Please note: Great American Brass Band Festival budget relies on contributionsBy JULIE CLAY Although costs continue to mount for the Great American Brass Band Festival with each note of a shiny trumpet from a new band, a move to charge admission was abandoned. The Festival Committee voted unanimously that admission should not be charged after last summer's announcement drew fire from the public. According to a sponsor fact sheet, the general public response seemed to be "this is a unique community festival and it should continue as it has been free of charge." The festival has grown from 1990's eight bands, no parade and no permanent stage to a downtown parade with musicians on street corners, over 20 bands taking the stage and a national radio broadcast, as well as a history conference, hot air balloon race and an antique show. This year's budget for the festival is estimated at over $240,000, with both cash and in-kind donations. By far the biggest expense continues to be the band fees, which total over $63,000, with merchandising expenses for T-shirts and CDs coming in second at $52,800. Passing the hat at the festival is budgeted to raise $4,300, and merchandise sales, $65,000. If the total value of in-kind donations was to be totaled, including thousands of hours of volunteer time donated by citizens as well as staff, facilities and grounds expenses at Centre College, the festival's budget would swell to well over $350,000. And the brass ensembles themselves have knocked thousands of dollars off of their regular fees to come to Danville, said festival organizer George Foreman. "Basically, the groups recognize this is a unique festival," he said. "They really adopt it as much as those of us who work on it all the time. They are willing to come for much less than they normally get to be a part of it and support it." One of the festival's biggest wonders -- and a selling point in landing last year's vice-presidential debate -- was that such a large event could be held in such a small town, Foreman said. "It really has become Danville/Boyle County's signature event," he said. "The way the community supports it speaks highly of the community. At the same time, it's a tremendous challenge every year to meet the budget." The festival has been in the black every year but one, when the festival sweltered with hot weather and profits on merchandise shrank. The profit margin last year was less than $1,000, which is "not too comfortable," he said. Sales of picnic tables have been brisk, with only a few left by the first of June. So far, donations have been "on track," for the budget, Foreman said, with donations still coming in. Festival funding comes from direct mailings, passing the hat, merchandise sales, corporate and individual donations, picnic tables and tickets to the band history conference. To have a profit margin of only $1,000 some years, however, means that if one of the revenue areas doesn't pan out, the festival may go into the red, Foreman said. "It is really critically important that any business or industry who can contribute, does," Foreman said. "We really need everybody to buy a T-shirt." The City of Danville has upped its contribution to $20,000 this year. It gave $15,000 to the festival last year. Basic sponsorships were raised last year from $1,000 to $1,250 and band sponsors contribute $3,000 or more. Major sponsors contribute over $5,000. Major Contributors: Centre College Band Sponsors: Farmers National Bank of Danville Sponsors: The Allen Co. |