Ok, I'd like to take this time to formally let my opinions be known as nicely as I know how. . .

19 comments:

Posted by robeysan on 2009-12-23 11:39:04:

If Brycc sucks so bad... then why are you trying to start a business here?

Kathy does a great job with NOIZE period.

You have posted a message for change but because it is so hostile you have probably burned any lines of constructive communication.

You have proven your self to be, well not much of anything. You sure can TYPE IN ALL CAPS. But really what else have you contributed?

I really don't get you J. On one hand you talk up this great vision of what Brycc could and should be but then you go and trash your fellow team members and claim that you can do a better job (that's called BLASPHEMY btw). Why do you do that. Kathy is in charge of NOIZE she bought the equipment out of her own pocket from you... You should have just kept it. You catch more flies with honey, honey. J if you want change you should try being a bit more realistic and not as bitter. If you turned on your charm that night at the show I'm sure you could have gotten that young lady in for free considering that it would have benefited Brycc to let here in. But instead you start yet another flame when you yourself say we don't have many bridges left to burn. Why you could have gone around the night at the show asking people for change so that this girl could come in and check it out. That's what it's all about man taking charge within your boundaries, doing what you can do and not complaining about what you can't do. Get real Kid. You are losing respect with each and every one of these destructive post.

And to think you ended you message with "Peace" do you even know what it means?

• Paul

Posted by robeysan on 2009-12-23 13:24:14:

It is extremely easy to secure Brycc for any event you want to have and manage. Step up and do it instead of thrashing events that someone else is putting together and managing.

Posted by creativemindsunion on 2009-12-23 14:33:55:

Seriously... you signed that message 'Peace' but im not feelin much according to your delivery

Thanks to Paul for his reasoning ... I would love to offer a bit of input here without going too far... its difficult since i noticed that you want to think of the old brycc and the current brycc as 2 different entities ... i disagree

Who Makes it Happen?

First of individuals all make mistakes... on any given day those of us who show up and work regularly make up for such things compared with those who never bother to extend an arm, leg or regular effort to be in the building and out on the street keeping the brycc alive... why should those who dont show up even be a part of the decision-making of who we become anyhow?

Our idea is more important than any moment in time really... so if you want to keep it going then go hustle some change for the community effort as a 'free space' before you look at anyone else... I agree with you on sliding scale entry fees just to make this clear for the record... but im also not going to let 4 and 5 and 6 people repeatedly bum rush the door without volunteering

As for the good people who started BRYCC and are no longer associated with it... when brycc left bardstown road i offered 'Building Resources Yielding Cultural Change' as our name value in full confidence that we should keep our name... lots of people agreed such as Meg and Greg... actually those people are still associated with this organization to this day as board members...

More to the point here are those folks who thought we really needed to become generic with the 'brick house' moved on and didnt maintain a commitment to the REAL WORK and REGULAR CHALLENGES associated with working in a public interest situations as non-profit outcomes... its about learning and the legacy remains for those who admit they dont know but do want to give of themselves and learn... there are a long line of people who want brycc not to be about money or to only be about the music scene... its more than that

Paul nailed it when he said that you could have panhandled for the girl which I myself have done on many occasions

Volunteerism is What Makes Us Real

Let me just say this: Kathy and a few others not only commit themselves to the daily programming and physical building... they sit down with officials and negotiate a way to the future... they also develop lasting community partnerships and write grants to significantly serve the community interest as opposed to sit on the sideline and create opposition over occasional disagreements. Anyone who really makes an effort to respect the values of this community doesnt just show up at decision-making meetings or offer lip service online, they support fundraising efforts and show up for direct action and effort.

Its clear that we are not about profits but its not so clear that people who will not even offer to volunteer an hour in exchange for cover fee or just to support what we do might just be someone wishing to take advantage of the blood, sweat and tears of those who give and give and give of time, money and personal interests for public benefit

I personally am very tired of people coming to the brycc to take advantage of our volunteerism for their own personal interests while ignoring how much is taken from others to achieve this interest.... i give and gave a lot from the beginning and can tell you that we have never been perfect nor will we ever control our members who show a few faults

Seriously Keepin It All the Way Real...

