About the Great Grove Bed Race changes
For one thing, have you ever tried to put on an event in the City of Miami? It costs an arm and a leg and it's getting worse and worse. With the Bed Race taking place in the Center Grove, five streets were closed down -- Commodore, Grand, Fuller, Matilda and Virginia. Do you know what that costs? On top of that, there are many other city services. The city demands you have a bunch of police, while maybe two or three will do, the city demands you have 20! They demand you pay them $35 per hour or whatever the going rate is.
The city demands you pay for garbage clean up and other fees. The barricades were $280 each to rent the last time I looked. Have you ever counted how many are used to line the track, pit crew and other areas? They are required by law.
The stage costs money, some workers cost money, closing parking lots costs money, advertising and promotion costs money. In the past, the street banners that hang over Main and Grand and even the Key Biscayne bridge overpass were written off by the BID, now they are charging for this and each side of the banner is now charged for separately. I can't remember the figure, but I think it is $500 per side, so 3 banners are $3000.
The costs go on and on. Oh yes, rain and hurricane insurance, that is quite expensive for just one day. There is also insurance for casualty since it's not a tame event. Look up insurance rates for one day for a large event like this. Yes, it's still Hurricane season in November, but it's not the peak and also it's cooler, nicer and more people are around. November 3 is basically the first weekend of the winter season, and there doesn't seem to be any other events that weekend, where they do start piling up later in the month.
With the new date and new location, more sponsors are coming in, why I don't know, but they seem to like the whole new concept.
As for sponsors, the main beer sponsor dropped out because a local business did something they weren't supposed to do. So there went a large chunk of change.
As for people losing business in the Center Grove by this move to the Peacock Park area, let's put it this way -- the Bed Race was always on the turn at the end of McFarlane, the new incarnation five years ago brought it up to the Center Grove, with all its added expenses and logistics so as to bring business to the merchants, and it did, it brought thousands of dollars in to the local businesses at the end of the slow summer season, but in turn, the local businesses did not give back. Oh, the first year or two, they were in. But in following years, when asked to help with funding the goose that was laying the golden egg, the Bed Race committee was turned down. Heck, I had to fight with businesses to donate prizes last year, I'm still not speaking to some of them out of embarrassment on both parts.
I have even had to fight with businesses in the past to put up the poster in their windows. We would get flat out "no" responses! For the poster!
The BID has cut funding for every event, the money that was easily handed out to events, is no longer being handed out. I sat at meetings where people who were given thousands of dollars in the past were given a flat "no" now. The poor economy is affecting everyone.
Businesses in the Grove don't seem to have the money to help fund the event. And I am not saying they are responsible for paying the bills, but if you only have $2000 a month, you can't move to a $10,000 per month house. So in this case, the Bed Race is moving to where it's affordable.
And so all these different costs and logistics have caused the Bed Race to be moved to its original location, which to be honest, many people have requested over the years. It's cheaper since only one side of S. Bayshore Drive is going to be closed, it's wider, more open and vendors can even be brought in since they are not competing with businesses in the Center Grove streets.
More businesses can participate in the actual race, since people are in town and not away for Labor Day weekend or still gone from extended summer vacations, which was the case in the past.
As for the $5 entry fee, I believe that may be just a suggested donation where all the money, every penny is going to the Dress For Success charity and the gimmick may be if you donate a piece of clothing to the Dress for Success cause, you get in free.
The event is still being worked on (by the way, it takes six months of work or more to plan this) and more changes will be coming. But for those of you leaving bitter and nasty comments here and on Facebook and emailing me and the others involved, grow up. We're lucky to have this event. If you don't want to attend, then don't. But enough with the bad mouthing. This event can easily move to the Gables or Brickell or South Miami (like Snow Days did) were it would be very appreciated and whole heartily supported.
posted by Tom Falco at 10:00 AM
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17 Comments:
Please stop blamming the economy.if anyone took a hard hit was me and trust me we are back up and doing better than before.the economy is doing great just go to any mall and you will see.if the grove is doing bad its not the economy its all the bad mistakes the grove commity has made.i completely understand moving the date and the location of the race but charging is crazy as it is charging for the arts festival is out of control and needs to end.if they cant come up with the funds thru sponsors somebody is not doing a great job of planning these events.
I am not sure what your comment means, but the event has ALWAYS been funded and will continue to be funded. Sponsors prefer the new date and location. So be it.
I agree with commentor charging is crazy bad organizer
Tom, why even bother trying to explain things to some of these people. They are just looking for something to complain about. It amazes me how people just bitch and moan about anything that isn't exactly how they want it to be. Keep up the good work, and we'll be there with our five bucks in hand at the bed race this year.
The funny part is that I am not even on the committee this year and I am just trying to explain to a bunch of ingrates why the venue has changed.
I know it will be bigger and better this year and for those who don't want to attend, well, you'll be missed.
