Ruston has enjoyed a great music festival each fall for the last several years ~ thanks to the volunteer efforts of our local Ruston-Point Defiance Business District. Last year featured 4 stages and many local artists. As with any event, it takes cash to make the show. One of the cornerstone sponsorships has been a $5,000 grant from Pierce County each year, sponsored by Council Member Tim Farrell (for which the district has been very, very grateful).
But with budget cuts across the board, no grants are available this year. Other major sponsors have been local developers, who may be feeling the current economic challenges as well. The district very much wants to keep the momentum building for our Ruston-Point Defiance Music Fest. What ideas might you have to help carry through this year? What about past events should be retained, what should be dropped? Any ideas on other sponsors?
You can comment here with your suggestions or email district president James Bennett at americanmemory@msn.com. Thanks for your help!
3 comments:
My opinion and that of many of my neighbors in Ruston is that Ruston has not enjoyed a great music festival for the past several years, contrary to what Karen describes here.
I have seen few people attend for the amount of effort put into the event by those who sponsor and volunteer at the event, and as compared with similar events put on elsewhere in Tacoma and Puyallop neighborhoods.
It simply is not cost effective to do this if you're not receiving grants and other subsidies.
It takes time to build up attendance at an event like this. I think keeping it to the main stage, maybe focus on one day rather than two for this year... cutting back should make it doable. Despite the last comment, everyone I've talked to over the years has enjoyed the music and the chance to hang out with neighbors. The added booths last year with more artist and the live pottery firing was great.
It takes time to build up attendance - sometimes; but if it's really appealing a festival catches on fast. This festival hasn't caught on fast.
Practically speaking, how will you put on an event for the next two to three years without the necessary funds? Keeping it to the main stage reduces some but not all the necessary costs, and reducing the scale reduces the potential interest in the event and therefore the potential audience.
I'm a neighbor of first anonymous. We haven't enjoyed the festival that much and won't miss it if it goes by the boards. When you have to tighten belts and budget, you have to cut out extras. This fledgling event is an extra and I won't be spending any of my money at it for the next couple of years, maybe longer, if people in my family keep getting laid off.
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