No, we don't pay the performers, Ron. All they get is a CD recording of their set and a chance to sing for an attentive audience (Juneau audiences are great!). We don't take in much money- we charge $5.00 at the door; children are free- the rationale being that we want those same children to be on our stage someday. We pay $100.00 for the rental of the hall. In a pinch we can seat close to 150 people but that would be a rare occasion- most of the time we draw around 75 people. Luckily so, because it is a tight fit for a hundred plus people.

We get a lot of pats on the back for this concert series. We have completed eight seasons (October through March) and our audiences have steadily grown in size. We have introduced a great many performers to the larger community which was our aim in the first place. Most of our performers are local but from time to time we get some from out of town. Several times we have booked a guest and given him/her the gate. A couple of times we have paid airfare into town to a performer who is touring the state.

At the end of the season we donate most of the leftover money to some cause that we, the founders, agree upon, whether that is to a burnt out family or applied to someone's medical bills or given to a private agency. We are pretty laid back. None of the founders take any money so we are not all uptight about the financial end of the thing.

It's just that once in awhile we don't like a particular performer, and in some cases have told each other: Never again. I remember one 60-year old who put on a kittenish act that was about as offputting as one could imagine. *g*