By STACY TREVENON, Half Moon Bay Review
Sunny skies, hard-working stage managers and high-caliber music all graced Half Moon Bay for Sunday's Phoenix Rising benefit concert.
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The concert raised a total of about $6,400, said event organizer Donna Pacini. The head of security estimated that 5,000 people attended the event, off and on, over the 12-hour concert, while expenses neared $9,000. Money was made from sales of water, soda, T-shirts and other merchandise, as well as from a "suggested donation" of $10 to the free concert.
But Pacini ticked off all of
the expenses that needed to be covered: roughly $3,500 to
cover added security personnel, PG&E charges and portable
toilets, she said, and another $3,500 for T-shirts, printing, advertising, concert sound equipment and supplies.
That means, Pacini said, that the concert and community gathering actually lost money.
"We had a very successful concert, but not a financial success," said an exhausted and emotional Pacini Monday morning. "Every other part was brilliant."
Musically, the event was a crowd-pleaser.
For 12 hours on Half Moon Bay's I.D.E.S. grounds, listeners were treated to a smorgasbord of rock, folk, bluegrass, r&b, blues, alternative rock - and even opera - by 39 different local acts.
Outside the I.D.E.S. Hall, listeners soaked up hot sunshine and hotter rock. Inside, acoustic acts shared two stages, and a video of a fire-gutted Cunha's and the benefit auction at Cetrella, made by San Jose filmmaker Bill Chew, ran continuously on a wall.
Chew said he plans to pair that video with concert footage and sell it at about $50, to raise funds. He can be reached at (408) 289-1355.
Crowd numbers hovered - as people came and went and sometimes came back again - from 50 to 100 outside and a few dozen people inside. But though few, musicians and non-musicians were happy, mingling with kindred souls.
"It's a great day to be in Half Moon Bay playing with local musicians I grew up with," said drummer Rick Reger.
"The performers and the cooperation they showed fit the spirit the event was put on in," said Rod Levenduski, one of the many Coastal Repertory Theatre stage managers.
Others decried the low turnout.
"People stayed away in droves! They were fools!" fumed Half Moon Bay resident Susie Campbell who, like many, came to hear some bands in the afternoon, went home for dinner and returned for more in the evening. "They really missed a good show."
Cunha's employees and owner Bev Ashcraft helped man the T-shirt booth and hall entry, where donors paid an optional $10 minimum, entitling them to a drawing ticket for items including local services and meals. A large glass jar in front of the hall was filled with $5 to $100 bills, and teen helpers wandered with more jars.
Pacini asks those who entered the drawing to check the Web page listed below to find out if they were winners.
"I think this has been wonderful," said Cunha's bookkeeper Cathy (Trainer) Llorente, standing outside with new husband, Tim, who laughed at the performers' families who were there.
"Kids are playing bang-your-head punk, and all the aunts and uncles are there clapping," he said.
There were no problems, said officials from San Mateo County Security Services. "Most things in Half Moon Bay are mellow," said administrative manager Alan Byard.
Pacini credited musicians and stage crew with keeping things on schedule.
"I was so proud," she said. "Thirty-nine acts and 19 hours of music (adding up the inside and outside acts) - everything was as smooth as butter."
But the attendance and the finances were a huge disappointment, Pacini said.
"I don't know why" attendance was low, Pacini said. "(Maybe) they were burned out helping Cunha's or didn't realize what the event was."
While it was hard to gauge logistics in a concert this big for the first time, Pacini said she was thrown when she was advised by Half Moon Bay Police Chief Ike Ortiz to up the security team from two to eight - for an additional cost of $2,900. She also had to add portable toilets at nearly $1,000 and the electricity bill for the amplified music was higher than expected.
"There was $4,000 we didn't believe we needed, forced upon us."
She said she felt Ortiz assumed the public, expecting local rock stars Neil Young and Tracy Chapman to appear, would flood the grounds and be a security risk.
"I believe the factor that caused the security increase was, if Neil Young and Tracy Chapman showed up, security would be needed. I truly believe if they didn't live here, I wouldn't have had that happen," she said. "It was far beyond the need. I was right; he was wrong."
Ortiz said that, after Pacini told him that from 5,000 to 10,000 people could be there, he made a choice based on prudence.
"Eight (security guards) is an appropriate number for five to 10,000 people," he said. "Shame, shame on me if I don't plan appropriate security for the community."
That cost, added to already outstanding bills for miscellaneous expenses, ate up the proceeds, said Pacini, who placed the total concert cost near $9,000.
The funds were entrusted to the I.DE.S. Society, which sponsored the concert and which will disseminate money upon request.
A disappointed Pacini said she felt for participants who donated their time.
"We did everything right," she said. "I am heartbroken for the musicians."
But, she defiantly added, Phoenix Rising is not through yet.
"Phoenix Rising will benefit something next year. I absolutely have no intention of taking away the Web site," she said.
"We urge the community to please support the musicians and Cunha's," she added, noting
that donors can purchase concert T-shirts and posters, and CDs by the performers through www.phoenixrisingbenefit.org.
"We're asking the community to appreciate what we tried to do, and please go on the Web site and donate to offset the $3,500 we are in the hole, so that we can have something for the Cunha's store."
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