New York City Gay Men’s Chorus forges ahead with 30th season
When the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus’ Board of Directors met in late August, mounting debt and donors spooked by a faltering economy almost forced the venerable organization to fold. The final tally of their summer fundraising campaign, however, allowed the chorus to forge ahead with its 30th season.
Nearly four months later, executive director Peter Criswell finally has something to celebrate.
"We’re not in flat line mode anymore," he told EDGE as he cautiously pointed out "but we’re still in intensive care."
If that sounds like a cry for help, it is. But the NYCGMC has set it to music. Criswell said the best way to help ensure their survival is to attend the chorus’ their annual holiday concert.
In a move that comes on the heels of a 27 percent cut in the organization’s annual operating expenses, the holiday concert has been moved from its longtime home at Carnegie Hall to Town Hall.
In addition to savings on the rental fee, the Town Hall performance allows for both matinee and evening performance - and with it, the opportunity to generate income above and beyond what a singular Carnegie Hall appearance might yield.
"It costs a lot to produce a concert." Criswell bemoaned "People don’t realize there are fees to rent a hall, and we work with union labor and musicians."
He added he feels Town Hall really makes a difference.
"It allows us to the possibility of making a profit rather than just breaking even," Criswell said.
He remained equally as optimistic about the prospect of actually making a profit from this month’s performances.
"So far, we’re doing pretty well; but it’s absolutely crucial that we sell out our concerts," Criswell said. "We rely on this as the main source of our ticket sales for the year."
With just two weeks remaining, Criswell added the chorus is at 60 percent of its fundraising goal.
"People are buying a lot later than they have in the years past, but that’s a trend that’s happening across the board," he said.
With an annual budget of $500,000 and slowly disappearing but still significant debt, NYCGMC will have to exceed its 2009 efforts.
This year’s strategy included, for the first time, employing social networking efforts through outreach on Facebook and Twitter - as opposed to its traditional (and expensive) route of stuffing envelopes and sending appeals for help through the mail.
Plans are also afoot for an electronic end of the year appeal that will draw from the database of current supporters (in an effort to glean donations from those donors who may want to make a final donation before the start of 2010.)
"We’re in the process of retiring old debt," Criswell said. "The long-term goal is sustainability for the organization, and having a plan that allows us not to get back into crisis mode once we’ve gotten out of it."
To that end, 2010 will see two large fundraising events and seven smaller ones - including a live auction at Christie’s on Feb. 7 and a party at a chorus member’s Bronxville home in May. Concerts include "Big Gay Sing 2" on March 25-26 and "High" on July 7, which will take place at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at New York City.
"Together at Town Hall: A Holiday Celebration of the Power of Love" will take place at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 20, at Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd St. Tickets are available at www.nycgmc.org.
