TORBAY MUSICAL WEEKEND
The cost of producing these remarkable weekends rises inexorably each year as might be expected. The number of people able and willing to afford them tends to fall. These two facts make it ever more difficult to be certain that the event will be financially viable and, often, the truth is not revealed until after the event. The current economic situation does, of course, cast an even darker shadow over this.
It should be pointed out that the booking fee and subscription (totalling £45 per head) is normally the only monetary income to the Friends, with which the Weekend entertainment is provided. There is, of course, substantial money-saving help from many people. Members of the Committee give much time, expertise and sweat to the logistics of the event - the finding of, and negotiation with, the presenters through to the Welcome Pack production, with the innumerable admin problems along the way. The loan and transportation of the many equipment items needed to produce a modern technically complex show and the live and mostly unrehearsed production. All this would be either impossible to “outsource” or prohibitively expensive to do so. Bowers and Wilkins provide the loudspeakers and amplifying equipment, delivered and collected, free of charge. To do this ourselves, to a fraction of their standard, would cost thousands.
To entertain an audience of 200 costs very little more than one of half that size!!
THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN HAS ALREADY BEEN SENT TO THOSE OF YOU ON THE MAILING LIST
We have already set about action to get more publicity for our Weekends and we hope this will result in more people coming in 2012 but, before we can launch the 2012 Weekend, we need to do something about the financial position. After I had told those at the 2011 Weekend about this problem a number of them made donations to help build up our reserves, and I am very grateful to them. But we need rather more and I am therefore writing to you all in case anyone else feels that they would like to help ensure the future of these Weekends by making a contribution. If you do, please send your cheque, made out in favour of the Friends of Torbay, to me at the address below.
Kevin Morgan, the trombonist at the 2011 Weekend's Live Recital has also offered us supplies of his CD "Off the beaten tracks" to sell. Each one sold (at £10 including postage and packing) will contribute approximately £4 to our funds. Fraser and Jenny have heard it and find it very attractive. If you have Internet access, the details and sound snippets are to be found as follows: on the website www.trombonemusic.co.uk Click "Recordings" for details and reviews. Click "Listen here" for a list of the 12 tracks. Click "preview all songs" for short extracts of each track to whet the appetite). For anyone not at that Sunday evening Recital this is a very generous donation from the lead player of the BSO Brass Quintet, who are collectively very willing to help our cause in other ways too. If you would like to buy one or more copies please send a cheque for £10 per copy to Jenny and Fraser Smith, TMW Programme Directors, Appletree Cottage, Adamson Close, Chandlers Ford, Hampshire SO53 1ND. (Tel: 02380 267030). Please be generous: this CD would make an excellent stocking-filler!! They will dispatch your order as soon as it is received.
May I also renew my plea for those of you with an email address, who are willing for us to use it for mailings, to let me know what it is. Emailing has reduced the postage bill by almost half. Please click HERE to do so.
Thank you. A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Barry Miller
Chairman FOT
78 Camden Park
TUNBRIDGE WELLS
TN2 5BB
01892 526610
