VIRGINIA BEACH
Bobby Melatti, an Oceanfront entertainment planner long associated with beach concerts and the holiday lights show at the Boardwalk, is out of his job.
Melatti "no longer works for Live Nation," said Matt Rogers, a senior regional executive with the national concert company. Melatti, who headed Live Nation's Beachevents program, has been out of work since Friday, Rogers said Monday.
"As a matter of company policy, we don't comment on internal personnel matters, but any changes that have been made will have no effect on the operation of BeachEvents," John Vlautin, a Live Nation corporate spokesman, added in an e-mail.
Melatti, involved in Oceanfront entertainment for at least 14 years, did not return a call for comment.
City officials said Melatti's departure was unexpected. At least one official had called Melatti on Monday morning before learning he was gone.
Mike Eason, the city's resort administrator, said Melatti's impact on Oceanfront entertainment was enormous.
"He's going to be sorely missed," Eason said. "He was the backbone of that whole program."
Jim Ricketts, director of the city's Convention and Visitors Bureau, said he was disappointed to hear the news.
"He's the fabric of the resort," Ricketts said. "The whole entertainment program and all the things we've done over the years are a pretty direct result of his leadership."
Ricketts added he has full confidence that this season's entertainment program at the Oceanfront will move forward with few, if any, problems.
"In terms of what's next year and what's planned, we need to take a look at that," he said. "We need to make sure we're covered."
Virginia Beach has budgeted roughly $2.7 million this fiscal year to Live Nation for Oceanfront entertainment, said Rob Fries of the city's resort management office. The majority of that money comes from taxes on hotels and restaurants, according to the city budget office.
The money helps pay for major events such as the Verizon Wireless American Music Festival and the street performers, bands and other acts that fill Atlantic Avenue and the Oceanfront parks throughout the summer.
Live Nation, which runs the Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater, also earns money for its resort entertainment off ticket sales, sponsorships and other fees, Fries said.
Ken MacDonald, co-owner of the firm that manages nTelos Wireless Pavilion in Portsmouth, said Live Nation will soon discover just how good Melatti was at his job.
"I don't think there are very many people who understand how extensive the program is," said MacDonald, who has known Melatti 20 years. "And how much Bobby got done... his absence is stunning.
"And replacing him? I don't even know where they'd begin."
Richard Quinn, (757) 222-5119, richard.quinn@pilotonline.com
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Live Nation or Wilson Nation
I have worked with Bobby for many years and have been by his side for many ups and downs, work related and personal. Live Nation (Wilson Nation)has made a very big mistake!!!!!! All I have to say is, Bobby when is the city contract up?? Take care brother and if you need anything you let me know!
Jim Scully
Melatti
Bobby and I started at Cellar Door when the company first came to the area. He helped grow the company to what Live Nation is today. Everyone is replaceable except Bobby. They lost a good man.
John Moore
Foolish Games
A foolish mistake. Simple as that. Good Luck Bobby!
Hey Virginia Beach. Eliminate the commissions that you're paying Live Nation and put Bobby on staff! He'll do a better job, you'll have a lower budget, great entertainment will continue and the tax payers win.
First Class
Mnay years ago my husband worked with Bobby -- as a local musician and then as a production manager at a local venue. Bobby wasn't just someone he worked with but rather a true friend. He is a wonderful businessman but, more importantly, an honest and fair person with a huge heart. While our paths don't cross often, he will always have a warm place in our hearts and I'm certain he'll be on to bigger and better things. We love you Bobby!
CAWL ME
That was Bobby's greeting. He knows everybody, can work well with anybody, and deserves to be treated infinitely better than this. His reputation is too strong in the business for him to be idle for long. Hope your next landing is somewhere spectacular, Bobby!
Still Shocked
Bobby and I worked very closely in conjunction with the Blues At The Beach Festival for 14 of the 15 years it has existed. In the Music world, where there are few friendly faces and even fewer honest ones, Bobby's word was always golden with me. He was both an advocate for the Natchel Blues Network and for the growth of the festival. Most people don't realize he had to deal with city budgets, city councils, politicians, grant organizations, non-profits (like NBN), artists, the media, knucklehead employees, and a host of others on a daily basis...and he made it work dammit. Booking the bands was the easy part.
Thank you Bobby for all you have done over the years!
Mark Johnson
Natchel' Blues Network
Blues At The Beach Festival
I worked w/ him many years
I worked w/ him many years ago at a crumbling venue. He alway's came across as being on top of the situation despite limited resources. LiveNation on the other hand is nothing more than a reincarnated Cellar Door. We can all vouch for their mismanagement. We could always debate who keeps me further from the ampitheather: Live Nation, Ticketmaster, or the city.
"Hey, nevermind that we charged EVERY SINGLE occupant for parking for all of these years. Now we will let you park a little bit closer." Barf. Convenience fees? So convenient I sat at 'will call' for over an hour in line while the band completed it's set.
Bobby Melatti
They have tossed away a legend and the staple of this program. I say fire Live Nation and hire Mr. Melatti to take over the program.
Couldn't agree more. Bobby was the force he is long before he was an employee of live nation or clear channel. It's not live nation that's responsible for the success of these events, it's Bobby Melatti - anyone who has had any association with these events will tell you that.
Bobby is well-respected in the industry and unless there's something going on that we don't know about he will have continued sucess - either here or somewhere else.
There's only one other person locally that can fill his shoes, and I hope that the city and live nation are smart enough to offer her the job...
jmo
Fire the company
It sounds to me as if the city personnel were unaware of Mr. Melatti being fired. From what I know the Beachevents program entails many events that bring tourists and locals alike to the Va Beach Oceanfront. Programs that include the American Music Festival, Holiday Lights, Elvis Festival, Monsters on the beach, Beachstreet USA, and many many more. From my understanding the city spends 2 million dollars on this program and Live Nation should have consulted the city before firing Mr. Melatti. I hope the city takes a 2nd look at what this mega giant company (Live Nation) has done. They have tossed away a legend and the staple of this program. I say fire Live Nation and hire Mr. Melatti to take over the program.
Bobby was an icon fire the
Bobby was an icon
fire the company
no way to replace him.well connected..vast world of expertise.
sadly missed.
GET RID OF THE COMPANY
it will never be the same without him
'he was a show in himself
john tannenbaum
va beach
Hire the guy, fire the company
If he has done that great of a job for the area, I'd say it's time to hire the man and fire the company that fired him. So much in that industry is dependent on personalities as it is. I think the company made a major mistake here.
Sounds to me
like he was fired.
An era has passed
Bobby was part of the birth of a whole industry, he has left his mark from here to the pacific and back a few thousand times.It's a changing of the guards. best of luck to you Bobby.
Great guy
Bobby Melatti is an absoloute champ, a hard-working go-getter who tirelessly makes sure that every detail is covered for anything he undertakes. If Live Nation decided to let him go, it is their major loss. If Bobby decided to leave, for whatever reason, I wish him the best - but it is still Live Nations' loss.
sounds like
It sounds like they lost a pretty good guy and I wish him the very best!