"HERE & THERE" from the CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE NEWSLETTER - Thursday, August 29, 2010
It's a short issue today for several reasons, the main one being a dearth of news. The final weeks of summer vacation time are traditionally slow - folks are getting their last vacation time in (with a 10 week summer slot, and average paid vacations of about 3 weeks, nearly a third of those with jobs that offer paid vacations are out and about). I've noted this in places like the parking lots on West 46th Street - usually jam packed every night, but dozens of spaces available this time of year (I used to live on West 46th Street).
And my quest for a new living space continues. I've made applications at two agencies for Senior Housing, and have interviews scheduled for next week. But I know it is probably impossible for them to act before my deadline to vacate my current space on September 1st. While I am off to Michigan this weekend, my pal Daniel will be checking out some possible room rentals in the Jackson Heights area (a major subway/bus hub). And at the same time, he will be checking out possible 1-bedroom apartments where he and I can pool our rent and share the space. We're each paying about the same amount monthly for our separate spaces, and it's quite possible that we might even save some money with a share.
Thanks to some generous special donations, and some new memberships (and even a few new banner ads), we're about 1/3 the way to our goal of raising the estimated $2000 we need to relocate - advance rent, security deposit, a new bed and moving expenses.
Which reminds me to remind you: 200 members of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE for 2009-2010 still haven't rejoined (including 25 charter members). Please, if you can afford it, please rejoin this weekend. A basic SILVER membership is just $20 (that works out to about 42 cents a week (less than the cost of a postage stamp) and can be used as a credit towards your first banner ad. And the GOLD membership has been reduced to $50 (formerly $75), and gives you 15% off on banner ads all year long! CRYSTAL membership (was $250) is now just $100 and gives you 25% discount on banner ads.
And for folks who get the newsletter, but haven't joined as a member yet, why not start out as a $5 sustaining member?
Full details of benefits for each level of membership are on the website - just click here: .
One last mention of the CALLING ALL ANGELS 2 - Part II show tomorrow night at THE METROPOLITAN ROOM. Last week's show was a total delight and this week's event just got better with the addition of two of cabaret's favorite Julies: Julie Wilson and Julie Reyburn. If cabaret had royalty, Ms. Wilson would be the Queen and Ms. Reyburn would be the Crown Princess! And even the METROPOLITAN ROOM is donating their share of the night's proceeds to THE GREGORY KENNELL FUND. I have an extra special reason for promoting this show. Several years ago I was bartering for office space on West 34th Street in NYC (I supervised the business school office on Saturdays & Sundays in return for a desk, cubical and DSL connection). But one day we were warned that the landlord would be padlocking the place for non-payment of rent and I needed a new space immediately. I broadcast my plight in CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE (this was long before TWITTER) and immediately Greg e-mailed back that I could use an empty desk in his studio in Chelsea. And he charged no rent (I gave him a free banner ad on my website, and also referred any design work inquiries to him).
This is the way the cabaret community supports its own - and now John Hoglund, Sue Matsuki and Marcus Simeone have gathered some of the cream of NYC cabaret to support Greg's care as he undergoes daily physical therapy to recover from the effects of a two-month long coma. He has regained his speech and the use of one arm and slowly other limbs are recovering, but it is a long and expensive process. See the item above in the listings under August 20th for details on performers, plus an address where you can send donations if you can't attend.
Greg helped me out in my hour of need, and when I was working on CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE in his studio I saw how many hours he spent on designing fliers, CD covers and other art for cabaret performers - spending far more time than he was charging for. Now it's our turn to return his past kindnesses and help. Incidentally, Greg wanted no honor or recognition for his gift of a space to CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE and made me promise not to tell anyone of his generosity - a pledge I kept for many years and share with you now only to urge you to do what you can to help.
Just a few reminders about some schedule changes for CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE.
Tomorrow, Friday, August 20th I will be travelling to Grand Rapids, MI, where my two older sisters reside, to be joined by my younger sister flying up from Florida, for a sort of "family reunion". We're all well past 65, and all fairly healthy, and what better time to see each other! I will return to NYC on Monday the 23rd. I will be taking my iPod touch along with me and will be able to receive and send e-mails, but won't be able to update the website until Monday night. I will also be on contact on TWITTER and FACEBOOK and even will be able to post items to the BLOG if necessary.
Note that the MEMBERS ONLY issue scheduled for Saturday, the 21st, will be sent on tomorrow morning, before I leave for the airport at noon; the regular issue normally scheduled for Monday, the 23rd, will go out on Tuesday the 24th instead.
And looking ahead, there will be only one issue of the CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE newsletter the week of September 5th due to the Labor Day (USA) Holiday - the regular Monday issue for LABOR DAY, September 6th, will be combined with the WEEKEND issue and will be published on Thursday, September 9th.
In last week Saturday's MEMBERS ONLY newsletter we included my own personal guide of 10 Rules on Picking A Cabaret Show Without Fear - tips and hints on getting the most out of your cabaret experience. And new members who joined this week will receive a copy at the same time as their membership card. If you're already a member and read the report, you will note that we left one "rule" off the list. This week's MEMBERS ONLY issue (going out tomorrow) will include an article tentatively titled "WHY NO ONE PAYS ATTENTION TO REVIEWS, AND YOU SHOULDN'T EITHER". (And I include my own reviews/reports on cabaret show in that statement). But you'll need to be a member to receive the report - $5 memberships are available.
At the end of August we will be removing the CD SALE pages of all non-renewed 2009-2010 members, as well as the CABARET BLOG and CABARET YOUTUBEpages, while adding new pages for all new members (SILVER level and above) requesting same.
On September 30th, non-renewing members will no longer be listed (with website, MySpace, Facebook and Twitter links) on the MEMBERSHIP pages http://www.cabarethotlineonline.com/Membership.shtml, and will also no longer receive the special Saturday MEMBERS ONLY newsletters.
Please don't delay - join or renew today. Now - more than ever - cabaret (and CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE) needs your support.
See a show or two this week! Visit our websites! Run a banner or sidebar ad! Join CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE for 2010-2011.
Look for more news on the website ( http://www.cabarethotlineonline.com/ ), on the blog ( http://cabarethotlineonline.blogspot.com/ ) and updates, picks & reminders on TWITTER ( http://twitter.com/cabarethotline ) and FACEBOOK (http://www.facebook.com/stu.hamstra ). Every day, in every way, we're promoting cabaret!
And that's just about the way it was. We'll be back on TUESDAY with our "Mostly Listings" Issue (The MEMBERS ONLY ISSUE goes out on FRIDAY this week).
Thanks for your support of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE!
Hugs & Stuff,
STU
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