SOMERS POINT — The Somers Point Beach Concert Series is trying to raise additional revenue following what promoter Carmen Marotta called “the greatest summer ever.”
City Council discussed the issue of funding the series during closed session at its meeting Aug. 8.
Shortly after, a letter requesting “supplemental contributions” was sent to sponsors of the series, which has provided live music at the William Morrow Beach for more than three decades.
Marotta, founder of Tony Marts Presents, said they spent more money than they had contemplated this past season, which wrapped up Sept. 6.
“We just went so wild out there with so many things,” Marotta said, noting they presented 20 acts in the context of 14 concerts.
“By pushing it and pushing it and pushing it, we find ourselves where we need to increase the sponsorships,” he said.
Weather also played a factor, affecting the amount usually collected on the beach by concertgoers.
Marotta said the series consisted of 10 local/regional bands and 10 national/international artists.
Hosting out-of-town acts requires money for food, lodging, transportation and other expenses, but Marotta thinks the cost is worth it for the quality.
“This is a big, big jump up from doing local bands that other concerts series do,” he said. “We know how much people love us and how much they appreciate us, so we want to give them a chance to help us out.”
The letter highlights that quality, noting 10 of the 14 concerts were “overloaded with world-class musical artists, both regional and international. This is simply unimaginable for a small town concert series.”
But it also states inflation has driven the cost of everything up.
“In these times, however, the cost of talent, production and lodging for the artists is ever-increasing. Consequently, although we usually generate funds that exceed the cost of the concert series each season over the last 20 years, this year we face a manageable shortfall between all of the monies collected and the cost of these concerts, which generate so much good will, excitement and business for the Somers Point community on Friday nights,” it states.
“Therefore, we are asking everyone to make supplemental contributions or simply put more cash in the collections or write a check to Somers Point Beach Concerts and drop that in the collections,” it states.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff