MINUTES
Colorado Music Business Organization – Board of Directors Meeting
April 2, 2023 – 7:00 p.m.
A. Called to Order at ______ p.m.
B. Present: Barb Dye, David Barber, Tracey Chirhart, Jamie Krutz, Johnnie Johnson, Todd Caron, Tony Molina,
Absent: Annette Cannon (excused), Clark Hagan (Maurice Avatar on leave-of-absence)
Guest: Tamera Duran
C. Approval of the Minutes of January 8, 2023 as corrected: David moved, Johnnie, 2nd: Approved: Yes.
Approval of the Minutes of February 6, 2023 as corrected: David moved, Jamie 2nd: Approved: Yes.
Approval of the Minutes of March 5, 2023: Johnnie moved, David, 2nd: Approved: Yes.
D. Treasurer’s Report:
Income received:
Memberships $ 120.00 (March – Paypal) (See Membership Report)
Memberships $ 20.00 (March – check) (See Membership Report)
Interest on Savings: $ .04 (March 2023)
Total: $ 140.04
Expenses paid (Ck = check; PP = Paypal; BW = bank withdrawal, checking acct.):
Bank Fees for March (BW): $ 2.00 (checking fees)
American Voice Mail (Ck): $ 92.45 (once a year)
Paypal fees (PP): $ 6.16 (See David’s accounting below)
Meta (PP): $ 0.00 (no Facebook ads for meeting)
Zoom acct. (PP): $ 17.40 (March 20, 2023)
Google Workspace: $ 18.87 (March 1, 2023)
Mailchimp (PP): $ 35.10 ( March 27, 2023)
Total: $ 171.98
Paypal Fees: (4 x $1.54 = $6.16) + (0 x $2.41 = $0) + (0 x $3.81 = $0) = $6.16
Checking Balance:$1,191.82 (as of 3/31/23)
Savings Balance: $1,153.97 (asof 3/31/23)
PayPal Balance: $ 483.21(as of 4/01/23)
Grand Total: $2,829.00
To be paid: Application for 501(c)(3) – $875; Five Points Jazz Fest – $125; still on want list – t-shirts; estimated cost $700.
E. Membership Reports:
Renewed Members in March:
Supporter(s): None
Individual: Jenn Cleary, Paul Fiorino
Band: None
Business(es): None
New Members in March:
Supporter: Tamera Duran
Individuals: James Robinson (pd by Suzanne “Suzi” Humbert), Sheilah Lynch
Band: None
Business(es): None
Up for Renewal in April:
Supporter: Pat Badwound
Individuals: Steve Morrow, Erik Nelson, Steve Glotzer, Laurie Dameron, Dean McCall
Bands: None
Business(es): None
David sent out renewal reminder emails on 4/01/2023.
Membership “Welcome Surveys”: 2 (Jenn Cleary and Paul Fiorino)
F. Unfinished Business:
- Bar Code requests: None.
- Upcoming Programs:
a. Saturday, April 22nd: Songwriter’s Showcase: At Odde’s, 9975 N. Wadsworth, Westminster, from 6-7:45. House band to start at 8:00 p.m. Each performer will give a short description of how they came to write their song, then will play. Board members will not need to speak. So far, we’ve only had 4 songwriters confirm (2 nays). Should we invite other entrants? We should have at least 6 more. Discussion: We will invite some of the other entrants to participate.
b. Monday, May22nd: Stephen Brackett of Flobots MIGHT speak. Other suggestions in case Mr. Brackett cannot speak that night (see suggestion for September):
c. Monday, June 26th: Illegal Pete’s Schmoozer, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. No program; just a get-together at Illegal Pete’s on Race & Colfax. Parking lot in the back (north side).
d. Points Jazz Festival – Sat. June 10th: Is it worth $125? Got 20 signatures last year, a bit of a high price unless we can get 100 plus signatures and more member sign ups. Price isn’t confirmed yet for non-profit booth and Barb hasn’t heard back. Let’s wait and see what they will charge us first then decide. We still have May to cancel.
