Any funds that Proctors NEEDS in order to continue in its esteemed role as the Jewel of Downtown -- then Proctors should GET.. DESPITE what the nattering nitwits and nayboobs demand. So GFY.
TROLOLOLOLOLOL
"Approval ratings go up and down for various reasons... An example is the high post 911 support for GWB even though he could be said to be responsible for the event." --- Box A Rox '9/11 Truther'
Melania is a bimbo... she is there to look at, not to listen to. --- Box A Rox and his 'War on Women'
Let me first qualify the following statement: I don't follow Proctors' financing, business practices, Metrograft money, or any of that stuff.
I am an audio technician by trade, having attended NYU, some classes at MIT, The Institute of Audio Research, and numerous seminars throughout the years to stay current on the technology. I've mixed Cats, and Les Miserables both on Broadway, on the touring productions. I was an instructor in live reinforcement, at IAR, and spent the better part of the last 30 years touring with various musical acts that you've actually heard of, and tending many local venues. I was the chief audio engineer at Proctors back in the 80s.
That said, (again I'm not defending them, but lets get the facts right) PROCTORS WAS NOT AT FAULT. Touring acts carry their own show gear, as it is very large, expensive and task specific. The only thing that Proctors supplies on a show like that are the speakers, and the accompanying amplifiers, and processing gear, as it is specifically tailored for the acoustics in that room. NONE of it is, or even can be, computerised.
A live musical generally runs about 60 inputs of mics, instruments, special FX into their console, and each movement of the operator is in consort with the production. As of late, production companies have been using semi-automated, computerised consoles in order to keep up with increasing production demands, and the dizzying amount of cues that are in the show, many of which would require an octopus to pull off.
I've never been a big fan of console automation, and prefer to work hot, not requiring a machine to tell me what to do next. Apparently the S.D.s of Jersey Boys does not feel the same way, and his little computer thingy bit him in the a**.
Fact is, they probably had some studio schmuck out there who couldn't convert the world back into analog if his life depended on it.
Anyway, to blame Proctors is to demonstrate a gross in-familiarity of the situation. It reminds me of hearing people complain about how the sound system at The Palace, or The TU Center was horrible, when in fact neither one of those venues has ever even had a sound system except for the one they use for hockey games or graduations. Even then, I'm pretty sure they contract out, because ALL of the bands bring their own.
Wow, I can't even fathom having a show go down completely. There should ALWAYS be another way of doing things, even to the point of quadruple redundancy. If I ever (shudder) told an act they weren't going on because I couldn't find a solution, I would have been fired (rightfully so, as far as I'm concerned) so fast there would have been flames coming out of my a$$ as they made me WALK home from East Hell North Dakota.
While I think Proctors is a leach on our city - and will be until they start paying taxes and are not supported by further grants and loans from the taxpayers...
I agree with Tommy - just from the perspective that whoever's equipment it was - they did have a backup. The backup then failed too. You generally don't plan for two backups - even in critical service equipment. You plan for one backup, and when primary fails, you put in the backup, and do maintenance on the primary.
In this case whoever owns that equipment did not have a chance to repair the primary equipment.
It's rare - but this stuff does occasionally happen.
Wow, I can't even fathom having a show go down completely. There should ALWAYS be another way of doing things, even to the point of quadruple redundancy. If I ever (shudder) told an act they weren't going on because I couldn't find a solution, I would have been fired (rightfully so, as far as I'm concerned) so fast there would have been flames coming out of my a$$ as they made me WALK home from East Hell North Dakota.
Thank you Tommy for the info!
That said, and I am not in the Broadway business, the shows that Proctors 'host' are not the cream of the crop. They are the off-off-off Broadway productions and in my opinion..you get what you pay for.
Unfortunately, the ticket prices at Proctors are equal to that of an actually Broadway show where there is little likelihood of a sound failure.
Proctor's is an INTERNATIONALLY recognized performing arts venue. Other communities would die to have such a beautifully restored gem of a theater with its wonderful stage large enough to perform Broadway plays. The only people who don't appreciate that - are not worth wasting any energy arguing with.
