[Imc-radio] IMCFest proposal (fwd)

[Zachary C. Miller]

I just sent the proposal quotes below for IMCFest to the Urbana Business
Alliance. Please try to

attend the shows meeting on Thursday, July 24th at 7pm at the IMC

to discuss this proposal and other festival planning with
us. The stuff in this proposal is the vision that I would like to
realize but it'll require some comitment from all the working groups
to really showcase all that IMC has to offer at this festival. I don't
want this fest to just be Shows Group putting on some music. I want to
show Urbana what IMC as a whole is all about. But we need your help!

> Urbana IMC Fest 2003
> August 30, 2003
> 2pm-10pm
> 
> Introduction
> 
> The purpose of IMC Fest will be to showcase the unique services that
> the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center (UC-IMC) provides to
> residents of the Urbana area.
> 
> The UC-IMC is dedicated to providing the tools to produce and
> distribute independent media to the residents of
> Urbana-Champaign. Independent media may take the form of music, video,
> spoken audio, news reporting, visual arts, internet media, and
> print. IMC Fest will therefore be a multi-media event featuring
> presentation of these kinds of media as well as hands on production
> workshops.
> 
> Additional information about the IMC can be found at the end of this
> proposal.
> 
> Features of the Festival
> 
> Music (Main Stage) - The primary feature of IMC Fest will be it's main
> music stage. IMC members will invite about 10 local music groups from
> a variety of genres to perform at the festival. We will focus on
> inviting local groups that would not normally have a chance to play in
> a festival environment. We will invite at least one band that will
> appeal particularly to high school aged youth. Several of the bands
> that we invite will have major appeal in the area and will draw a
> crowd. This festival will give area residents the chance to hear music
> in a free, all ages, non-smoking, outdoor environment that could
> normally only be heard in bars.
> 
> Music (Folk Stage) - Budget and logistics permitting, we will have a
> second stage featuring acoustic music. This stage would have
> performances in between the performances on the main stage, providing
> an uninterrupted program of music for the audience. Set up time for
> bands on the acoustic music stage will be minimized compared to the
> main stage which will feature more complex ensembles. We are hoping
> that Strawberry Fields might allow us to use their parking lot for the
> acoustic stage. They could have an event similar to their recent
> vegetarian cook-out to provide food and a small stage could be set up
> for performers. We have not yet contacted them about this.
> 
> Zine Readings - The IMC has the most extensive library of
> independently produced 'zines in the area. Periodically we have 'zine
> producers from Chicago and Urbana-Champaign gather to read from their
> published works. These readings feature poetry, fictional and
> non-fictional prose ranging from news to personal accounts to how-to
> guides to fictional works. The Zine Slam events have been very
> successful at the IMC and we would like to feature some zine readings
> during the IMC Fest.
> 
> The Soapbox - The IMC is dedicated to the idea of Internet Open
> Publishing. The open publishing model is that anyone from anywhere can
> publish a news story about anything on our newswire for anyone with
> internet access to read. We would like to extend the model of open
> publishing to spoken word by maintaining an open mic "soapbox" for
> folks to have 5 minutes of fame to speak out about whatever is on
> their mind. Particpants may perform poetry, rant about political
> matters, or even perform a song. This area will be moderated to ensure
> that no one uses more than their fair share of time and that no one
> uses the platform for inappropriate speech (e.g. hateful or
> threatening speech, speech not suitable for minors, etc) but speakers
> will not be otherwise censored. The soapbox will be recorded to video
> and audio and individual speeches will be made available on our
> website after the festival.
> 
> Cabaret - Before the closure of the IMC's performance space, we hosted
> a unique open stage event each week on Thursday nights. IMC's Thursday
> Cabaret featured not only musical performers but also clowning,
> poetry, interpretive dance, circus acts, and story telling. Cabaret
> was always unique and we'd like to revive that spirit by having an
> hour of the festival's music time on one of the stages be dedicated to
> open stage. We will invite our favorite past cabaret performers to
> attend.
> 
> Media Distribution Booth - We will set up a booth dedicated to selling
> independently produced media on consignment. We have a unique
> collection of CDs, Zines, posters that are not available from other
> area sellers. CDs from all bands playing at the event will be
> available here as well.
> 
> Booth Area - We will invite local artists, non-profit organizations,
> and businesses to have a presence at this festival. Invited
