Alan Pariser, who had organized the CAFF concert in 1966, invisioned a full-blown pop festival along the lines of the Monterey Jazz Festival. He took the idea to a number of record companies before meeting Benny Shapiro, a booking agent. In early 1967, Pariser raised $50,000 to get it all started. He and Shapiro met Derek Taylor, ex-publicity agent of the Beatles who at that time represented The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and Paul Revere and The Raiders. Derek agreed to help out, for $250 a week, to help them start something up. Soon, Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds, Ravi Shankar and The Jefferson Airplane were signed up. The only thing missing was a headline act, a band that would sell lots of tickets. The only logical choice for the headline act was The Mamas and the Papas, who had garnished 6 Top 10 hits that year. Once Pariser presented the idea to John and Michelle Phillips and Lou Adler, Phillips and Adler sensed the posibilities that the concert could bring them. They bought out Shapiro's contract, made the show a charity event, and called up a bunch of other people to play. The idea of filming the festival came up and Bob Rafelson, one of the producers of The Monkees was contacted. There was only 90 days left before the concert, and many arguments to come.