Keep up the great work - Mr. Morris and long live Proctor's Schenectady. You are the heart and soul of the RENAISSANCE CITY-COUNTY.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
A nonprofit that refuses to repay the taxpayers ONE CENT. Gets violent when a anyone suggests paying Stratton's Fair Share PILOT. A job free, revenue neutral renaissance. And yes it could happen anywhere but I doubt other theatre managers would be popping champagne. Talk about an evil 1%. Pulls in over $200,000 a year while losing money but forces volunteers to pay a fee. A real tin ear for audience demands as well as the cries of City property owners.
I hope they served some caviar with that champagne --- Mr. Morris and Proctor's deserve the very best,
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
If a theater is a community gem, it should not depend upon the taxpayers for its survival.
Other areas would NEVER have taken a Proctors under their wing ..and why...because placing ALL YOUR MONEY in one venture is never a good business move. Saratoga has the track, but their retail/schools/parks have just as much attraction during the off season.
Schenectady cannot simply depend on Proctors for bringing people, businesses, families to this area. It takes more than one entitiy to grow a City.
In my opinion, for a theater which has $18 million in profit - they should pay back at least the $9 million grant or the millions spent on 440 State which they sold to Transfinders. THAT'S helping the community!!!
I could see that giving Proctors some tax breaks when they first opened to offset expenses for the first 5 years was a good idea. Proctors has become a black hole now and the funds it needs every year to stay open are growing ever larger as they expand operations into areas that should never have been allowed. The salary of the CEO is too high and now it's time to cut Proctors loose from the jugular vein of the taxpayer and force Proctors to start paying the taxpayer back in the form of property/ school and interest on the money loaned. Metroplex was formed to bring businesses into the city/county to create jobs and lower the tax rate and this is not going to get the job done when all that are created are non profits and tax exempt businesses that benefit only the developers.
Most of Proctor's funding comes from revenues generated from ticket sales and private donations -- and there is absolutely no truth to the claim made that they generate "$18 million" in profit. First of all, they are a non-profit so anything they take in over and above expenses would be added to their fund balance -- it would not be distributed as a profit to owners/shareholders --- as Proctor's is NOT a for-profit company. Second, the theater needs to maintain a fund balance to ensure its future and be able to maintain ensure that they can maintain the facility for years to come.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
Most of Proctor's funding comes from revenues generated from ticket sales and private donations -- and there is absolutely no truth to the claim made that they generate "$18 million" in profit. First of all, they are a non-profit so anything they take in over and above expenses would be added to their fund balance -- it would not be distributed as a profit to owners/shareholders --- as Proctor's is NOT a for-profit company. Second, the theater needs to maintain a fund balance to ensure its future and be able to maintain ensure that they can maintain the facility for years to come.
Hey, WHERE is your intelligence???? Proctors is a non-profit on paper but CLEARLY does NOT do ANYTHING that a non-for profit does. Preoctors CLEARLY operates like any Broadway theater in NYC. Lavish expensive shows, and NO SERVICES TO THE POOR !!!!!!!!!!!!\
Proctors collects lavish rents, has the most expensive decor that money can buy, taxes properties OFF the tax rolls - look ta that Key Hall banquet house catering to the rich and politiclally connected - that IS ABSOLLUTELY POSTIVELY NOT a non-profit. When has the lavish banquet hall put on a dinner for the poor in the city?
The Lion King is a Disney show, tell us, when the Lion King was here, what show dates did Proctors have it free for the poor children of the city?
Explain HOW Morris gets off with such a lavish salary compared to the non-profits that serve the poor???????
The ONLY reason it's an NFP is becuase of the political connections and so they can tax the hell out of the homeonwers in the city to foot the bill for Proctors
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
Proctor's should be investigated by the IRS for abuse of its nonprofit status. Educational? WTF? Anyone stunad enough to pay to work for free deserves Mr. Morris. Meanwhile the taxpayers keep getting shafted as Proctor's takes more and more State St businesses permanently off the City tax rolls.
Great job Rachel in yet another scoop and another instance of read it here today-read it in the lame stream media later. Keep posting Rachel, BT and MC1 you seem to be the only others breaking real scandals.
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A nonprofit that refuses to repay the taxpayers ONE CENT. Gets violent when a anyone suggests paying Stratton's Fair Share PILOT. A job free, revenue neutral renaissance. And yes it could happen anywhere but I doubt other theatre managers would be popping champagne. Talk about an evil 1%. Pulls in over $200,000 a year while losing money but forces volunteers to pay a fee. A real tin ear for audience demands as well as the cries of City property owners. 