> organizations will pay a nominal fee for participation and will be
> able to set up booths/tables (similar to Farmer's Market) with
> information, products for sale, art to display, etc. IMC groups will
> have exhibits of their work (e.g. video displays with locally produced
> video, a newsstand of locally produced print media, a radio listening
> station with audio works, etc) interspersed among the public booths.
> 
> Workshops - Throughout the festival IMC members will hold training
> workshops inside the IMC space at 218 W. Main. Workshop topics will
> include radio news production, newspaper production, IMC newswire
> usage, field interview techniques, live performance audio engineering,
> digital photography, digital video production, booking and promoting
> music shows, critical media interpretation, etc. Throughout the
> festival announcements will be made inviting festival-goers to step
> into the IMC to sample the workshops and see what IMC is all about.
> 
> Fundraising - The UC-IMC is running a capital campaign to purchase a
> building of it's own in Urbana-Champaign. We already have over $50,000
> pledged towards our $100,000 goal. We will have a booth to give
> information and answer questions about the capital campaign. We will
> make periodic fundraising pitches during the event, letting people
> know how they can donate to the UC-IMC at the event and where they can
> find more information about the Capital Campaign. This event will
> serve a major awareness raising and outreach function for the UC-IMC
> and it's capital campaign.
> 
> Beer Garden - We hope that The Office will be interested in providing
> a beer garden/drinking area. This will be a cordoned off area in front
> of their establishment within listening distance of the Main Stage. We
> have a meeting scheduled with the owner of The Office this week.
> 
> Logistics 
> 
> Permits - The IMC is in the process of applying for a special event
> permit from the City. We have the folder of information.
> 
> Insurance - We will purchase Special Event liability insurance for
> this event. We have contact information for this.
> 
> Tents - We understand that UBA has a tent we may borrow to protect our
> audio equipment. We have contacted Illini Tent and Awning about
> renting a larger tent for the crowd to use in case of rain. This will
> cost around $1000. We are exploring less expensive alternatives.
> 
> Restroom Area - We will provide suitable porta-potty restrooms in an
> area sufficiently offset from the Main Stage and Booth Areas. We have
> contact information for this service.
> 
> Alcohol - If alcohol is available it will be through The Office and we
> will leave it to them to acquire the appropriate permits and
> insurance.
> 
> Power - We are currently exploring whether or not we can tap power
> from the IMC and/or the Office. If we can not we will rent a
> generator. We have contact information for this.
> 
> Security and Staffing - IMC is dedicated to providing at least 20 well
> identified (with IMC staff t-shirts) volunteer staff for this event to
> handle stage security, to monitor crowd activity, and to answer
> questions from festgoers.
> 
> Stage - The IMC will secure the Champaign Park District Showmobile
> stage and will rent PA and lighting for the Main Stage. The IMC has
> it's own PA and lighting suitable for the acoustic stage. We will also
> explore the possibility of using Lincoln Square's or Civic Center's
> stages.
> 
> Business Alliances
> 
> The Paper - The Paper has already agreed to be a major sponsor of this
> event by providing free advertising and a feature article about the
> event.
> 
> The Office - We are meeting with The Office this week. We hope that
> they can be a major sponsor by providing monetary support and a beer
> garden.
> 
> Strawberry Fields - We hope that Strawberry Fields will be able to
> provide monetary support, space for our acoustic stage and be a major
> food vendor for the event. We have not yet contacted them.
> 
> UBA - We hope that the UBA can sponsor this event with a monetary
> grant. Being able to tell other businesses and the city that this is a
> UBA sponsored event will go a long way towards helping us bring other
> sponsors on board.
> 
> Laser's Edge - We hope that Laser's Edge may sponsor the event by
> providing free or heavily discounted copying services for our
> publicity posters. We have not yet contacted them but they have
> provided discounted services to us in the past.
> 
> WEFT - We hope that community radio station WEFT will be a sponsor by
> providing underwriting and public service announcements in support of
> our festival. We have not yet contacted them but they have sponsored
> our events in the past.
> 
> Budget
> 
> Permits and Police      $100-$500
> Insurance               $100-$500
> Tents                   $500-$1500
> Restrooms               $200-$500
> Power                   $100-$1000
> Stage                   $500-$1000
> Advertising             $500-$1000
> Bands                   $500-$1000
>                         ----------
> Total                  $2500-$7000
> 
> This budget is currently very broad as we are still researching the
