Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Photograph by George Sakkestad

The recently completed Music in the Plaza season was a financial success and a big hit with local parents and kids, including Remy Pohl, 4, who enjoys the music of Soulstice while lounging on his dad, Ron Pohl.

MIP ends successful season

Popular series will return--with money already in the bank

By Shari Kaplan

The Los Gatos Arts Commission wrapped up its 1996 Music in the Plaza series Aug. 25 with Rich Rinaldi & The Variety Band at a venue other than the Town Plaza. The free concert took place during the annual Lions Club-sponsored Town Picnic at Oak Meadow Park.

The last band to play at the Plaza was Soulstice, a New Age, world music and jazz band, which performed Aug. 18.

Thanks to the support of volunteers and close to $17,000 in donations from local businesses and individuals, this is the first year the MIP coffers have shown a profit, said Arts Commissioner Dale Chambers. Approximately $4,000 will now roll over to the ninth concert season and will be earmarked strictly for MIP, Chambers said.

"It's been very successful. People have said they enjoyed the variety of music. We try to emphasize local talent as much as possible," Chambers said.

"The bands have also helped with attendance because many have their own following. So, it not only satisfies the needs of the residents, but also brings new people into town, who will hopefully stay for dinner or shop around."

Many local businesses and merchants support MIP, even though they can't always tell whether the concerts have actually brought in more customers. Kelly Hus, owner of Coastal Collections, said she likes that MIP brings people downtown who normally would not come, but it's difficult to measure how it affects her type of store.

"It's better for some businesses than others," she said.

Miranda Weaver, manager at Willow Street Wood-Fired Pizza, said the customers eating on the patio stay longer and enjoy the views and sounds they can catch while having dinner. A manager at Willow Street's neighbor, Swensen's, noticed that the weather rather than the type of concert is a better influence on how many people take ice cream cones to the Plaza.

Next year's musical season is already in the planning stages, with the MIP subcommittee of the Arts Commission getting ready to brainstorm and 10 to 12 major sponsors ready to commit, Chambers said.

Chambers would like to see a dozen concerts next year, perhaps beginning a week or two earlier in the spring, which he thinks will be better received than extending them into September.

Chambers and the Arts Commission have been keeping tabs on the public's favorite concerts based on crowd turnout and feedback, and will use this information to help decide which groups to have back.

According to Chambers, people's preferences this year included the country/bluegrass/folk of Sidesaddle & Company, the New Age/jazz of Soulstice, the colorful sights and sounds of Mariachi Tapatio, the a cappella House Jacks and the gospel-style Light and Power Production Company.

The San Jose Wind Symphony's July 4 performance on the Los Gatos High School lawn was also a real crowd-pleaser, Chambers reported.