HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.1 Winter Concert Series 2008-09 Update OF DU���
82 AGENDA STATEMENT
HERITAGE AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION
MEETING DATE: April 9, 2009
SUBJECT: Winter Concert Series 2008-2009 Update
Prepared by John Hartnett, Heritage & Cultural Arts Manager
ATTACHMENTS: None
RECOMMENDATION: Receive Report and provide direction to Staff
FINANCIAL STATEMENT: None
DESCRIPTION: Staff is interested in receiving input from the Heritage and Cultural
Arts Commission on the recently completed 2008-2009 Winter Concert Series. This was the fifth year
that the City offered this type of program, and Staff welcomes Commission input as we head into the fifth
year of programming. The following is a re-cap of the most recent history of the Winter Concert Series
program:
In Fiscal Year 2004-2005, the Heritage and Cultural Arts Division of Parks and Community Services
introduced a new concert series at Old St. Raymond's Church. The purpose of the Winter Concert Series
was to offer additional performing arts programs as a balance to the Summer Concert Series and to also
showcase the Heritage Center and Old Saint Raymond's Church to the general public. Initially, an
admission fee of$10 for adults and $5 for children was charged in order to offset most of the direct cost
for the program. Promotion included advertising in the Tri-Valley Herald, posters displayed at City
facilities, postcards promoting the concerts distributed at City facilities, and press releases sent out prior
to the beginning of the Winter Concert Series season. Additionally, the concerts were advertised in the
Dublin Activity Guide and on the City's website.
In the first year, four concerts were planned each month from November through February. The following
year, an additional concert was added in October. Over the next two years, the attendance declined from
247 participants in 2005-2006 to 90 participants in 2006-2007.
As a result of the significant decrease in attendance for the 2006-2007 Concert Series, the Commission
considered potential reasons for the decrease in attendance and made the following suggestions for the
2007-2008 Concert Series:
• Avoid events on three-day weekends. Avoid events targeted to teenagers.
COPIES TO:
ITEM NO: 8.1
GA\HERITAGE COMMISSION\AGENDA STMTS\2009\4-9-09 Winter Concerts Update.doc
• Go back to only offering 4 events per year (October's event typically runs into the Halloween
weekend with families committed to other activities).
• Target market an audience for each event with direct mailings to previous participants of the
Winter and Summer Concert Series.
• Develop individual flyers for each event rather than just a postcard that promotes the entire season.
• Conduct an event or two at the Dublin Library Community Room and/or the Senior Center.
For the 2007-2008 Concert Series, Staff acted on these suggestions, doing individual promotion for each
concert and targeting a specific audience for each. Additionally, concerts were moved between City
facilities with two concerts at St. Raymond's Church, and one each at the Senior Center and Dublin
Library.
As a result, attendance increased significantly for the past two years, as shown in the following table.
Event-2007-2008 Location Type Date & Time Attendance
Dave Rocha Heritage C. Jazz Trio Sat. —Nov.17—7 pm 66
Bay Bells Heritage C. Holiday Music Sat. —Dec.15 —7 pm 107
3 O'Clock Jump Senior C. Swing Band Sat. —Jan. 12—2 pm 88
Melinda Morse Senior C Piano Concert Sat. —Feb. 24—7 pm 48
TOTAL 309
Event-2008-2009 Location Type Date & Time Attendance
Air National Guard Band Senior C. Big Band Sun. —Nov. 9—2:30 pm 100
Bay Bells Senior C. Holiday Music Sun. —Dec.14—3:00/4:30 pm 150
Lorin Rowan Heritage C. Folk Music Sat. —Jan. 17—7 pm 46
Belle of Amherst Heritage C Theatre Performance Sat./Sun. —Feb. 14/15 —7/3 pm 47
TOTAL 343
Given the success of the past two year's concerts, Staff recommends continuing with the approaches for
marketing and scheduling adopted in 2007-2008.
For 2009-2010, Staff plans to again bring back a military band and offer a free concert around Veteran's
Day in November at the Senior Center. Additionally, Staff plans to continue the tradition of bringing back
Bay Bells for a Holiday Event in December, given the positive response they have received from the
public. Each year, Bay Bells modifies their program to offer something new and different, and has
expressed an interest in continuing a positive relationship with the City. Staff is also interested in the
types and style of music that the Commission would be interested in scheduling for the final January and
February Winter Concerts.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission
receive the report and provide direction to Staff.
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