um. who is directing this event? for 35-45 buckablows, it better not be the networking mixer under another name. it better be hosted by some love-child of kieth haring and steve jobs.

and after attempting to continue my line of questioning, i realize there's just no substance to the press-release. need more info:

who -cultural commission? c'mon, more info please.
what -'how to get things done?'
where -check!
why -because this mystery panel am smarter more than the rest of us dumbasses?
when -check! ...as in, bring one.
how -...with sharp pencils?

when promoting an event intended to educate professionals, especially in the communication arts, please give us some faith your own communication skills.

that bit of advice? free.

Here, here. Let's meet up at Ralph's that night for a mini-meet & greet. Let's do it.

Better yet... ALL CREATIVE TYPES should plan on being at ART: GONE TO THE DOGS at Coney Island Hotdogs on Saturday, March 11th from 5pm-11pm.

http://www.dsquared.org/gone.html

Quote:

buck paxton wrote:
Most conferences are on normal business days. How is this any different? I don't see how it would be a bad thing spending $45 beans to hang out with some people who *may* have money they would like to give, advice you have yet to hear or opportunities previously unknown to you.

True most conferences are on normal business days, but you and I both know that most people who are making art in Worcester are also holding down day jobs. Either way, it's fine if they want to have it on a Monday during the day, I can't make it, and I wish I could.

I don't think the price is an issue; they are going to feed you and host the thing. The expense is negligible.

I go to a lot of conferences; I have never been to one with an anonymous panel. I assume they will announce who the panel is as the date approaches. I certainly hope so because my interest is piqued.

This is the thing that has me most curious.

Quote:

buck paxton wrote:
I'm totally missing what legitimate criticism of this thing can exist.

Doug is criticizing it, I just don

I am in agreement with Buck that $1,000 isn't that bad a price.

I was thinking about the Union Station event you held there last year. If you did something as simple as ask for $1 donations, you could have paid for the next years costs. Maybe charged a little more for a table to defray the costs? A 50/50 raffle? Ask and artist to donate work for a raffle, half the money goes to the artist and half to expense of putting the show on. There were many people at Union Station that day; it seems that with just a little touch of capitalism you wouldn't have to worry about money for events like this.

Doug, WE actually had a really good team working on that event, we didn't do a raffle because 1) We didn't think of it 2) we had a lot to do in a short time.

I have no problem raising table fees next spring to cover the cost of Union Station next spring and I don't think the artists would have an issue with it either.

I have to say that I don't think it's unreasonable to ask people to pay a small fee to come to an arts show. Or to ask artists to pay a percentage of what they earn for the right to sell at that show. And Doug, you know that I've both organized arts events and been a vendor for years.

Yes, it would be nice if you could afford to just put on events and not worry about the finances, but that's not practical. Remember that there's a big difference between charging a fee to put money in your pocket (though I'm not sure that's so bad, either) and charging a fee so that the event can eventually become self-perpetuating.

I know that you want arts events to be accessible, for both the patrons and the participants. And that's noble and all sorts of good things. However, I think you sometimes forget that there should be community responsibility as well. In paying an entrance fee, people are supporting the artists they come to see, whether they buy a handwoven scarf or a painting or not. People come to your event to support the artists as well as the greater notion of a creative community. By the very act of walking through the front door, they are telling you that they are glad you've organized the event, that they want more opportunities to attend.

Why not allow them to help make that opportunity a reality by asking for a small entrance fee? It may be hard to imagine if you are holding down a regular job, making art at night and on weekends, and organizing on top of that, but $1 (or even $3-5) is not going to break the bank of most people who come to your events.

And it will allow your next event to be that much better. Which, if I know you at all, is the point.

As it is right now, I'm only going to be putting on events where there's a symbiotic union between the event I'm putting on and the venue where it's being held at. Coney Island is more than happy to host the ART: Gone To The Dogs event in March on a Saturday night. They aren't charging me a dime. They just like that the place will be full of people on a Saturday night and that the historic location will be alive with art, music and people...

I haven't figured out that formula as to how to quit my dayjob, still be able to pay my bills AND put on the scale and quality of cultural events I want to put on. This Coney Island thing and the forthcoming Summer Scoot '06 event might be it for me...

The scooter event in particular is a perfect example of what can be done with next to no budget whatsoever... Ralph's WANTED to host it. They didn't charge me for use of the parking lot or their stage or anything like that. I paid the sound guy with money from the door fee and paid the bands in a nominal amount of "drink tickets" for draft beers that Paid for out of door fees at the end of the night. This year's Summer Scoot '06 event is going to be TWO DAYS and NIGHTS of fun during Summer Nationals Weekend and the only difference is that I've been soliciting for sponsors to help pay for more of the event.

It doesn't HAVE TO cost alot to put on events in Worcester that add to the quality of life of our fair city / community. There just have to be willing BUSINESSES, ORGS, GOVT's, etc. interested in helping out. Ralph's stepped up to the plate with the Summer Scooter event last year and made out well from increased sales on a Saturday afternoon that it would've never normally gotten.

Hell, put me on the fricken panel and I can preach the gospel of how this community is SUPPOSED TO WORK TOGETHER not just keep charging and saying "well, we can't do this or that because we can't afford it". There's much more holding back Worcester than just this money thing...

More info on Summer Scoot '06 and how YOU can be a sponsor to help keep cool things happening in Worcester:
http://www.dsquared.org/scooters/summerscoot06.html

The description of this event sounds suspiciously similar to the various computer-oriented events to which I'm constantly being invited. They tend to be pitched at employers, however, who might be willing to spend a few bucks and send an employee to such a thing, as opposed to encouraging people to take a day off work and attend on their own.

I'm not sure the model works for the arts "industry" as easily. I suppose that will be gauged by the attendance when the time comes.

Quote:

actiongeek wrote:
Thank you, Duncan. Your insights on this have been, well, most insightful. Hopefully your Collapsible Three project will deem Summer Scoot '06 a worthy event to consider playing at this coming July 1 & 2nd. ( http://www.dsquared.org/scooters/summerscoot06.html )

I have never implied that the things you do aren

Doug, I'm not sure why you are calling me out, but I am browsing the tread because I responded to your post. Dialog is a good thing and I like to see other peoples opinions on subjects of interest, such as this. As for Buck kissing something, you really should take that up with him. But let's also be honest, he has a point, I have worked well with the past and current administrations. I may not always agree with what they do and how they do it, but I take the good with the bad in order to do what I do. Now I will go on with my day.

I agree with Buck on all of this.
And remember that the $45 charge for the event is a tax write off. Actually, Doug and everyone else, any money that you put into your art is a tax write off, at least for five years (I won't get into the whole needing to make a profit after five years bit).