Keep up to date on show cancellations due to the winter storm predicted for Friday & Saturday - we will post them here as they are received and will also be sending out special NYC CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE NYC BULLETINS to all subscribers to this service if and when they are received - if you are not yet a subscriber to the NYC BULLETIN SERVICE click HERE for information.
HUGS
STU
Friday, December 19, 2008
BE SURE TO CHECK OUR RUNDOWN OF 2008 NEW YEAR'S EVE SHOWS AND EVENTS
CLICK ON THE HEADLINE ABOVE TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE NEW YEAR'S PAGE
UPDATED TWICE A WEEK - ON THE WEBSITE
UPDATED TWICE A WEEK - ON THE WEBSITE
ON RADIO: "EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW": SONGS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
On Sunday, December 21st, EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN, on the Radio over WBAI 99.5 FM and on the Internet at http://www.2600.com/offthehook/hot2.ram, usually heard from 9:00 to 11:00 pm and hosted by David Kenney, will feature of music of the Holidays. Songs featured include "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas", Judy Garland; "The Christmas Song", Nat King Cole; "If I Hear Another Song About Christmas", Michael Feinstein; "My Simple Christmas Wish", Alix Korey; "Baby, It's Cold Outside", Liza Minnelli & Alan Cumming; "What Child Is This", Mahalia Jackson; "Ave Maria", Leontyne Price; "Surabaya Santa", Kristine Zbornik; "It's Christmas And We're Jewish", Karen Benjamin & Alan Chapman; "White Christmas", Bing Crosby; "Just In Time For Christmas", Nancy LaMott; "All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)", Alvin & The Chipmunks; "Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep", Maureen Mcgovern; "My Christmas Song For You", Andrea Marcovicci; and more. Each week David presents the usual blend of big-band jazz, swing, standards, showtunes, contemporary cabaret and celebrity interviews plus MEGA-MEDLEY MADNESS. For more information contact: oldisnew@earthlink.net. You are also invited to e-mail your comments and suggestions for future shows. You can listen to past shows at any time by going to the WBAI Archives at http://www.archive.wbai.org/ . For more information, see http://www.oldisnew.org/ .
Thursday, December 18, 2008
CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE NEEDS YOU!
If you subscribe to the CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE newsletter and have not yet become a member, isn't it time? A basic SILVER membership is still just $20. Joining is simple - just click on the button marked JOIN HERE at the top of every page of the website. You can even join and donate instantly using a credit card, debit card or e-check via PayPal - all the benefits are shown on that page, as well as the various levels of membership. Or you can donate the old fashioned way, by paper check - just remember, all checks should be made out simply to STU HAMSTRA and mailed to 676A Ninth Avenue #120, New York, NY 10036.
We are about 70 members short of the number of members we had at this point last year - 440 - which is about a 16% shortage. At the same time our Banner Ad income is down $5,000 from last year at this time. And this does not take into account the loss of income from outside work - website design and maintenance. Income in that category has dropped by close to $2,000 to date in 2008.
I just looked this all up - and even shocked myself with these figures. I knew things were bad, but didn't realize how bad until this morning! As Orwell said in 1984 (the book, not the year) "Ignorance Is Bliss" and I was in a false state of bliss for the past few months! Now I realize why I have had to cancel my cabaret-going plans so often lately for lack of funds!
We're not "crying wolf" when we say that our financial situation is critical. If it wasn't for some extraordinary gifts (non membership, non advertising) and some loans from friends and relatives, and even two wonderful folks who paid for banners far in advance, this whole operation would have collapsed back in August. 166 members out of 478 (nearly 35%) from 2007-2008 have not re-joined.
Please - if you are not yet a member, consider joining before the end of 2008.
HUGS
STU
We are about 70 members short of the number of members we had at this point last year - 440 - which is about a 16% shortage. At the same time our Banner Ad income is down $5,000 from last year at this time. And this does not take into account the loss of income from outside work - website design and maintenance. Income in that category has dropped by close to $2,000 to date in 2008.
I just looked this all up - and even shocked myself with these figures. I knew things were bad, but didn't realize how bad until this morning! As Orwell said in 1984 (the book, not the year) "Ignorance Is Bliss" and I was in a false state of bliss for the past few months! Now I realize why I have had to cancel my cabaret-going plans so often lately for lack of funds!