Youth on Records Block Party, also on June 10th – Andrea? Mona? 1301 West 10th
e. Tuesday, July 18th: At Number 38? Barb will see if they run a happy hour. Address is 3560 Chestnut Place, south and west of Brighton Blvd and 38th Avenue (driving south from I-70 on Washington the road curves around and becomes 38th Avenue).
Barb also suggests the revamped Tom’s Diner on Pearl & Colfax. There was a HUGE uproar over a developer taking over the property and demolishing the old White Spot now considered an historic building. Tom then decided to hang onto the property but turned it into more of a night spot than a family-friendly diner.
f. August: We usually take August off. Should we do that again this year? We do hold a board meeting which would be set for Sunday, August 6th and this is so that we can set/confirm September’s meeting. Discussion: Let’s take it off to finish up the song contest!
g. Monday, September 18th: Suggestions: Suzi Humbert approached us at the VVE and said she would love to speak on “Management & Support Services”. She currently manages James Robinson, a classical guitarist – www.James-Robinson.com She says she also provides social media program entries. She knows something about distribution.
Program Committee’s next meeting: Nothing set yet.
3. Web & Social Media Reports – David Barber (as of 4/01/23):
a. Current Email Subscribers: COMBO has 2,389 subscribers downfrom the 2,418 reported at the March meeting. As of the 3/30/23 newsletter, we had 31% opens and 3% click thrus. Reminder email: 33% opened it but only 1% clicked through.
b. Twitter Account Followers: COMBO has 7,482,down by 25 followers which is down from the last report of 7,507.
c. LinkedIn: 166 new followers = no change from 166.
d. Google Analytics Report: In March 2023 there were 3,664 sessions, which is down 10% from March 2022 when we had 4,076 sessions. March spikes: None
The most read post this month was /two-dead-9-hurt-in-stampede-at-glorilla-concert-in-new-york-ohio-band-member-and-family-members-dead-in-murder-suicide/
e. Facebook Analytics: Reach: 781; Post Engagement: 165; New Likes: 3; New page followers: 7.
Reminder – Our Facebook address is:
http://www.Facebook.com/ColoradoMusicBusinessOrganization
4. Ombudsman Program – Annette Cannon: Absent.
5. Promotion/Advertising: Barb passed out guitar picks and business cards at Jonny Barber’s “Schuyler Colfax’s 200th Birthday Party at the Colfax Museum Exhibit at the Museum of Colorado History, and we also passed out guitar picks and business cards at the Vintage Voltage Expo & Guitar Show. We ran out of business cards!
6. Open Mic Night with Tony: Tony has made a deal with Marty Jones to hold an open mic night at Dry Dock Brewery North, Tower Road and 38th. They are now waiting for the bar’s manager to approve the last Tuesday of May. Marty gave us coupons to pass out at the Guitar Show.
7. Event Spaces: Annette would like to try holding a meeting at the IHOP on Wadsworth & Alameda. Maybe we could hold a “Pancake Supper” there – make it a fund-raiser? They do have a private meeting room. Odde’s has a back room, good for speakers or acoustic only (“Speakeasy”), w/couches. Check to see if they want rent from non-profits.
8. Team up with another non-profit to hold a joint event: Johnnie suggested a couple of events that we might want to attend. Update: Youth on Record event
9. Pursue the exchange of website links: We might want to try this with our members – request that they reciprocate with a link. It’s not set up yet but we could add to new welcome email. They could add “Proud COMBO Member” to their site at no cost. We could also suggest that they add our logo as well. Discussion: Barb talked to James Paul at The Tank, a recording studio in Rangely. He will add the COMBO logo.
10. Pursue some discounts with entertainment attorneys for joining? Steven Erwin, Alex Rodriguez, David Ratner, and Steve Replin to name a few. To the best of her knowledge, these lawyers already do consultations at no charge.
