THIRD MEETING OF THE YEAR 2008 -

MARKHAM THEATRE ADVISORY BOARD

TOWN OF MARKHAM

 

Canada Room, Markham Civic Centre

Monday, March 31st, 2008

 

MINUTES

 

 

ATTENDANCE:

 

Present                                                       Staff

 

Mario Miranda, Chair                                   Bonnie Armstrong

David Banfield                                             John Ryerson

Dennis Cline                                               Debbie Watson

Nancy Cogger

Simon Gulden

Brian Harvey

Pat Kincaid

 

Regrets

 

Neil Fernandez

Jennifer Kah

Genny Landis

Michael Landry

Elizabeth Richardson

Isabel Schnapp

Tony Wong, Regional Councillor

Wendy Woof-Severn

 

 

The meeting convened at the hour of 5:40 p.m. with Mario Miranda in the Chair.

 

 

1.0     REMARKS FROM THE CHAIR

·         appreciate attendance due to poor weather

·         all new board members present

 

2.0     ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MARKHAM THEATRE FOR PERFORMING ARTS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING HELD ON FEBRUARY 25TH, 2008.

 

          RECOMMENDED:  THAT THE MINUTES OF THE MARKHAM THEATRE FOR PERFORMING ARTS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING HELD ON FEBRUARY 25TH, 2008, BE ADOPTED AS CIRCULATED.

 

3.0     FINANCIAL REPORT

 

3.1     Financial Performance and Business Plan Tracking - Brian Harvey, Chair, Mario Miranda, Pat Kincaid, David Banfield, Michael Landry

 

·         challenging start to 2008

·         operating deficit of $53K to end of February

·         year-to-date deficit of $66K

·         revenues soft in February

·         3 dark days compared to 6 in 2007

·         year-to-date up 8.5 dark days from 2007

·         audience numbers remain strong; up over last year

·         $3,750 sponsorship funding for month

·         $6,250 year-to-date against $80K budget

·         PES spring season – some weak sales – Lee Trio, Campbell Brothers, Edith Tankus

·         extra marketing being done

·         total of 13 PES events to end of February, compared to 4 last year

·         19 community events in February; no commercial or education

·         promotional tickets given away for Moccio/Sinclair, David Chilton, Peter Pan

·         rental and subsidy rates determined by Council; increase based on inflation

·         different rates for community, education, commercial and PES

 

4.0     MANAGER’S REPORT

4.1     April Events

·         no dark days

·         8 PES shows; end of season

·         some community and education rentals

·         Ron James – two days

 

4.2     P.E.S. Sales Update

·         quite a few last minute sales for David Chilton

·         Gregg Lawless Seniors’ Matinee great show

·         finish season with Matt Dusk

·         re Lee Trio – met with Tony Wong

·         they are doing two interviews – Rogers, Classical 96 FM

·         will be another meeting

 

4.3     2008-2009 PES Programming Update

·         45 shows in 2008-2009 season; 3 seniors’ matinees

·         shows include Arlo Guthrie, The Canadian Tenors, Emilie-Claire Barlow, Kerry Stratton, Montreal Guitar Trio

 

4.4     Season Launch

·         Monday, May 12th; 7:00 pm

·         six performers to be announced ahead of time; good evening of entertain- ment

·         sending invitation to members and subscribers

·         in the past, seats reserved by people who didn’t attend, so charging $10 but getting a coupon for $10 off subscription

·         couple of contests – good incentive to sign up

 

5.0     SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS

5.1     Fundraising and Sponsorship Development - Neil Fernandez, Chair, Jennifer Kah, Genny Landis, Dennis Cline, Nancy Cogger, David Tsubouchi, Wendy Woof-Severn

 

·         nothing to report at this time

 

5.2     25th Anniversary Committee

·         a few ideas but need to wait until Manager’s position finalized

o        gala evening

o        reunion event with past artists and staff

o        community open house

o        Handel’s Messiah in December, 2009 – 250th anniversary of his death

·         grant – “Celebrate Ontario”; package as a year’s celebration

·         could also have some type of entertainment at Unionville, Markham and Thornhill Festivals

 

6.0     ACTION ITEMS

 

7.0     OTHER BUSINESS

·         highway sign approved; will take about six weeks to finish work

 

·         Day to End Racial Discrimination – Police Diversity Committee

·         Bur Oak High School – wonderful venue and great event

·         suspect event won’t be in Markham next year

·         opportunity to get clients and potential contacts

·         very well received

·         theatre mentioned a number of times in Saturday’s Economist & Sun

·         lot of opportunities to get presence out into community; need to raise profile

·         complementary tickets issued on a show to show basis

·         unallocated money left over from the Mayor’s Dinner

·         would like to purchase projector and screen; opens up rental potential

·         challenge – increase in revenue and attendance not necessarily the same thing

·         need to focus on most important issue

·         Sunday afternoon movies for children, with nominal fee?

·         children’s PES shows Sunday matinees

·         highest density of families in the area; children don’t come; in theory, should be sold out

·         change in demographics?

·         kids totally scheduled with activities

·         any sense of deficits in other theatres; are $500K deficits acceptable?

·         Oakville and Mississauga under pressure

·         in Guelph, every child in every school sees five shows per year; six figure sponsor

 

7.1     Financial Overview

·         given by Brian Harvey

 

8.0     DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Monday, May 26th, 2008, 5:30 p.m.

Canada Room, Markham Civic Centre

 

9.0     ADJOURNMENT

·         7:05 p.m.