I'm putting on a show - INPUT NEEDED!

[spacelordmother]

Oh, hi. I've got this crazy idea about putting on a show this summer, but I've never done anything like this before so I am hoping to get some input.

Every night I drive by this:



and I think: "HOLY FUCK I WANT TO SIT UNDER THAT AND DROOOOOOOOOOOOOOONE." As you can see in the second video I'm not the first to think this, but I really want this event to be about a performance.

Well as it turns out, you can rent the space beneath it! I have never been there before but am going to go check it out tomorrow and see how things look/get information. What I do know is that rental rates vary depending on whether or not you're affiliated with the university (this is the art museum on Cornell's campus) so I would look to connect with someone on campus. I am hoping to put this on more as an experimental performance than a "concert," so it could easily be connected with some of the art groups on campus. I am also going to try to connect with a group that puts on other experimental shows in the area, and the host/dj for the local ambient show I've mentioned before.

Here's the costs I see:

1. Space rental - will report back when I know more
2. Campus catering (required) for beer/wine - possible permits and security/carding needed, but they might handle that.
3. Sound equipment - I'm not thinking that it would have to be anything too crazy for the size and genre - I definitely think it should be on the quieter side of things, but would like sound to be immersive = speakers everywhere.
4. Artists - I won't be able to fly anyone out here, but definitely want to pay people something for their art. I'm thinking 2-3? Suggestions welcome!

Here's the space plan:



The listed max occupancy for a "standing room" event is 150 people x $5-10 a ticket = doable? Am I being naive in thinking that I could sell 150 tickets to this? I'm not looking to make money -- just to promote the artists, the experimental/ambient/noise genre, and to get to witness it myself. I really think it could work! What am I missing?

[D.o.S.]

Like 7,000 bricks of hashish

[spacelordmother]

Like 7,000 bricks of hashish

I'm in Ithaca so it shouldn't be a problem.

[D.o.S.]

Ithaca's an awesome little city. shake the gorge with drone.

[Chankgeez]

Sounds like you have things pretty well thought out. Except the first thing you need to decide is who you want to perform.

You might want to discuss this with your co-promoter(s). They may have some ideas.

You also need something you can bring to the table (aside from the initial idea) to make it worth their while.

[spacelordmother]

You also need something you can bring to the table (aside from the initial idea) to make it worth their while.

For instance?

[Chankgeez]

Well, such as, what you can contribute to the show. Something substantial that they wouldn't otherwise have.

Can you bring them a desirable artist with a big draw? Do you have a huge mailing list with a guaranteed audience? A track record of promoting successful shows? Sound equipment to loan for the performance? Connections or access to things that they don't have or can't easily acquire?

[spacelordmother]

I don't really have any of that.

This stems more from 1.I like ambient music; 2.I think it would be cool as hell to hear some ambient music under those LEDS; and 3. a discussion I had with a friend about what a shame there aren't really any ambient events happening here.

I anticipate that he will be my co-promoter (but I won't talk to him about it until I get a little firmer info from the gallery) but I guess I am not really thinking of this in terms of a "concert." It more like we're renting a gallery and having some music and drinks - we just also happen to be selling tickets in order to pay for it. I don't anticipate that this will be something driven by a known entity (though it could be if we could find someone, but still we're not doing riders or accommodations, etc) and I naively believe that selling that many tickets won't be too hard in this town.

I guess what I anticipate my contributing to be is doing a ton of the leg work, organizing, soliciting musicians, setting up/tearing down, etc. I have a little bit of gear to contribute, and I am not thinking concert-level volume, but it remains to be seen how much we would need for this type of thing. I also don't have a ton of connections, but I know this music well enough to know where the pockets of interest reside and intend to cast my nets there.

Please tell it to me straight! I am naive, but I think it's a cool idea, there's no reason not to pursue it to its reasonable end, and every promoter has to start somewhere.

(not that I am necessarily trying to start a career of this)

[Chankgeez]

No, it's definitely an awesome idea.

