The stage management provided by the Coastal Repertory Theatre was superb; no production could have asked for finer stage management. The sound was excellent; the men on the boards were professional and creative.
Our performers were a collection of some of the most talented and loving hearts in this community. They all came together to do all they could. Many of them did far more than provide a performance at the concert. They and their family members helped in numerous ways to make the concert excellent, and we succeeded beyond my greatest hopes.
 Donna Pacini |
Regarding the two Open Line comments: The first suggests other free concerts to benefit schools, the seniors, the hungry and other worthy causes. Your suggestion is shared by all of us associated with Phoenix Rising. We have over 140 members and we had another 147 musicians interested in joining us on this benefit that we sadly had to turn away because we did not have enough performance time to accommodate all who wanted to play.
To the second Open Line comment: You state that you know your family and 20 other Coastside families did not attend the Phoenix Rising Benefit Concert on purpose because the concert was for the Cunha employees and not for other benefit needs, that you were hoping a benefit could be for something else, perhaps the schools. I am sorry you and anyone missed this amazing concert for such a reason
Our decision was based on our love and our personal devotion to the Cunha employees. It was to raise funds for the employees and also to give the community a day to come and heal together and celebrate together. Nobody could have any way of knowing how much money would be raised before our event.
I wish you, and those who feel as you feel, could realize we started our work on this concert the day after the fire, with a concert date we could not select, a date that was chosen because it was available. We did the best we could with what we had to work with. Our concert was a success; anyone there on stage or in the audience can attest to that.
I am sad you missed it, I am especially sad if your children missed it. We gave this community its musicians; we showcased 39 different acts; that is phenomenal. I am really glad I did not miss this.
I was at the first Pumpkin Festival this town ever had. I was standing next to the late Curly Cardoni (Curly & Reds) and he said, "Kid, remember this day, this is the first of something amazing for this town."
At our concert I heard a man tell a kid that the concert was a day to remember in Half Moon Bay and I saw the kid's face, I saw him grin and reply, "Yeah." The older man was able to see what Mr. Cardoni saw at the first Pumpkin Festival. Someday that kid may remember the comment.
I am personally responsible for the amount of money we did not raise and I accept that responsibility fully. I ask none of you to shoulder it with me. If you want a poster or a T-shirt from this amazing concert, buy it for that reason.
The Phoenix Rising staff did a good thing for the right reasons. I am proud beyond words of every individual member of our "community of creative artists" and the fact that we did not make more money does not in anyway lessen how successful this event truly was. I assure this community, our Cunha Benefit was our first, not our last.
If you want to be on our mailing list, and certainly if you are a Coastside creative artist interested in joining with us, go on our Web page and send us your e-mail address; we will keep you posted. This community is ours, just like it is yours. We are going to give it music, a lot of music.
Donna Pacini is a resident of Half Moon Bay and the organizer of Phoenix Rising.
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