[Dixielandjazz] Young OKOM band wins contest

[TCASHWIGG at aol.com]

In a message dated 8/30/04 1:55:55 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
rakmccallum at hotmail.com writes:

> The Ford Detroit festival is completely free for the audiences, including 
> for big headliners.  

Hi Rob & Folks:

This is a classic example of what I have been preaching about for years in 
regard to some festival presenters, ( Not the Promoters) These type of events 
often are run by well meaning folks with no fiscal responsibility as to the 
bottom line of their events because they are totally sponsored by OTHER PEOPLES 
MONEY.  If the event is losing money under those circumstances then it is 
because the people running the event are unsophisticated in the entertainment 
industry, and no doubt are paying even the headline acts far more than their actual 
Normal concert prices.    

Unfortunately it is people like this that ruin the longevity and perpetuation 
of otherwise great events.  Just because you get enough money to sponsor this 
years event does not mean that you are now a golden calf and will get the 
same or more money from your sponsors next year just because you ask for it.  
Those sponsors like the beer company are not in the entertainment business, they 
are in the BEER business and they want to see measurable increases in the 
amount of their brands of Beer being sold in that community during and after that 
event to justify putting up the big bucks to make it happen.

If Festival organizers continue to squander those hard to come by funds year 
after year the corporate accountants will sooner or later find it out and plug 
the hole or find another more fiscally responsible organization to divert the 
funds to.

I have said it before and I will say it again: Being a Nonprofit organization 
does not mean you cannot or should not make a profit, especially if you wish 
to self sustain your organization for future events.  There is no crime in 
having and retaining an Operating surplus to finance future events.  Too bad most 
non profit groups don't understand this.

With an event the size of this one there is no reason to believe that 95% of 
the attendees would not pay a small admission charge to keep the event afloat 
for many years to come.

Someone with a bit more business savvy needs to infiltrate the board of 
directors of that organization before it is too late and a new group has to start 
all over again from scratch.

Go get em Rob:

Cheers,

Tom Wiggins
Saint Gabriel's Celestial Brass Band
Concert & Event Promoter 40 years
Festival &  Entertainment Event consultant
International Booking Agent

(I wear Many Hats Promotions)