First, there will be fireworks in Red Bank this year.
Though organizers of the July 3 KaBoom Fireworks on the Navesink recently expressed concern about the future of the event because of a sharp drop in corporate sponsorships, they’re closing in on their goal of raising funds to cover this year’s nut.
But the widespread economic collapse made this year’s production more of a white-knuckle endeavor than organizers have grown used to, as formerly fat-walleted corporate sponsors vanished. That’s prompted a rethinking of how the fireworks show is financed.
This year, organizers are reaching out directly to viewers of the show, which is billed as the largest in New Jersey and fourth-largest in the U.S. as measured in the number of shells fired — more than 10,000, lofted by the estimable Jersey-based firm of Garden State Fireworks.
Landing in some 47,000 area business and residential mailboxes this week is a direct appeal for support from individuals. redbankgreen spoke recently with Peter Reinhart, chairman of KaBoom’s 15-member, all-volunteer organizing committee, about the effort.
redbankgreen: In a word, how would you describe the state of KaBoom financially?
Reinhart: Challenged. You know, the business model for the past number of years, most of the support comes from the business community — major sponsorships, things like that. The public, a few individuals give a few dollars. A small number give $5 and $10 donations, and a few give more. And then we have the two fundraising events — the cocktail party at the Monmouth Boat Club in mid-April, and one at the Illumination Dinner [last month] at the Atrium at Navesink Harbor.
Attendance at the boathouse event appeared to be down pretty dramatically this year.
‘Dramatically’ is probably too strong a word, but it definitely hurt in terms of the auction. People would normally bid just to benefit the cause, and there was some good stuff — golf outings, vacations — but we netted about 50 percent from that event that we did the previous year.
What is the cost of the fireworks?
There are the hard costs of the event, and then the cost of raising money for the event. All told, we probably need to raise about $200,000.
Do you use a paid solicitation service to raise money?
No. We do it all with volunteers. The cost of mailings is a big part of it. Insurance.
I guess you pay for police overtime.
We pay a little bit of that, but we frankly don’t cover the cost, just as the Jazz & Blues Festival and those types of things contribute.
And where do you stand budgetwise?
We’re short at this point [late May]. I think we’re going to need $20,000 or more from the general public. And the way we’re going to get there — this is only my second year as chairman, and I don’t really have the fundraising history of the event, but people say, ‘Why don’t you just get a dollar from everybody who’s there?’
Sounds easy.
It does sound easy. But we have a couple of restraints. One is philosophical: we don’t think we should charge. And the borough agrees, because they’re Green Acres parks [Riverside Gardens Park and Marine Park] and there could be a legal issue with that. But we’re not going to charge — it’s not the right thing to do. It would basically becomes an elitist event, and we don’t want that.
Even if just you’re shaking tin cans at the corners?
Well, that’s exactly where we’re going. We’re working right now on a plan to have approximately 50 volunteers who will work in teams of two and three, to have the equivalent of tin cans, though it’ll be nicer that that. They’ll be stationed at key points where the public enters the area, as well as walk-around teams. And they’ll make the pitch: ‘Hey, this is the people’s fireworks.’ Not corporations’ fireworks, the people’s fireworks.
Just think about it: if you go to a movie by yourself, depending on whether you get the matinee or not, that’s six to ten bucks. If you take your family, that’s twenty, thirty, forty, fifty bucks. Here you have live entertainment, a show you can’t see in movie theaters, a great outdoor venue, with musical entertainment. So for hours you’re entertained, culminating in this great thing — for free. So how much would you pay for that?
Well, through redbankgreen and the print media, we hope. We’ve got a big mailing going out to more than 40,000 addresses. The theme we’re using is ‘Kick in for KaBoom.’ We’ll also be giving out stickers that say ‘I Kicked in for KaBoom.’ We’re hoping that people will sort of, ‘Hey, where’d you get that?’
With 150,000 people — obviously they’re not all in the public areas, but there’s tens of thousands who are — I think once the public understands it, they’ll step up.
So is it correct to say the fireworks are not in peril?
The fireworks will definitely happen this year. They will not be canceled. As is also the case in Rumson, by the way.
They don’t have the same problem with underwriting that you have.
No, but there were rumors that they wouldn’t be held. They’re blessed with some great benefactors, as we are. But it’s just harder this year.
Was any thought given to paring back on the show?
We
don’t want to pare back on the show itself. We don’t have a paid staff
so we can’t cut overhead. But we have trimmed. Some of the musicians
are taking lower fees, or playing for free. Miscellaneous things.
We cut back on some of the perks at the events that people pay to get prime seating at three locations,
including the VIP reception in [a section of] Riverside Gardens Park.
We’re also doing a Friends of KaBoom West at the Hovnanian building
[where Reinhart is an executive]. In the past, that was a catered
affair, but this year it won’t be catered. We didn’t think enough
people would go for that at $150 each, so it’ll be just $25 a chair, no
catering.
That raises the question of why you can do that in the park but can’t ask for money in the park.
Yeah, somehow they got around that. I don’t totally understand it. Has something to do with limited versus prevented access.
So if you get your $20,000, that’ll get you over the hill for this year.
