Glamstand under review
One of the Mardi Gras parade’s best-known features, the BGF Glamstand, is under review.
New Mardi Gras chair David Imrie confirmed yesterday the widely circulating rumour that the organisation is considering taking back control of the raised seating area at the end of the parade, currently operated by the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation.
New Mardi Gras is exploring the various possibilities for a change in the commercial operation of the reserved seating area on Flinders St for next year’s parade, Imrie told Sydney Star Observer.
It’s not commercially viable for NMG to continue to license the raised seating to any external organisations and we’re looking at other potential fundraising partnerships between NMG and BGF.
BGF CEO Bev Lange, herself a former Mardi Gras chair, declined to comment on the possible change.
Glamstand is BGF’s single biggest fundraiser which, according to its 2006-07 annual report, raised almost $90,000 for the organisation last year. The same report shows BGF to have more than $5.5 million in assets. It has been operating the stand for 14 years.
Positive Life president Jason Appleby said he was concerned about the wider implications of taking $90,000 out of the HIV sector.
Withdrawing support for the BGF Glamstand, one of the most successful fundraising ventures available to BGF, will no doubt have negative implications for some of the most vulnerable people in our community, Appleby said.
The unfortunate reality for people living on pensions and low incomes, particularly given the economic crisis, is that many people with HIV are struggling to make ends meet. Mardi Gras has a long history of supporting people with HIV, one which we hope continues into the future.
Imrie reiterated that New Mardi Gras was not withdrawing its support for BGF and was keen to look for other mutual fundraising options with the organisation.
He said New Mardi Gras was repositioning itself to ensure its long-term viability so it could continue to support BGF and other community organisations in the future.
This is part of a broad business plan to ensure the ongoing sustainability of the organisation, Imrie said.
We would like to think the public won’t react badly to the change in our business relationship with BGF. We hope they can see that the best thing we can do for ourselves, our members, and the broader GLBTQ community is refine our business model so we are there forever more to support BGF and all the other organisations we support financially.
NMG has put in place a community organisations funding scheme system this year. Rather than Mardi Gras giving away its income, we’re refining the business model so we are donating profit rather than income.
SSO understands NMG and BGF will meet next week to discuss further fundraising ventures between the two operations.
Never mind Ollie, at least you tried.
Shayne, Your posts are too long and I cant be bothered reading after the 1st line. They never make any sense.
wtf?
Total male population Surry Hills – 8,942.
Total male population Darlinghurst – 5,932
16,000 attend Mardi Gras party.
16,000 people living with HIV in Australia.
8,000 in NSW.
Could this mean half the people at any Mardi Gras party are HIV positive?
Puts the issue in perspective.
Finally some sensible and balanced commentary, thanks GDH.
It is a shame that there is so much finger-pointing in so many of the other comments. It is almost as if BGF and NMG are at war. I spoke to David Imrie on Monday and he certainly did not feel that there is a war going on but rather just a series of meetings to create an outcome that works well for both BGF and NMG. He seemed very supportive of BGF. And he also mentioned that he would be failing in his duties if he didn’t continually assess the commercial relationships with all stakeholders.
BGF and NMG have a long history of working together to benefit the GLBTI community and it looks like they will have a long future too thanks to the sensible approach of both Bev Lange and David Imrie.
Glamstand wouldn’t happen without the NMG parade and the parade belongs to NMG. It seems like standard commercial reality to me that NMG should have the right to assert an interest in all profit-making activities generated by the parade.
It’s over to BGF and NMG to work out a solution based on that understanding and I’m sure that, with goodwill on both sides, they will. Lots of community-based organisations use the Mardi Gras season for fundraising purposes and they need to move and adapt with the times as much as NMG has done – and is doing. Nothing is fixed in stone.
Two Glamstands? Would it work? The inescapable fact is that viewing the Parade is free to anyone who wants to view it. Glamstand is a premium seating arrangement. It means that Glamstand punters pay when the vast majority of parade spectators don’t.
Ensuring that the Glamstand punters get consequent value for money is (as BGF knows) an incredibly time and cost-intensive activity and I doubt that there’s a premium market out there capable of filling multiple stands. When it pisses down with rain,all the bedraggled drag queens in the world won’t make you feel any better about being out of pocket compared to the vast majority of viewers who didn’t pay a cent for the privilege of getting wet.