We're not "crying wolf" when we say that our financial situation is critical. If it wasn't for some extraordinary gifts (non membership, non advertising) and some loans from friends and relatives, and even two wonderful folks who paid for banners far in advance, this whole operation would have collapsed back in August. 166 members out of 478 (nearly 35%) from 2007-2008 have not re-joined.
Please - if you are not yet a member, consider joining before the end of 2008.
HUGS
STU
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
YOU READ IT FIRST RIGHT HERE
Because of the extra work involved, we will discontinue promoting the sale of 2008-2009 CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE memberships as of December 31, 2008.
Each membership includes not just a listing on the appropriate membership page, but also an opportunity to have a personal CD SALE page on the website - which involves page building, adding a jpg of a CD cover plus linking the page to the members website and if available the iTunes or CD Baby page where the CD may be purchased.
Plus I need to regularly print out and mail membership cards to each member - involving postage and printing costs, etc. Currently I have over 30 cards that need printing and mailing, with 2 empty ink cartridges that need replacement and no funds available for blank cards, ink or stamps (I do have enough envelopes).
In fact, I have come to discover that a simple $20 SILVER membership involves at least an hour's work per member signed up and then the $20 can be applied in full to a BANNER AD as a rebate (once each membership year) at a net "loss" to me.
So by ceasing the membership program on December 31st, it gives me a few months to study my alternatives before the new membership year starts on July 6, 2009 and the memberships actually go on sale on May 1st.
Your comments and suggestions will be most welcome.
HUGS
STU
Each membership includes not just a listing on the appropriate membership page, but also an opportunity to have a personal CD SALE page on the website - which involves page building, adding a jpg of a CD cover plus linking the page to the members website and if available the iTunes or CD Baby page where the CD may be purchased.
Plus I need to regularly print out and mail membership cards to each member - involving postage and printing costs, etc. Currently I have over 30 cards that need printing and mailing, with 2 empty ink cartridges that need replacement and no funds available for blank cards, ink or stamps (I do have enough envelopes).
In fact, I have come to discover that a simple $20 SILVER membership involves at least an hour's work per member signed up and then the $20 can be applied in full to a BANNER AD as a rebate (once each membership year) at a net "loss" to me.
So by ceasing the membership program on December 31st, it gives me a few months to study my alternatives before the new membership year starts on July 6, 2009 and the memberships actually go on sale on May 1st.
Your comments and suggestions will be most welcome.
HUGS
STU
Monday, December 15, 2008
MORE ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF CABARET
Here's another take on the recent discussions we have had here in the newsletter and on the blog regarding the state of cabaret, sent in by a subscriber:
"I thought it was interesting your comments about emails you have been getting as to why cabaret has been struggling. One of the things I find so interesting is why people need to find blame as to why they are not successful. I go and see many cabaret acts and am so disappointed in what I see and it is so expensive. I see a lot of "Performing" and not a whole lot of real emotional connection with us, the audience. When I see people really trying to learn to connect, it makes me want to cheer them on. I appreciate the Julie Wilsons, Marilyn Mayes, Barbara Cooks, Lee Roy Reams and others of that ilk because they really connect and communicate to the audience, so much more than just ego. I want to be deeply moved and laugh hard."
Another reader commented on the quality of service and (for some venues) the quality of ambiance - likening one club's facilities to a school lunch room. Ambiance is a tough call, since most club owners are trying to keep their costs down, but good service should be a given - it doesn't cost a penny more. My own experience lately has been the seemingly high turnover of staff in many of the clubs. Hopefully, since most cabaret staff members are also performers, this means that the waiters and bartenders have gotten gigs in musicals, on cruise ships and in touring companies of Broadway shows. But I have noticed drinks are now often being served during serious moments in the show, where the waiters used to "wait" until the ballad was over - and then drop off drinks during the applause. This could be a lack of training, or it could be thoughtlessness.
And then there is the "disappearing waiter" act, usually about 3/4 into the show, where the staff disappears - sometimes to tally all the bills for the show, sometimes just to chat or have a smoke. Heaven help anyone who tips over a drink with no staff person around to come to the rescue with a towel or some napkins. I personally think - simply for safety sake - one staff member other than the lighting techie should be in the cabaret room during the show at all times. A few weeks ago I was at a show that ended and no one was around to bring the bills. Fortunately thanks to the honesty of the cabaret audience, no one left without paying. Even worse is the habit in some rooms to hand out the bills during the last song, and then attempting to collect payment before the show has even ended. Perhaps we could call Maggie Cullen out of retirement to open a school for cabaret wait staff!
