Here's a thought for the planning meeting:
The "Spotlight" media piece wrote of "buskers,
raconteurs, and shanty singers" ... but there really
wasn't busking, was there? Would it alienate your funders
to have the public able to chip in through something like
donation buckets, button-badge sales, open instrument cases,
etc, etc? We have a weekend long arts and music festival
here in Ithaca, and at least 50% of it is funded through
te-shirt and button sales. Also, hit up your chamber of commerce
on the tourism angle. If there's folks like myself coming from
central New York, South Street Sea Port, parts of Mass. and Maine,
then those folks are spending money there which they otherwise
wouldn't see. Keeping the money flowing is always the hardest
part of making these things work... that and not burning out your
volunteers. Somehow you all manage to make it look seamless and
easy, but I know that can't be the case. Thanks for all the hard work!

Not to mention the great music!!!
(Sure would love to hear those tapes of how we all sounded...)

I'll let you all know when I'm likely to me in the area.
It happens from time to time.

Cheers, Pamela