1) Budget: Concerts are just like any other thing in life; it has a BUDGET. Sure, event coordinators could go out there and spend $4 million bucks on the best lineup you've ever heard. All of your favorite bands out there and even the dead ones. (They're going to spend another billion to bring them back to life) This doesn't guarantee they'll get their money back and let's face it, this IS a business just like every other one. And not only that, let's say they do draw enough of an crowd to make their billions back. Where are they going to put them? Is there venue large enough? Additional cost for security, staff, etc. All these things go into budget and yes we'd all love the best concert lineup ever, but these people are doing the best they can with what they're given in the budget department.
2) Who's on Tour?: A lot of the scheduling and lineup depends on who's on tour and where they'll be around the date of your show. Now granted, if it's a big enough festivals, bands will make arrangements to be there. But if you want 'Super Band' to play your event and they are in China the day before, they probably aren't going to make it. Then there comes my biggest pet peeve. "Dude, why didn't they get "Band Who Isn't Even Touring" on the lineup?" Um...I'm no Columbo, but maybe it's because they're not touring, in the studio writing, or just plain taking a break from the constant travel and being away from family. THINK people before you make an ass our of yourself and bitch because your local radio station didn't get your favorite band who's been broken up for 10 years.
3) Months Ahead of Time: These events aren't thrown together a week before the date. They are planned months ahead of time and they try to make it happen by scheduling things around major festivals (if the bands are lucky enough to be invited to play them). It's not easy to plan everything out perfectly around all the touring, recording, etc. that goes on daily in the music world for every national band out there. How would you feel if you had to plan what you were doing at your job on a specific day 6-8 months ahead of time? Do you realize how many things could change before then and how many factors there are to get things matched up on both ends to get them there?
This is the best way I can explain it:
Event Coordinator's Job: To create an event that will generate buzz and bring a profit to their organization or raise awareness for whatever cause it is.
What's the best way for the Event Coordinator to bring in a profit or raise the most awareness? Provide entertainment/bands that people like; right?
What ^that^ means: They are going to do everything possible in their power to get every band that they know YOU like. BUT, you must remember the factors discussed above. If the band costs to much to get there, or their schedule doesn't fit the event date, there's NOTHING they can do about it except try and get your 2nd favorite band, then 3rd, and so on down the line. They are doing their best to make you happy, because in the end, that's their job. You happy=more profit for them! It's a MUTUAL happiness we all want in the end.
All in all, all I'm asking is to appreciate the hard work people do inside of the music industry, and especially the even coordination end of it all. They're doing the best they can with what they're given, and let's face it; if it weren't for them, we'd have NO bands showing up around where you live at all. So the next time you go to a show or festival and the lineup isn't to your liking, you shouldn't have bought the ticket anyways. It's in your hands to support a show and it does neither of you any good to bad mouth a lineup. Appreciate what these people do and the next time you're at a kickass concert and having the time of your life, remember, the only person you have to thank for it all is the even coordinator, the staff and the bands. Buy a ticket, buy some merch, buy a few beers...SUPPORT MUSIC and it'll be the best lineup or show you've ever been to!