Genius. That is the only way to describe the scamming concept of pay-per-use choruses. Let's see, the idea must have came like this: How can I make money? I can preach to simple minded folks who give me lots of money because I can exploit and feed from their naivety. Oh, wait. That has been done too many times and doing that will probably give me a "Do not pass Go - Go straight to Hell" card. Ah, how about this: I can start a community chorus and accomplish the same thing.
That seems to be exactly what The Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus (AGMC) and Michael O'Neal have done. The AGMC exploits the desires of some of Atlanta's gay men to get in a group and sing. Of course, it is also a means of hooking up with new partners and a great networking tool for them. They must pay excessive quarterly dues that almost completely supports the group and keeps them singing. They also do bake sales and the such. I haven't done that since high school band and vowed to actually make money at the profession of music instead of trying to convince people to pay for me to do what I like.
The worst of these must be the Michael O'Neal Singers. First of all, he who has an ego so large that his name must be prominently displayed in the name of a chorus should be loathed and ran out of town. But, lest we forget that these people feed off the nativity of the community and more so of their members. Maybe they should change the name to the Michael O'Neal Ego and Monetary Support Group. As a recent review from Peeyou at the AJC says, and I para-phrase, "O'Neal is great!"
If I am not mistaken, this is how his group works: All 135 members must pay several hundred dollars to become "auditioned" members. In addition, they must buy something like 10 tickets per show to additionally support the ego. If only the founders of Amway could have thought of something so great...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
OK...seriously, do you know anything about the Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus? For that matter have you ever experienced any of the over 5000 member strong Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses? The AGMC has been providing beautiful, inclusive music to the greater community of Atlanta for over 25 years. We do charge dues of $18 per month, as do the vast majority of all GALA choruses. These dues account for a fraction of our nearly $300,000 yearly budget which is supplimented by individual donors, grants, community foundations, corporate donations and matching gifts, an endowment fund, and of course THOUSANDS of ticket sales and season subscribers every year. The chorus provides a safe place for those with musical talent to express themselves in a creative manner that also enhances a positive and fun image of the gay community. To assert that the AGMC or any community chorus is a way to "hook up" or certainly to "make money" is short sighted. Actually it's laughable. We are a non-profit in every sense of the word(s). I don't believe we have ever held a "bake sale," but we have participated in member-driven fundraising that included selling pre-made food items through a professional fundraising company. If you had bothered to do any research on the AGMC, you would also have learned of the hundreds of individual gay men and lesbians that have been touched and empowered by our music. What better reason to keep singing?
Okay. I gave this bottom his say. Now, let's break it down:
OK...seriously, do you know anything about the Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus? [Enough] For that matter have you ever experienced any of the over 5000 member strong Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses? [Yes] The AGMC has been providing beautiful [not really], inclusive [inclusive to only a gay audience] music to the greater community of Atlanta for over 25 years. We do charge dues of $18 per month, as do the vast majority of all GALA choruses. [Just because other choruses are doing it, that makes it fine? Are you serious? Can you think for yourself or determine right from wrong without following someone else's lead?] These dues account for a fraction of our nearly $300,000 yearly budget [I have seen the product. It isn't worth $3,000 per year] which is supplimented by individual donors, grants, community foundations, corporate donations and matching gifts, an endowment fund, and of course THOUSANDS [you say 1,000's as if it is 90,000. Let's clarify that it is closer to 2,000 and not go overboard here] of ticket sales and season subscribers every year. The chorus provides a safe place [Safe place? What is an unsafe place? A Skin Head meeting? WTF? How insecure are you? You are obviously liberal since that is all they want is safety instead of thinking for yourself] for those with musical talent [There are no musical criteria to join this chorus - talent isn't an issue] to express themselves in a creative manner that also enhances a positive and fun image of the gay community. [It is laughable. Is that what you want?] To assert that the AGMC or any community chorus is a way to "hook up" or certainly to "make money" is short sighted. Actually it's laughable. [So, you actually deny that happens? Also, how much do you pay your Artistic Director per hour worked? $1,000? $3,000?] We are a non-profit in every sense of the word(s). [Only if that means stealing money from people forced to pay taxes that are re-directed to your lovely organization, is that statement true. Yes, you are like most of the non-profit arts organizations here in Atlanta. That is my overall point. Thanks for grasping it.] I don't believe we have ever held a "bake sale," but we have participated in member-driven fundraising that included selling pre-made food items through a professional fundraising company. [Oh, a bake sale that costs more. Thanks for clarifying "professionalism."] If you had bothered to do any research on the AGMC, you would also have learned of the hundreds of individual gay men and lesbians that have been touched and empowered by our music. [I thought you said it was inclusive? Sounds like you are excluding the remaining 90% of the general population by your desire to touch a dike.] What better reason to keep singing? [Keep singing. I would never discourage that. I discourage your lame attempts to call yourself an inclusive and necessary performing arts organization. Let's face it, you are better suited to singing gay themed tunes for gay folks and their families. That is it. Hell, the ASO Chorus does it for free. Why does it take you $300,000. It IS lame. It is not quality. It is out of tune, ill-rehearsed, and half assed. How dare you, in good faith, ask me as a tax payer to pay for that! I want you to break down the budget and really tell us how it is being used. I know what you payed your last Artistic Director and I also know how little work she did. Hell, medical doctors make less per hour. Also, I have never heard of your organization reaching out to the greater Atlanta community to help in anything. You promote your cheese cake meat market as art and no sir, it is not!]
Post a Comment