> costs of these items. We believe that this festival can be thrown on a
> pretty tight budget. We are hoping that two to three major event
> sponsors can provide $500-$1500 each, that UBA can provide a grant of
> $1500, that a half a dozen Booth participants will provide about
> $10-$75 each, and that any additional funds will be provided by IMC
> donors (donors have already pledged $1000 to support the event).
> 
> History of the UC-IMC
> 
> The IMC is part of an international network of over 150 independent
> media centers. Each center is locally organized and autonomous. The
> centers cooperate by sharing software and linking to one anothers'
> websites. Local indymedia organizers have actually been critical to
> the founding of dozens of indymedia centers worldwide. The centers are
> all tied together by the philosophy that in order to support
> democracy, regular citizens need to have the tools to make and
> distribute independently produced media.
> 
> The UC-IMC was founded in September 2000 by a group of area residents
> who had participated in the founding of the very first Independent
> Media Center in Seattle, WA. We started out as an enthusiastic group
> of 20-30 people meeting in an area resident's living room. During our
> first months of existence we formed a relationship with WEFT and began
> producing a weekly radio news series. We applied for and were granted
> 501c3 non-profit status. We established a core group of Founding
> Funders which allowed us to rent a space in downtown Urbana in January
> 2001.
> 
> When we began the planning of the IMC space we brainstormed all the
> ways that we wanted to serve the media needs of the community. We have
> implemented every one of our original goals. We built a performance
> space, an art gallery, an audio/video/print production room, a meeting
> space, a library, a consignment shop, and a public internet terminal
> space. Between March 2002 and May 2003 the IMC averaged two to four
> all ages concerts per week. Between Fall 2002 and May 2003 the IMC had
> a different gallery featuring a local artist every month. The IMC has
> provided meeting space for a local Yoga group, a local political
> party, the anti-war anti-racism group, the local GLBT human rights
> group, the local coop housing organization, and several other
> organizations. The IMC has sponsored speaking events led by such
> internationally known figures as Green Party presidential candidate
> Ralph Nader and Permaculturist David Blume. The IMC has been a major
> sponsor of Girlzone's Grrrlfest for the last 2 years and will be again
> in 2003. Local business owners have told us they have seen a marked
> increase in the number of people coming into downtown Urbana as a
> result of the IMC's presence.
> 
> Unfortunately, due to some building code issues that we, as tenants,
> can not address our performance space is now closed. Our gallery,
> however has been brought up to code and will be reopening in early
> August.  Because we now lack a performance space but still have a
> large number of volunteers who are highly networked with the local
> music scene we have sought alternate venues for our performances. We
> now present performances at the Channing-Murray and the Illinois
> Disciples Foundation. We have also decided to bring great local music
> to the streets with this festival.
> 
> Recognizing that we need a space of our own to house our ever growing
> number of community services and so we can bring back our unique all
> ages non-smoking performance space we have begun a capital
> campaign. The capital campaign now has, after just a few months,
> $37,000 in the bank with over $50,000 pledged. Our goal is to raise
> $100,000 by December.
> 
> Mission Statement
> 
> The Independent Media Center is a global network of collectively run
> media outlets for the creation of radical, accurate, and passionate
> tellings of truth. We are motivated by a love and inspiration for
> people who work for a better world despite corporate media's
> distortions and unwillingness to cover efforts to develop an
> egalitarian and sustainable society.
> 
> The Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center is a grassroots
> organization committed to using media production and distribution as
> tools for promoting social and economic justice in the urbana Area. We
> are dedicated to addressing issues that the mainstream media neglects
> and we do not conceal our politics behind a false objectivity. We will
> empower people to "become the media" by providing democratic access to
> available technologies and information.
> 
> 
> -- 
> Zachary C. Miller - @= - http://wolfgang.groogroo.com/
> IMSA 1995 - UIUC 2000 - Just Another Leftist Muppet - Ya Basta!
>  Social Justice, Community, Nonviolence, Decentralization, Feminism,
>  Sustainability, Responsibility, Diversity, Democracy, Ecology

-- 
Zachary C. Miller - @= - http://wolfgang.groogroo.com/
IMSA 1995 - UIUC 2000 - Just Another Leftist Muppet - Ya Basta!
 Social Justice, Community, Nonviolence, Decentralization, Feminism,
 Sustainability, Responsibility, Diversity, Democracy, Ecology