Off the Chopping Block: RiverWinds Summer Concerts Set in Motion
While it wasn't smooth sailing, West Deptford's township committee passed a resolution ensuring a summer concert series this year.
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For those about to rock at RiverWinds, we salute you.
This time last year, the fate of the RiverWinds summer concert series hung in the balance. But this year's concerts look substantially more stable.
After much debate over the series' financial viability, West Deptford's township committee voted Thursday to move ahead with the popular concerts. The committee agreed to grant Mayor Raymond Chintall power to sign a contract with Anderson Entertainment Management, in order to secure bands for this year’s series.
The decision came after a discussion led by Deputy Mayor Sean Kilpatrick at the Feb. 7 township committee meeting. Kilpatrick talked about the importance of the concert series—attracting nonresidents to the town and potential out-of-town sponsors—and urged the committee to get the ball rolling on it as soon as possible.
Not everyone was on board.
“We all love these concerts, but they cannot be a burden,” Committeeman Sam Cianfarini said. “Programs like this cannot be more of an expense than an asset to the community.”
The summer concert series also came under fire last March after Cianfarini motioned for the series to be contingent upon the coverage of all costs. The motion died on the table in 2012. Cianfarini rehashed sentiments from last year, suggesting the series become a private investment by enabling the caterer to be master contractor.
Citing security as a major issue, Committeewoman Denice DiCarlo raised concerns about potential lapses if the series was taken over by another party.
Last year’s summer concert series generated $33,750 in revenue. With the cost for the bands coming in at less than $36,000 last year, some revenue offset police expenses, which totaled approximately $7,500, Kilpatrick said. Other expenses for last year also included Spot-A-Pots at $600.
As with Cianfarini, Chintall also raised concerns about taxpayers footing the bill for the summer concert series. While he acknowledged sponsors, for the most part, cover band costs, Chintall's main concern lies with taxpayers footing the bill for police officers needed during the concert series.
To ensure that all concert series expenses would be covered, Cianfarini asked if an early commitment from sponsors was possible to evaluate potential revenue prior to passing a resolution.
“Sponsors want to sponsor certain bands and we can’t do that without a list of bands,” Greg Ley, West Deptford recreation director, responded. Bands could take other offers in the interim of the committee passing a resolution, risking potential sponsorships, Ley added.
“Every schedule we hold in our hands runs the risk of running away,” echoed Frank Annunziato of Anderson Entertainment Management Inc.
There's tremendous potential for revenue from the concert series, but it needs a jump-start, Annunziato added. Proposing an "a la carte" option, Cianfarini suggested the township select only bands that garner sponsors, instead of contracting a preselected 12 bands.
The committee could have an "entire menu" of bands at its disposal, Annunziato said—but only if the committee begins soliciting sponsors in September, not February or March. An a la carte approach this year may results in the loss of bands, he added.
With that said, Kilpatrick motioned for a resolution enabling the mayor to execute a contract with Anderson Entertainment Management Inc. Seconded by DiCarlo, the vote passed 3-1; Cianfarini voted no and Committeewoman Donna Szymborski was absent.
Following the vote, residents voiced their support for the concerts.
“That’s culture,” said Dave Sileo. “If we give that up, we’re making a big mistake.”
Kilpatrick shared similar sentiments, pointing a sense of togetherness the series elicits.
“It’s a great thing to see families together like that,” says Kilpatrick. “In this day and age, I think it’s priceless.”
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DD Johnson
8:35 am on Friday, February 8, 2013
This Sam Cianfarini is completely out of touch with reality and is a true menace to society. He needs to go immediately!
Bill Bondar
8:50 am on Friday, February 8, 2013
Some suggestions for generating income at the Summer Concerts
1. Add some new lighting to the stage or point the lights that are lighting up the structure overhead down onto the stage. You can't see the bands when it gets dark unless they bring their own lighting.
2. Build a Reserve Fund to pay for bands in advance instead of how its done now.
3. Sell 50-50 tickets and charge $2.00 parking to help fill this fund.
4. Have volunteers with Staff shirts to handle the parking lots and collect the fee as the cars line up just at the entrance to the Golf Course. Like they do at Wells Fargo for the Philly stadium venues.
5. Have "kid bands" or any decent band volunteer to play for an hour, They can perform on the dance area from 6:30 to 7:30 to entertain the crowd as the seats fill up and those people can listen as they enjoy Botto's.
6. Have proper illumination of the sponsor's name that's displayed over the stage.
7. Some bands are good, some are not as good. You need to mix new bands in often as people want some variety.
Just my 2 cents... Feel free to add..