How is it possible that folks keep thinking that we are a free space with no costs then the artists will have to think of themselves as free also and that all they see in the brycc is free for the taking?

Do you really want things to head in the direction of maintaining an illusion??? its actually quite ridiculous and its actually opposed to what we are about despite what the mast head on this page says...

Basically singer/songwriters who go town to town do need support just like Brycc needs support to pay the utilities and ultimately we need people like you to follow through when you say that you are committed to whatever group effort that others have compromised themselves to sustain for you as well.... is this your idea of successful?

Otherwise what happens as the truth of volunteer run events is that (make that what has been happening for years now) is that brycc members get worn down and disillusioned by folks who use our mortgage and utilities and food money to run their own game and walk off leaving us to clean up their mess... even worse defend ourselves legally against the malpractice of those who say one thing and do something completely different while pretending to care...

Not Sure that Making Things Personal Works...

It boils down like this....if you even ate one chip or one dip of salsa that kathy offered the crowds which she facilitates at all the noize events she hosts from her own money that night then you are a HUGE HYPOCRITE!

My apologies for us not living up to your expectations of what you thought brycc house used to be but honestly... you werent there and those who were can certainly tell you that they were not run off by other people so much as they got tired of solving problems associated with people who did nothing as opposed to problems associated with people who showed up and worked their arses off regularly...

I was here when there was enough money to buy a building and we did that but the point back being made by members even back then was that 'we are about more than concerts and we are about more than the money to get in the door'

As long as a person can offer something more or get the idea of donating of themselves beyond financial resources then it will become clear that we need more than just money... volunteer your time this holiday season and we can accomplish a lot... money or no money there is much that can be done to improve things

So... ultimately....Im not interested in a flame war here... im not interested in getting a rise out of you... i am stating some facts to clear up the realities which you seem to clearly ignore in a nice way because this whole 'peaceful rant of yours takes a lot more shots on BRYCC than the idea that the cover charge is too high.

Comparing the Old Days with Right Now

The Brycc charged the same thing back in the old days and the building was just as cold and messed up with volunteers and infighting when it came to who was gonna take the trash out and who left early with no interest in helping shut off all the lights and keep the pipes from freezing... simple facts make it clear which people have kept this place going

Posted by Shifter on 2009-12-24 04:05:52:

Ok, wait. . . Paul, Kristen, First off, I want to say this, Yes, the Brycc House, is no more. It died a long time ago, when you decided music wasn't important. It can't come back now, as the meaning of Brycc House, is the Bardstown Rd. Youth Cultural Center, ok? Thats what it was Founded as. You changed it. And with this, you ruined a Legacy. The way that Kathy misleads bands into coming to play, is utter bullshit. I'm not playing your word games, I'm telling you straight, and I'm leaving the thesaurus on the table.

Second, how many people are out there helping Martin do street solicitation? I don't show up one day because I was sick, and now I haven't shown up at all? I was at every meeting up until no one had the power to call a meeting place because Kathy was out of town.

Third, yeah, it used to be cold at the Brycc, I remember when you had to have shows up front in the small room, and I remember also, that people still showed up. Because you hadn't run them all off. I guess you're still in denial that everything you touch turns to dust, Kristen. I don't know what you did, I'm not pointing the finger at you, I don't have to. Just because of the promoting that I did for the Brick so far, we've actually LOST work. I have nothing against you personally, Kristen, but if you haven't noticed, there's a stigma attached to you. Thats just a part of life.

As for why I didn't go panhandle for the girl, I was in shock and awe that Kathy would even do that. By the time I walked out to see if the girl was still out there, she was gone. I would have given her the cover, it wouldn't have mattered. After the way Kathy treated her, she wouldn't have stayed. Even if she had, she would have still had horror stories to tell all of her friends.

Oh, and I don't eat her food. I did once, way back, but we were the only 2 people that showed up, and we played that night. The handful of chips was our payment as a band.