I agree charging is a bad decision! Relocating it, i am good with the decision. Now my Q: Is this event a money loosing event? If the charge is to offset the cost, it could be that the event organizers lack the experience in selling to sponsors the benefits from this terrific event. Or are they trying to meet some charitable goals for Dress for Success? Personally, I am not in favor of fenced in events in Coconut Grove. I am still looking forward to the event!
Regarding the term "suggested donation" isn't that an option? if someone chooses NOT to donate, they are still entitle to get in regardless?
I think your comments about the businesses that don't want to contribute to the events shows one of the reasons for the decline and change in the Grove over the last few decades. New businesses begin here with the expectation that no matter what they are selling, what they are really selling is their location in the Grove.
There is a general attitude in the majority of the businesses that just having a store here guarantees income. Most of the stores here are based on the tourist and college student dollar and repeat business or local residents and families are not desired because they don't generate the income that a vacationing individual with a couple hundred dollars to blow every day while on a weeks vacation does.
The greed of the businesses and the City are a big part of what is killing the events and the general tenor of the community in the Grove as well. I'm glad that the above poster has recovered so well from the world financial collapse in 08, however not everyone is doing so well.
If I am a guy with a wife and two kids the Bed Race sounds like an awesome idea until I realize that, between event priced parking rates and gas and entrance fees, he's spent $50 before his family is in the actual event. Then he gets to pay event prices for food and drink.
Once again the new Grove business class ousts the average resident (of both the Grove and Dade County) in favor of the tourist with all that disposable cash in their pocket. The City charging exorbitant rates and demanding that the Grove pay for services at a profit and the parasitic business owners who don't want to contribute but are happy to reap the profit of the increased business the special events bring are, unfortunately, the new Grove standard and just par for the course.
Really? $280 for a single barricade? Since when did hospitals start renting barricades? ;)
I find it amusing when residents of the Grove, who are so willing to vote for increased regulation of other people's property and increased taxation of other people's money, become incensed when they have to deal with actual regulations and taxation.
Don't bother trying to explain anything to people Tom. All they do is complain. You would think they would be happy the event is moving to a cooler time of year. I am. I go down with my family every year. I have a great time and enjoy the day. Now I get to do it during better climates. About the 5 bucks - I will bring it and be happy to support a great event. This just gives the people with nothing better to do something else to complain about.
Sad to hear about all the people complaining about the change of date. I am excited that this will be in November..especially following Halloween which is a fun night in the Grove. Also, last year we came to the bed race and it was hot, steamy and quite uncomfortable. I also believe the year before was dark and morbid clouds, so November is a perfect time. This also allows the locals who travel on Labor Day wknd to be present for a fun, low key day. Best of luck as the Grove continues to raise money for this event.
How about a local brewery (FL) taking the beer sponsorship?
Let's face it. It was moved to the new location and date for 1 reason. Politics. It'll be right in front of the new mall's future location, 2 days before the vote to approve takes place. You can't tell me that the politicians that are forcing this down our throats won't be there talking about how great it's going to be for the area. Seems to me that McFarland and Bayshore will both be closed even if only in 1 direction. The event died down there before, then was moved to McFarland until there was an injury racing down the hill. If this option is so much cheaper and better, why wasn't it put there 5 years ago? I bet when it started back the promoters were told they couldn't close down that street. Now, because they'll want to bring attention to the new project, it's suddenly the cheaper option. Hurricanes insurance? Pretty sure it's still hurricane season then. They built the event with the center grove businesses money and now are abandoning it. Funding? The BID still charges all business property owners the same amount of money, if not more, so there should still be the same amount of money left for events. They use our money for their own pet projects instead of using it to promote business. Moving it away from the businesses is like stealing money out of our pockets. Then on top of it all, charging people to enter just for the right to be overcharged for a drink or something to eat. Get your hands out of our pockets.
So Al, with all due respect, everything I wrote here is made up then? It's all a secret hidden plan to help the new mall, which I am totally against?
Secondly, the person who came up with this plan to move the date and venue, is also involved with the petition to stop the mall, so that person is either schizophrenic or crazy.
Thirdly, I don't ever remember seeing you at a Bed Race or BID meeting so I'm not sure how you know all these facts you are making up or who has money to hand out and who doesn't. The BID also gets money from many other sources and they have been cut out of lots of that funding in the past couple of years, so they have stopped funding many events.
The BID money for events has dropped by more than half. You should check this out. It is not the same as it was in the past.
I got a call today from someone telling me that the new mall and the new condo across the street is not going to like this right outside their door. So which is it? They want it or they don't?
And to be honest, the event's first year was built on money from the BID and sponsors, most of the Grove businesses have turned down the Bed Race flat when asked to contribute. You may have been generous, but the others not so much. Go around and ask your neighbors how much they have given?
