July 31 is still open. We have the voices of everybody who contributes to this effort,
to witness to the welcome they might expect.
They are playing because of Love, they are clearly not just in it for the money.
Listen to the lyrics, and you'll see.
If the show does not happen then, we might want to book another act,
or prep for a later date .
Or, if you want your money back, we issue the refund.
The process will be democratic, you decide who is next. The Who?
What if there will be issues with the City permits?
That and any other seeming problem will be resolved by us as a people.
I have confidence that the CPR and the Chamber of Commerce will see the merrit of a few thousand people decending on our town.
Where will they all stay? What about parking?
With you. Lets make it a happening of sharing backyards, couches, spare rooms and lawns, with fellow fans. And with the businesses who want to provide services to them.
Perhaps they may tent on the Timberlane grounds.
We will provide portable facilities.
The gig is promoted as a GREEN action, designed to raise awareness.
Bicycle, bus and walk in is encouraged/rewarded.
The audience will not leave a trace, not even a candy wrapper.
This is going to be an exercise in being socially responsible, green, as well as being appreciative of each other and the place we live in.
Opening acts?
Sure thing, we bring on the local talent all afternoon.
Talked so far to Karuna Movement from the Island, open for suggestions....
Jeannie, from Family Place commenting:
One thought that is crossing my mind is sustainability over time because one of the banes of funding for children's services is "one-time-only" project funding. As it stands, Family Place is presently short about $20,000 per year ( not to mention the $40 overdraft) ... I wonder if there is room in the plan to think a little smaller, but more local; if the Moody Blues turns out to be a bit too big, can we focus on some homegrown talents ...think about supporting the young people who are returning to the community to raise their children; coming with lots of talents, wanting to contribute and needing someway to make a living . Our community has a vision about being a centre of "creative capital"...we have concert halls, a music school ( but not everyone can attend), great animation and music recording facilities ( but how can people access the facilities?), a film festival and teaching for high school students...how can we start with the youngest children to prepare them ( and their parents/models) to take advantage of the assets we already have and plan for the so-called "creative economy" ( see Richard Florida writings)?
Anyway, there's a bit of a rant at the end of the day!
Love Jeannie
Blue Healer response:
About the venue size:
Big expensive acts are expensive, but........they are guaranteed to sell out.
Even if production cost come close to $250000, an event drawing 8000 people at $50 per person, will still make a cool $150000.
Even after paying everyone at the periphery, and local production cost, there is still an easy $100000 to go to the cause. This you cannot do with small venues, it is a question of being efficient. ( You can get the German out of Germany, but is is difficult to get the German mentality out of the (ex) German, eh?)
Besides the economics of scale, it will attract the attention of not only local and regional media: I am shooting for provincial press coverage. Besides the sensation of out lil town drawing mega stars, the fact that the community rallied to put on the show, is NEWS.
Once the first big gig was a success, we may want to keep some production money in the kitty, and do it again and again. Do you see my vision here?
With love and admiration for the work you began, your fan Jürgen
Jeannie:
Hi Jurgen, I see your point! yes, go ahead and publish!
Rick Terrell from Galley Bay and my responses:
Rick, thank you so much for the input.
I am addressing your concerns one by on
I have sincere concerns about the size of the community being able to support this level of entertainment for a few reasons.
One is that expecting to draw an audience for a group that has just performed the night before in the lower mainland which would pay for this size of a bill I don't think will work.
I am not determined to make a show for this July 31: Rather I am just focusing on getting the infra-structure for this, and subsequent shows of that scale into place.
Had a major sponsor appeard I might have been tempted, but alas, it did not happen (so far:-)
Next trying to draw from a larger area than the Powell River Penninsula without adequate hotels and housing when ferries stop running before the show is over is a limiting factor.
This has been considered and kicked around at the last brain-storm. There are ways around these obstacles.
An event which has been announced way ahead can and will be promoted as a major "green and socially responsible event", in which we promote the idea of providing shelter to our fellow fans in our backyards (for tents) and spare-rooms and couches.
Web infra structure to coordinate this is not difficult.
A real "lets get together" and interact before and after the event.
Billeting ala Kathalamieux, only on a way larger scale.
Also, if the city plays ball, people may camp for a few days on the sport fields around Timberlane...Port-a potties and all. Great time to have a restaurant in town...
Of course an extra 2000 folk from out of town will not all fit on the same ferry.
They will spread out.
But bus shuttles can be set up for walk ons to and from Comox, and that option could be provided for and promoted for off-shore ticket sales.
Bring bicycles and be green,eh?
I will not even mention the "cruise-ship-landing-at-the-mill-deep-sea-port-idea"
May be called crazy: Yet one person's fool is another person's visionary...
The music festival at Courtney the end of July would have to be a more attractive choice for many music fans with limited entertainment budgets.
Depends, if I had a choice to see the Moody Blues at a good ticket price just across the Straight, I'd be going and forgo saving $20 by staying at my local show.
I have no experience with promotion of events but $220,000 sounds like a lot of money for a more than 30 year old band. I understand from this email that that is negotiable.
A person I talked to that has been involved in this kind of event promotion feels that much more experience than one event decades ago is needed to be successful.
I am not doing this alone. We, the people of this fair town ,are a network of people with a large variety of skills, including event organizers with vast experience.
We are aging baby boomer and have been around the block a few times by now...
$220,000 is a lot of money, and the economy of scale is in our favour.
Even 6000 people at Timberlane at $60 will pull in $360,000.
Sorry to be so pragmatic but you asked for feedback, this is just between you and me. I wish you lots of luck if this proceeds. It is a noble undertaking.
No need to apologize, there is no malice in your intention.
I would rather thank you for caring, and helping us to cross our T's and dotting our I's.
Especially thank you for realizing the most important fact:
It is a noble undertaking.
And because the goal is noble, the Spirit is the real organizer and will provide the means.
That I know for sure.
Timing is not for me to decide, it is with the event organizer mentioned above:-)
