The musical odyssey continues
Since the dawn of time when the first hominid picked up a leg bone left over from dinner, swung it in imitation of the day's hunt and brought it down rhythmically again and again, only to be joined by it's brethren with their own assortment of percussive instruments music has soothed the savage breast. In 2010, this musical odyssey continues its unrelenting evolution with the Busker's Ball!
We're incredibly happy to be back celebrating the street with the eighth annual Busker's Ball. Near the last day of winter, 2010 we'll be showcasing vibrant local buskers (past and present) and artists bringing their creative energies to the stage and walls of the Naked Cybercafé on Jasper!
An all-star line-up!
I am drooling about the great talent we have for this year's Ball. Although every year is special, this year features a fine collection of some of my favourite Edmonton buskers, both past and present. And, of course, this year's talent is as diverse as always, from hip-hop to salsa and all points in between.
Wow! Donations work!
It's a beautiful thing! Last year, great sponsors donated most of what we needed to throw a concert, wonderful volunteers manned the event and kept it running smoothly and the patrons gained entry via their donations allowing us to pay for whatever else we needed and to pay the buskers a small honorarium. Yay!
It's two years running now, that we have made a reasonable profit. That is, due to a smaller venue, smaller crew, smaller everything except the music and art, we have paid all our bills and paid each Busker an honorarium. There is no reason that we can not repeat that again this year.
Why donate?
It costs about 10 bucks a head to mount the Ball and pay the buskers a honorarium (if we get a break even number of patrons, and all goes well) but we think it's worth much, much more, Really, hours of great music, art and good people, sign me up!
Rather than out-and-out charging the amount we would need to cover our full costs we ask for a donation set on a sliding scale based on one's ability to pay and how much the show is enjoyed. In other words, we put our faith in the public enjoying our show enough— with a tip our hat to the old busking tradition—to let them set the price.
Orion's Belt
Behind the scenes of any show worth its mettle toils a small army of great souls. Without pay or complaint these remarkable folk craft all aspects of an evening's entertainment with smiles, professionalism and irrefutable spirit. Here's to the volunteers, be they amateurs learning new skills, or professionals bringing their talents to the show.
Orion's Belt is a free-form amalgamation of music lover's, artists, musicians and those who truly want change. We have banded together nine times to entertain the public, and raise funds for the Parkland Institute.
The Parkland Institute
Once again we are pleased to be affiliated with the Parkland Institute, a people-funded research network for the common good, where politics and economy collide. Profits from the bar will help fund their fine work!
Contact
If we have tweaked your interest, but you need more information contact Bill Carley by:
- Phone: 433-5159
- E-mail: