Hemming Park Shocker: Friends of Hemming Out of Money

[whyisjohngalt]

It's safe to say that SMG hasn't taken metrojax out to lunch...

Anyways, perhaps metrojax could get some volunteers to FoHP for upcoming events or a fundraiser.

[Steve]

While I've never met Vince Cavin, and may very well be a nice guy and competent, I almost think that if FOHP survives it will be without him. For example, I believe One Spark might have survived in it's original form if when problems started to arise, Elton Rivas transitioned leadership to someone else.

Might be the best political move they could make. Like I said, I don't know Vince, but the PR side hasn't been in their favor.

[UNFurbanist]

So is the entire black sheep kiosk in question now? They've already ripped up the bricks to put it in. That was the component I was most looking forward to!

[Steve]

Meh.  the problem here is not the FOHP. Its John Crescembini, Bill Gulliford and Matt Schellenberg.

Newby, Scott Wilson and Anna will feel differently once they get out of the crank bubble and listen to the actual FOHP.

Also they keep operating under the idea that the budget is all tax payer money.

Perception is reality. Very few people believe the problem is the City.

[thelakelander]

So is the entire black sheep kiosk in question now? They've already ripped up the bricks to put it in. That was the component I was most looking forward to!

Can't do a kiosk with 75% of the grant money already spent on FOHP operational expenses. Seems they would need to raise or get COJ to payback the portion of funds already spent. Where's Jax's Dan Gilbert when you need him!

[whyisjohngalt]

So is the entire black sheep kiosk in question now? They've already ripped up the bricks to put it in. That was the component I was most looking forward to!

Can't do a kiosk with 75% of the grant money already spent on FOHP operational expenses. Seems they would need to raise or get COJ to payback the portion of funds already spent. Where's Jax's Dan Gilbert when you need him!

FoHP spent the Black Sheep grant money on operations?  Is that perception of reality?

[KenFSU]

http://jacksonville.com/news/2016-07-29/story/hemming-park-stops-music-performances-groups-financial-health-deteriorates

Hemming Park stops music performances as group's financial health deteriorates

Under the growing pressure of a budget crunch and scrutiny from city officials into their spending of public money, officials of the non-profit that manages downtown's Hemming Park said Friday they're suspending daily music performances.

The live music was one of several activities the group, Friends of Hemming Park, hoped would attract people to the park.

In a message posted to Facebook, the group, which relies heavily on city money, said the city no longer allowed them to pay for musicians with its funding, and the performances would be suspended until they received enough private donations to cover the costs.

"Friends of Hemming Park believes in paying artists for their time and talent," the post said.

Think these guys are doing good work, but come on FHP. Now isn't the time to be idealistic. Isn't the better, more obvious solution to simply not pay the artists if you can't afford to do so. Surely there are musicians in the city willing to play in Hemming for free in return for tips and exposure.

[KenFSU]

http://jacksonville.com/news/2016-07-29/story/hemming-park-stops-music-performances-groups-financial-health-deteriorates

Hemming Park stops music performances as group's financial health deteriorates

Under the growing pressure of a budget crunch and scrutiny from city officials into their spending of public money, officials of the non-profit that manages downtown's Hemming Park said Friday they're suspending daily music performances.

The live music was one of several activities the group, Friends of Hemming Park, hoped would attract people to the park.

In a message posted to Facebook, the group, which relies heavily on city money, said the city no longer allowed them to pay for musicians with its funding, and the performances would be suspended until they received enough private donations to cover the costs.

"Friends of Hemming Park believes in paying artists for their time and talent," the post said.

Think these guys are doing good work, but come on FHP. Now isn't the time to be idealistic. Isn't the better, more obvious solution to simply not pay the artists if you can't afford to do so. Surely there are musicians in the city willing to play in Hemming for free in return for tips and exposure.

Thats not being idealistic. Its being destructive.  We don't expect the guys sweeping to do the work for free.

