” is in the critic’s consciousness, or because he or she really liked the CD? No matter, if he’s getting national press, well, that’s a good thing. Any good press for a New Orleans musician is a good thing!

Have a great first Jazz Fest weekend!