The future is now unquestionably brighter though not assured unless we continue working diligently through growth, education, commitment and personal contribution. Today, and even more tomorrow, public presentations and educational programming are essential to furthering the goals and efforts of Kansas City Theater Pipe Organ, Inc.

Now programs developing growth within the organization are always underway not to mention educating the public of the organs availability and uniqueness but bringing the history of the instrument to today's youth through school programs featuring the organ and the Music Hall itself. Commitment by all those within the Club is often intense, everyone is involved and usually willing to contribute to the success of anything the organization undertakes.

When attending a public presentation, all the jobs normally associated with putting on a show with thousands of paying guests requires many tasks which are always staffed by a 100% volunteer staff! The Club is, however, always seeking new members for to stay alive we must remain able to accept change through new thought and expression. To date we remain healthy with solid, measurable growth and diversification and are constantly looking for different ways to achieve accountablility and recognition always retaining the organ itself for our focus

INSTRUMENT UPKEEP:

To ensure success of a restoration program the Club will seek financial underwriting of costs associated with renewal of the organ itself. Although the organ is today in relatively good working condition, it is the nature of various organ components to wear-out which require rather elaborate, time consuming and highly labor intensive work along with expensive parts, etc. p

The Club will endeavor whenever possible to perform the renewal labor to further stretch our ability to get the job done at the most workable financial level but outside assistance will, once again, be sought from the community and others who possess the ability and willingness to support such efforts. The Club has been successful in the past with such campaigns and it is hoped once again that the recommended program outlined will be guaranteed through both various financial generosity and individual willingness to perform labor related tasks as may be required during the restoration process.

EDUCATION:

Educational programs using the Music Hall and organ require measurably less expense but sources must be found before even this important feature can be undertaken. Here, again the Club members will perform most labor-related functions whenever the Hall is utilized. Imagine having the auditorium filled to capacity with 2500 seventh graders gathered to see a real silent film short for the first time in their lives accompanied the way it was meant!

Might it even be possible to include some old-fashioned vaudeville in the show as well. This must be one of the greatest rewards to what we in Kansas City Theater Pipe Organ are trying to accomplish. Our qualified "niche" is somewhat hard to find but has been there in the past and should be there tomorrow as well! It is through our children that impressions are made and even remembrances too, that is how the whole rebirth of theatre organ has been fostered and remains today.

PUBLIC PERFORMANCES:

Public shows must continue for our future to remain and more importantly, prosper. Every time the Music Hall is used and people hear the organ, they want to know more about what it is, where the instrument came from and when can they come hear again.

Recently, while the Shriners were holding their annual Circus event for the city's children in Municipal Auditorium several of the families heard the organ being rehearsed while entering the auditorium. These folks wandered up to the Music Hall orchestra entrance and walked in and right up to the console. They were enthralled with the look, sound and everything about the organ. It captivated the children and interested the parents, not to mention the numerous Shriners who came in to meet and talk with Club members about where all the great sounds were coming from! Nothing, but nothing is more gratifying than having some total stranger say how much they enjoy the organ. Who knows, they might be the next enthusiast and one who invites more to enter the organization.

Public shows must be continued and are costly so underwriting for these events is obligatory as well. The Club will present a workable number of annual shows, which are geared to the amount of available funding and average supporting attendance attained. After all, the musical theater we present is part of the Kansas City entertainment scene, regardless of what the size audience we might have at our programs.

Since the Music Hall is so large, it is hard to fill the hall each performance but those who do attend enjoy the wonderful sounds coming from the instrument. The organ is powerful and tonally varied enough to overcome the peculiar acoustics characteristic of the Music Hall.

In 1998 the Boston Symphony and again in 1999 the St. Petersburg (Russia) Symphony used the instrument with many complements from the conductors and orchestra members. This demonstrated the versatility and range of the organs' capabilities, whether for its' designed purpose, musical theater, or accompanying 110 piece symphony orchestras performing Richard Strauss!

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING:

Kansas City Theater Pipe Organ, Inc. has pledged itself to an on-going education ideal which will educate the public and particularly children about "theater organ" and in particular the Music Hall Robert Morton. It is generally felt that the holding of public programs is sufficient opportunity for the adult public to learn more about the organ and the whole era it encapsulates. Of even more importance are the adults of tomorrow, our children.

Repeated discussion has indicated that it is the Clubs wish to have a formal educational program set for children attending school in the 6th and 7th grades. Why, this is a time when children are beginning to think for themselves and might find attending a program with the organ as its' focus interesting, especially fun. Therefore, the Club is developing a structured program which will be presented to the various metropolitan school districts to encourage their willingness to bring students to the Music Hall for a short silent film with stage (vaudeville) and organ accompaniment.

At this time the children will be shown various parts of the organ by having a "trip through the organ" performed by the organist along with a short one-reeler silent film followed by an act or two of old-time vaudeville. Together, the program would last about one hour and one-quarter. Most probably a sing-along, bouncing ball would be done along with pre-show antique slide show as well. Generally, something which is geared to hold children's interest and promote a good time to remember.

Such a program is being performed in several similar locations through the USA. We will develop the program and present to various school leaders in the hope to have enough interest to have this type of show at least once a year. The Music Hall will need to be rented, schools will bus children in sufficient numbers to fill all available seats (2500). Following, buses would return all to their respective schools.