11. Pursue offering our liquor licenses out? Tim Bovenzi of Local Sounds Online and Celebrity Sidekick Promotions is setting up a festival, possibly at May Farms in Bennett (site of the first Riot Fest which turned into an absolute mess). Barb let him know that we might be able to help his group out with a liquor license.
12. Connect up with new venues and new owners of old venues – do some partnerships? Annette will think some more on this. Maybe have a COMBO night? David: Went to Herman’s on 4/01/23. They’ve painted & taken down the neon bar signs. Had a national punk band headline. David did not think the marquee sign was working. They enlarged the stage to the front, but shortened the width. Took out the sound & merch booths. Sound guy was on a raised booth with a table.
13. Can we hold a different type of contest also (in addition to the songwriting contest?) Could hold an America’s Got Talent type event but we don’t have the manpower right now.
14. Other Fund-Raiser Ideas: Barb suggested a garage sale/swap meet. Gordon Close also had good sized back room but he moved so Barb will look into that. Benefit Concert: need someone who will draw. Hazel Miller, Ryan Chrys, etc. that will bring the crowds and sell out.Tamara’s idea: With pandemic over, new places are opening and maybe we can have booth at one of them to connect with COMBO.
G. New Business
1. New Board Members: Rob Tanaka & Tamera Duran proposed as new board members. Michael Hossler? Need more women and younger members. Tamera worked the guitar Show. Thank you very much, Tamera!
| 2. Donation to Davey Allard: $50 for health issues. Barb has not yet sent him a check. 3. Booth at CAM Event: Storm Gloor invited us to have a booth at the College of Arts & Media event on Friday, April 7th. Barb accepted and will run the booth. Mark King & Jamie said they would help. Times: 12:30 to 6:30. | ||
| As Storm wrote, CU Denver’s College Arts & Media (CAM) will be hosting an event–– CAM Music Fest–– on Friday, April 7, from 12:30–6:30pm at the Auraria Campus King Center in downtown Denver. The Fest will feature CAM students’ ensembles, bands, and singer/songwriters (about 20 performances total) on the various stages at the King Center. We are inviting COMBO to have presence during the afternoon of the CAM Music Fest. This is a great opportunity for COMBO to connect and share information about the organization with the audience of CU Denver Music & Industry Studies (MEIS) students and the student performers. For no cost, CAM will provide a table and chairs. Please bring any signage, swag, giveaways & marketing materials. Kindly, Alice Crogan | Alice.Crogan@ucdenver.edu |
4. Marty Jones Suggestion for a Fund-Raiser:
Here’s a link to the digital compilation of my beer songs, that I use for fund/awareness raising: https://martyjones.bandcamp.com/
I donate 100% of the sales bucks to a cause for a given month and promote the cause and the campaign. You would tout it to your email list and fans to build the fundraising success of it. (My fans already have this music.)
I’ll send you the Bandcamp report at the end of the month to confirm the dough.
Would this be helpful for COMBO? ~ Marty
5. Country Jam, Mack, Colorado: Barb has again been asked to provide 6 Colorado songwriters for the Songwriters Rounds at the Country Jam in Mack (Grand Junction), CO on June 22, 23, & 24. She has pretty much set the group but could use one more if anyone knows of a songwriter from the GJ area. There is no pay but passes, worth around $400 each, to the huge festival are provided.
6. Sunnyside Music Festival, Sept. 9th: Annette wants us to participate in this but Barb is concerned about the number of local musicians who might attend. She will also be gone on vacation Sept. 9th! So if someone else wants to commit to running it…
Starting as a backyard party (20 years ago) that had one keg, one band, and 15 dogs, the Sunnyside Music Fest has blossomed into a 5,000+ person music festival that raised $15,000 for local youth music programs in 2021.
