Passing along this important plea from Bob Stane of the Coffee Gallery in Altadena. This is a singular, wonderful little venue that should be supported! Please give what you can!
Please read every word. Important message from: BOB STANE & The Coffee Gallery Backstage
HELP US KEEP THE LIGHTS ON
Bob Stane asks: So many of you thank me for “all that you do” every night at The Coffeee Gallery Backstage and ask if there is anything you can do for me and the venue. Now there is. I must ask for funds to relieve me of the trauma that has befallen me from outside sources.
For a handful of years now a benevolent benefactor has been paying the electric bills for the Coffee Gallery Backstage. Alas, all good things must come to an end, and now we must repay this debt. Why, you ask, is this so? Well friends, remember the ugly incident with the Alcohol Beverage Control folks, who accused us of using children to press grapes and make wine in our cellar? As ridiculous as the accusations of the Backstage selling alcohol were , defending the real and very serious criminal charges filed against us cost us many thousands of dollars. We thought the common practice allowed by restaurants everywhere, "Bring your own bottle" was legal and so we participated. Much to our chagrin we were hit with $5,000 worth of fines, court costs and attorney's fees after a “sting” by the ABC. A lot of unnecessary legal punishment that went on for an endless and anguishing year. Two misdemeanor charges were ultimately pled down to a lesser charge, but many, many dollars were wasted. We, like everyone else in the food and beverage business, thought it was legal for customers to bring in their own wine. Not so, common knowledge was wrong.
To make matters worse, new owners of the building where the Backstage percolates its many charms DOUBLED our rent beginning in January of 2015. Our finances have been stretched to the limit ever since.
Last but not least, a long standing problem with our email server came to a head. We were no longer allowed to send out our e-mail blasts due to California's anti-spam laws. This necessitated the whopping cost of retaining and setting up a bulk-email server so I could continue sending you e-mail notices of upcoming shows. Much money and even more anguish. Setting it up was an extremely costly nightmare. Many, many hours of our mighty Webmaster's time was invested in this project.
The problem is, and was, that the costs sapped our operating capital, making it difficult to catch up and pay everything on time month after month. An evil downward spiral of costs. We need to reboot to a manageable level. This is where you enter from Stage Right. We can easily get there with your help.
As unhappy as it makes us, we find we must turn to our loyal friends and patrons to help us to stay afloat, vibrant and keep the lights on.
Instead of going through Go Fund Me or Kickstarter I am stating my case directly to you as a patron of the Arts. I know you want The Coffee Gallery Backstage to be healthy and do what we do. With vigor. For you and for our acts. We need $15,000 to set us on the right path, pay off our debts and relieve me of the stress, tension, angst, trauma, and anxiety I have been going though, monthly, for the last several years as I struggle to keep us afloat. I need get to “zero.” It is time for me to get back to the creativity of finding the best acts in the nation/world for your enjoyment. You have been wonderful and I hope you feel the same way about me and The Coffee Gallery Backstage.
You might want to think of this as supporting an acoustic showroom that is unique in all of America.. Or supporting something that is wildly worthwhile.
THIS IS A SERIOUS REQUEST. And I hope a “one time only.” Please give what you can. I hope it will be the last time I need to ask. Big or little, it is a gift from your musical heart. Remember, this is “good” music. You know what I mean. Help an endangered species.
I will, as a “thank you,” send you a GIFT CERTIFICATE equal to, at least 10% of your donation (rounded off). A $5.00 admission certificate for a $25 donation. A $10 certificate for a $50 gift of musical mercy, $20 for a gift of $100 and $50 certificate for $500. And on and on. You will, also, get a letter of thanks and appreciation which will be genuine and heartfelt.
Thank you. Bob Stane, The Coffee Gallery Backstage (forever).
Send a check to : (make the check payable to me, Bob Stane)
Mail To: BOB STANE
COFFEE GALLERY BACKSTAGE
2029 N. Lake Ave
Altadena, Ca. 91001
OR
Donate with Paypal
(Credit Card, Checking account or Paypal Account)