Time for a quick plug for the 19th Birthday Party of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE on Thursday, July 9th at 7:00 pm at THE WEST BANK CAFE/LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATER (407 West 42nd Street, NYC - 212-695-6909 - ). First a little history. This is the 5th annual event, and it was an outgrowth of our CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE membership program that started in July of 2001. Conferring with a few friends, I was seeking a way to finance operations through the slow summer months when banner income (our only income source at that time) drops by 70 to 80 percent. Meantime operation costs stay about the same. The idea that developed was to use the "PBS" model - offer memberships with benefits to raise the needed funds. That's why membership renewal season is in July each year - and we settled on July because CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE started publication on July 6, 1990 (July 6 also happens to be my birthday).
Five years ago we decided to hold a birthday party to kick off the new CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE year. Since we are selling memberships at the same time we are selling tickets to the party, the ticket price is intentionally low. But of course the whole reason for the party is to try to raise $2000 - $3000 to tide us over the lean summer months. And that's why we also have sponsors and program book advertisers. With less than 80 seats to sell at $15 each there is no way the party alone can raise the funds. And that's why your membership renewal or new membership donation is very important.
And the Birthday Parties have traditionally featured a variety of performers over the years. The past 4 birthday parties have presented 49 performers - and only 4 of them have appeared in more than one birthday party! (mostly because they were folks booking the various rooms or won one of the awards). We're not going to promise an all-star lineup of "big" names to appear at the party, but we have included a few. We try to include newcomers and old timers, maybe a comic, maybe someone who has been performing for several years mainly to "family & friends" and I feel they should be seen by a wider audience. I promise surprises, a lot of fun, prizes and of course our annual DOTTIE BURMAN and JEFF MATSON award winners.
I'm on the hunt right now for additional performers - I signed up one the other night after seeing his show, and another one last night who was a a show I was at. I want to include a few 2009 MAC Award winners - invitations going out this weekend. One act is already signed on who does a performance unlike any other seen in cabaret, and one person is signed on who appeared in my very first Birthday Party show!
In fact, this is more of a "fun raiser" party than a fund raiser - it is in a way the first membership benefit to be received by those who join as 2009-2010 members - a $10 discount on the non-member price!
I hope you will go to the website at http://www.svhamstra.com/Membership.shtml and join - and then go to http://www.svhamstra.com/thankyou1tkt2.shtml to buy your ticket (members can purchase 2 tickets at the member price).
Or if you can't make it, buy an ad in the program book (as little as $25) at or purchase a ticket that we can give to someone who can't afford one (each birthday we give away 4 or 5 tickets purchased this way.) $100 sponsorships (includes a free ticket and a 1/4 page program ad plus acknowledgement in promotions).
Here's the info once more: 19th Birthday Party of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE on Thursday, July 9th at 7:00 pm at THE WEST BANK CAFE/LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATER (407 West 42nd Street, NYC). Tickets are $15 for new/renewed 2009-2010 members and $25 for non members (plus the usual $15 food/drink minimum required by the venue). TICKETS ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH THE WEBSITE - no reservations will be taken by the club, no tickets will be available the night of the show.
The 19th Birthday Party of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE is sponsored in part by Raisa Katona Bennett, Suzanne Carrico, Chelsea's Desktop, Inc. - Chelsea Hudgins, Teresa Fischer, Marty Geiger, Eric Michael Gillett and Laura Hull.
