[Imcfest-volunteers] Initial Intros and Quick Status...

[Mike Lehman]

I will be able to help the weekend of the event (Nov. 9-11). Everyone 
should note that IMCfest will also be just before RFU second birthday on 
Nov. 13, so can also serve as a celebration for that.

I can also help in consulting on the planning and outlining RFU's needs 
for IMCfest. However, this is a project that will require the active 
participation and leadership on RFU and the other IMCistas involved. My 
time to contribute will be very limited, except for the weekend of 
IMCfest. So I've copied this reply to RFU and RFU-Finance lists, as they 
need to keep in touch with and coordinate with IMCfest planning.

Some of you may have seen Lynsee's useful reflections on fundraising, 
which she wrote in response to my alarming report on the sorry state of 
RFU finances. I think she made an important point about how difficult it 
is to raise multiple thousands of dollars in one event, no matter how 
hard we work to make it happen. This insight, which I agree with based 
on my own experiences and those of others I am familiar with, leads me 
to three suggestions. These aren't necessarily set out to constrain 
whatever planning the IMCfest planning group does, but they are worth 
thinking about.

One, we should minimize our actual out of pocket costs to put IMCfest on 
by relying on donations to the maximum events possible, whether it's 
band contributing their part of the door back to the event, food from 
vendors in exchange for recognition of their underwriting at the event 
and prior to it, etc. I think we need to avoid the mistake of thinking 
we'll invest $X$ into this and hoping to make a profit. We are simply 
not at the level where we can afford to finance this out of the RFU 
treasury, having done that at least once before with a significant loss 
and considering that our accounts are already nearly empty.

Two, although we want this to be an IMC-wide event, it going to be 
difficult to raise the tower and studio equipment funding, plus any 
substantial sums for other IMC needs, with this single event. This can 
be handled in several ways. We can use it as a wrap-up celebration for 
the tower fund, topping it off (see point three) and bringing in some 
funds for other IMC needs that are more modest. Or we could establish a 
precedent of doing one big IMCfest fundraiser for a different major IMC 
project each year, which would be devoted to a different major IMC 
working group or building projects, i.e. this year, it is the RFU tower 
and studio gear, next year it might be a total revamp/upgrade of the 
production room, the year after it might be to finish the mezzanine, 
etc, etc. But I don't know what other projects Dan was hoping to support 
with what we raise from IMCfest and I don't want to exclude them. I just 
want us to be both realistic and successful in raising what we need to 
deal with RFU's desperate financial needs. If we can help other IMC 
needs, that's cool, but we run the risk of not having a clear goal and 
not raising enough to meet RFU needs if we try to solve a lot of 
different funding issues all at once and end up generating just a small 
amount for every one.

Third, there needs to be ongoing efforts prior to the IMCfest to bring 
in pledges, get matching funds, get donations actually in the bank, etc 
for the RFU needs. When we did the IMC building capital campaign, we had 
a fund-o-meter, like a thermometer, that kept in front of everyone who 
entered the old IMC space exactly where we were at in fundraising. I'd 
suggest we put one for the tower/studio equipment fundraising drive in 
the RFU studio window as the first step and keep it regularly updated. 
We need a group actively working between now and the IMCfest to get us 
as close as possible to our goal and keep this progress in front of 
everyone. As far as RFU goes, this should be the RFU-Finance group, 
which needs to start working on this fund drive ASAP.

I think Lynsee is probably right. Trying to rely on only one big event 
to raise the $8000 or more that RFU needs is not going to work. Treating 
it as the big celebration at the end of a longer fundraising campaign is 
much more likely to be a success.
Mike Lehman


dan blah wrote:
> Hey all,
> You are getting this email because at some point in the last week since
> it was decided to do the IMCfest 2007 you offered up you willingness to
> support this event in one way or another.  Please reply to this email
> with who you are and how you can help out.
>
> This list will be used to handle coordination of the event and will also
> be used for status updates.
>
> As it is now the single biggest area I am lacking is getting bands to
> get back to me.  I may not even be contacting the right ones. If you
> have a good list of bands and contact info in your head please send that
> list to this list by emailing imcfest-volunteers at lists.ucimc.org.
>
> I am fairly certain we someone who will completely manage the art side
> and turn the back Sun Room.  She has good connection with the Illinois
> Arts Council (which is good I guess) and is hunting down local artists
> and working on a floor design.  I will be posting her email address here
> soon for people who are interested in working with her.
>
> We also have the electronic after party performers mostly locked down.
> I have got several DJs who are willing to help out and spin whenever we
> need them.
>
> We could also use a couple people to work on the film showing side.  I
> have been talking with Jason Pankoke and need to get a hold of Jenny
> Southlynn and Paul Riismandel who are all good resources for this kind
> of stuff.  Also, you can check out http://www.videoactivism.org/ for
> some good resources.  Please reply if you are able and wanting to help here.
>
> We could also use some help finding activist speakers who want to
> participate.  Anyone know where to go finding suck people?  Again, if
> you are able and wanting help here reply.
>
> Sound guys are locked down as well.  As it is we are at least 3 or 4
> people who will be able to handle the sound system.  We could use a
> couple more though.  Please reply if you are able and wanting to help here.
>
> We definitely need a good 10 to 15 people who are willing to staff the
> space for the event.  These people will be at the entrances, taking
> money, and wandering around making sure things are cool.  If you are
> able to do that please reply and ask around if people are interested.
>
> Also, does anyone know the process of getting a temporary liquor license
> like the Boneyard late night space did?  I think this would be fantastic.
>
> Most importantly, start talking about this event.  In one breath you can
> say:
> Its the IMCfest 2007 happening (Nov. 9-11th) at the Urbana-Champaign
> Independent Media Center in downtown Urbana and will be a celebration of
> almost a decade (over 7 years) of Independent Media in the twin cities.
>  The event will be composed of 15 to 20 of the areas favorite musical
> groups/bands ranging from folk to rock to punk to electronic, feature
> length independent films, and activist speakers.
>
> Lastly, if people want to help out or are wanting to play (for free?)
> have them jump on this list at
> http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/listinfo/imcfest-volunteers or send an
> email to imcfest-volunteers at ucimc.org.
>
> Thanks,
> --
> Daniel
>
>
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