Concert Controversy

Locals who donated time and effort to support the event on August 10 believed all proceeds would go to the Ocracoke Youth Center, which will soon kick-off a fund-raising drive to purchase land for a recreational field on Ocracoke. 

Volunteers and donors say that their efforts benefited the bands and event organizers, rather than OYC.  $3000 of the $8600 raised went to the Youth Center. 

That figure startled and alarmed some residents.  "People saw what looked like a hugely successful event, and were throwing a lot of money at it," said OYC Board member Bob Chestnut.  Their thought process was that all of the money would go toward a new recreational field, he said.

"They were putting on a concert," said Bob.  OYC signed off on permits, which took about 20 minutes of Bob's time.  "I didn't do any work.  It's kind of hard to be critical.  We did benefit from it, and we're thankful for what they gave."

"The only reason I did it was for the Youth Center," said commercial fisherman and business owner Farris O'Neal, a veteran of many a fundraising fish fry whose advice about how best to prepare a large number of plates went unheeded.  He ended up organizing a last minute crew to prepare and serve the 250 pounds of fish he donated.  David Scott Esham and Earl Gaskins held a workshop in fish cleaning, and "a lot of people jumped in to help fry," said O'Neal.

"Farris came down and saved our asses.  He's the hero here," said Michael O'Neal, an islander who plays with The Dye Wells, the show headliners.  "He caught, cleaned and cooked the fish, right out of the water.  It doesn't get any better than that." 

$2100 of the money OYC received came in the form of direct contributions solicited from island businesses.  The other $900 came from donations, and sales of tickets to purchase beer and fish dinners.  Entrance to hear the bands was free, and several hundred locals and tourists danced the summer evening away at the Community Square.

$5,120 covered expenses, which included paying five bands, a sound man, gas, housing and food for off-island performers, and incidentals such as insurance, permits, publicity, cups, plates, tickets and T-shirts.   Click here to see a breakdown of revenues and expenses.

The use of cash donations to pay for the concert troubles some.  A business owner who put $300 in cash in a donation jar said he was disappointed that only $900 came in from the event itself.  A lot of fish, clams and beer were being sold, he said, and it seemed reasonable to expect that a larger sum would be donated to OYC, earmarked for the ball field.

Apparently there is a fixed cost involved in throwing a concert, said Bob.  Neither Bob nor the business owner thought the expenses were outrageous or extravagant when they looked at the accounting organizer Mike Kalna provided.

The ballpark initiative, OYC and Ocracoke Working Watermens Association names drew people into thinking the proceeds would all go to the non-profits, or at least that their cash donations would, said locals I spoke with, who asked for confidentiality before commenting. 

The bands played other paying gigs while on the island, while the event paid for their housing, gas and food.  The fairness of that has been questioned.

Michael O'Neal said there was no sinister motive in putting on the event.  He rejects the notion I heard floated that "the hippies stole the money."  Organizer, and lead guitarist for The Dye Wells, Mike Kalna "does not have that in his bones," said Michael.  

Two Dye Wells band members took a week off of work to be on Ocracoke preparing for the show, and Kalna devoted hours of his time to organization, said Michael.

Originally conceived of as a CD release party, the concert grew into a vision to promote North Carolina bands, seafood and breweries across the state.  There are two other Hills to Holy Water events scheduled, in Durham and Asheville.  The one on Ocracoke was the first.  All will donate any proceeds generated after expenses to a non-profit in the community which hosts the music show and fresh seafood dinners.

$487 of net revenues were kept to support the next two Hills to Holy Water concerts and fish frys.

Promoting NC music, fresh catch and local breweries "from here to the other end of the state" is a very good idea, and we're not going to stop, said Michael.  Hills to Holy Water organizers turned down an offer of donated cups and plates, and instead purchased biodegradable products.  That choice, too, has been questioned by island residents.

Mike Kalna said he was "obviously surprised" by the reaction that the sum donated was too small.  For several years he worked with James Wynn to produce a similar event, Junction Function, which brought in paid performers and donated net revenues to local non-profits.  Hills to Holy Water followed the same procedures, said Mike.  "I tried my best to keep expenses down."

This is not capital fundraising, said Mike.  "We are a third party putting on an event for people to have a good time with friends."  He understood the donations of fish and beer to be toward the event, rather than toward the Youth Center.  

Revenues after expenses are not guaranteed, said Mike.  He put up several thousand dollars of his own money to stage the show, and would have absorbed that cost had the rainy day continued and kept people from turning up.  OYC would still have received the business donations, which was not the case with Junction Function, which was supported by business donors and first covered out of pocket expenses, said Mike.

More coordination and communication could have helped prevent the frustration and resentment people are feeling, said the island residents I spoke with.

Anger should not be directed toward OYC or fundraising efforts for the recreational field, said Mike.  He'll be on the island soon to pass out tax receipts to the businesses that donated, and welcomes the opportunity to talk.

What would he do differently?  "I would make it crystal clear to people that this is a benefit, and that time, money and donations that are not given directly to the non-profit will be used to help put on the event.  The event will then give the balance after expenses to the non-profit.  I will work with others, including the non-profit, to find ways to generate more revenue."

Both Michael O'Neal and Mike said they hope a late summer music festival can flourish and benefit island non-profits in the future.  Mike envisions several days worth of bands playing on the new ball field, and as much as $20,000 coming in to benefit the community.

Picture half-naked people dancing in the sunlight.  Add some Budweiser for the locals, and a lot of people will show up.

Volunteers will be needed.