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GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

January 22, 1993

Talent Show: social success, meager profit

At the regular board meeting of the Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center of Greater Cleveland, the board received a 12month financial report from outgoing treasurer Bruce Horn which included adjusted figures and analysis of the Center Stage II Talent Show.

Initially it appeared that the event lost about $350 but, after reviewing the expenses, Hom, working with the Center's Executive Director Leigh Robertson, discovered unaccounted petty cash items plus two expenses which had been charged incorrectly. He also found that the Center overpaid the Civic Center on Mayfield Road by $500. Making these adjustments, the figures show a profit of almost $200 for the

event.

The figure should be higher, according to Horn. The Center operates on a cash basis and there are "$500 to $800 in program ads that have been billed but not yet paid," said the retired officer. He encouraged the current board and staff to remind these advertisers of their outstanding bills and take aggressive action to collect.

In assessing the event, both board President Dolores Noll and board member Bob Reynolds stated that the mission of the Center talent show was not primarily a fundraiser. "The talent show was designed first as an event to provide entertainment to the men's and women's communities together, and secondly to raise money for the Center; it did well on its first goal, and fell down on its second," said Noll.

Reynolds echoed that Center Stage II was never planned to be a major fundraising event like the Garden Party. "It was always intended primarily to be a way to provide a social experience for both the men and

women of the community. It may have been a disappointment to the Center, but it wasn't to the community," he said.

Noll said she took the responsibility for not seeing that the event was more carefully managed, overrunning expenses and falling short on income. Only one board member, Nick Palumbo, was on the Center Stage II committee; in hindsight Noll said it "should have been three people." However, the president defended the board's involvement, saying that the special events and fundraising committees, the executive committee and the full board were all part of the process during the event's planning stages. She said that "we knew we were taking a chance" and would be more cautious and exert more control in the future.

Lack of control "permitted a breach in security so that 200-300 people" were able to enter the Civic without paying admission, according to Noll. The figures were verified based on admission money collected compared with the number of people in the Civic. The board felt they lost at least $4,000 due to gate crashers. Noll encouraged all those who enjoyed the show for free to make a donation to the Center, anonymously if necessary.

Another significant shortfall was in program advertisements. The budget had been almost $10,000 more than what was sold. At least one board member commented that they were "still learning" and felt that the talent show should be held again. That is still to be decided, but based on the mood of the board meeting it most likely will return. A community forum for anyone involved or concerned with the talent show is being held on Wednesday, January 27 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at the Center. ▼

Center Stage II Treasurer's Report as of January 19, 1993

Income Advance Sales

Door Sales.

Center Spread

Program Book Income.

Bar & Food Sales

Misc Income

Piano Rental

Accompanist

DJ Equipment. Prize Money Printing (all) Advertising. Interpreters

6,412.05 .5,008.00 7,055.00 785.00 3,062.64 235.25 582.00

23,139.94

Cash Income

Total Income....

Expense

Hall Rental

2,700.00

Security & Custodial

690.00

Sound

900.00

Lights

1,200.00

Walkie Talkies

100.00

375.00

350.00

395.00

900.00

1,216.96

2,033.39

300.00

Postage (all)

736.35

287.00

Emcee

1,000.00

Emcee Transportation

.732.00

Misc

246.27

Producer Fee

1,760.00

Center Spread Buffet

5,697.00

Program Book

1,871.01

Petty Cash Expense

582.00

Total Expense

24,071.98

(932.04)

500.00 626.00

193.96

Insurance

Net Profit (Loss)

Overpmt due from Civic. Accounting adjustments

Adjusted Net Profit

Men's Chorus

Continued from Page 21

musical director since its beginnings. He was director of music at Fairview Community Church for three years and has sung professionally with the Robert Page Singers, Church of Covenant Choir, and the Old Stone Singers. In 1987 he was awarded the American Choral Directors National Student Award for excellence in choral music. He also serves as assistant conductor of the Singers' Club, Cleveland's oldest non-professional musical organization.

In response to touring requests, the Chorus created the eight-man Coastliners, which brings performances to smaller locations on short notice. The sub-group entertains with all sorts of four-part harmonies, frequently a cappella.

But the full Chorus and Coastliners do more than sing. They overcome stereotypes, they break down walls, they perform community outreach. . . they are Cleveland's gay singing ambassadors to the greater Cleveland community.

They also "speak to our gay consciousness," as Taylor points out. If a man wants to sing, he has several excellent choices in the Cleveland area: the Orchestra Chorus, the University Circle Chorale, the Singers' Club. But if a gay man wants to sing, and

validate himself at the same time, then the North Coast Men's Chorus is the answer.

The Chorus demands a lot of its members, and for those who can make the commitment--by making the Chorus their most important social activity--their lives are filled with artistic and personal rewards. In December, 1991 the group had 27 singers; a year later there were 40. The promise for the remaining concerts this season is exciting: undertaking a fun-filled rock-n-roll "sock hop" style show in March, and also the challenge of a fullscale original musical production in June.

The Chorus performs elsewhere, too, both to benefit gay causes and to bridge gaps of understanding among communities. In March 1992 the Chorus held an "invitational" here with the Great Lakes Men's Chorus from Detroit, and the Cincinnati Men's Chorus. Following this last Christmas show, the full Chorus performed at the Health Issues Taskforce's Christmas party held at St. Malachi's. In 1990 and 1992 they participated in the Heart Strings tour when it was in town.

The Coastliners are scheduled to perform at a "get acquainted" night at the West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church in February. Once again, spreading goodwill and good music to all who will listen.▼

Women of the Year

Continued from Page 20

downplays "the Cleveland myth" that most lesbians reside on the East Side, Bennett and Thorp opened up their bookstore at 2199 Lee Road in Cleveland Heights.

Moreso than realizing financial gain from operating the bookstore, both owners have grown personally as a result of starting this business venture together. "If we had to close tomorrow, it'd be worth it," says Sue Bennett, "because we go to things that in our normal, everyday, just dyke lives we might not go to.

"But because of the job and promoting the store," Bennett continued, "I've gone to things that I wouldn't normally have chosen to go to. And they've been some of the most incredible events!." Bennett's reflection on a recent occasion where the Jewish Community Center asked the bookstore to provide a supply of Letty Cottin Pogrebin's "Debra, Golda, and Me" for a discussion night with the author was used as an example. Had they not had selling books as their primary motivation to attend, Bennett says that she could have missed "this woman's message to me as a new feminist."

Alongside of Thorp and Bennett being exposed to more of the women's community outside of the store, both owners and their patrons have had the opportunity to

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take advantage of in-store visitations by musicians and other book-signing authors. Says Bennett, "women's bookstores are different than regular, mainstream bookstores. They [patrons] come in for meetings. They call us with questions. People come and read the bulletin boards."

In greeting all those same people that visit the store, Bennett says that being so exposed has "blown a lot of [her] stereotypes." Where at first Sue Bennett found herself prejudging the "straight, white, middle-class" browser as being homophobic, she has come to broaden her perspective as far as who makes up the women's feminist/lesbian/bisexual community in Cleveland.

By virtue of Bennett and Thorp extending themselves to both new and repeat customers, the two owners have built solid friendships with patrons. Such committment to a business, (the store is open six days a week until 8:00 p.m., Tuesdays excluded), can be enervating. But Heather Thorp and Sue Bennett have survived. "Our friends have sustained us through all of this and just given us a break," states Thorp.

"It's a dream come true for us to do it," says Sue Bennett of owning the store. And, in response to news of the Chronicle award, she continued, "It's very important that we have the support."

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Find True Love!!...

...In The Gay People's Chronicle Voice Personals. Page 34