[Vision2020] [Spam 6.09] Rendezvous survey

[Sue Hovey]

Thank you, Bruce, for the thorough response. I do appreciate your comments, and understand that things happen.  Rendezvous is important to me, as you well know.  And because I do care, this isn't an issue I'm willing to drop.  But then, you probably know that. 

Sue.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bruce and Jean Livingston 
  To: Sue Hovey ; vision2020 at moscow.com 
  Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 5:45 PM
  Subject: Re: [Spam 6.09] [Vision2020] Rendezvous survey


  Hi Sue and Tom,

  We at Rendezvous always appreciate hearing from our supporters and critics.  

  The main thrust of Sue's suggestion/criticism is valid.  She is communicating her feeling that gender diversity in our Rendezvous performers is something that she and many others value.  She is right that two of the last three years, one might question that any effort has been made by us, because the performing acts have been sadly lacking in gender diversity (though the festival three years ago had two headliners who were black and Hispanic males).  She is also right in thinking that we value such diversity, too.  We are aware of the desire for female performers, which we share.  

  The following explanation may mitigate some, but not all, of Sue's criticism, and we simply will try to do better in the future.

  The Rendezvous Board's Programming Committee is sensitive to and shares a desire to find a variety of musicians, and we do not purposely end up with a bunch of white men, as happened this past year.  Last year, for example, we offered our most coveted spot, the Saturday headliner, to Grace Potter.  We thought we had her, but, she ultimately declined after a long wait, because she was given an opportunity to perform the same day at the much bigger Denver Mile High Festival.  We filled that Saturday spot by sheer luck with a highly talented guitarist, Sonny Landreth, who was only available that late in the game at a price we could afford because he didn't have a gig that weekend.  Sometimes that is just how it works in this business.  

  Sometimes, it's worse than that.  Last year a different band, some rhythm and blues musicians from New Orleans, cancelled over the Fourth of July week, two weeks before showtime(!), and I somehow managed to fill that spot from San Francisco while on vacation.  But at that late date, I took the first act that accepted among the "bands of acceptable quality" to whom I had sent desperate inquiries about their availability.  A blues band from Spokane with four white guys was the first to get back to me, and they got the job.  In my flurry of emails inquiring about availability, several of the bands were led by females, but the guys were the first to accept and got the job.

  We knew last May, when we lost Grace, but then had a chance for Sonny, that Sue would probably complain about our lack of gender diversity, and we knowingly went ahead with Sonny, anyway.  Sue is a squeaky wheel on the topic, and her relentlessness and love of music is why we love her, and we appreciate the reminder when we haven't done as well as she might like.  After Grace declined last year and before we approached Sonny, we checked out the availability of Marcia Ball, another acclaimed performer, but she too was unavailable.  Sonny is a highly acclaimed guitarist, Grammy nominated, and at that late date, he was in our judgment, the best available bang for the buck by a long shot.  

  Our absolute bottom line is price and quality, and not diversity, though we do try to obtain a diverse line-up.  In my opinion, our high water mark in hiring quality performers since I have been involved with programming is Mavis Staples, who happens to be black and a woman, but also a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.  I wish we could meet that standard every year.

  We will do our best to make sure that we get multiple commitments from female artists this year, Sue.  We were already aware of how last year came out in that regard and we discussed it at a programming committee meeting over Thanksgiving and are addressing it.  We already have made a Thursday night headliner offer, pending for the last several weeks to a woman from Brooklyn, New York who is trying to arrange routing with other western venues.  Obviously, there are plenty of capable people, men and women of varying colors, who play great music.  We will keep trying to bring quality music by diverse performers and hope you will continue to support us.

  Tom's suggestions for a particular performer is noted, though I must comment that we generally try not to repeat our acts, even good ones like the Uppity Blues Women.  Since Rendezvous is so infrequent, it seems to us that bringing new acts is the best option with only six choices per year (three nights x two performers that we can choose [aside from classical night, which had many female participants and clearly was not the subject of Sue's criticism]).  We don't have a "no repeat" rule, but it is our definite preference.  I'll check out Gaye's solo stuff.

  As always, we thank you and the community for your great support.  

  Bruce Livingston
  Rendezvous Vice-President &
  Programming Chair
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Sue Hovey 
    To: vision2020 at moscow.com 
    Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 11:42 PM
    Subject: [Spam 6.09] [Vision2020] Rendezvous survey


    I just completed the online survey from the Board of Directors of Rendezvous and lodged a concern about their almost total disregard of female artists.  This isn't the first time I've called it to their attention. I think I've lodged a complaint just about every year for the past four or five years.   Last year they had only one female, a really fine young MHS performer, Shiloh.  There were no other females performing on that stage Thursday, Friday, or Saturday.  This is the norm, not the exception.  If you share this concern with me, would you please add a comment to the survey.  I think there will be no parity, or even consideration of parity,  until it becomes a significant issue.  I'm not even considering staying home; this is my celebration, too.  I relish being a member of a community that prides itself on equity and fairness--and I believe the members of the Rendezvous board feel that way, as well.  Would though, they would practice that belief in a more substantial way.  

    And, yes, I know in the past there have been some remarkable women performing on the Rendezvous stage--Tish Hinojosa, the Dixie Chicks, and Kate Campbell were all wonderful, as was Mavis Staples--I was hoping Mavis' appearance was the beginning of a trend, but it didn't happen.  

    Sue Hovey


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