BGF is far from being on the bones of its bum and that’s a good thing. BGF doesn’t need Glamstand to ensure continued viability because – sensibly – BGF long ago recognised that reliance on events-based fund-raising will never provide the sort of sustained financial viability that organisations like BGF require and it has adjusted accordingly. Good on BGF.
As an historical digression, I think Joseph is wrong when he – referring to BGF’s decision not to financially support the birth of NMG – says that, “the legislation governing charities is, understandably, quite rigid. In short, if you make a donation to a charity, you can rightfully expect that the donation is used for the purpose for which it was given.”
ACON provided a 50K loan from reserves (not a donation) to NMG – which was subsequently repaid. It would have been well within the fiduciary ambit of the directors of BGF to have done the same. But the fact that they chose not to (for whatever reason) is ancient history and we should all move on.
Bev Lange, as the CEO of BGF, has presided over a remarkable revitalisation of the organisation. As President of Mardi Gras she presided over 1998’s “20 Years of Mardi Gras” – my personal highpoint of Mardi Gras’ post 78 history. I have enormous respect for her and for Marcus Bourget who has lead an equally remarkable turnaround of NMG. I don’t know David Imrie but I wish him well.
Ultimately, it seems to me that the things that unite BGF and NMG weigh much more heavily than those that don’t. so…use that energy and come up with a solution that doesn’t involve endless comments thread recrimination. It will be a refreshing change :)
To quote Joseph:
“NMG gain a benefit from BGF running Glamstand. And BGF takes a commercial risk in running the reserved seating area. Through prudent management, BGF makes a profit on Glamstand. That profit enables us to support our clients.’
Other than a fee which is far removed from commercial reality, what else does NMG gain by BGF being on the parade route, delaying the start of the parade (as the stages on the road havwe for the last two years), and leaving NMG open to prosecution and additional charges every year from the governement, when you’re not packed up and off the road by the required 2.30am as set down by the RTA, City of Sydney, Police and Premiers Department. If NMG can comply with their requiremenst why can’t BGF?
And is non compliance with the reuqirements of authorities really “prudent management” ??
Hi all, Joseph Herschel from BGF here.
Matt, I’m sorry that your call to BGF was not answered to your satisfaction. Matt, if you (or anyone else for that matter) would like a copy of the 2006/07 BGF Annual Report, please give me call, or drop in to see us. We don’t bite! I can be contacted on 9287 1121.
Like most community organisations, we’re constrained by resources, and our 2006/07 Annual Report is not downloadable on our website. Our website was redesigned a few years ago – and the Annual Reports have, unfortunately, not been uploaded. It’s on the list of ‘to do’ things.
I really hope that you’ll understand that our clients’ needs come first.
The 2007/08 Report cannot be posted on our website until our Members approve the Report, to be tabled at our AGM later in the year. Again, it’s on the ‘to do’ list.
Matt, I believe your post above on Points 2 & 3 are quite erroneous. And I feel the need to comment on Point 6.
Looking at Point 2:
NMG & BGF negotiate an agreed licencing fee for reserved seating along the parade route. Please note that it is an agreed fee.
NMG gain a benefit from BGF running Glamstand. And BGF takes a commercial risk in running the reserved seating area. Through prudent management, BGF makes a profit on Glamstand. That profit enables us to support our clients.
Looking at Point 3:
Others have said it above, but I will also state it, BGF did not turn its back on NMG. The Constitution of BGF did not and does not permit BGF to help other organisations where their main activity does not relate to helping people living with HIV in NSW.
Furthermore, BGF is a registered charity. The legislation governing charities is, understandably, quite rigid. In short, if you make a donation to a charity, you can rightfully expect that the donation is used for the purpose for which it was given – not some other purpose.
Matt, I’m sure that you’ll understand that the Directors of BGF have a legal and moral responsibility for ensuring that they operate witihn the regulations that govern us – and create an environment where BGF’s very kind and generous supporters are able to make tax-deductible gifts in confidence that we will act in accordance with their wishes.
An example of where BGF helped a faltering community organisation is The Luncheon Club. Together, BGF and ACON continue to support clients attending TLC, many of whom are living with HIV.