All anyone seems to do there, is kiss one anothers backsides and get all pumped up over a 4 ticket turnout. I know you're about more than Music, but nothing else generates any money, so it's basically wasting everyones time, with little to no exception. I'm glad it gives you something to do. I'm glad that you don't have so much free time to learn new words and make me have to read your posts for longer to find the point. It's REALLY frustrating, and I give you credit for that, you really know how to confuse people. But to try to compare your new thing (whatever you call it, it doesn't matter to anyone that remembers it but you), to The Brycc House, is a joke. To still be telling stories from 98 and 99, laughable. We know who keeps things running, obviously you do, and Kathy, and John, and Cristina, and Paul, and yadda yadda, but see, the thing is, it shouldn't be just "kept going". It should be thriving. It's still being choked out. And it's not changing.

You make all of these claims about how the Brick is about more than Music, what is it exactly that you do to help the community? I mean, aside from the Bike Collective fixing Bikes, which is cool. And the Garden Collective teaching people how to water a plant, which is cool too. I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, but the only real difference I saw first hand was that we now have everyones change from the consoles of their cars.

If bumming change is your way of changing the community, it's no wonder that you don't do the streets in Old Louisville, but in all reality, taking the idea of Old Louisville to the East End and Bumming Change out there just makes the Old Louisville Neighborhood look worse than it does by saying they either A: Can't afford to support their Community Center, or B: Don't care about what the Brick House does.

And to answer your 2nd post, Paul, I'm not thrashing someone elses even that they put together and managed, I'm not thrashing ANY event. I'm thrashing the idea's that have the Brick House stuck in the mud. No one is going to pay $5 to see 2 singer/songwriter duo's unless their best friend is in the band. Who managed that show? It wouldn't even had happened if Martin had not come to the rescue.

And when I sold her my PA, I didn't know her, or that she had anything to do with the Brick House. I was just making room at my place. I probably should have kept it, now that you mention it. It's not even being used. . .

Posted by Shifter on 2009-12-24 03:58:20:

And by "Respond to me" I mean, my E-mail. If I'm called out in public again, this will get personal. So once again, if you have any questions or comments, you can send them to me on here, or at openmic_x@yahoo.com. Or at my myspace: www.myspace.com/redblipmedia . Thanks for your time.

Posted by robeysan on 2009-12-24 12:47:55:

J, as I said before your negativity doesn't show the change in attitude and behavior you are preaching about in these post. You are telling Kristien and the rest of us that we are being to negative and whatever but you are doing it to perpetuating the condition. If you wanted this to be personal you shouldn't have posted it here instead you should have sent a message to Kathy letting her know your concerns.

Do you really expect us to believe that you were in "shock and awe" that a venue turned away someone who couldn't pay a cover? Let me tell you, I was in shock and awe watching the events of 9-11, I was in shock and awe at the violence in Mexico over the drug war there, I was in shock in awe when a black man became president of America! Tell that girl to go to headliners with no cover money and see what happens.

You do bring up some important points that we need to address before we can get out of the mud. Such as we need to promote a new Brycc image. We need to have more well organized events. We need more fund raising events.

J if you have some ideas for new events or shows let hear 'em and lets see you take the reigns and see them through. Right now all you are doing is being a terrible critic. If your criticisms were more constructive I would at least respect what you have to say more.

J no one is gonna beg you to stay if you decide to leave and no one is going to ask you to leave. Instead of causing so much grief put together your own events. Brycc is a great place for people who want to throw events but have no capitol or experience.

I don't see changing the name helping Brycc much at this point. We need some major events going on that will re-energize Brycc and it's supporters.

Posted by Andrew on 2009-12-24 15:16:17:

To be honest I skimmed and don't really have an opinion on what any of you guys are talking about.

At this point in time, by my understanding, there is too much money going out and barely enough coming in. I hate to even suggest this, but if we're going to keep our head above water we've simply got to find some way to make more money. I understand we're meeting the budget, but the budget changes, and sometimes unexpectedly (i.e. the pipes bursting).

