For the price of 2,000 cups of coffee, you can support our city’s nonprofit Paramount Theater by sponsoring the National Acrobats of China, or Ravi Shankar! This morning, marketing coordinator Katharine Vlcek, who took over for former marketing director Kristen Gleason this month, sent an e-mail to the Paramount’s mailing list to note the numerous benefits of sponsoring a performance for the theater’s Spring 2009 series. A $3,750 sponsorship nabs you the following:
- Ten complimentary tickets and drinks for your sponsored performance.
- Ad placement in print, e-mail and website publicity.
- "On-site presence on show night: Opportunity for outlet staff to greet/distribute programs." Which sounds a bit like being an usher.
Your name in lights: Drop some green for The Paramount Theater!
Oddly, this e-mail arrived within 24 hours of an e-mail from Sage Moon Gallery that acknowledges the "unusual turn of events in our economy" then announces the space’s new affordable rental program, where you can lease a spot for your art in the gallery. (If you’re interested, call the gallery at 977-9997.) What venues will be the next to request a bit of help?
I don’t see anything I’d personally choose to sponsor on the list, but to be honest, that’s not really an issue for me. If I was rolling in dollar dollar bills, y’all, I’d throw some Benjamins at these artists:
- Tom Waits: When, for crying out loud, WHEN will someone bring Tom Waits to town?
- Jeff Tweedy: Our almost yearly Wilco gigs have left me a bit spoiled. Hey, it happened once before.
- Joanna Newsom: Our office remains divided, but I maintain that "The Book of Right On" is, indeed, right on.
Unfortunately, giving your dough doesn’t mean getting your show. Who would make you cough up a bit more cash for the Paramount?
