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Ives concert series rebounds with big names
Ives concert series rebounds with big names
Erik Ofgang, Contributing Writer
Published 08:30 p.m., Friday, June 17, 2011
DANBURY -- It was the summer of 2007 and Ives Concert Park was struggling to survive.
Earlier that year, the nonprofit that ran the park had fallen deep into debt. To ensure the lights did not go out on the park stage, the city of Danbury formed the Charles Ives Authority for the Performing Arts -- a new organization to run the concert series in partnership with Western Connecticut State University.
But Ives Concert Park, on WestConn's westside campus, was not out of deep water yet.
Steve Greenberg, chairman of the Ives Authority, recalled that first summer was a harrowing one.
"We were operating on a shoestring and praying," he said. "I desperately needed money."
To get it, Greenberg, who volunteers his time for the concert park, went to Union Savings Bank and convinced officials of the importance of keeping Ives alive.
He left with a check for $50,000 and a four-year, $200,000 commitment from the bank, which became Ives' title sponsor.
"Union gave me the money to book my first show," Greenberg said.
Four years later, Ives is thriving. Last year it attracted more than 60,000 people, which is more than twice the number that had ever attended the park in a single year before.
And this year's Union Savings Bank Summer Concert series includes such acts as the Beach Boys; Earth, Wind & Fire; Steely Dan; and ZZ Top.
In addition to rock concerts, there are many other events in the Newtown Savings Bank Fine Arts and Family Series. They include a performance by the Connecticut Ballet, the Ives Pop Orchestra, and a special remembrance concert on Sept. 11.
Mayor Mark Boughton said the city stepped in to help save Ives in 2007, because "the potential of the concert park was pretty evident. They have such a beautiful facility located in our city that could really expand people's concepts of what the arts can be and offer a very low-cost entertainment opportunity."
Boughton has been impressed with the progress of the park in the past four years.
"It's been a wonderful turnaround story," he said. "I think Steve Greenberg and his board and Phyllis Cortese (Ives' executive director) have done a remarkable job."
Boughton added that the city gets a great return for its investment in the park.
"There's a lot of economic bang for your buck there, because of the blend and mix of both community events and big-name concerts and everything in between," he said.
Greenberg said Ives has been successful because the business model of the park has been totally revamped.
Beginning in 2008, the park began booking concerts exclusively through Premier Concerts, a Waterbury-based company that produces concerts in Connecticut.
Premier books all the main acts for Ives with input from the Ives Authority board. Under the agreement, Premier has the liability for the concerts, puts out most of the money for them and gets the majority of ticket sales -- Ives gets $1 per ticket sold, or occasionally $2.
Though the concert park makes less money from the shows, the operational costs of the park go down, as does the risk factor.
Cortese said the partnership with Premier has "enabled a nonprofit organization to develop a business model (and) bring these incredibly talented performers to the Ives stage."
She added that most of the acts show up with "three tractor-trailer trucks and five tour buses, (and) the costs are just astronomical."
As a result of the partnership, Greenberg said, the annual costs of running the park go down from $900,000 or $1 million to about $400,000.
He said that by working with a professional promoter, the park is able to get bigger-name acts at lower prices because professional promoters are more skilled at negotiations.
To make up for the revenue lost in ticket sales, Ives began prohibiting guests from bringing in beverages, though they still allow carried-in food.
Now Ives makes money from food and beverage sales and donations. It also receives about $50,000 annually in seed money from the city of Danbury.
Keith Mahler, who owns Premier Concerts, said working at the park has been a pleasure.
"Ives is a wonderful place to produce shows," he said. "The audience loves it down there, and the talent loves playing there."
Mahler added that recently he's been trying to attract younger audiences to the park.
"Audiences are younger and that's really where the market is, so we're trying to go after a younger-skewing audience in terms of the younger bands and the classic rock bands that we're booking."
WestConn President James Schmotter said he is happy with the way the partnership between Danbury and the university has worked out.
"I believe operating under the authority has enabled us to have more variety in the kind of performances and activities we have there, and I think that's good," Schmotter said. "I think we serve wide segments of the population through the various festivals, through the children's theater, as well as the standard big-name acts that have always come to Ives."
He said that although Ives and WestConn were technically separate entities, "in reality the Ives brand and the WCSU brand are interconnected. If one does well, the other benefits.
"(Also) there's no question that having a vibrant array of programs during the summer just adds to the knowledge in the community about the university," Schmotter said.
"It elevates our profile and helps bring different people to campus. Those are all really good things."
