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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
 Posted - 03/06/2009 : 01:50:55 AM
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I need ideas on how to get live Hawaiian music to come to Cleveland. Not that I want to become a promoter, but, doggone it, if someone else won't bring the music here, I've got to figure out a way to get it here.
We were talking a bit on all the expenses required just to get someone here. That is why I cannot believe we can even come out close to even when Auntie Mapu and Unko Kihei and their whole `ohana and lots of dancers and three Ale`a guyz come here for our hula workshop.
1. air fare
2. lodging
3. hula costumes and implements such as ipu, ipu heke, pu`ili, etc.
4. meals for entourage
5. payment to artist(s)
6. Venue
7. ticket fees, printing, distribution, etc.
8. promotion costs: posters, flyers, radio? tv?
9. stage decoration
10. post-show tear down, clean up
11. rental of any needed equipment: lights, amps/speakers, instruments
12. transportation for artists and equipment to and from airport
So, bringing music to Ohio has to be cost prohibitive in my opinion. That is why Makaha Sons who were scheduled here last year had to cancel -- only 75 tickets sold making it a major losing proposition. So in order to get someone to come here, there would need to be more than one show in the area, like maybe Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, Louisville, something like that.
Or to bring a guitar workshop here. How many haumana would be needed to make it economically feasible for a kumu to come here and teach.
There has got to be a way of getting music away from the west coast to the middle and north cost of the continental U.S.
Because if we do not get the real stuff to come here, people will continue thinking that Don Ho is the end all and be all of Hawaiian music. (I am not dissing Uncle Don, merely stating that people in this area only know of Don Ho as far as Hawaiian music goes. Maybe a few have heard of Iz because of the Rice Krispies commercial. I want folks to enjoy the poetry of the music; to learn that although appearing simple on the surface, the music is deceptively complex.
Does anyone have any experience/expertise that could advisse on how traditional style Hawaiian music and hula can be brought to Ohio? Are there areas other than above that need to be considered and would add to the expense?
Aside from the financial aspect, I think the biggest hurdle would be to get sufficient people interested in hearing the music and watching the hula. Does anyone have any ideas on that? On how to interest people in the music in the first place?
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Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
Edited by - wcerto on 03/06/2009 06:59:01 AM |
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Auntie Maria
Ha`aha`a
USA
1918 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2009 : 06:29:10 AM
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Wanda, to get the "big names" to travel from Hawai`i to the mainland, does indeed take plenty $$$. When we were still living on the mainland, our hui (Pacific Islanders' Cultural Association) brought Israel and his band up to the SF Bay area for what turned out to be his last performance outside of the islands. The concert was a rousing success and we had a wonderful time hosting them all...but the hui made just a few hundred dollars profit, after paying all the assorted expenses. Concert booking isn't for sissies! 
As you have noted, the more concerts that can be booked, the better. See the upcoming tour by Ho`opi`i/Kahumoku/Kamakahi or Hapa, and you'll see how a well-planned multi-stop concert TOUR, can indeed be the secret.
Hapa uses a masterful booking agent (Tim Brattan in Santa Cruz CA); the upcoming H/K/K tour was booked by Nancy & George. Interestingly, Tim and Nancy both honed their booking skills while working for George Winston and Dancing Cat Records. Must be secret trade skills, there, eh? 
I know that many performances are added to announced tours, when a venue or promoter gets word of the tour and contacts the artists to negotiate a performance (all performance fees are negotiable!). Get on the mailing lists of your favorite island performers; contact your favorite island kumu hula -- and you might get lucky, and snag one.
My advice to novice event promoters is that no one gets rich doing it. Book the musician or kumu hula for the love of their talent, not for any anticipated profit.
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Auntie Maria
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My "Aloha Kaua`i" radio show streams FREE online every Thu & Fri 7-9am (HST)
www.kkcr.org - Kaua`i Community Radio
"Like" Aloha Kauai on Facebook, for playlists and news/info about island music and musicians!
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2009 : 07:13:37 AM
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One slack key teacher who shall remain nameless contacted Paul about the feasibility of doing a workshop here, and the kumu obviously knew that there is no way to make much money at it, so much that he asked if he could sleep on our couch, in order to cut costs. I told Paul to tell him that he was so welcome at our house that I would make Paul sleep on the couch and the teacher could have Paul's side of the bed (and I only have a full sized bed)!
I do not want to be a promoter, but I want to find someone in the Cleveland area who might be willing to take it on. I do not know who had the smarts to bring Cyril and Patrick Landeza here a few years ago, but I am so glad they did.
Kent State University used to have the Kent Folk Festival. It started back in the late 60's, I'm thinkin'. When I was there in 1970, the folk festival had Joan Baez; Doc Watson; and who knows who else. It grew and grew, then it started shrinking and shrinking. They had all types of music, like R. Carlos Nakai, all kinds of guitar guys and banjo guys and bouzouki and who knows what else. But the festival, I believe, has died a slow death. Lack of interest on the part of the university; lack of interest on the part of participants and students alike. That is the closest thing I can think of.
