"HERE & THERE" - THOUGHTS, COMMENTS, OBSERVATIONS
Time is growing short, and I can really use you help (a few wonderful folks have already sent some fine suggestions). As mentioned last week, I've been renting a furnished room in a friend's apartment in the East Village for nearly 3 1/2 years. A week ago, on Sunday August 8th, he informed me that he needs the room for a relative who is getting divorced - and he needs it by September 1st. Since he's a friend, he did not require me to give him a security deposit. And because this was unexpected, I have no extra funds set aside at this time for security/deposit on a new space. Income from banner sales has been next to zero this summer - and membership income has tapered off in dollars, because we reduced costs and extended the 35 CABARET FOR SENIOR's memberships free for a second year.
You can help in two ways: I need to find a new place to live in a little over weeks - I really have no safety net this time (when this happened about 6 years ago a kind friend lent me a sofa for a few weeks). I would prefer to share with another cabaret fan, so if you know of anything, please let me know.
I also need to raise funds for a security deposit and rent as soon as possible. I figure I need to raise $2,000 by September 1st. One generous member sent in a $200 donation for this cause, but I'm not asking for special donations right now. I'm simply asking you to join as a member of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE in the next week or so.
If you plan to join anyway, please don't delay. Over 200 folks still need to renew their 2009-2010 memberships, and these funds would be more than enough if they sign on before that date. At the SILVER ($20) lever, 200 memberships would mean twice what I need. Of course, I realize that money is tight and not everyone can sign on at this time. With the official unemployment rate at nearly 10% (and actually closer to 18% if you count folks who gave up looking for work) I know a lot of members are hurting this year.
But if you can help - if you can afford a $20 membership or more, please don't wait - join today. Even a basic sustaining membership of just $5 would help - you can always upgrade when your finances improve. Please CLICK HERE for all the membership levels and benefits available with easy to use PayPal buttons for joining.
Your membership dollars will help us continue to promote the art and the artists of cabaret without interruption - I'm counting on you. Every day, in every way, we're promoting cabaret!
Those of you who were at THE METROPOLITAN ROOM last Friday night for the CALLING ALL ANGELS 2 - PART 1 event are probably (like me) still savoring the memories of a fantastic evening of cabaret. It was an indescribable event on behalf of the rehabilitation expenses for Gregory Kennell that had everyone cheering after each of the 16 performers on the bill. Hats off to John Hoglund, Sue Matsuki and Marcus Simeone for gathering such a fantastic bunch of talented cabaret folks to raise funds for such a worthy cause! Greg even had a chance to chat with the audience via cell phone at the end of the show. PART II of CALLING ALL ANGELS 2 will take place on Friday, August 20th at 7:00 pm at the METROPOLITAN ROOM. Details are above in the CABARET NEWS section. I'll be in Michigan (see item below) so I can't be there - which means an extra seat will be available. But don't delay, make your reservations today! There is a possibility that Greg might be able to attend the event - someone has donated a motorized wheel chair and it is hoped that a sufficiently equipped vehicle can be arranged.
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 join this week will receive a copy. If you're a member and read the report, you will note that we left one "rule" off the list. This week's MEMBERS ONLY issue 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 shows). But you need to be a member to receive the report - $5 memberships are available.
Is CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE writing about you on TWITTER and FACEBOOK? Each day we promote some of the best cabaret events around the world via TWITTER (http://twitter.com/cabarethotline ) and FACEBOOK (http://www.facebook.com/stu.hamstra ) and also on the CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE BLOG ( http://cabarethotlineonline.blogspot.com/ ). The items are taken from the home page of the website - http://www.cabarethotlineonline.com/ which also changes every day. But you won't know what we're saying about you if you don't follow us.
Just in case you're wondering why we're not including all the hundreds of NEW YORK FRINGE events in these issues, the reasons are many. First off, there is no way we can cover them all. Secondly, the shows have "convoluted" schedules - different days at different times, and impossible to include in any abbreviated form. And many of the shows are theater rather than cabaret. So I've decided to only include those Fringe shows that include members/subscribers of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE that send me a press release (if space permits). So far, only one such press release has been received and that item was already included in the newsletter. If you want to know how to prepare a press release for submission to CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE CLICK HERE - please remember, a flier or a simple website URL is not a press release.
Just a few reminders about some schedule changes for CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE:
On 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, so the MEMBERS ONLY issue scheduled for Saturday the 21st will be sent on Friday the 20th before I leave for the airport; the issue normally scheduled for Monday, the 23rd, will go out on Tuesday the 24th.
Also, there will be only one issue of the CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE newsletter due to the Labor Day 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 the listings today we tried to include all the appropriate cabaret items through September 5th for which press releases were received (remember, fliers and website URLs are not press releases).Most club schedules for September have yet to be received, so we can't claim that all are included quite yet. Hopefully the remaining schedules will be received so that we can include any items missed in the Thursday issue.
I remind you that we try to include and give preference to press releases received directly from performers and publicists, rather than rely on club schedule information or items posted on Yahoo or Google groups boards. We usually only use items from those other sources to fill in for dates for which we have no direct releases. If the issue is running long, we usually leave them out.
See a show or two this week! Visit our websites! Run a banner or sidebar ad! Join CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE for 2010-2011. Now - more than ever - cabaret (and CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE) needs your support. Every day, in every way, we're promoting cabaret!
Look for more news on the website, on the blog and updates, picks & reminders on TWITTER and FACEBOOK.
And that's just about the way it was. I still have a lot more to tell you about but we've run out of time so the rest will have to wait until Thursday's issue.
Thanks for your support of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE!
Hugs & Stuff,
STU
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