A fond look back at ROM-2103 & a look ahead to an Incredible ROM-2104!!!
Season's Greetings to one and all that are part of our ever growing Roslindale Open Mike, ROMulin Community of Artist's! This is an all inclusive list of every one of you that have been The Essence, The Foundation of what ROM has become over these now 6 years!!!!
I know I speak on behalf of our dear host & my dear friend Mike Delaney, myself and All that makes ROM what it is today, when I say a most heart felt THANK YOU for ALL you continue to bring to ROM.
It totally amazes me where we began in 2009 to where we are today going into our ROM-2014 Season. The make up of ROM has been an incredible blending of idea's many of which you gave to us to always continue to keep our doors and minds open to new and better idea's on how to continue making ROM a most welcoming and flexible place to be. I do also want to say thanks to each and every one that has ever walked through our doorways to perform that are our (ROM Foundation). To our Open Mike performers of the many, Spoken Word, Music, Comedy, Magical acts of every conceivable types. I do also want to personally thanks those of you who in increasing numbers this past year have joined us in audience attendance which number wise has grown to be our largest numbers since we began.
As Most of you that know me know, I am clueless when it comes to computer anything yet, when I look at even these "Infrequent Blog Stats", Thanks to ALL of YOU!! ROM is an International Community of artist with this Blog reaching 22 other countries. To our friends from across the many ponds, welcome and we hope you may join us someday soon!!
I did also want to take a moment to share with you a bit about the planning that goes into ROM as far as Features go. From the beginning and to this day, the Primary individuals that do get Features at ROM are those that are part of our Foundation of ever growing & new to ROM folks that attend on a regular basis. We are totally well aware that this cannot be done by all due to distances and other obligations. We were blessed with over 200 requests for Features at ROM this year for what has up to this year has been 23 Venues per calendar year! It also ways does intrigue me how many emails & calls I get both from agents as well as individuals from around the Globe asking for at Features at ROM. Make NO mistake it is an honor but it is not the way Mike & I make our selections. Over the next 2 years we are calling the Season's our "Thank You Years", by doing something we have not done with few exception's and this is having Return Features of those folks that began with us in 2009 and to this very day are with us as often as they possibly can be. There was NO WAY of course to accommodate ALL that fit into that category in one year so ROM-2015 will also be a "Thank You YEAR"!! In addition to our Always 23 venues per year, ROM-2014 will have an addition of 3 ROM Venues on the 3 months that have 5 Mondays!! For the moment these will be on the dates that for the past 2 Seasons have been the very much sought out ROM Unplugged Ceilidh nights.
We have added the additional shows for 2 main reasons. The most important reason is our home, The Roslindale Congregational Church is having hard times financially and it is my hope and request that when you do join us you see your way to our "DONATIONS BASKET" where all the free food and beverages are and make a donation however large or small it may be. Given our numbers over the years, if each individual that joined us would be able to add one dollar, we could pay for the heat in the building for a year!! We DO NOT WANT to lose our home at RCC because they cannot afford to have us there!! So I do appeal to ALL and again ROM is going to remain Free to ALL for admission as it has always been but we need to pick up & reply to The Roslindale Congregational Church our thanks for giving of their space for us to have a home for ROM!! All donations go directly to RCC on a monthly basis and for those that this may help the church is a 501 C3 non -profit organization. If you need a receipt for your donation please feel free to ask!
The 2nd reason of course for the addition of the 3 shows is to get in 3 more Features as part of our "Thank you Season".
I am still working with the Church on a workable eve, about 3 nights in 2014 to resume the Ceilidh nights. I have requested a Thursday eve as I do pick up for the Roslindale Food Pantry on Sun-Wed eves each week. I have not yet heard back on that item from the Church but will keep you updated via our ROM email and website.
Mike & I both know ROM- 2014 will be another wonderful year for both our entire ROMulin Community on our Open Mike front, our Feature front and as always, whatever else the New Year will bring to ALL of us!!
One thing we do want to thank all for is for your unending Support of ROM.
WE are so totally blessed by being in such an Art Rich area of our tiny part of our Globe. WE are of course honored that you have chosen ROM to keep coming back to being part of great Live, Local, Art's.
I do want to remind to you to please take a look at the few websites of our many friends of ROM on the right side of this Blog. The list gets larger each time. WE are so graced in our own area with so many Venues that offer some of the best of Live Local, Artist's in our own area, some of them even on the very same night as ROM!!! I have been asked by venues host's why I would advertise for "Competition" Venues. My answer is as always, we feel we are an equal opportunity Open Mike. I also do feel there is never, nor will there ever be a "COMPETITION" of the Art's or where you choose to follow them!! I totally encourage you to visit the many other venues we are graced with both in and out of our area!! I do my best to do just that myself.
A year of Community Changes……
As with any Community, we have had seen and felt many changes, both positive and those we see as losses in the many aspects of our lives!! Our wish to each and ever one of you is to have New Year filled with as many of the best things that Life can bring to you, your Family and Friends!
However you Celebrate the Season Changes may they be exactly how you wish them!
We totally look forward to seeing, hearing and being with you ALL, as part of ROM-2014 as well as at other Venues..
All my best, Love and Thanks for ALL you bring to our Lives, Always, Neal :)))
