Pavilion Night Life?

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Over the years, I have watched how things don’t change much at the Pavilion.

While they do try new things here and there, they really struggle with providing real adult entertainment. I know in the past when they have tried adult themed events they have gone over very well.

In no way am I telling the Pavilion what to do, and I certainly have not contacted them about any of my ideas. But with downtown Sioux Falls becoming more hopping and popular with younger people I think it is time the Pavilion tap into that energy.

My ideas are simple, gear Friday and Saturday night programs towards young adults 18-35.

You could set-up Leonardos as a lounge that also serves appetizers and you could put on laser light shows in the Cinedome. You could also do tours through the art galleries. There is also a ton of other combinations of different events you could try. Small local band performances in the Belbas or Schulte theaters, comedy acts or even indy films.

I know the Pavilion has tried some of these things on a ‘One-Tier’ level, but never a combination of events. I know Larry Toll has asked me to contact him, maybe I just will.

The Washington Pavilion’s Visual Arts Center needs to feature artists that are not former board members for once

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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKnMbrAcPsI&ob=av2n[/youtube]

If Paul Schiller and Groth want to have a show about weather, I suggest they tough it out like the rest of us artists and put it up in some coffeehouse;

Just in time for summer vacation, there’s a new exhibit at the Washington Pavilion. “Beauty In The Beast” features pieces from South Dakota artists highlighting the weather.  Along with Paul Schiller, four other local artists lend their talents to the collection.

“Mary Groth, Nancyjane [Huehl] and Dale Lamphere are probably some of South Dakota’s best when it comes to art, and it’s a real honor to be able to work with them,” Schiller said.

Do I think an exhibit like this is cool, meh, but what bugs me the most is that it seems since Schiller and Groth used to sit on the board of directors they can feature their artwork in the building as many times as they want to.

It’s getting old. Go buy your own museum already.

 

UPDATED: Is CEO Larry Toll, proving to be the BEST financial leader of the Pavilion?

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I’m starting to think the one thing the Pavilion has been missing is a little business acumen. Gawd, never thought I would agree with Mayor Huether.

The Pavilion came out $492,422 ahead in 2o11.

If you substract the city subsidy, they are still $875,735 in the hole. This has been a sticking point with the Pavilion. My feelings on the subsidy? I think it will have to continue, but the Pavilion and the city needs to figure out a way to ween themselves eventually, especially with the opening of the Events Center. I will agree with the Pavilion on one issue, the entertainment tax funds the Pavilion, which makes sense. Citizens are not being taxed extra in retail taxes or property taxes to fund the Pavilion. Basically if you are paying for entertainment in SF (eating out) you are subsidizing the Pavilion. This isn’t a bad thing. Something that is not shown in this financial report: (washpav-2012) Is the fact that the city owns the building, so any repairs or upgrades must come out of the capital improvement funds, (UPDATED: according to Toll at the informational meeting today (Item C) any capital improvements comes out of the entertainment tax) this fund of course comes from regular retail taxes. The ultimate goal of the Pavilion shouldn’t be eliminating the entertainment tax subsidy, but it should be making them pay for their own upgrades out of that subsidy, the Washington Pavilion Management Co. essentially leases the building, if they want new windows, etc., they should HELP pay for them.

But that is an argument for another day.

I will say I have been impressed with Toll’s leadership and his effort to try to get a handle on the financials of the Pavilion. It is a beautiful facility and an asset to this city (A big F’ing a$$et). If I ever have had one complaint about the Pavilion (well I have several) is that I wish it was more inviting to everyone. Art means different things to different people. To some it is a quiet sonata, to others it is a bouncing mezzanine. You need both to succeed, and once the Pavilionites figure this out, they will always be in the black.

And now a little video of one of my favorite performers at the Pavilion;

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3__WmcmY1o&feature=fvst[/youtube]

Support the Pavilion?

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I got another donation letter in the mail the other day. I was a bit surprised, it was from the Pavilion. Thought I was off of their mailing list, a long time ago. I didn’t get around to opening it until this morning, and I found this note at the bottom from Larry Toll;

Before you all freak out, I have posted in the past that I think the Pavilion putting on a drag show was a good thing, it opens our minds to different forms of art. Shortly after the drag show occurred, I approached Mr. Toll at a local watering hole one day and thanked him for putting on the event.

I was in the other day and enjoyed the FREE visual arts center. Sorry Larry though, it’s going to take a lot more then a good drag show for me to donate to the Pavilion. Been there – done that.

The Pavilllllllllllllllllion wants to forgo infrastructure upgrades next year to bring in a science exhibit

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Not sure what to think about this? As you can see at the beginning of the SF city council informational meeting, Director Larry Toll makes a presentation about bringing in a traveling science exhibit, but in order to do it, he must transfer funds from a planned infrastructure project. While I think traveling exhibits at the Pavilion are a good thing, I question this move.

It is no secret that the Kirby Science Center has not been as popular as expected, BUT, I will say this, if they would change their hours to nights (when families are spending time together and parking is free DT), they would get more people in the facility. I still don’t understand the resistance?

If I was the city council, I would approve the transfer of funds on those conditions.