Looking at Point 6:
BGF started nearly 25 years ago with no money, when a group of friends came together to support people dying of AIDS. At that time, public hospitals turned away people who had AIDS. Thank heavens times have changed – most public hospitals now provide sexual health centres.
BGF, along with other community organisations, applies for Government Grants to help positive people lead more fulfilling lives. This is a competitive process. Many of our clients have complex needs and our specialist staff provide practical emotional & financial support to our clients when they need it most. But Govemrnemt funding does not cover the costs of all that we do to help our clients. That’s why we fundraise.
Many of our supporters have stood by BGF and helped us out, in good times and in bad, that’s what friends do. BGF also strives to build long-term relations with it’s supporters – be they government, trusts & foundations, corporations, or people that care about the people we help and how we go about it.
It is through these long-term respectful relationships that we can achieve so much more for our clients.
Matt, if you do have any more questions, please feel free to call me.
Unfortunately, this has the appearance of being a cash grab on the part of New Mardi Gras. Whether it actually is or not, remains to be seen.
When you look at the financial contributions that Mardi Gras has made to community organisations, it is a small sliver of their overall operating budget. With the windfall of last year, they were able to give more money back but this has not always been the case.
Strong financial management has never been Mardi Gras or New Mardi Gras strong suit. To run a business, you need the ability to look at cash flows, forecasts, profit and loss, income and plan effectively for current and future financial needs. As a community organisation, New Mardi Gras does not have the depth of experience in financial management, especially within the framework of a community organisation.
I give credit to BGF for building a strong financial base for their work, both now and in the future. I give money to them because they are a good steward of the donations they receive.
As for NMG itself, the organisation seems to be confused as to the focus and purpose of Mardi Gras.
Is Mardi Gras going to be a fund-raising organisation, able to give a substantial amount of money back to community organisations? Probably not– their structure, their budgeting processes, their overall attitude towards money means they are going to pour it back into a bigger, better parade, a fabulous party and first-class entertainment.
Is that what the original protest march has morphed into over the years? The relevance of Mardi Gras is constantly in question, and unlike Madonna, it has been unable to reinvent itself for a new day and age.
If Mardi Gras wants to make a serious commitment to the community, make a political statement and stay relevant, they need to take a look at organisations in other communities.
Organisations like Barnardos, Diabetes Australia and the countless other community groups that raise money for worthy causes and ACTIVELY PROMOTE a political and social agenda on a national scale.
There is nobody saying they can’t put on a parade, party, or festival. But make it about SAYING SOMETHING, and focus on making a profit, to support the community and advance our own agenda for equal rights, marriage rights and the rest.
and the lies and half-truths are flying thick and fast on this wall aren’t they! so here’s some truths:
1. nmg didn’t steal harbour party, the previous operator ran it so badly and had such a bad relationship with the police that they shut it down. the city then called for tenders and nmg won.
2. bgf has paid nmg a minimal fee each year to had the rights to run glamstand and make a fortune doing it.
3. bgf turned its back on mardi gras in 2002 and didn’t lift a finger to help nmg get started and re-start mardi gras. so it’s a bit rich that bgf should have any expectation for any support at all from nmg.
4. nmg has offered to work out new ways to support bgf.
5. glamstand is not bgf’s major fundraiser – last year they made over $100,000 at a fundraiser at malcolm turnbull’s house.
6. bgf receives donations of hundreds of thousands of dollars every year, as well as government funds.
7. i called bgf today and asked for a copy of this year’s annual report. they said “it’s not ready yet”. so i asked what their current assets value is and they refused to answer. a reasonable assumption is that it is more than the $5.5 million declared in their annual report from a year ago.
8. any individual who talks of boycotting mardi gras or cancelling their nmg membership is turning their back on the institution that has done more for the gay & lesbian population of australia than any other in the last 30 years.
9. nmg’s constitution is published on their web site. it makes interesting reading – no where does it suggest it should be providing business opportunities to charities.
i’ve been volunteering for nmg for three years. i’m so sick of hearing so many people whinge and bitch about everything they do. funny thing is, those that complain never roll their own sleaves up and get in and help. so get your facts right, and start showing some respect.
thats the sound of all of us clapping Shayne!!!!!(except for poor old Oliver over in dreary ole Kirribilli rearranging the lavender bags in his undies draw )
Oh, Oliver; LOL. You’re always such a grumpy old man.
