[HANASHIR:7670] Re: House Concert

[Cantorshar <Cantorshar...>]

Dear Marsha,

For Temple Shalom, I ran a series of in-home concerts (always a Saturday 
evening beginning with a Havdallah service) featuring local artists.  I paid 
the artists $300 for the evening with each guest contributing $10 to attend.  
The host family provided dessert and coffee and a place to perform.  
Performers needing pianos obviously had to have hosts with nice pianos -- and 
they were asked to have the piano tuned (at their own cost).  I ended up 
being disappointed with the results...we had 5 concerts in the first year and 
averaged 20 people per concert.  therefore, we actually "lost" money (though 
my music fund covered it).  

My suggestion to you would be to bring people in from Chicago or Green Bay 
(Ha, ha).  Also, the people you mentioned might want to perform in this kind 
of intimate setting and might be willing to take a lowered fee -- you should 
ask them and let them decide.  Don't a number of your congregants have money? 
 I bet some of them would be willing to underwrite the project in order to 
bring kavod to their home!  

B'shalom,
Chippy (A private little joke, gang)

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