"I thought it was interesting your comments about emails you have been getting as to why cabaret has been struggling. One of the things I find so interesting is why people need to find blame as to why they are not successful. I go and see many cabaret acts and am so disappointed in what I see and it is so expensive. I see a lot of "Performing" and not a whole lot of real emotional connection with us, the audience. When I see people really trying to learn to connect, it makes me want to cheer them on. I appreciate the Julie Wilsons, Marilyn Mayes, Barbara Cooks, Lee Roy Reams and others of that ilk because they really connect and communicate to the audience, so much more than just ego. I want to be deeply moved and laugh hard."
Another reader commented on the quality of service and (for some venues) the quality of ambiance - likening one club's facilities to a school lunch room. Ambiance is a tough call, since most club owners are trying to keep their costs down, but good service should be a given - it doesn't cost a penny more. My own experience lately has been the seemingly high turnover of staff in many of the clubs. Hopefully, since most cabaret staff members are also performers, this means that the waiters and bartenders have gotten gigs in musicals, on cruise ships and in touring companies of Broadway shows. But I have noticed drinks are now often being served during serious moments in the show, where the waiters used to "wait" until the ballad was over - and then drop off drinks during the applause. This could be a lack of training, or it could be thoughtlessness.
And then there is the "disappearing waiter" act, usually about 3/4 into the show, where the staff disappears - sometimes to tally all the bills for the show, sometimes just to chat or have a smoke. Heaven help anyone who tips over a drink with no staff person around to come to the rescue with a towel or some napkins. I personally think - simply for safety sake - one staff member other than the lighting techie should be in the cabaret room during the show at all times. A few weeks ago I was at a show that ended and no one was around to bring the bills. Fortunately thanks to the honesty of the cabaret audience, no one left without paying. Even worse is the habit in some rooms to hand out the bills during the last song, and then attempting to collect payment before the show has even ended. Perhaps we could call Maggie Cullen out of retirement to open a school for cabaret wait staff!
NYC: WEDNESDAY JAZZ AT NOON WITH YULETIDE CELEBRATION
Jazz at Noon continues on Wednesdays at ST. PETER'S CHURCH - LIVING ROOM (Lexington Avenue at 54th Street, NYC). This long-running series was created by Edmund Anderson and is now produced by Ronny Whyte. Next show is on Wednesday, December 17th with Jazz at Noon's Annual Yuletide Celebration featuring Joyce Breach, Saundra Silliman, Daryl Sherman, Alex Leonard and Ronny Whyte with Boots Maleson on Bass. There are no performances on Wednesdays, December 24th & 31st. Performances are at 1:00 pm, $7 admission.
BOSTON: ROSEMARY LOAR IN BOSTON BENEFIT TONIGHT
Rosemary
Loar, currently appearing in Boston in "Grinch" will present an Equity
sponsored AIDS benefit show tonight, Monday, December 15th at ENCORE LOUNGE at THE COURTYARD MARRIOT (275 Tremont Street, Boston, MA - 617-728-2162 ) at 7:00 pm. Rosemary's
repertoire is fresh and interesting. Two other cast members of
"Grinch" will be joining her for a fun group number. She will be accompanied by Tom LaMark on piano bassist Tony d'Amico. No cover, but there is a suggested donation of $20.
N.J.AREA: BOB'S BIG MONDAY SHOWCASE TONIGHT AT STOCKTON INN
BOB's BIG MONDAY SHOWCASE returns tonight, December 15th (and every other Monday), at 7:30 pm at the STOCKTON INN (1 North Main Street, Stockton NJ - 609-397-1250). The show usually features 6 to 10 vocalists from the NY-NJ-PA area. Performers for for scheduled for this showcase include Andi Rose, Carol Mikulski, Jane Arthur, Jerry Wichinsky, Meghan Hughes, Lisa Poulos & Dennis Razze, Steve Kolbo and Kate & Dennis Varley and more to be announced. Only $10 cover/$10 minimum. Serving dinner, from 5:30 pm.
SAD NEWS FROM HOLLYWOOD
Sad news from the owners of HOLLYWOOD SHEET MUSIC (7777 West Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA - 323-850-1075). In spite of tremendous support from performers and friends in the Los Angeles area, including a special Master Class/Fund Raiser put on by CABARET WEST and led by Sharon McNight back in October, the store has been forced to close. The owners pledge to do their best to reopen at another location if possible. Stay tuned.
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