Are you not aware that all around the world, there are glbqti that are less fortunate than us who are persecuted daily. Don’t you think it’s worth marching/dancing for them? Isn’t that a show of solidarity we should be making? The theme for 2009 is United Nations.
Perhaps you don’t think so, but I’m sure you’ve heard of the huge and ferocious backlash to the suggestion that NSW govt. was going to sponsor NMG. I think that will get worse, as we all move toward a recession and people lose their jobs or their homes, they’ll be looking for scapegoats, just as they German people did of the Jews, gays, gypsies etc., in those times of economic hardship late thirties. Wouldn’t you like to stand shoulder to shoulder with your fellow glbqti this year to declare that we do, indeed have the right to what we are?
Perhaps not. But maybe you can understand the importance for the AIDS message that is carried along with the parade; not just that we need to practice safe sex, but that HIV/AIDS has associations with many other very deadly pathologies. I think that’s worth knowing, don’t you?
Maybe you might like to consider the $30 million that NMG brings to town. I would imagine that the tourist industry would say that it’s still very relevant, since events NSW are prepared to sponsor it. That’s not a charity, it’s an investment.
Or maybe you can just key in to the parade as a unique forum for major businesses to declare their acceptance and the rights they grant their workers, for the various church groups to show their support, for schoolkids to march in proud support, and parents too, and for queer youth struggling with coming out, for the world to see that we are more than the clowns and victims portrayed in the media; we are lifesavers and footballers, firemen and police, Olympic champions and recovering addicts, parents and politicians and…well, anything we want to be. Mardi Gras gives an opportunity for us all to get out and openly present our points of view to the public and creates the opportunity for some very positive things to occur.
Or finally, maybe you could just appreciate the pure theatre; the piss takes and the glorification of popular culture amid the spectacle of the subcultural lifestyle. Whatever, it beats sitting at home alone with a bottle of brown muscat.
You always talk as if we’ve reached the end of gay history, Oliver. It’s just beginning.
After reading all that I have to say, “Who Cares” Fighting for some “AGE OLD” Parade which barely holds any relevance today!
Someone had to make the bad pun but.. heck of a lot of grandstanding going on ;)
A primary obligation of the NMG Board is to act in the lawful interests of the company as a whole consistent with its Objects/Constitution/Article of Association. If that means insourcing services and revenue streams strongly associated with its branding and events (that were previously operated by third parties) then so be it.
Glamstands… why not have more of ’em (as others suggested)? Reducing the number of dodgy risky milk crate towers, giving more options for mobility-compromised people, and making the Parade a more accessible & comfortable experience for more people overall would surely be improvements?
Crikey, what a lot of old whingers. Last year’s parade had 10,000 participants and about 180 floats, everything from commercial venues, community groups, to political orgs, religious groups, all the GLBQTI orgs., various different professions, and representations from all around the world… and so on. How much more POLITICAL would you like it to be?
And who said the NMG won’t be securing an allocation of the grandstand seating for the HIV disadvantaged anyway?
And I think it’s quite clear that BGF is not a charity in dire straits, while NMG always seems to be teetering on the precipice.
Doug Levin, I prefer “childlike”, my name is Shayne and stop taking so many of the blue pills.
I totally agree with Mike Smith! Mardi Gras used to be about GLBTI rights. It was a broad social movement putting pressure on government to erase discrimination and to show the country that we are people too.
Now, all NMG seem to care about is what theme they should give to the next Sleaze and which second rate celeb or DJ should be there.
And the way some of these posts sound, it seems the charities and rights lobbies that are actually DOING what Mardi Gras was originally set up to do, should be satisfied with the scraps left over from any profits NMG make from meaningless parties that do NOTHING for the GLBTI community except fuel perceptions we are irresponsible, drug-fuelled party animals.
The GLBTI community deserve more from NMG. They should leave Glamstand to BGF and come up with their OWN ideas of diversifying their fundraising activities by being more RELEVANT to our community!
Great work David and Board of NMG for making what I’m sure was a very tough decision.
With the massive cost associated in running the parade, you would be crazy, let alone financially irresponsible to not look at ways of trying to cover those costs as any good and successful business would.