Madeline Fucci
12:46 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
With all the serious matters concerning this community and its residents, we have a committee who devoted the bulk of the meeting to the summer concert series which is a venue many of our residents don't even attend and is a free night of entertainment for the general public at the taxpayer's expense. Wehave people losing jobs and homes struggling to survive financially and instead of operating these concerts with a business approach and making a profit, we end up losing money every year at the expense of the taxpayer. Committeeman Cianfarini comes up with solutions based on sound business principles and he gets shot down right after the Mayor gives a speech saying we can't continue with the "that's the way we always did it" attitude and approach. Committeeman Cianfarini was looking out for the taxpayers and residents by not placing any additional financial burden on them by laying down the groundwork
to have the vendor cooperate with us. Instead members of the committee decided it would be business as usual which meant continuing to place the burden on the taxpayer instead of either privatizing and contracting this out or running the concerts like a business entertainment venue generating a profit instead of sustaining a loss. If Riverwinds is such an asset, why not promote it as such and have it provide a source of revenue, if possible, instead of being a financial albatross around our necks.
Kristi Simpkins
2:31 am on Thursday, February 21, 2013
Madeline,
First off you can only speak for yourself & if you attend the concerts or not. You're not the "many" people of this township who may actually attend the concerts each Summer. What you said is just your opinions & assumptions. It isn't based upon facts.
Plus if you choose not to go to the concerts then that's your choice. Do attend them then. Just as that would be anyone else's choice who chooses to not attend them. However just b/c some people choose to not go to them doesn't mean that the township should not have The Concert Series. Why punish those people that do attend them & enjoy going?
The concerts free or not are still beneficial to our community & are a nice thing to have for the township. Plus having the concerts is not the huge source of our township money problems. Those problems/issues have been around LONG before the concerts have been put on. Those money issues/problems have been around way before & ever since RiverWinds has been built. Those problems too will always be there. Even after the last concert is finished for the Summer.
James Cheetle
10:44 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
You are 100% correct Madeline. Anyone who can't understand what you are saying are deeply disturbed and it need of serious help.
Marie Barger
3:51 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
Bring back the grease band
Michael Backlund
9:53 am on Saturday, February 9, 2013
The concert series is paid for by the sponsors. Weren't you at the meeting Madeline or do you only comprehend Sam's ridiculous proposals? The concert series is attended by thousands of people every summer and is the most successful program in the township. Only a complete moron would want to eliminate it.
Michelle Backlund
10:56 am on Saturday, February 9, 2013
Honey, now stop......don't make things up....Sam said he wanted them to fully fund themselves thats all. Is that such a bad thing? Your life, just like our marriage is built on lies you tell people......just tell the truth, stop making things up, it will be o.k. Really.
Bob Backlund
2:25 pm on Saturday, February 9, 2013
yeh brother quit making things up.always knew you were the favorite.of the family
The % of residents that go to the concert series are far less than out of towners.
keep costs down have the concerts once a month,june,july august and get the good bands.
Wayne Klotz
4:08 pm on Sunday, February 10, 2013
Sam at his best! Not making sense at all!
Danny Sebastian
9:59 am on Monday, February 11, 2013
Wayne sometimes you can prove yourself senseless by your idiotic comments.
if the concert series cost the taxpayers just 1 cent thats too much.we will paying for out of towners to come in and enjoy at our expense.
the entertainment agency will give inferior product and west deptford won't get the good bands,just wait and see.
I play in a band and believe me the venue at the riverwinds concerts pay much less than if we were playing at the park in washington township.
during the summer you go where the money is.we played at fox park 2 years ago during the irish festival and we are invited back this year.
Occupant
12:33 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013
Danny, you are correct... People come to RW on a warm night to hang out with friends, family and neighbors to sample those Botto's Sausage & Pepper sandwiches and have a beer. But also to listen to the music. If the band sucks, it shows, and people wont attend if that band is billed. I'd rather pay the bigger bucks for a better band. There are lots of bands out there but not all "good". As with any good room, one would think that the bands prefer to play Riverwinds because of the crowds it draws. You need, good bands, good food and good weather all at the same time to make for a successful evening..
carolyn Holzer
1:41 pm on Sunday, March 31, 2013
I love the concert series. Riverwinds is something I look forward to every Friday during the summer.
Security has not been a big issue that I could see unless it is being kept under wraps?
The summer concert series are a family oriented fun time had by all!
Please keep it.