“Strike a Chord Women for Rosie’s Place” this Saturday, April 2, 2011 in Framingham
Ruthann Baler, Guest Blogger
In January, my husband Michael and I were having dinner at La Carreta Mexican in Framingham when I began scoping out the restaurant. “This is perfect,” I said, and abruptly left the table to talk to the manager. This is a scenario that has become familiar to Michael when we are out with friends or having a romantic dinner alone. Conversation subsequently turns to exploring the potential of holding a benefit concert at the very place where we are on a date.
La Carreta seemed perfect. The food was fresh and delicious; the wait staff friendly and accommodating; and the location ideal: right off the Mass Pike in Framingham. I had been looking for more than a year to find the right venue to hold a concert to benefit Rosie’s Place, a Boston shelter for homeless women.
The manager said yes. Yes, we could have the function room. Yes, they would provide a restaurant discount to those who make a contribution to Rosie’s. Yes, they would add more servers for the night. Yes, we could hold the event for six hours. Yes, yes, yes, and yes.
The stars and the moon, margaritas and enchiladas were perfectly aligned.
We had less than three months to plan “Strike a Chord Women for Rosie’s Place,” a “Lilith Fair” style concert benefit this Saturday, April 2, 2011 from 4-10 p.m. The event will feature poetry as well as folk, pop, jazz, blues, and rock songs from 30 Boston-area women, either performing solo or with their small acoustic bands. Also featured will be an exhibit of women’s artwork (for sale with a portion of proceeds going to Rosie’s) and raffle prizes comprising elegant gift bags and great gift certificates. This will be a fun and casual event in which people of all ages are invited to come for a little while or stay as long as they like.
Strike a Chord Concerts for Charity began in 2007 as a small benefit that raised money for Holliston’s Gulf 2 Fund, which has sent weekly care packages to local troops serving overseas since the war began. Since then, five more benefits have been held for the troops, two for School on Wheels, two for The Home for Little Wanderers, and one for Art beCAUSE Breast Cancer Foundation.
These benefits would not have taken place without the more than 60 musicians from the greater Boston area who have come together to give of their time, talent, and resources, not to mention the generous venue owners, sound technicians, merchants and individuals who have contributed raffle prizes, and volunteers who have helped run the events.
Strike a Chord helps raise money and awareness for charities through music by creating opportunities for people to come out and enjoy the many talented artists in their community. From Tennessee Barbeque to the VFW, from Stonehill College to the Doubletree Hotel, and from Club Passim to this Saturday’s event, it has been a great mix of venues, artists, music, and audiences.
This week I was asked to write this blog and share what I have learned about organizing benefit concerts.
This is a very interesting question. I have read on Facebook that some people think I am super-organized. This is only a half truth – one that is directly in proportion to the right side of my brain – the designated hemisphere that can only partially comprehend the nitty-gritty of event planning. My left brain (I am convinced) is still under development, further impacted by all the characteristics consistent with Attention Deficit Disorder.
Perhaps the FB postings would change if those people knew that for most of 2010 I drove around with an overdue inspection sticker and an expired driver’s license. Or, if they knew there was a set of keys (one of many lost) somewhere in Ashland State Park (with discount cards to Shaw’s, CVS, and Especially for Pets, if anyone finds it). Or, if they knew I have showed up at airports on the wrong day. Or, that I am unable to navigate a recipe without a kitchen casualty.
Somehow these benefits have taken place. In the beginning it was mostly through trial and error. More recently I have learned to seek out help from those whose skill sets are different from mine. This is where friends like Kim Jennings, Ellen Schmidt, Cheryl Perreault, Valerie Tripp, Suzanne Fredette, Al Cath, and Maria Baler, step in to shine a focus light on the seemingly small but essential details that are necessary for event planning. They have the left-brained expertise to help me keep all parts moving all the time. They have sent me kind little emails that begin with: “Have you thought about …..,” or, “Would you consider…..,” or, “You may want to…..”
No, I have not thought about (insert very important detail here) but thank God you did.
Thank you, thank you, and thank you.
Other lessons learned:
- Before scheduling an event, research the activities that will be happening – even potentially happening — locally and regionally, to help prevent major conflicts. For example, one of our troops’ benefits happened to fall on the night the Red Sox were in the playoffs against the Yankees. Need I say more.
- Acquire a really good sound system and confirm sound technicians early on. This is paramount to all music events.
- Be realistic about what you can manage the day of the event. I have learned that running and hosting an event doesn’t work for me. I have been fortunate enough to have friends who are willing to be hosts and are excellent in that role.
- Be open to feedback but always trust (and stick with) your gut instinct.
- Know that you will not please everyone at any one point in time.
- Finally, be willing to make mistakes and learn from them, discovering what works best/what doesn’t, and plan accordingly for the next event.
As with past events, I didn’t realize how many details would emerge for Saturday’s concert until we were well into the planning stages. Everyone contributed invaluable ideas and a great deal of time and energy, including overseeing the set up of the sound system and arranging for the sound technicians (thank you Mark Hastings, Daniel Senie, Dan Tappan, and Paul Beck), the performer lineup, artist contributions, flyers and posters, flyer distribution, raffle items, raffle tables, and publicity.
We are excited about this Saturday’s spectacular lineup of women artists and their collaborators, with Ellen and Cheryl co-hosting. As in past events, admission is through donation of choice – which helps make local art and music accessible and cost-effective for everyone. Every single contribution is a contribution toward change. It all adds up at the end of the night, at the end of the year, at the end of nearly four years – now totaling more than $20,000 – to help make a difference in the lives of those we hope to encourage, support, and empower.
For a complete list of musicians, a schedule of their performances, and the donors who have contributed raffle prizes, visit Strike a Chord Concerts for Charity on Facebook.