APPENDIX E
Item:
Best Foot Forward Location Change
Dept.: Instruction
Background/Historical Context: Best Foot Forward has been held at
Brogden Hall since its inception. The event features our schools in an
artistic extravaganza that requires state-of-the-art equipment and
staging which we rent in order to dress up the gymnasium for our
show. It also uses multiple classrooms at New Hanover High School
as “green” rooms.
Recommendation: To move the event from its current facility,
Brogden Hall to the Wilson Center on the Campus of Cape Fear
Community College.
Rationale for Recommendation: The Wilson Center on the Campus of
Cape Fear Community College is a state-of-the-art facility complete
with lighting, sound, spot-lights, comfortable seating and 25 rooms to
be used for housing students during rehearsals and the event. A true
loading dock, multiple parking areas for patrons and buses, and a
ticketing office are just a few of the amenities offered.
Short and Long Term Impact: Students will be performing in a 21st
century facility with all the above-mentioned amenities. We will
develop a long-term relationship with the College. The presentation of
our extravaganza will be developed into a 21st century performance
that showcases not only the student performance, but the outstanding
teaching that goes in to each act.
Supporting Documentation: attached
Board Action:
_____ Recommendation Accepted
_____ Recommendation Rejected
_____ Tabled for Further Study
_____ Other
Best Foot Forward Proposal My proposal is to move the Best Foot Forward event from Brogden Hall on the campus of New Hanover High School to the new Cape Fear Community College Auditorium (Wilson Auditorium) on 3rd Street in downtown Wilmington. Pros for the move: 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
The venue is a state‐of‐the‐art facility comparable to the Durham Performing Arts Center. A. It is acoustically and aesthetically more pleasing than the current facility. B. It is designed as an Arts Center, not a gymnasium. C. We would no longer need to rent chairs and staging. It already has top flight lighting, sound and staging that is superior to what we currently rent. A. Funds saved could actually be put into the artists (schools) instead of “equipment.” B. Schools now pay for most of their student travel which has a high of $167 and a low of $47 depending on the distance to Brogden Hall. They also pay for choreography, costuming, props and arrangements. Depending on the act, this could be over$300 dollars. With the savings generated, we could actually divide up the “profit” and return it to the schools to assist in their expenses. With 2 sellouts, we could expect to give back between $200 and $500. (or more if we reign in some other cost.) The stage has 3 times the area we have now and is created for performances. It would allow for a group to set up behind the curtain while another group is performing in front, thus moving the show along at a better pace. The current facility has no technology in place to allow for us to move into the 21st century. A. We are unable to run videos, slide shows or fully utilize technology items because the gym is not equipped. B. It would allow us to focus on the teachers teaching the lessons as a precursor to the performance, similar to what shows like American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, etc., do. We go into the classrooms and we film the teachers teaching the act. We focus on the standards they are teaching. Then while the act is behind the curtain getting ready, we have the video playing and preparing the audience for the act. The holding rooms/classrooms are also designed for that purpose, as well. A. Use of holding rooms/classrooms would allow us to not disrupt any classes as we currently do in Brogden Hall and New Hanover High School. Space has also become an issue because of the amount of equipment in those rooms. B. Using a holding room/classroom would also not disrupt the Community College because it would occur during their spring break. CFCC is very receptive to this idea and have placed a “hold” on the dates for us. Safety issues have arisen making it impossible to do many of the things we have attempted in the past. A. The top‐flight follow spot lighting, due to regulations that have now been put in place, cannot happen. B. In the current location, the cost for the event continues to grow. Parking has always been an issue at New Hanover. A. Many people refuse to attend the show because of limited space and we have seen a drop in attendance. B. The new venue would provide two parking garages and one full parking area‐ Which are attended by the venue staff and give the audience a fuller, richer experience. C. The streets and venue are well lit, handicap accessible and meet safety expectations, without us making any changes or special arrangements with the city or other organizations such as Trinity United Methodist. D. Elevators, stairs make the venue much more handicap accessible. E. Two large lobbies are available for art shows and other small acts put in the lobby. 8. Security hiring and overall safety is a major issue at New Hanover. A. There are so many doors to cover and so many rooms to guard that our hiring has gone to 17 officers. B. A significant savings would result given the need for less security staff. C. The community college also has their own professional attendants and guides to assist people in finding a seat freeing up senior staff to just attend the show. 9. NHCS manpower usage is very high. A. Maintenance, transportation, instructional services and the many other departments that put on Best Foot Forward are expensive and costly. B. Many of those individuals would no longer be needed because the venue is already set up to assist. 10. Ticketing—would actually be done by the community college box office. A. This allows people to buy a ticket for a particular seat so it is not a general admission activity. This will alleviate the security issue of the long lines of people trying to get the “best” seat at Brogden. B. We will differentiate ticket prices for the floor, grand tier and balcony levels. This would allow more people to attend. People find it hard to justify the event because of the cost. C. There is also a ring of honor level for our featured guests, i.e., board members, senior staff and others. 11. An extremely large lobby area on two floors would allow for a much bigger and better defined art show. We can actually expand it and allow our BFF artists to shine as well. Cons: I have looked at the pros and cons for weeks now and I have found a couple of cons that are actually not cons but could be viewed as such. I believe with the ability to help people to understand, these would become plusses. 1.