For more information about the Ives Concert Park visit www.ivesconcertpark.com.
DANBURY -- It was the summer of 2007 and Ives Concert Park was struggling to survive.
Earlier that year, the nonprofit that ran the park had fallen deep into debt. To ensure the lights did not go out on the park stage, the city of Danbury formed the Charles Ives Authority for the Performing Arts -- a new organization to run the concert series in partnership with Western Connecticut State University.
But Ives Concert Park, on WestConn's westside campus, was not out of deep water yet.
Steve Greenberg, chairman of the Ives Authority, recalled that first summer was a harrowing one.
"We were operating on a shoestring and praying," he said. "I desperately needed money."
To get it, Greenberg, who volunteers his time for the concert park, went to Union Savings Bank and convinced officials of the importance of keeping Ives alive.
He left with a check for $50,000 and a four-year, $200,000 commitment from the bank, which became Ives' title sponsor.
"Union gave me the money to book my first show," Greenberg said.
Four years later, Ives is thriving. Last year it attracted more than 60,000 people, which is more than twice the number that had ever attended the park in a single year before.
And this year's Union Savings Bank Summer Concert series includes such acts as the Beach Boys; Earth, Wind & Fire; Steely Dan; and ZZ Top.
In addition to rock concerts, there are many other events in the Newtown Savings Bank Fine Arts and Family Series. They include a performance by the Connecticut Ballet, the Ives Pop Orchestra, and a special remembrance concert on Sept. 11.
Mayor Mark Boughton said the city stepped in to help save Ives in 2007, because "the potential of the concert park was pretty evident. They have such a beautiful facility located in our city that could really expand people's concepts of what the arts can be and offer a very low-cost entertainment opportunity."
Boughton has been impressed with the progress of the park in the past four years.
"It's been a wonderful turnaround story," he said. "I think Steve Greenberg and his board and Phyllis Cortese (Ives' executive director) have done a remarkable job."
Boughton added that the city gets a great return for its investment in the park.
"There's a lot of economic bang for your buck there, because of the blend and mix of both community events and big-name concerts and everything in between," he said.
Greenberg said Ives has been successful because the business model of the park has been totally revamped.
Beginning in 2008, the park began booking concerts exclusively through Premier Concerts, a Waterbury-based company that produces concerts in Connecticut.
Premier books all the main acts for Ives with input from the Ives Authority board. Under the agreement, Premier has the liability for the concerts, puts out most of the money for them and gets the majority of ticket sales -- Ives gets $1 per ticket sold, or occasionally $2.
Though the concert park makes less money from the shows, the operational costs of the park go down, as does the risk factor.
Cortese said the partnership with Premier has "enabled a nonprofit organization to develop a business model (and) bring these incredibly talented performers to the Ives stage."
She added that most of the acts show up with "three tractor-trailer trucks and five tour buses, (and) the costs are just astronomical."
As a result of the partnership, Greenberg said, the annual costs of running the park go down from $900,000 or $1 million to about $400,000.
He said that by working with a professional promoter, the park is able to get bigger-name acts at lower prices because professional promoters are more skilled at negotiations.
To make up for the revenue lost in ticket sales, Ives began prohibiting guests from bringing in beverages, though they still allow carried-in food.
Now Ives makes money from food and beverage sales and donations. It also receives about $50,000 annually in seed money from the city of Danbury.
Keith Mahler, who owns Premier Concerts, said working at the park has been a pleasure.
"Ives is a wonderful place to produce shows," he said. "The audience loves it down there, and the talent loves playing there."
Mahler added that recently he's been trying to attract younger audiences to the park.
"Audiences are younger and that's really where the market is, so we're trying to go after a younger-skewing audience in terms of the younger bands and the classic rock bands that we're booking."
WestConn President James Schmotter said he is happy with the way the partnership between Danbury and the university has worked out.
"I believe operating under the authority has enabled us to have more variety in the kind of performances and activities we have there, and I think that's good," Schmotter said. "I think we serve wide segments of the population through the various festivals, through the children's theater, as well as the standard big-name acts that have always come to Ives."
He said that although Ives and WestConn were technically separate entities, "in reality the Ives brand and the WCSU brand are interconnected. If one does well, the other benefits.
"(Also) there's no question that having a vibrant array of programs during the summer just adds to the knowledge in the community about the university," Schmotter said.
"It elevates our profile and helps bring different people to campus. Those are all really good things."
For more information about the Ives Concert Park visit www.ivesconcertpark.com.
