Final Glamstand decision coming
A decision on the future of Glamstand is expected to be announced in the coming days, following a final meeting between New Mardi Gras and the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation.
BGF CEO Bev Lange put forward a final proposal to maintain control of the Glamstand seated section at the Mardi Gras parade at a meeting with NMG chairman David Imrie late yesterday.
The outcome that NMG proposed was unacceptable to BGF, a spokesman for the organisation said.
Clear funding alternatives were not proposed so BGF requested a meeting with NMG to discuss other options which BGF hopes will see the Glamstand continue with revenue preserved for PLWHA in NSW.
The revenue from the 2009 Glamstand has been assumed within this financial year’s operational budget so without this revenue BGF will have to limit its programs, and direct assistance to people living with HIV in NSW will be put at risk.
Imrie told Sydney Star Observer all of BGF’s concerns would be considered before a final decision was made.
Bev put it to me that they think they can come up with something commercially viable for both BGF and NMG and I’m open to seeing what their proposal is, he said.
We have not shut the door on them so I’ve been surprised by the attitude of -˜us versus them’ taken by people. People perceive that there is some sort of battle going on between my organisation and BGF, and I don’t think there is.
But while the door may not be shut, BGF this week issued a highly critical statement of NMG’s handling of the situation.
BGF has been working on the 2009 event with our producer since May of this year, which NMG was aware of, the statement read.
NMG informed BGF of its intention to cancel the licence at 4pm Friday, October 17. No prior warning of this decision was given to BGF and no consultation had occurred prior to this meeting.
Faye – if all you want to do is trade insults, go for your life. It’s not something I’ll respond to.
All I will say is that, speaking on my own behalf, your post is wilfully misleading and distorts only one side of the story.
And no. I do not intend to wash ‘dirty laundary’ in public either.
Faye, finally someone who hit the nail on the head. So much talk about crap has gone on. NMG as the GLBTI community’s Knight in shining armour? please. first the Gaydar Mardi Gras, now the Manhunt Glamstand. Gives you goosebumps and that feel-good feeling doesnt it! how embarrassing for NMG.
Ohh Marcus, you have soo expired…so please move on.
And Ghost is correct in saying that NMG (Anne, Marcus and David specifically) have been eyeing off Glamstand for years; simply as a revenue provider of their own (to sell off for corporate sponsorships of course). Every year they’ve tried it to make it that little bit harder for BGF. Ignoring emails until last moment, hiking up the licensing fees every year (last year to almost triple the original licensing fees), and trying to coax BGF into giving NMG a part of the Glamstand area (whilst BGF would’ve had to pay for the contstruction of that said area).
Quite pathetic to see the above named people handing over checks to community organisations after last Mardi Gras, whilst that money was raised by the ludicrous licensing fees charged to BGF.
“eyeing off the Glamstand for years, after failing to do it themselves when the original plan was pitched to them”
You just make this stuff up don’t you?
Obviously, the current events are the culmination of 14 years worth of skull duggery at mardi gras. Wasn’t Bev the president of Mardi Gras when it was first licensed to BGF? Now that would be Machiavellian. Bev gives the stands to BGF but sets in train a 14 year plan to get it back off them while she’s the CEO of BGF. Yes, it all makes perfect sense now.
I think the fact that NMG has been eyeing off the Glamstand for years after failing to do it themselves when the original plan was pitched to them. Shame once again on greedy NMG.
The risk of putting glamstand up for tender is a creeping loss of control of the whole event. Corporate sponsorship is not a bad thing, but corporate sponsors exercise influence over how their “product” looks.
Many might be tempted to manipulate who comprises the glamstand crowd in order to enhance those product placement opportunities. Sadly, selective invitations and exclusive events & zones within them are an increasing part of the NMG and the gay social experience.
Any tender means a price hike. We gays love to hand over cash for crap. Especially the same old crap!
I live with HIV, like 8,000 other people in NSW (and growing). I enjoy Mardi Gras.
I work, work-out and I’m well, but I don’t have the stamina to stand for 4-8 hours for anything, let alone a street parade.
Hence, I choose the party over the parade. The thing I enjoy about the party is having the freedom to wander about after a little bop, find somewhere to sit even if its just the ground outside, relax & chat to the friendly folk.
Niche parties just don’t offer the same simple pleasure or amenity.
Mardi Gras is a collective social experience and dare I suggest, the only one for us poofies. For that reason it should be valued.
NMG needs to be mindful that its for luscious lezzies & gay people that it exists, not the beasties from the ‘burbs. Nor creating revenue for NSW.