2.
We would have to do two shows when attendance improves. We do not have the space at the new venue like we do at the gym. The new venue holds 1448 seated occupants. The gym holds 2800. A. A Friday night show as we would normally do. B. A Saturday matinee show. It would not be on one of our campuses. How to turn the cons into positives: 1.
2.
Instead of doing all the work for one show, we can provide an additional matinee. A. Hours of work go into these performances and they get one performance. This would allow for a better professional experience for our students and teachers. B. A matinee performance on Saturday would allow for an earlier performance for individuals who would not normally come to Hanover on a Friday night. Grandparents, out‐out‐of town relatives and others would be more apt to come on a Saturday as opposed to a Friday. Not being on one of our campuses. A. It is a free venue for NHCS to utilize. B. Our only cost would be for the sound engineer, lighting tech and the “fly” operator themselves, not for the equipment. (still resulting in a savings) C. There is a ticket charge by the state of North Carolina and we would pay taxes. D. We would also want to pay for campus security and the cost of the sheriff’s department. But that cost would be immensely lower due to fewer entrances, thus lowering the need for so many officials. Other Ideas: 1.
Implementing new ideas into the show such as: a.
b.
c.
Viewing the teachers teaching the act and letting the audience see what actually goes in to a performance of this caliber. Actually showing the “commercial” on the big screen while the act gets ready would highlight the awesome teaching our teachers are doing. Changing the rotation so the elementary schools are not so taxed. Right now they perform every 3 years and that is a strain on most of them. Incorporating ideas in the show such as tweeting a question to be answered from stage, voting for a finale act, polling questions from the stage to see what people really know are just some of the advancements we could add to the show as we go along. In conclusion, I see this as a positive step for Best Foot Forward, for New Hanover County Schools and for the Arts community in general. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
It gives back to the school community by alleviating cost associated with BFF that has been placed on the schools. It solves issues we are currently experiencing concerning safety, security and cost of the performance. It highlights our teachers, students and schools in a better light than the current venue. It promotes partnership with the CFCC. It gives us a chance to provide a 21st century performance. It saves a significant amount of money that can be put into the schools and the programs who participate. It saves on manpower hours that could be resourced in other areas. More people will likely audition due to the change in perception of the event itself thus creating an even better experience for our students and community. Truly it will become our “Best Foot Forward.” Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. R. Timothy McCoy Arts Education Supervisor Best Foot Forward Proposal
PLACING THE NEW HANOVER COUNTY
SCHOOL’S PREMIERE EVENT IN THE PREMIERE
LOCATION IN NEW HANOVER COUNTY!
•
Currently New Hanover County Schools uses the venue, Brogden Hall, which is
located on the campus of New Hanover High School.
This venue has been used by many sources in the past and has had a degree of
success due to its large size.
Due to multiple situations in the last several years, this venue has become expensive
to use and maintain for the purpose of Best Foot Forward.
Best Foot Forward cannot achieve its original intent any longer, which is to provide
an opportunity to showcase our student’s great talents and the teaching abilities of
our classroom educators.
Best Foot Forward has also become a financial burden on the school system and the
schools that could be alleviated by the move the Wilson Center on the campus of
Cape Fear Community College.
