Subject: FOOTMAD Music Committee – meeting minutes

Meeting date: 10 November 2010 [Wednesday]

Meeting time: 7 PM

Attending: Steve Ballman, Bill Kimmons, Andy Park, John Stone, Hanna Thurman, Sam Uppala, Pat Wiegand

NEXT MEETING:

Date: 1 December 2010 [Wednesday].  

Time:  7 pm.

Location:  Home of Martha and Steve Ballman.

AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING

• Plan / review upcoming concerts in 2010 – 2011 season
• Brainstorming session - generate ideas for promoting and publicizing the concerts, current and future.
• Start planning process for 2011 – 2012 season

UPCOMING CONCERTS – PLANNING SESSION

20 NOV - Steppin’ In It

• Host: Bill Kimmons.
• Band contact: Bill has contacted the band and discussed the concert.
• Sound / Tech: Tech sheet / stage plot has been sent to Culture Center sound technician.
• Lodging: Band will book their lodging and make arrangements.
• Pot luck:  Culture Center Green Room is unavailable. A training room has been reserved. Andrea Parkins has sent a notice inviting participation in the pot luck. 
• Party: at home of Martha and Steve Ballman.
• Publicity: See brainstorming notes.

11 DEC – Old Sledge

• Host: Bill Kimmons.
• Band contact: Band to be contacted about concert arrangements and other issues [Bill] .
• Sound / Tech: Tech sheet / stage plot to be sent [ Steve ]
• Lodging: Band to be contacted about their preferences. [ Bill ] .
• Pot luck: Potluck invitation will be sent to board members 2 weeks prior to concert [ Andrea ]  
• Party: at home of Martha and Steve.
• Publicity: See brainstorming notes.

29 JAN – Eric Bibb

• Host: Sam Uppala.
• Band Contact: [ Sam ]
• Sound / Tech: Tech sheet / stage plot to be sent [ Steve ]
• Lodging: Eric Bibb to be contacted about arrangements. [ Sam ]
• Pot luck:   [ Andrea ]
• Party: TBD.  Discussed the possibility that Sam will host the party.
• Publicity: See brainstorming notes.

12 FEB – Battlefield Band

• Host: Pat Wiegand
• Band contact: [ Pat ]
• All other hosting items tabled until a future meeting.

26 MAR – Clandestine

• Host: Steve Ballman
• Band contact: [ Steve Ballman ]
• Party: Martha and Steve [ tentative ]
• All other hosting items tabled until a future meeting.

PUBLICITY – BRAINSTORMING SESSION

• V100 – Ric Cochran
• We have offered free tickets for on air promotions on the Ric Cochran show. We should continue to do this.
• Pat has taken tickets and been interviewed for many past concerts.
• Edgewood Summit
• Offer to provide a block of discount tickets. $5 per ticket was suggested.
• Will need to work with someone living there to make things happen.  Roberta Allison would be a good contact there. 
• Hanna will pursue this option.
• Churches / Lodges / Other organizations in the region [ Pat suggested ]
• Pat suggested indentifying organizations to be contacted and offering group rate discounts.
• Unitarian Universalists [ Pat’s church. Pat will make an offer ]
• First Presbyterian [ Mark Watson’s church. Pat will talk to Mark and ask him to pursue this possibility.]
• Steve mentioned that we added 20 names to our email list by working tables at the Sustainability Day in May 2010. We should look for opportunities to setup a table and handout information.
• Suggestion: Mountain Stage – should distribute hand outs prior to Sunday shows.
• Suggestion: Blues Festival at the levee in May 2011.  Sam will contact Jack Rice and discuss the possibility of setting up a table there.
• Suggestion: Capitol Market.  They have afternoon performers.  Could we offer a performer gig at which we could also distribute handouts.
• Suggestion: ArtWalk. Bill mentioned that several musicians play outside the Good News Mountaineer Garage on ArtWalks evenings.  Many people stop by an listen.  We should try to have information there and someone to talk to people and handout items.
• Suggestion: Lighthouse Coffee House: This might be a good venue for handouts.  Pam Curry will be playing there Friday, 19 Nov [same time as our contra dance].

2011 – 2012 KICKOFF SESSION

• Time Line
• 1 March 2011 – WV Commission on the Arts Grant. Final date for submission.
• 1 February 2011 – Agreements must [should ] be in place.   Target date to have artist contracts returned to us and on file.
• Given the two dates above, we have about 60 days to contact artists, make decisions, and get agreements / contracts arranged and finalized.
• Genres – in the past we have attempted to have add variety to the concert series by selecting music genres and looking for artists to fill those concert slots based on these genres. Example:
• Celtic
• Old-time
• Blues
• Cajun / Zydeco
• Folk
• World
• Artist suggestions submitted by attendees
• Eden Brent – blues [Sam].  Discussion: Sam estimated that her fee would be $2,000 as a single. $3,000 with accompanying musicians.
• Finest Kind – folk [Bill]
• Fox Hunt – old-time [Bill]
• Magpie – folk [Bill]
• Sweetback Sisters – eclectic mix of styles [ Sam ]. Discussion: is it to early to host them again?
• Steel Wheels (from VA) – old-time [ Hanna ]
• Elixir – Folk, eclectic [ Bill ]. Discussion: Bill mentioned they played a concert at Augusta and were fabulous.
• Contrarians - ? [ Martha ]
• Whistling Wolves ? [ Andy ]. Discussion: has only seen them on U-tube.  An interesting
• Rain Dogs – blues [ Bill ].

General discussion: Sam mentioned that many of the suggestions are for artists that we have presented in the past.  He would not like to see too many repeats. We should seek out new opportunities.

Action times for next meeting [ 1 December ]:

• Look for other artists to suggest.
• Make initial contacts with artist and inquire about fees and touring dates for Fall 2011 and Spring 2012.

NEW BUSINESS

Sam Uppala Proposal: Hanna Thurman should be added as a co-chair of the Music Committee for this year.  Hanna will assume be chair of the Music Committee for the next year.  Approval: group voted to approve this proposal.

ACTION ITEMS

Bill K

• Old Sledge: ask them to send a hi res digital photo ASAP.
• Steppin In It – V100 on air promotion: contract Ric Cochran and arrange for ticket giveaway and perhaps an on-air interview.  Target date: Thursday, 18 Nov.
• Steppin’ In It Concert: band host / concert MC.

Pat W

• Unitarian Church: block ticket offer
• Ask Mark Watson to make a block ticket offer to his church.
• Manager for the Battlefield Band is in the USA and wishes to discuss the concert. Call the manager. Steve will supply Pat with contact information for the manager.

Hanna T

• Edgewood Summit: Work with Roberta Allison to promote block ticket offer for residents.

Sam U

• Blues Festival at the Levee, May 2011: Contact Jack Rice. Ask about possibility of a FOOTMAD info table.

Need volunteers to distribute handbills

• Mountain Stage: Sunday, 14 November
• Lighthouse Coffee House: Friday, 19 November