We feel confident that this program will work and be attended well if supported by the schools themselves. A special Club Committee would be formed to present the "program" to school leaders throughout the area with an expectation to present the show during the school year when the Music Hall has available time.

A fee would be charged to the children for bus transport with an additional fee for the costs of hall and film rental, organist, and vaudeville acts (if used). This could also be completely underwritten so all but the transportation would be available to encourage better attendance by a broader span of schools throughout the area. After all, coming down to the Music Hall for a stage show with live music is something special and would most assuredly generate interest on the part of school leadership, children and their parents as well! If necessary, this type show could be performed back to back, twice in one day to maximize Music Hall usage and associated expenses.

If this type of educational program were undertaken, sufficient Club membership is available to provide manpower sufficient to usher, MC and help direct attending students and teachers to help assure a good time being experienced by all not to mention defraying costs associated with having an event at the Music Hall. Our organization has a special arrangement with the Convention Center which allows lower than usual fees for our use of the Music Hall and associated fees, which should help assure making this program successful.

A. Estimated expenses for a singular school "show" in the Music Hall:

1. Music Hall rental fee including user fee for ea. attendee (full house) $3,100.00*

2. Minimum union stage-crew labor (four-hours 4 persons) $ 680.00

3. Film rental $ 250.00

4. Projector (video) rental $ 750.00

5. Vaudeville (2 acts @ $175.00/ea.) $ 350.00

6. Organist $ 250.00

7. Misc. posters, mailings, etc. $ 150.00

8. Organ usage fee ($75.00/Hr.) $ Free

TOTAL $5,530.00* *A reduction of user fees with City might be possible

Donors would be sought for this programming, either in full or partial, individually or multiples, to have a minimum of three (3) fully supported programs paid in reserve prior to having the initial show. This would assure at least a three-year run for the program which is considered minimally acceptable. (School's are more likely to accept this type of program if they know it is likely to be repeated each year plus having meaningful philanthropic underwriting.)

PUBLIC CONCERTS & UNDERWRITING NEEDS:

Should an interested person or organization wish to fund part or all of the costs associated with having a public concert at the Music Hall utilizing the Robert Morton organ, the following list typifies the average expenses associated with having a name artist play the organ in the Music Hall.

A. Music Hall rental - Convention center has granted our organization a "special rate"which cuts the routine rate in half to $600.00 per event. In addition there is a "user-fee" of $1.50/per attendee per show levied by the Convention Center. Typically, if we held a public concert attended by 1000 persons, the cost for both items mentioned would average $600.00 for the hall and $1,500.00 for user fees.

B. Artist fees - Average fees charged by artists are between $1,200. - 2,100. per event. In addition, artist charges travel and lodging expenses usually for a period of three to four days. On average, the total for both would equal $2,300. for artist an associated charges.

C. Labor Union fees: Since the Music Hall is a "Union-house" the use of union stage-hands is required and is comprised of no less than two workers for a period of no less than 4 hours (minimum). In addition, it has been our custom to hire a spotlight operator in addition (also for the four-hour minimum). On average, this cost is between $480. to $540. per event.

D. Mailing of flyers to past attendees and donors is performed numbering about 900 per event. Cost of producing flyer is $100. with postage for this mailing totaling $300 via first (9) class mailing. Average total cost per event is $400. for mailers. To date the Club does not have professional printing performed, Club members produce all flyer originals which are duplicated via one-color Xerox instead of outside printing. To date all concert-program distributed is both produced and duplicated with volunteer help and donation.

E. Advertising has been limited to Sunday, KC STAR and a nominal amount of radio time. These two items are necessary and can widely vary; however, it has been our practice to limit this expense to $2-2,500. per event. F. Miscellaneous Music Hall charges for security, ticket sales staff are both required expenses. Volunteers are no longer permitted to sell tickets but we are allowed to take tickets and usher. Security is required for the stage-entrance door via building fire code satisfaction. Average expense for these items is $200. per event.

Total nominal expenses for having a public performance, is on average, between $6,500 to $8,000. If a per-attendee ticket price of $15.00 were charged, it would require an attendance of just more than 500 persons to carry all expenses. Attendance varies depending upon artist, day of week performed and time held. Usually, a weekend performance held on either Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon has proven to be most acceptable. Certainly, if a donor were to underwrite all or any part of a concert, that would help defray future ticket-sales losses. Past attendance has varied from 1300 to as few as 250 persons. The more well known the artist(s), the higher the attendance but with disproportionately higher fees.

It has been the desire of Kansas City Theater Pipe Organ, Inc. to hold two public concerts per year in the Music Hall. It is financially impossible to hold a two per-year schedule without securing unrestricted donations beyond ticket sales to make-up any shortfall(s). The Club holds several fund-raising events in the Music Hall each year but cannot generate sufficient funds to carry the two per-year desired schedule without measurable outside contribution.

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Much of the history and, more importantly, future of the "Music Hall Robert Morton" has been and remains in our hands. We fully realize that hard, yet innovative, dedicated work will always be needed to ensure the continued public success of this art form for many years to come. Local residents are lucky to have such a unique and meaningful part of our countries golden "20's" past and a great one at that!

Continuance, though, is not assured unless supporting resources are continually found to support projects that utilize and educate persons to the organs unique resource of wonderful orchestral musical sounds not usually associated with more restrained church-like organ music!

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