Leg work/logistics/planning is a big part of a potentially successful "event".

So, the artist isn't the draw? The event itself is?

You know your audience better than I do and it seems they're a game and captive one. If the price is right and the event seems interesting enough, you should have no problem getting them to attend. 150 ateendees? Not sure about that, but it may simply depend on the amount of promotion you do. Being well connected will certainly help, but don't let that set you back. Also depending on the cost of this event, you may want to start a little smaller and work your way up. That place isn't going anywhere.

Weather and/or other conflicting events may also be a factor.

[spacelordmother]

No, it's definitely an awesome idea.

Leg work/logistics/planning is a big part of a potentially successful "event".

So, the artist isn't the draw? The event itself is?

You know your audience better than I do and it seems they're a game and captive one. If the price is right and the event seems interesting enough, you should have no problem getting them to attend. 150 attendees? Not sure about that, but it may simply depend on the amount of promotion you do. Being well connected will certainly help, but don't let that set you back. Also depending on the cost of this event, you may want to start a little smaller and work your way up. That place isn't going anywhere.

Weather and/or other conflicting events may also be a factor.

Exactly. I am thinking of this about the music and venue first - is it logistically possible to make this happen - and then can we find good music. That will likely be easier said, but as of now I'm not too worried and I'll get there when I get there.

Really I don't want to do this to make money at all - just enough to pay for everything and give some to the artists while hopefully keeping it cheap. The reason the 150 people is mentioned is because that's the occupancy limit and therefore the prime limiting factor of: final cost of everything = 150 x reasonable ticket price = ≥0

Excellent point about it's not going anywhere! I believe that it's a permanent installation (which I will confirm tomorrow when I go there) so depending on what I find, and what Drew thinks, maybe we have it somewhere else on a smaller scale. I would just prefer to avoid a "club" though if at all possible - it's not really the right music for a club when there could be people just in for the bar, etc.

Conflicting events will be mapped as well as possible, and it's all beneath a cantilever and those LEDs, so unless it's a really raging summer storm then it would be cool. In fact, cooler perhaps.

[Chankgeez]

... so unless it's a really raging summer storm then it would be cool. In fact, cooler perhaps.

Yeah, but with an event like you wanna put on (without a major draw), you'd be surprised that even a hint of drizzle may keep people from coming out. Take that into account.

[theavondon]

Try finding an art student organization from Cornell and see if they want to do a "fundraiser". That way, you get the cheap college rate, instant event validity, and a built-in audience.

[spacelordmother]

... so unless it's a really raging summer storm then it would be cool. In fact, cooler perhaps.

Yeah, but with an event like you wanna put on (without a major draw), you'd be surprised that even a hint of drizzle may keep people from coming out. Take that into account.

EXCELLENT point.

Try finding an art student organization from Cornell and see if they want to do a "fundraiser". That way, you get the cheap college rate, instant event validity, and a built-in audience.

That's a great angle! I feel like a school this big with a music program has to have some experimental musicians, so it could be also a great way to help solidify that community and keep things like this happening.

[theavondon]

Try finding an art student organization from Cornell and see if they want to do a "fundraiser". That way, you get the cheap college rate, instant event validity, and a built-in audience.

That's a great angle! I feel like a school this big with a music program has to have some experimental musicians, so it could be also a great way to help solidify that community and keep things like this happening.

Oh, absolutely! Every music school is bound to have composition majors that make music along those lines.

[retinal orbita]

I think it's a fucking great idea. I am trying to do something similar for a show outside of the standard bar scene for my band and a few other groups but it's frankly really difficult to find a venue that's not some shithole bar.... I have tried to scope out gallery spaces and all kinds of venues for a while now but nothing works ei permits noise restrictions, booze etc. I think if you have the space people might be inclined to check it out it it's unique in it's scope.

I mean better to try and bomb than to do nothing. I say put 100% into it, people can decide for themselves if it's worth it to attend. But in the end, you're not doing it to appeal to a majority of people, you're doing it because it's somehting you care about.