This one-of-a-kind FREE event is a day of world-class Denver bands, artisans, craft beer, food, kids’ activities, and community. The event is located in Chaffee Park (44th & Tejon, Denver) and goes from 12:00 pm to 7:30 pm on September 9th, 2023.
There will be a large diversity of options for food, ice cream, and beverages.
Sunnyside Music Fest is put on by a board of fun-loving neighbors, volunteering their time. This inclusive, FREE event is sustained by generous donations from local sponsors and beer sales (so please don’t bring your own).
All are welcome! Can’t wait to see you there!
https://www.facebook.com/SunnysideMusicFestival – Sept. 9th
7. Jamie: Sent Shannon Bock a “thank you”.
H. Reports
1. Video of March 27th Meeting with Speaker Shannon Bock: Uploaded
2. Monday, March 27th Meeting: Shannon Bock on live music. Started on Street Teams and worked at Live Nation. Title for talk: Stories & Insights From the Live Concert Industry With Shannon Bock. Ms. Bock sent two photos. We used both. David made up a title graphic using one. Annette ran the chat and Jamie hosted the meeting. David had a previous commitment but made sure that the Zoom was set up and ready to go.
Attendees: Board Members: Barb, Jamie, Annette, Todd. Guest speaker Shannon Bock. Tamera Duran, Alex Downing, Travis Daudert, Dean McCall, Matt Ewton, Jeremy Dion, Rod Tanaka, Sheilah Lynch, Storm Gloor (Shannon’s old teacher!), Joe Seehusen, Anatoli “Anthony” Pechkov, Laurie Dameron, Willie Hammond, and no last names Hank, Robert, and “Intercambio 5”. Total 21.
3. Tickets to Elise Trouw Concert: Rod Tanaka and new COMBO supporter member Tamara Duran used the tickets donated by Mike Villia. Thank you, Mike, for your generosity!
4. Movie Night With Barb: Blood, Sweat & Tears documentary. Johnnie suggested “Spinning Gold” about the founder of Casablanca Records.
5. Book of the Month: None
6. Girls In Science: Channel 4 started running ads featuring “Sound Girls”. This is “stepping on toes” as Barb has asked for 5 years for the GIS program to let COMBO present a section on sound and music to encourage girls to get into the career of sound.
7. Sound Girls: Barb talked to Angie Dickenson-Mickle at the Guitar Show and she said they have not been able to find a place to meet, nor are they doing meetings via Zoom. Barb suggested they look at Odde’s and Pietra’s. She was not aware of Channel 4’s ads touting “sound women”.
8. Vintage Voltage Expo, Guitar Show, and Radio Collectors Club: Held on Sunday, March 26th at the Delta by Marriott Hotel & Convention Center on I-25 & 120th, Northglenn. Barb, Annette, Tamera Duran, and Mark King worked the booth. Clark Hagan attended with his daughter Ava. Dana Cain of VVE estimated that around 1,800 people attended the shows. We ran out of everything, including 50 catalogs from The Music Stand, we had to pass out so we’ll need to get more stuff! Jonny Barber also donated 3 t-shirts from the Colfax Museum but we’ll hold onto them for a future give-away. Annette talked to Brian Coates of the Aurora Music Go Round and they would like to do more with COMBO so Barb will set up a time & date to go over to talk to him. The show ran from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. but the attendance fizzled out around 3:30 so we started packing up the extra display items (like books & CDs). Dana did send out a survey asking if the show should end at 3:00 or 4:00. Barb suggested 3:30! We only had one person stop at the booth after 3:30. We got 34 people to sign up for the newsletter and Barb is entering those names now in the mailing list.
I. Next COMBO Event: Saturday, April 22: Songwriting Winners Showcase at Odde’s – 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
J. Next Board Meeting: 7:00 p.m., Sunday, May 7th.
K. Next Program Committee Meeting:
L. Adjourned at 8:42 p.m.
/s/ Barb Dye
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