In times like this instead of having shows once a week or every other week, how about one big show a month? Imagine if we start doing one show a month with 3-5 bands on say, the last Friday of the month. Post a few fliers, put that info on the website, and in time we start having more people come to the shows and visiting bands know for sure when the open slots will be. The last Friday of every month, so there is no confusion--no more 'no show' bands.

Maybe have a two dollar Tuesday book sale where books in a certain area are just $2 and the rest remain in the library, are loaned out, or purchased at a negotiated price. This is just an idea, I understand that the books in the Brycc House may not be for sale, but hopefully the point I'm trying to make is received.

Instead of ideas on how we all screwed up, are screwing up, or will screw up, how about we focus on ideas to make money and possibly purchase the momentum Brycc needs?

Posted by robeysan on 2009-12-24 22:15:39:

Nice ideas Andrew, I like the $2 Tusedays.

Posted by martinlarsen on 2009-12-25 13:43:31:

Over 100 people have directly supported my street solicitation efforts. Everyone who gave me kudos, brought me equipment, a meal, or gave 75 cents, a few dollars, even a $20 bill yesterday.

Posted by martinlarsen on 2009-12-26 00:31:22:

We have too many books no one wants. And we don't have the clientele, equipment or staff needed to maintain the loaning process. I think we should pick a few niches that we specialize in and sell or give away the rest. Each member can help maintain a section of the library that they have a personal interest in, or applies to the activities of a certain collective. Really, if no one is particularly interested in a book, and/or has no interest in helping to maintain the inventory, it is just taking up space. The library will never make a profit, but it can add to the greater good by both spreading info that matters to people that contribute, and by decreasing the space and resources needed to support it so other activities that bring in funds can thrive. We might even be able to offer a free book with every donation, including coupons at street solicitation. Free coffee with a donation is great too, we need to up the ante on the coffee cause we can't sell beer.

Posted by Shifter on 2009-12-26 03:21:58:

Ok, damn it. I'll keep trying to come up with more stuff. It's just really frustrating because the idea's that I have aren't being heard, and even when they are heard, they aren't implemented. I know that one day the Brick could stand on it's own, and make it's own legacy, it just feels like, in the area's that I'm interested in, it's resting on the legacy of a totally different place. We can't live off of an old rep., I think it has to be reworked and turned into something else. I think that even if we DID have a killer promotional team, when people saw the fliers they would expect the show to be hardcore punk. Thats what the Brycc was always about. Bodyhammer, 3 nails, stuff like that. I know everyone wants to cut that down and be all mellow and stuff. Thats great and all, but I don't know how to go about re branding it as such.

Posted by martinlarsen on 2009-12-26 10:28:24:

I see it happening over the course of the next year..we have to pay our winter bills first, and then in the Spring start to really fix up the building, plant some cool flowers outside and a fresh coat of paint, and a new sign. Once we have a warm, clean, inviting place, start to actively bring people in to see the changes for themselves instead of hearing rumors and such.

Posted by robeysan on 2009-12-26 12:55:12:

J, Brycc is not set up so that new ideas can be submitted, approved and brought to life by others. Brycc is set up so that you can have an idea, get some people together and bring it to life your self. Your ideas are being heard but since you are not putting forth the effort to see them through they are getting no where. When your ideas go no where you want to place blame on anyone who heard your ideas. You have to be the change you wish to see. I hope that you understand this. Simply saying that we need a new name isn't enough. You need to come up with a new name and explain how the new name is going to help Brycc efforts. In this post you have wasted a perfectly good opportunity to drop a well formed and thought out idea to many of the active members at Brycc. I don't support a name change because you or anyone else has shown concrete evidence that changing the Brycc name will improve things at Brycc. Furthermore there are deeper issues that stand out in my mind as things that are holding Brycc up such as fundraising, Events endorsed by all collectives and unprofessionalism in public out let (mailing list). I will say that having this discussion on brickhouse.cc as opposed to the public mailing list shows great improvement on the last item.

J, Quit trying to come up with new stuff, complete a project before starting on a new one.

Martian, I agree that this will take some time and that we should already have a solid plan in effect before the spring time. www.brycc.org is being built as we speak, and Kathy is steady booking bands.

