How should I describe this event… Wack? Lame? Sorry? Bullshit? Waste Of Time? Oh I know, how about all of the above!
If you didnt know this event was happening in Riviera Beach, you werent going to find out. Normally when events happen there are signs on the expressway saying exit here for the air show, the home show, etc. Well, nothing was on Blue Heron’s exit about Spring Bling. I did see a sign saying “Exit Here For The Asian Food Festival” in West Palm Beach though.
BET set up 6 parking lots to shuttle the people to the event. All 6 lots were 5-10 miles away from the concert area. The lots were not labeled AT ALL. No signs saying B.E.T. parking here – nothing.
The shuttle buses were unmarked also, no signage saying this is the shuttle bus to Spring Bling, they just pulled into the lots, picked up & dropped off.
Around 2 miles from the event there was a police checkpoint setup with a sign saying “This is a weapon free and drug free zone”. Funny thing was there wasnt enough traffic for the police to actually use the checkpoint. So all you saw was the orange cones and the cops in the parking lot talking with each other.
When I got to the event area, there was a lot set aside for the BET staff and such, so no parking for the ‘regulars’ there either. No public lots available. So people who did know about it could just drive past it then get redirected away by the police.
What people should understand is that this is not an public event, its a concert. If you arent inside the concert area, then you wont have anything to do. ( Unlike MTV’s coverage of San Padre Island’s spring break event )
Riviera Beach didnt want the crowd there and it showed. BET used the city and $46,000 of tax payer money for their concert. If anyone says they had a good time then Im happy for them, but I thought it was a waste of time… but hey maybe Im biased because of the lack of $$$ put forth for black events by this mega corporation.