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| Handbill for JGB at SUNY New Paltz, 11/29/77. Scan via Mark Cohen. Note that Ron Tutt is erroneously listed among the personnel. |
The economics of the Garcia Band’s Fall ’77 tour have remained a little out of view for me, since I have never been able to track down itineraries, contracts, box office reports and all that, which I have seen for a few other trips. But a great report in the SUNY New Paltz Oracle lays them bare for one gig (11/29/77), and provides a snapshot into Garcia’s rock star lifestyle of the time.
I should note that I have discussed a setlist rarity from this show (the Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” inside the Wailers’ “Stir It Up”), set forth some listening notes under the title “his voice is fading fast”, and have also presented these kinds of data for a gig two years earlier (“Accounting the JGB: October 8, 1975”).
The SUNY New Paltz Concert Committee brought in name talent a couple times a year for the students, drawing from student activity fees and generally running these events at a loss. But the earnest-seeming crew in place in Fall 1977, which seems to have been operating under the probably-copyright-infringing-but-totally-1977 name of “Jedi Productions”, didn’t plan to lose as much as they did on the Garcia Band’s Tuesday night gig. For Google interest, here are the names and positions of the folks involved in putting on the show.
Eric Early … Production Manager
Bill Dacey … Stage Manager
Rick Markle … Electrician
Joni White … Talent Coordinator
Shari Berkowitz … Tickets
Esther Friedman … Publicity
Karen Reilly … Hospitality
Rob Insolia … Treasurer
Stan Wisla … Security
Brian Higgenson … Staging Consultant
Erica Pauling … Secretary
Richard Someck … Concessions
Randi Sackheim …Programs
Debbie Golub … Programs
Steve Martin …General Manager
Jack Babb … Assistant to General Manager
I would love to hear from any of them, especially Karen Reilly, who is mentioned in the narrative below.
According to the report in the school paper (Ratner 1977), the gig lost about $8,000, which is more than planned, mostly due to ticket sales of only 1,300 against a projected 2,000. But other aspects of putting the concert on probably also taught our young impresarios some valuable lessons in show biz economics. Here are the expenses.
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| Table xxx. Expenses for JGB at SUNY New Paltz, 11/29/77. Source: Ratner 1977. |
So here we have the band at a $10k guarantee, whereas it got $12,500 at Penn State (Clifford 1977). Monarch does well on sound and lighting. But let me get to the “hospitality” line item, which generates the following data and story, a little sidebar under the heading “Garcia Serves Up New Paltz, Brings His Own Chef”:
When the Jerry Garcia Band plays a school, it usually submits a list of refreshment requirements: Freshly ground coffee (either of Sumatra, Celebes, Jamaica High Mountain, Mocha-Java, or Columbian beans); Coffee must be made via the drip method, not electric percolator; Three (3) bottles of good French red wine and one and one-half (1 ½) cases of Heineken Light beer; Four (4) quarts of orange juice – no sugar; Four (4) of bottled spring water; Bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches and good cheeseburgers; a dinner meal for fifteen …
When they came to New Paltz, they were willing to forego the refreshment requirements. Instead; they brought their own chef, affectionately named Cy Kocis, and asked the concert committee for $600.
“I knew things were going to be wrong when they wanted $600 in cash Tuesday morning,” explained Karen Reilly, the Concert Committee’s Hospitality Chief. Karen managed to knock them down to $450.
Cy Kocis arrived at 1:30 on Tuesday; installed a four-burner stove charcoal grill and large cooler in Elting Gymnasium 101, and went to work. Filet Mignon and halibut steaks were on the dinner menu. The cooler contained a sumptuous feast for the band and its crew. Karen was there to meet the entourage. In fact, she was there since 9:00, earlier than anyone, making sure everyone experienced New Paltz’s hospitality. “But when Cy Kocis gave me 4 large butternut squashes and told me to start peeling and cutting, I told him I had to get towels, or something, for the stage crew.” Everyone has their limits.
Why do I imagine this merits quoting at length? I love the standard contract rider information. I knew Jerry was a coffee junkie, but I didn’t know he was a coffee snob (which I count as a point in a person’s favor). Good French wine pleases me, too, though not sure who of the band would most enjoy it. I guess I have Keith as good for at least a dozen of those Heinekens, but what do I know? Burgers? Definitely Jerry.
Then comes “Cy Kocis”. Interesting. $600 cash is also interesting, and suspicious minds sometimes wonder whether that kind of wad might not have bought more than filet, halibut and butternut squash. I also admire the cut of Karen Reilly’s jib, haggling them down to $450 and taking a pass on the vegetable peeler. She sounds awesome.
Anyway, good color.
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