Webmaster Note: Tom from Jackie Blue has recently been working on a number of projects to address some of the issues confronting unsigned artists.  This latest project is aimed at the dilemma that most unsigned artists face, how to balance the benefits of "exposure" against the need to make a living at what they do.  The idea is a simple one. Artists get paid for their time and money is raised for a worth cause.  Read on for the full story.

The 2004 Halloween Masquerade Ball, 30 October (Detroit) is a test event for an idea that Jackie Blue has been working on for several years. Our mission for this event (and future ones) is to bring together, musicians, artists, creative people, local communities and business folks in order to support local art AND raise funds for worthwhile charities.

After several years of preparation work, we're now ready to put our money where our mouth is: Our first project is to support Habitat for Humanity-Detroit with our Halloween Masquerade Ball event on 30 October in Detroit. As a long-time volunteer contributor to Habitat for Humanity, we do a good job of raising funds for the building of homes (our primary goal), but a poor job of raising a smaller amount of funds to keep Habitat for Humanity-Detroit's full-time staff paid. The monthly fluctuations in money available to pay Habitat's staff is very tough on them and also takes time away from their primary goal.

Raising money through the artist community has always been successful, but takes a lot of time to organize because we historically ask venues and the artists to not only give of their time, but to do so without any monetary compensation. While most venues and artists agree, it's not their number one priority since they like to be able to "eat" and therefore they choose events that pay them first. We end up with only a few fund raising events per year and not the best selection of venue or artist.

To change that, the Halloween Masquerade Ball event will pay both the venue and artists a fair amount of money while raising funds for Habitat for Humanity-Detroit. What we hope to prove is that this is a viable business model. If we succeed, then the issues of money will be removed from the event organization equation and we can focus on doing regular fund raising events throughout North America for worthwhile charities. This will go a long way to giving charities a regular source of money for their ongoing operations.

2004 Halloween Masquerade Ball
Charity event for Habitat for Humanity-Detroit*

Saturday, October 30, 2004
Doors: 7:00pm
Gallery & Art Incubator
4731 Grand River Drive
Detroit, Michigan
Tickets: $20
www.JackieBlue.com (for credit cards via paypal or call 248-877-2535)
Note: Tickets will not be sold at the door.
*10% of net proceeds will be donated to Habitat for Humanity-Detroit

Art by: David Dupuie
Music by: Jackie Blue
Psychic readings by: Kelly MacLeod

Jackie Blue
www.JackieBlue.com
E-mail: jackieblue_2001@yahoo.com