As much as we focus on the neighborhood elements of the Capitol Hill Block Party, its vital core is its music. This interview with festival booker Jason Lajeunesse provides insights into how he’s crafted the 2011 festival, the increase in community involvement and business coordination he’s found himself dealing with and some of his hopes for the festival’s future. Here’s a clip:

For me personally it seems as though, this is the most well-rounded festival, so obviously you’re doing something right: Well our budget for talent was bigger this year and bands are a bit more expensive. Bands are really counting on festival money to make a living, so peoples expectations continue to grow, but we can in no way be compared to things like Coachella which happens with agents and bands, and I am just like “we are no where close to that” *laughing*. I mean they say “well we got paid this for this”, and I am like we are talking about a $80 dollar ticket versus $240. That’s the reality of the ticket prices for us … they can’t really get much higher except for maybe some general inflation, but depending on what we’re programming , it has to be relative, but I certainly feel like this years is much more well-rounded and that was my intention; from door open till doors close. And of course some years are easier than others. We almost didn’t do a 3rd day this year cause of the lack of talent. We didn’t have a headliner for one of the days until about 20 hours until the line-up was released. It’s always full of surprises. I thought TV On The Radio was not going to happen and things just turned around. There was a whole lot of juggling going around.

The whole Q&A is worth a read.