Laserfiche WebLink
Future Plans* - In the past, our main sources of funding have come from contributions and ticket <br />sales. We sent solicitation letters requesting financial support in December to 475 <br />businesses in Kittitas County and others out of the area that have contributed in <br />the past. In March we sent out 1700 letters and brochures to our subscriber list, <br />asking for support and offering a way to purchase tickets. <br />We offered Major Festival sponsorships at the $2000 level. <br />Last year, In-kind donations from local businesses accounted for services valued <br />over $7438 (reported as $5088 after subtracting the value of tickets). <br />- The Festivals biggest contribution comes from our board members and the <br />approx 200 community volunteers that work to set up and put on the festival. Those <br />hours (valued at $24.14 by Dean Runyan Associate), made their contribution 45% <br />of our reported income. <br />- For majority of past 20 years, we have been financially in the black and were able <br />to accumulate reserves. Unfortunately in the last three years as our expenses have <br />gone up and our attendance has diminished, we have had to dip into those <br />reserves. As a result, become self-sustaining has been a major focus for our <br />board. For example, in 2016, we experimented with expanding the types of music to <br />attract a bigger audience....which worked. In 2017, we experimented with a change <br />in ticket pricing, which assisted us in partially overcoming some additional costs <br />such as the new City admissions tax <br />- We are currently writing a long-term business plan. The goal is to focus our <br />efforts not only on each upcoming year, but to also have a long-term lens on the <br />next five years. We have also recruited new board members to assist in this <br />question, including (most recently) Jay O'Connor. Jay comes to Ellensburg after a <br />long career as high-level staff in the TV/radio/media business. We anticipate he will <br />be a great help in formulating a plan to increase ticket sales via more effective <br />marketing <br />- We plan to create a special committee whose sole focus will obtaining additional <br />festival sponsors. Our goal is to increase festival sponsors from two (this year) to at <br />least five. They will be reassessing what being a festival sponsor should entail. <br />- We are considering reducing the number of venues in the Downtown area, which <br />would mean lower costs for musicians and their associated needs. <br />- We are exploring whatever arts/community grants we might qualify for. <br />2500 character limit <br />Application Questions: Part 4 <br />�J <br />61 Additional Information <br />Provide any additional information which will assist the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee in evaluating your <br />project and its benefit to tourism. <br />Additional Information - In our 20 yrs. of operation, our main demographic has aged along with our board. <br />That is why a primary focus is to become more tech savvy in our approach to <br />marketing and outreach to our past attendees. . <br />- The Jazz Board is in major transformation. Many of the longtime members have <br />retired. We are actively soliciting new members. <br />- This will be our 21 st year offering the festival and every year festival board <br />members have done informal surveys of the restaurants and motels. The feedback <br />we have received indicates this is one of their busiest and best weekends during <br />the year. We know we are not the only reason but certainly help. <br />- The festival has no paid staff other than limited ticket booth staffing during the <br />festival, security officers, and the musicians along with the sound techs. Volunteers <br />are our lifeblood. This festival is truly a community effort. <br />2500 character lint <br />