Socialist Scholars Archive May 8, 1992
re: New Deal at BMCC (from R L Norman) At the meeting with BMCC, the following matters should be covered:
2. Theatres a. Big threatre b. Small theatre c. Alcove d. Gymnasium 3. Door registration 4. Security 5. Child care 6. Receptions a. Friday reception 6:00 p.m. b. Saturday reception ? time c. Sunday reception 6:00 p.m. 7. Tables sales 8. Program ads 9. Mailing list 1. The date of the 1993 conference must be set by the end of May. It should not fall on Passover and hopefully not Easter. 2. The big theatre (T1) should be available the entire time. I would prefer that the small theatre (T2) also be available, but if not, due to costs, then the alcove space should have better sound barriers and amplified sound at all times. We did not have sound there as we were promised by our representative. The gym is a very poor substitute for a theatre. It is difficult to get to, the sound is miserable and the stands are uncomfortable. The gym should be used ONLY if it can be set up with chairs AND if ushers and security people will be available to steer people to and from the gym. Security was particularly UNHELPFUL in this respect during the last conference. 3. & 4. If BMCC is to handle door registration, that would take a large burden off our meager staffing. It would also encourage them to get security straight on who comes and goes. Last conference, the security on Harrison Street simply let anyone in. Sue saw several people enter without paying and she tried to do something about it. We would still have to handle the pregistrants, press and recalcitrant panel speakers from unpaid for panels, but this would be far easier to handle than the entire registration. Door registration of 1000 people at an average of $ 20 per person would net the school about $ 20,000. In the unlikely event that we pulled more than 1000 persons at the door, we need to work out a PERCENTAGE split for all door attendees above a certain number- perhaps 1500. It is possible to draw a huge crowd one year. If in fact 2000 people paid at the door, that would be close to $ 40,000 gate receipts alone. If all you asked for was a flat $ 10,000 we would lose quite a bit of cash.
5. Child care was totally ad hoc this year. The specter of in injured child and our inablity to pay for the injury haunted me the entire conference, yet another abject failure in planning. Child care must be done from within the school and we have to see that memo. 6. The THREE receptions should be done by the cafeteria people, with the funding coming from within the cash flow of tables and the door registration. In addition, the main cafeteria should at least be open for breakfast, lunch and part of the afternoon. The details can be worked out later. 7. Table sales are potentially very lucrative. In addition to the current list, far more book publishers could be contacted either by going to a broker or simply by advertising in the Sunday New York Times or the New York Review of Books. Close to 125 tables can be set up in the main floor. We need 25 of those tables. The others should be sold by BMCC with the understanding that fifteen to twenty would be held open for political groups and be sold for less AND that we will pass on those tables. For 75 regular tables at $ 200 per table, $ 15,000 or at $ 250 per table, $ 18,750 or at $ 300 per table, $ 22,500 could be had by BMCC, ignoring what ever amounts they could obtain from the 25 political tables, at least another $ 2500 at a meager $ 100 per table. I fail to see how less than $ 15000 could be obtained from the tables, with only average effort. That we did not get even $ 8,000 this year is a serious problem. 8. We usually print a 32 page program. BMCC could have 4 to 6 pages, perhaps more, of ads. At a rate of $ 400 per page, they could pull another $ 1500 to $ 2500. We could sell a few ads our selves or simply ask for a cut of what they sell to help amortise the cost of printing the program. It would be difficult to have them print the program, given how late we pull the final draft together. It is unwise to count upon public sector employees to print the program with less than 10 days turn around time. The worst problem, besides an injured child would be to try to run the conference without a program to guide people to the sessions. 9. I want control over the mailing list. I believe that I can sell at least 20 copies at $ 200 per list for about $ 4000. This money I see as partial support for me. I have worked my god damn ass off for the past ten years for this conference. I've covered the bases when nobody else would. I've put my own money on the line when necessary and I've done every dirty nasty job there is. I'm tired of killing myself while other people walk away with the honor and the glory or simply sit on their fucking hands while I work myself sick. Naturally, I'll give copies of the list to any of our friends for the cost of printing or completely free if needed. Between this and a little grant money of $ 8000 to $ 12000 per year, I can afford to continue to work on the conference. My alternative is to drop everything beyond a couple of long memos and an occasional hello. I have some family commitments to keep down in Georgia. I intend to buy back some of my old family land back before my father dies. I will not continue to work on this conference unless I have a decent level of support. I don't expect to get rich off the conference, but I won't support it instead of rebuilding my private consulting and remain broke for the next five years. These notes should give you a working draft when you speak to the school. If I'm not there, good luck. Whatever you decide with regard to my future participation, I feel pretty good about the conference. If this was my last year, I'll leave with enough good feelings, knowing that I helped revive the democratic left when it wasn't the popular thing to do, knowing that I helped build the stage where Harrington spoke for several years. [ Again, I was not helping Micheal Harrington’s views of a better system for America, but helping perpetuate a failed Titoist model]
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