NEW IDEAS,

• -two dollar Tuesday book sale where books in a certain area are just $2 and the rest remain in the library, are loaned out, or purchased at a negotiated price.
• -Monthly Brycc Event that incorporates multiple collectives.
• -Building maintenance: Paint outside, a new sign, Clean inside.
• -New Website; www.brycc.org is currently in the works. Its purpose is to promote brycc events and collect info from people wanting to get involved. We will be cutting the fat to some extent. Collectives or groups that don't get a hold of us with content and support for their areas on the new brycc.org will not be featured on the new brycc.org.
• -New Image, which I believe is important but meaningless if it is only a change in name and not procedure. I think that if we follow through with the above new ideas we will have achieved this new image without changing the name.

J, these are just the ideas that have come to the surface from your post. pick one and see it through. Or add a new on to the list and see it through. If any of you have new ideas you have to see them through or don't bother telling anyone about them. This is an organization that depends on people getting the work done and not delegating the work to someone else. If you have an idea you want to see happen its ok to ask for help but know that any and all of us have other sh*t to do and if you don't bring some effort to the table when presenting your ideas no one is going to want to help you if you havent put any of your own effort.

Posted by RaoulDukeOfEarl on 2009-12-26 22:45:43:

When a concert is scheduled that fits the Americana, Jazz or Bluegrass genres, someone needs to email "sowen at wfpk dot org" to get it listed on the Concert Calendar, three times a day for two or three weeks.

Might be a good idea to not bring a lot of people to the Brick House until we get some HEAT in the place, and of course you don't want to advertise shows until you're fairly sure the artists are going to show up.

But that's free advertisements that will be heard by tens of thousands of people.

Posted by shelbynalley91 on 2009-12-27 18:46:21:

To all,

I am an 18 year old girl. I am also a senior in high school. I would just like to say that the amount of bickering back and forth is unlike any I have ever seen. If you are all a part of the Brycc House community, then why would you put it down? It's not like you HAVE to be a part of any of this. If it is so infuriating to you, then pack up and move on. There are plenty of young, open minded people who see the potential for Brycc House, not only as a music venue (which I would like to make apparent that Kathy runs very well) but as a "community" center. Is that not what Brycc House is?? A COMMUNITY!! We enjoy being there! And as far as the heat issue, yeah, it's cold. But a few of my friends and I are the ones the put in the new ceiling tiles in an effort to make it warmer. Don't complain when you can change things. Am I saying that it is warm in there now? No, but it's warmer than it was. And if you really want to make money so badly, be OPEN MINDED!! Don't shut down ideas that could work, just because you don't really care for it. Bills have to be paid. Kathy has ran several ideas by me and my friends, that we think would be a great source of revenue. We are willing to work to keep Brycc House up and running and bringing in more people to enjoy what we work so hard for. There are so many unique aspects to Brycc House that can be used to our advantage! Why would you want to put something down, when it could easily be built up into something so great?

Brycc House is very much alive.

• S. Nalley

Posted by creativemindsunion on 2009-12-28 07:23:09:

Thank you ... Our good work and strong efforts need praise...

Posted by robeysan on 2009-12-28 13:22:10:

@shelbynalley91

Agreed, the bickering is counter productive. But I think Shifter has the right to voice his issues. Despite the bitterness of his post he has created a discussion that wouldn't have happened if he had been super nice about it.

I am glad to see this discussion and hope that all who have chimed in will continue to be involved in Brycc and help make it into the dream we all see.

2010 could be a great year for Brycc as Bulldogs Cafe is closing leaving a void in the all ages venues.

Posted by shelbynalley91 on 2009-12-28 17:12:52:

@robeysan

I agree. I think this discussion has opened everyone's eyes to the amount of work we need as a whole to make everything run effectively.

Posted by Shifter on 2010-01-13 22:06:15:

Thank You. No one has to agree with anything I say, in fact, I'd rather no one takes my side in ANY issues I raise. They get fixed or they don't, but if I don't say it, who will?