BROGDEN HALL IS A GYMNASIUM FIRST AND NO MATTER WHAT IS DONE TO IT,
IT WILL ALWAYS BE A GYMNASIUM.
PROS AND POSITIVES FOR THE MOVE
1. The new venue is a State of the Art facility comparable to the Durham Performing Arts Center.
A. It is acoustically and aesthetically much more pleasing than the current facility
B. It is designed as an Arts Center, not a gymnasium
C. There would be no need to rent chairs or staging
PROS AND POSITIVES FOR THE MOVE
2. It has top flight lighting, sound and staging that is far superior to what we currently rent
3. The stage has 3 times the area we have now and is created for performances.
PROS AND POSITIVES FOR THE MOVE
4. The current facility has no technology in place to allow for a move to 21st century
ideas.
A. We are unable to run videos, slide shows or fully utilize technology items
because the facility is not equipped.
B. In the new venue, we could run videos before each act focusing on the
students and teachers working on the act which would show off the excellent work
our teachers do.
5. The holding rooms/classrooms are designed for the artist in mind unlike the rooms
in the current facility.
A. Because Cape Fear Community College is on Spring Break, there would be
no disruption of classes as there is at New Hanover.
B. The classrooms in Brogden Hall are extremely small and it adds one more
area of security that must be dealt with.
PROS AND POSITIVES FOR THE MOVE
PROS AND POSITIVES FOR THE MOVE
6. Safety Issues have arisen making it difficult to do even the simple things we have
done in the past without incurring more cost.
A. Spotlighting certification
B. Rent of lifts and other equipment needed for lighting.
C. Hiring of Security to cover the many exits and areas in and around the current
facility.
7. Security hiring and overall safety is a major issue at the gym.
A. There are so many doors to cover and so many rooms to guard that our hiring
for security is at 17 officers.
B. The Wilson Center has 4 entrance/exit points.
8. Parking has always been an issue at the current facility even for sporting events.
A. Many people refuse to attend the show because of the limited parking and we
have seen a drop in attendance even though we have added more acts.
B. The new venue would provide two parking garages beside the venue and one
full open parking lot in the back.
C. A parking garage at the Convention center is 2 blocks away.
D. An open parking lot behind the center would be used for handicapped, school
bus and school personnel parking.
E. The streets are well lit, handicap accessible and meet safety expectations.
F. Elevators are available to get to the upper levels.
PROS AND POSITIVES FOR THE MOVE
Parking garages beside the venue and
one full open parking lot in the back.
An open parking lot behind the center
would be used for handicapped, school
bus and school personnel parking.
PROS AND POSITIVES FOR THE MOVE
9.
NHCS manpower usage is very high.
A. Public relations, maintenance, transportation, instructional
services and the many other departments that put BFF on are
expensive and costly.
B. Many of these individuals would not be needed because the
Wilson Center is set up to assist.
10. Ticketing– would actually be done by the Wilson Center box
office.
A. This allows an individual to by a ticket for a particular seat or
area, not general seating first come, first served.
B. We will differentiate ticket prices for the floor ($12), grand tier
($10) and balcony levels ($8). This will lower the cost for some people
and allow more to come.
C. The Ring of Honor on the main floor would be the preferential
seating for our honored guest, board members and senior staff.
PROS AND POSITIVES FOR THE MOVE
11. An extremely large lobby area (on two floors) would allow for a much bigger and
better defined art show.
PROS AND POSITIVES FOR THE MOVE
Projected revenue would be divided up
among participating schools to offset any cost
they have incurred.
12.
(Best Foot Forward used to fund teacher mini
grants, but that went away due to the increased
cost of the event and the loss of sponsors.)
CONS AGAINST THE MOVE
1. We would have to do two shows when
attendance improves. The Wilson Center does not
have the seating capacity of the gym.
A. Wilson Center- 1448
B. Gymnasium- 2800 +
2. The two shows would be:
A. Friday night- 7 pm.
B. Saturday matinee- 2 pm.
3. It would not be on one of our campuses.
TURNING CONS IN TO PROS
1.
Instead of doing all the work for one show, we can provide the
additional matinee
A. Hours of work go into these performances and they get to do it
one time.