Disagree, friend. Playing a 45-minute background set in the park during lunch isn't exploitative toward artists, it's content marketing. It's a not-for-profit park giving musicians a platform to get their music in front of new people who aren't coming to the park and paying to hear them play, but might be persuaded by their performance to seek them out at a more formal for-profit venue in the future, tip them, or purchase a CD or digital download.

Look at me. I've got an article up on MetroJax today. No one is coming here with the intent of reading my story about a football game that took place almost a hundred years ago in Jacksonville. But maybe, while they're at this awesome site that you guys have built, they'll check it out. And maybe they'll like it. And maybe they'll pick up a copy of my book. Nothing destructive about that.

No artist is being forced to do anything against their will, but if the only artists FHP are asking to play in the park during lunch command $50 to $150 payouts, maybe we're shooting too high.

[Noone]

Was at RAM today. Then went to Unity Plaza- It's not just a retention pond. Wish I could have put the yak in and do a KJB cleanup. The Gate to the Public Restrooms was open. The 3 actual Public restrooms were locked.
Stay Positive.

[PeeJayEss]

Shouldn't FoHP (and everyone, in general) pay everyone as little as they can while still getting productivity out of them?
If you can get a musician (or any artist) for free, and you aren't all that concerned with quality, why pay them?
If you are looking to secure an artist that will attract more attendance or persuade passersby to stay or return at another time, then it is certainly worthwhile to pay that artist their demanded rate, assuming you are realizing a positive return (not necessarily in revenue). Of course, if you can get THIS artist for free (because they see some value in the exposure), then you should absolutely do that.
Same with street sweepers, or any service they require. If you can get materials or labor donated, any money you pay for them is money wasted.

FoHP is a non-profit focused on running a small city park, not an artist advocacy group striving for fair pay for musicians.

[KenFSU]

MMR, because those two examples are EXACTLY the same thing.

Tell me, what armed militia would be forcing said musicians to play for tips at Hemming Park during lunch. There's no gun to the saxophone player's head forcing him to prostitute himself in front of tyrannical sandwich eaters chatting with their friends and messing with their cellphones. For local musicians, agreeing to provide background music in a public park for a not-for-profit group without the revenue sources to pay them is their own personal choice. Not yours to make for them.

You can't throw a rock at the beach, or San Marco Square, or during Art Walk, without seeing a street musician performing for tips. Surely, in the absence of money to pay professional musicians, you can place an open call for volunteer musicians from schools, churches, and the community. Guess what? They can always say no.

Just seems a little silly to me that FHP views this as such a black & white issue. Paid, professional musicians, or nothing. They're frankly not in a financial position to be taking moral stands on the issue.

[jaxlore]

Yeah the whole "you should be happy for the exposure" crap is getting old. If you want quality you have to financially sustain it. If you don't care about quality then you will  find out how some kid playing Black Sabbath covers can chase off a whole lunch crowd in five minutes.

[PeeJayEss]

I feel the same way about football players.

Artists that sell out 70,000 seat arenas ARE payed quite similarly to football players. They also perform in taxpayer-subsidized venues.

Should we pay the Armada or Axemen players the same as the Jaguar players? Better yet, what about those kids playing flag football in the field by my house?

[Steve]

While I've never met Vince Cavin, and may very well be a nice guy and competent, I almost think that if FOHP survives it will be without him. For example, I believe One Spark might have survived in it's original form if when problems started to arise, Elton Rivas transitioned leadership to someone else.

Might be the best political move they could make. Like I said, I don't know Vince, but the PR side hasn't been in their favor.

Vince Cavin Resigns

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=548044

I feel bad for the dude (never met him), but sometimes you have to do what's best for the organization while in turn doing something not as good for  yourself. I think it's the best opportunity for FOHP to turn the PR tide.

[KenFSU]

^Totally agree.

Vince seems like a good guy, but this had to happen.