To Steve and Ginny...

Okay, maybe I'm not writing to the right people, but I you're the two I know and you both tend to embrace instead of nod at good ideas.. I think I've mentioned this to Steve.... And feel free to tell me where to go (with my idea) if I've come to the wrong place: An idea for a downtown celebration. Europe is covered with buskers...those street musicians and performers who fill the subways and sidewalks. We have a few in the states but it's mainly an urban European custom...I love 'em. A Downtown Busker Night... various performers spread around the square on a summer's evening, each with a little box in front of them for donations... and each little box labeled with "Salvation Army," "Camp Courage," Midwestern Youth Camp," "Women's Crisis Center," etc. Each group can get its own performer or we could in up area performers who could do a stint around the square... Advertise it as a way of dumping that jar of loose change ...or loose bills... Or the cheapskates can simply walk around and enjoy the music...have all the stores stay open that night...

Mike Anderson & Dulcimer Crew Luke Crawford Dunseth, etc. Stan Robinson Zink and I Chipman’s singing group Chuck West et. Al Joel Tinsley Brock’s Band

Ken

Yes, I like your idea.

I'd been talking up a similar idea based on the Italian promenade concept: Head down to the Piazza (or Square) in the evenings, visit with friends, listen to music, have a few food vendors, etc. Of course in Italy, the weather is more conducive to lazy evenings, but our nice evenings are only a few evenings a year (and we lack underground subway stops to house musicsans). I'd always wanted to try it for 8 weeks over a summer, just to see if it worked. The Italians also dress up for the Promenade, but I don't think that aspect would translate well to Central Illinois.

The group that would most likely get it going would be the Main Street Promotions Committee. They do special events to promote the downtown (Farmers Market, Patio Party). I'm currently on the Design Committee, which helps with building and aesthetic issues.

It could possibly also be a project for the Imagine Foundation. I've never worked with them.

Or, the city is building a marketing program for the downtown, with money behind it. I think it could also be an excellent program for the city to help with. I would guess they would pawn it off to the Main Street Committee, but it could come with some funding.

As the Art Walk is slowly fading away as the artwork/galleries slowly disappear, it could be a way to overlap Art with Music. They would help bolster one another.

The Park is set to have a small pavilion with electricity, as well as a sloped area for people to sit (NE corner where the pit used to be). It's should be an easy place to plunk a performer. One performer on each side in front of a business, and one in the middle.

So that's my input. Should it happen: YES. Who should make it happen: I dunno. I don't know any street musicians.

We need to get the organization gods to make it happen.

Good morning. I think this sounds like a fantastic idea. I agree that the hop nights are losing some of the involvement that they had at the beginning. Just reading this and trying to come up with someone to take it on is the question. I don't know if Imagine could carry it off and just being at the Main Street meetings, the promotions committee seems to feel overworked already. I am just thinking that if we could get the United Way, Lori Hall Hartz, behind it and the various organizations that Ken mentioned to have their "can" out to get the musicians and earn some money for their not-for-profit. They would each have their own following that would bring people to the downtown. There are maybe 30 organizations that UW helps so that could be spread over the 8 weeks so no one group feels drained. We have a Health & Community Agencies division that has not-for-profits involved and might take this on, but the UW seems a better fit to me. What do you think? I would be happy to visit with Lori about it. Gin Yes, I was trying to be silently polite... my experiences with the Imagine Foundation aren't the best. But, the Main Street Promotions Committee has the ability to pull things off... plus they have a budget to help promote things. I'll talk it up, and see if I can get anyone to bite.

SteveVarble Hi, Ken. This email comes from the original (and old) Ginny Fanning. Thanks for thinking that I would be cloned - I guess. Your imagination always amazes me. Now the good news. I talked with Lori Hall Hartz, the United Way director, about the Busker Nights and having her various agencies set up stations. She was very interested and excited about it. The agencies meet once a month with her so I knew she would be getting together soon. She said they meet in Feb. and would get back to me. If we could do this even once a month the 3rd Friday since the Hop is the 1st and try it June, July, Aug. it would get folks downtown and a little extra funds for our not-for-profits.