B. This allows for a better professional experience for our students
and teachers.
2. A matinee performance on Saturday would allow for an earlier
performance for individuals who would not normally come to New
Hanover on a Friday night.
A. Grandparents.
B. Out-of-Town relatives.
C. Working parents.
3. The Wilson center is downtown near several of our schools and also
other venues that we currently use for the school system.
4. It is a beautiful facility which is free to use for New Hanover County
Schools.
ADDITIONAL PROS AND POSITIVES FOR THE MOVE
Implementing new Ideas into the show
1. Having a projection screen that flies in an out with the main rag to show the
teachers and students working on the act. The audience actually gets to view
the teaching of the act and how much work it takes to put on these high
quality performances. We are really doing a commercial for NHCS and the
awesome teaching our teachers do to get ready for this and all of our events.
2. Incorporating new ideas in the show such as tweeting a question to be
answered from the stage, voting for the finale act, polling questions from the
stage to see what people really know about the schools involved or the act
itself.
3. It alleviates a major cost drain on the schools and the school system and
gives the resources to the teachers and the students to help to improve the
overall show.
COST COMPARISON FOR 2016 VS. 2017
Breakdown
Type
Cost 2016
Artistic Director
$700.00
Artistic Director
Cleaning
$600.00
Cleaning
Logo Design
$500.00
Logo Design
Act Recording
$4,200.00
Screen and Projector
$570.80
Type
Act Recording
Screen and Projector
Estimated Cost
2017
$700.00
$0.00
$500.00
$1,600.00
$0.00
Difference
$0.00
$600.00
$0.00
$2,600.00
$570.80
Chairs and Stage
$2,839.78
Sound and lighting
$9,550.00
Scaffolding
$267.06
Security
$3,390.00
Stage Manager
$500.00
Stage Manager
$500.00
$0.00
Ass. Stage Manager
$500.00
Ass. Stage Manager
$500.00
$0.00
Chairs and Stage
$0.00
$2,839.78
Sound and Lighting
$0.00
$9,550.00
Scaffolding
$0.00
$267.06
$2,500.00
$890.00
Security
$400.00
Substitute Teacher
$24,017.64
$0.00
$400.00
$6,300.00 Savings $17,717.64
This Results in
a savings of:
17717.64
PROJECTED REVENUE FROM TICKET SALES
REVENUE
Projected revenue from the show based on selling 2896 tickets.
790 floor seats @ $12 ea. -taxes and fees
$6,446.40
382 grand tier seats @ $10 ea. -taxes and fees
$2,406.60
244 balcony seats @ $8 -taxes and fees
$1,356.64
$10,209.64
$20,419.28 COST ESTIMATE FOR THE VENUE (MINUS THE DVD CONTRACT)
Estimate
Estimated Cost for new venue
Artistic Director
Logo Design
Act Recording
Security
Stage Manager
Ass. Stage Manager
Sound Engineer
Lighting Engineer
Curtain/Fly Operator
$700.00
$500.00
$1,600.00
$2,500.00
$500.00
$500.00
$700.00
$700.00
$700.00
$8,400.00
NET REVENUE
Revenue minus cost =
$20,419.28 – 8,400.00
=
$12019.28
PROS AND POSITIVES FOR THE MOVE
Additional Fund Abilities
Without any budget from the BOE, outside donations or sponsors, we could see a monies
generation of $12019
****This money could then be divided up among the schools who have participated to cover
their expenses for the event.
**** All of this could be done without any sponsors or BOE budget.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, I see this as a positive step for Best Foot Forward, for New Hanover County Schools and for the
Arts community in general.
1. It gives back to the school community by alleviating cost associated with BFF that has been placed
on the schools.
2. It solves issues we are currently experiencing concerning safety, security and cost of the
performance.
3. It highlights our teachers, students and schools in a better light than the current venue.
4. It promotes partnership with the CFCC.
5.It gives us a chance to provide a 21st century performance.
6. It saves a significant amount of money that can be put into the schools and the programs who
participate.
7. It saves on manpower hours that could be resourced in other areas.
8. More people will likely audition due to the change in perception of the event itself thus creating an
even better experience for our students and community.
Truly it will become our “Best Foot Forward.”