I’m sure NMG are happy to discuss, after festival once any profits are released ways of assisting BGF and any other organisations that may be in need, this is smart financial management and I for one feel more and more confident in maintaining my MG membership with an organisation that is ultimately a members organisation taking decision that will hopefully alow MG to be around for another 30 years.
And what was with the post about MG stealing AZURE, i was under the impression that anyone is able to put in the tender to run the party through the botanic trust and MG just happened to be the winning bid.
Once again great work guys, I’m looking forward to what you come up with for Mardi Gras 09 – Nations United
chris, having two glamstands is a god idea, and the sort of thing that NMG should be considering instead of just appropriating the one BGF have so successfully been hosting.
Sean, as far as my assumptions go, if NMG are doing such a great job at coming up with other avenues for revenue, they wouldnt need to nick Glamstand. And to be honest, whatever the type of support it gets from Events NSW, NMG are in a better position than they have been in a while.
As for your childish “Iceland” comment goes, surely it is NMG who could have been exposed the way the are acting over Glamstand. (By the way, Iceland have just received a $2.1 billion IMF rescue package)
I hope NMG find new and innovative forms of fundraising, something they haven’t explored in years, and frankly leaves them light years behind other N.G.O.s and charities that have robust fundraising programs.
The bigger issue is that NMG is out of touch and irrelevant. The GLBTQI community now supports the GL Rights Lobby or Get Up! to provide our political voice because NMG simply does not.
Perhaps NMG should consider becoming a political organisation, and appoint a fundraising manager who understands the industry, otherwise it is indeed doomed.
if new mardi gras markets/advertises the glamstands like they do the parties, then its doomed. at least bgf in the past has used outlets that work and sell out the venue… good on bgf for using non tradiotional appraoches that work, and lets see if mardi gras can pick up its heels as far as proactive marketing and promotion o the festival and now potentially the reserved seating is concerned!
remember – glamstand was initially designed for hiv positive folk to have a guaranteed place to watch the parade and be comfortable!
Interesting, chris. Could result in a discount ticket war.
Whatever, this is certainly an opportunity to rethink the nature of the Glamstand. I don’t like to see people put out of work and I suppose I’m in the minority here BUT… I think it’s time they canned the pre-parade entertainment. It intrudes on what is basically a communal social outing, and spoils your anticipation of the parade itself.
It can be a long wait but when you stand on a milk crate with ‘the public’ you sense that anticipation building, and the parade is more of an event as a result. Do we HAVE to be amused and occupied every second like ADD kids?
What is wrong with having two ‘glamstands’? One run by New Mardi Gras and one run by BGF ..surely with hundreds of thousands of people as their target audience ( those who line the streets to view the parade ) there is room for two. One in Flinders Street and one in that great location in liverpool st in Hyde Park. I am sure Clover would be very sympathetic to using the Hyde Park option again .
A lot of assumptions are being made here. For a start, how do you know, Doug, that NMG is not looking at other ways of increasing it’s income, like new media broadcasting opportunities, more international and national float participation, etc? I’m sure they are. And the figure of $400,000 sponsorship to NMG is based on a letter published in the SMH by one Danny Corvino. So far as I know the exact amount is confidential but includes in-kind help like policing and garbage services etc. I’d also suspect that a part of the conditions for that sponsorship would involve responsible financial management, not giving away an opportunity to raise revenue by giving it to a group that aready has $5.5 million in assets invested to make more money. Unless BGF invested in Iceland, of course.
Phil S no one is saying NMG has to come up with other ways of fundraising for BGF. I think they are saying that NMG should be able to find other ways of funding itself, instead of stripping BGF of Glamstand.
Lets face it, the government funding is substantial, and to be honest, if NMG did a better job in years gone by by focusing on other ways to raise money instead of just dance parties, the government might have chipped in earlier too.
Im surprised by this NMG decision. Seems very innapropriate in s many way. lets hope they come to their senses and leave Glamstand to Bobby.
I disagree that taking the Glamstand away from BGF will make Mardi Gras “irrelevant”. If NMG collapses and is no more, there’ll be no parade, no Glamstand, and no chance for BGF or any other organisation to do any future deals with them. Big dance parties can no longer be relied on to fund NMG, as someone pointed out, and the government donation- while it’s very good news- isn’t enough to keep them viable.
It’s not up to NMG to find alternative ways to fund BGF, it’s up to BGF surely?