Another alternative might be to somehow attach music workshops to the hula workshop once a year. Maybe someone like the guys from Ale`a would be willing to do music workshop while the hula is going on, instead of just waiting for the Saturday evening lu`au, playing in the snow, having snowball fights. (I should have invited someone to come shovel our driveway to get the full on Cleveland experience.)
I think one time some years back David and Dennis Kamakahi came for some kind of folk festival as well. That was in the days before we had even heard one iota of Hawaiian music. It is great when we have a language expert to teach us the meaning of the songs -- especially to help us understand the kaona. That talk story if every bit as important as putting your fingers on the right guitar strings at the righ time.
I know there are a few people who love the music, but how many others? One guy has a restaurant in the red-neck town between Cleveland and Akron called Streetsboro. He tried it first as an Hawaiian food restaurant, but that did not work at all. But he was the caterer for our Friday night kaukau this year and it was pretty darn good. He gave us plate lunch type meal of kalua pig and cabbage; lomi salmon; rice; mac salad, haupia for a reasonable price. He said he will still serve Hawaiian food in his restaurant if someone calls him ahead of time, but otherwise, he serves the stuff that northern Ohio folks want to eat.
To me the food, music and dance all go together and need to be together to understand a lot of stuff. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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napuasweet
Lokahi
USA
184 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2009 : 09:51:16 AM
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Aloha My Friend! Event Planning is a very intense process! And knowing what is
required can get stressful! But Knowing the expertise and having a Good Team!
Makes a Big Difference What the Outcome will be!
I've been Producing Entertainment, Radio, Television Productions for over 25 Years
Oahu, Maui and Now Seattle Washington.
*Have a Game Plan!
*Know Your Market(People)
*Who is the Targeted Market!(Businesses, Etc)
*What is the Theme?
*Check Demographics?
*Who are Your Sponsors(Companies that Pay you Seed Money to Operate)
Anyway, Would like to work with you Call or Email me Take Care.
Mahalo,
Bill Nahalea
President/Producer
The Kalama Heritage Festival August 28th to 30th 2009
www.alohaislandtreasures.net/events.htm
Call(206)478-0772
Email:billnahalea @ hotmail.com
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Edited by - napuasweet on 03/06/2009 09:53:41 AM |
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pittdg
Aloha
22 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2009 : 05:35:13 AM
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| My wife Shelly and I just recently saw Jake Shimabukuro live at the Stage Door event at the E.J.Thomas Hall in Akron. I am posting a reply here because they are now having these type of small events in the backstage area of the EJTH for these intimate type cultural shows. This could be the start of something here because as Shelly and I were listening to the opening annoucement from the mediator at the show, we were thinking more hawaiian cultural shows could start here. We all remember the Makaha Sons cancellation. This backstage area was sold out for Jake with about 150+. Most of the attendees had no idea who Jake was , but with backing from the University, there were alot of new fans walking out of this show. I hope everyone is seeing what I am getting at here. It has to start somewhere. |
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abrigoohana
Lokahi
271 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2009 : 11:01:56 AM
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Aloha Wanda,
We would LOVE to see some good Hawaiian music go to Ohio! We know George Kahumoku personally, and I can tell you, that man is one knowledgeable and busy machine! He is a wonderful, wonderful man, and we have SO much respect for him. We have been so blessed to work with him on some projects. He taught us how to make poi from fresh taro among many other things. Would be so AWESOME if Ohio could be on the next tour. We'll put in a good word for you!
What Auntie Maria said is right:
I know that many performances are added to announced tours, when a venue or promoter gets word of the tour and contacts the artists to negotiate a performance (all performance fees are negotiable!). Get on the mailing lists of your favorite island performers; contact your favorite island kumu hula -- and you might get lucky, and snag one.
One major key in getting the producers to consider your location is TIMING. Let George know NOW that you're interested, and when he starts planning the next tour, you might be on the list! 
A Hui Hou, the Abrigo Ohana
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Pops
Lokahi
USA
387 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2009 : 11:45:21 AM
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Wanda,
I exchanged emails with Paul a few times back regarding the possible guitar workshop and I noted some venues that might be willing to bring someone in. Night Town in Cleveland Heights does a Masters of Guitar series and might consider an evening of slack key; when Cyril and Patrick came to the Kent Stage it was well attended and they might consider bringing other artists in; Oberlin College (George Kahumoku's daughter is a graduate) often brings in folk acts; the Kent State Folk Festival (it ain't a folk festival anymore) might consider and Jim Blum of WKSU would be the best contact. Jorma Kaukonen down at his Fur Peace Ranch, outside of Athens, would be worth an email. Led and Cyril have played The Ark in Ann Arbor and it's a hop, skip and a jump to Cleveland.
--Mark |
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