And yes, it is cheaper to close down one street, half the lanes, than to close down five whole streets, which is essentially the whole Center Grove. Call the City if you wish to confirm this.
The Bed Race was not put down on McFarlane years ago because city services were much cheaper and the committee thought it would be a good idea to move it to the center Grove. Also, the BID was calling the shots then, in fact, the Bed Races were supposed to be held on Memorial Day, in May, but the BID told the committee that if they wanted the funding, they would have to do it when they said, which was Labor Day, which was never popular with the committee.
Many events have rain out insurance Al, especially during the Hurricane Season. Other insurance is required, too. Even Snow Days had insurance in case someone threw a snowball and broke a window, which I thought was crazy, but still it was done.
The rain insurance pays the bills in the event that the actual event cannot take place, the Chamber just got $75,000 for their Taste of the Grove Rain Out in April. Their insurance came in handy.
Again, I resent being called a liar in my reporting here and not one thing you say here is based on fact. NONE
Never called you a liar, you're a reporter. You report what you are told. Fact- we pay money to the BID to promote business in the grove. We and the other businesses pay this one way or another, that has not changed. The money is there. What they choose to spend it on has changed. Fact- nov 3 is still hurricane season. Suddenly it makes more economic sense to move it there. The fees for the streets in the center grove must have gone up or did the cost of closing bayshore and McFarland go down? Same amount of cops will be "needed". The BID dictated where it was held before by dangling the funds, I'm sure they could be doing it now too. The politians will cave to the pressure of those residents after the vote is done. Last year they gave away the street banners to promote an Arts festival in wynwood. Those signs are suppose to promote the grove and generate revenue for the bid to use for the grove. Tell me how a wynwood arts festival helped us? Tom, this isn't about you. You provide a place for us to be informed and also voice our opinions on the goings on in the grove. I along with everyone who reads the Grapevine appreciate that. But just because they tell you that's the way it is, doesn't make it so. When it's all said and done i would like to see how they pull it off with a half a street closer. What about Mary street from bayshore to grand? McFarland from grand to bayshore? All that was closed for last year's was commodore, fuller and grand from 32nd to main. Same amount of closure. After all your years here, can you really be surprised that there might be alterior motives behind these moves?
If they had the event in peacock park they wouldnt have to close the streets.and yes you can run on grass.most of the beds have bike tires so it would be easy maybe even safer.
As I have said before, the Grove is full of cranky old hippies that simply like to complain about everything - it's their only sport. Stay home. You won't be missed. I'm looking forward to the Bed Race in November, and potentially cooler, hurricane free weather. That's what I have heard sparked the date change. As for all of you "event experts" out there speculating on other reasons for the date change, you don't know what you are talking about. $5 for charity? Pocket change or the same as a glass of beer at any Grove establishment. It's certainly cheaper than the silly pumpkin patch or candy cane village event. Fenced in? Security and safety. Bayshore location? A straight road - also safer and less expensive. Also more room for spectators in Myer's park. I look forward to seeing the positive Grovites there.
Look closely at the above post and see why the Grove is having problems.
An attitude of', "Look, we are going to radically change the status quo and if all you (fill in this space with a derogative streotype attempting to embarrass or shame an opposing group) don't lIke it, stay home" Then they stand there with their hands in the air and a bewildered look on their faces looking at the emptyness around them asking where everybody is.
I really have no stance on this issue. I still remember when the race was downhill on MacFarland and included the big turn to Bayshore and people would fill Peacock with picnickers waiting for the concert. I personally thought the move uptown was a greedy mistake by the businesses trying to funnel those crowds directly into their stores and I'm glad to see it moved to a more open area again though I question the wisdom of moving what was fameously a summer event to Fall weekend historically noted for the pouring-down rain that accompanies our change of seasons.
The $5 entrance fee is just an annoying added event tax (that, once people are accostomed to paying it, will be raised substantially and will have nothing to do with any charity) and trying to shame people into paying it is rediculous. I understand the promotional value of saying the event is for charity and all but how about instead of charging an added $5 event tax to the people that are already paying for parking at price gouging event rates, for food at the restaraunts, for drinks at the bars, for any number of things that the Grove offers, how about all the businesses that profit enormously from this event donate an agreed upon percentage of their profits for the day? It could even be a kind of contest with the store that donates the most getting some sort of plaque to put on their wall and free press with an article here and in the local papers/blogs.
I'm also curious about exactly who the chain link fence is providing security for and safety from what. The ravening hordes oif cranky old hippies perhaps? They are kinda frightening, aren't they. Smoking that mary-joo-wanna, gumming their macrobiotic food and waving their Whole Earth catalogs in a threatening manner.
Seriously though. Why the fence?
Al, I disappointed in both your ignorance and your words. You do not know of what you speak, yet you spew a distrusting and misguided lack of knowledge as though you have something to base it on. You should be ashamed. If you knew more, you would be so embarrassed... almost as much as I am for you.
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