We’ve never had a surplus. We have to raise it every year. But we’ll make it.
What I really want to do is change the business model. Because in the end, this is really the people’s fireworks. Whether they’re in the parks or the boats or on the lawns, it’s the people’s fireworks. So I’d like to change the model so that most of the funding comes from the general public.
We want the show every year. It’s one of the things that makes Red Bank special. We have this unique ‘amphitheater’ overlooking the river that most towns would kill for.
Is that a message that hasn’t been pressed because you had the large donors?
Didn’t need to. Exactly. And the logistics are difficult to figure out, so you didn’t need to go there because your money was coming from other sources. But this recession has taught us a lesson, so now we have to adapt.
We’re hoping to morph into a more sustainable model so we don’t have to rely on corporate contributors.
[Editor's note: Reinhart says officials are "pretty sure" this is the fiftieth anniversary of the fireworks, though an article in Asbury Park Press in June 2000 reported that the fireworks show
had been "displayed for more than 50 years."
For an unknown number of years, the event's costs were picked up by Red Bank taxpayers, but that ended with the creation of KaBoom about seven years ago, Reinhart says. Other reports indicate the the private-sector Fireworks on the Navesink Committee took over the funding in either 1976 or 1988.
Donations may be made via the KaBoom website.
The rain date for the show is July 4.
Here's the full brochure, which was sent to 47,000 homes and businesses in Red Bank, Shrewsbury, Fair Haven, Little Silver, Lincroft, Eatontown, Middletown, & Rumson: Download Kaboomflier]
Dear Mr. Reinhart: Please save the stamp and do not send me a pledge card. I live three blocks from the epicenter of this annual event. Each year on the morning after, I pick up diapers, bottles, cans, food, souveniers, etc. from my lawn and street — sweet mementos left by 150,000 visitors to our town. I've lived in destination towns before but this lack of manners and consideration never fails to amaze me. This is my home, and they're tossing their trash in my "living room." So, please consider my clean-up campaign as my contribution.
How much does it cost for the police department? And if its not paid for by the fireworks commitee than who pays for it. I agree with JB, I spend the following day after the fireworks cleaning up everyone elses mess. Enough.
yea…why cant we go back to the good ol days of downtown desolation
Fireworks on the 4th = Americana
You have to be a pretty angry person to bitch and moan. Or maybe a communist?
I miss Prowns,
We had fireworks during the Dead Bank years. The fireworks have nothing to do with downtown prosperity.
Mike,
The Red Bank fireworks are on the 3rd, not the 4th. And no one has yet complained about the fireworks, just about the mess left by 150,000 people coming to watch them.
Mike, I don't think communist, concerned maybe. We know that our bravest provide their services for free, but the police question does however beget an answer, who pays for the Police overtime? And if the park is green acres, how is there preferred seating, should it not be first come first served? If you need funding, ask the local politicians who sit in the 'prefered seating' area free of charge……
Mike and I Miss Prowns: I truly love and look forward to all the annual traditions we enjoy in this country: parades, barbecues, races, music festivals and yes, I do love fireworks. And, I fully understand that visitor dollars keep RB businesses vital. RB has been my home for the last 10 years, and I fully support, attend and encourage others to attend all our festivities. I guess I'm just a little tired of picking up after inconsiderate daytrippers who were obviously frightened by a trash can as small children. And I think the burden of funding our annual fireworks should be shared by those who enjoy our town and leave their trash behind.
$ 200,000 is crazy to blow stuff up-people are starving and loosing jobs and homes. And quite frankley if you blew up $100,000
worth, would that ruin the event? I defy any audience memeber to watch any firework show and tell me whats a $ 2000 firework and whats a $10000 firework. Jeeze.
I remember sitting at Riverside gardens when it was an apartment building. The lawn out back was the primo site to watch from and was FREE! Charging for VIP seating is disgusting.
How about letting the elderly and the handicapped utilize it? Oh, I forgot, the almighty dollar comes first.
This town sucks $$$$$..ever since the Hydroplane races left it's never been the same, and I'm sure none of you Bennies remember the National Regatta, ssshhheeessshhhh! what is that sucking sound…….Dead Bank My HomeTown!!!
The real fireworks have already began…
RBG please cover the story of furloughs and layoffs.
Your public will be shocked at what goes on inside the Boro Hall.
The Police are paid for with your tax dollars.(They do a great job and earn every cent of it),but why the hell are we spending money on fireworks at the same time cutting services.
Jobs are lost, and pay is cut for employees so out of town slobs can shit up the town ?
I love the fireworks,but maybe we should scale down for a few years.
Its unbelievable how people figure out a way to bitch and complain about a show they don't pay a penny for and enjoy with their families for free! Mr. Reinhart, I appreciate your hard work and know that so do the other 200,000 people each year that watch the show. Do not let the uninformed people, who think their tax money is going to pay for any bit of the show, bring down the positive atmosphere in which we welcome your volunteerism! Thank you.
With thanks,
Chris (Volunteer KaBoom Emergency Medical Technician)
I was speaking with a borough employee the other day about the four day work week and she told me that they were just taking longer lunches and more breaks during the day. How many smokers can you have outside borough hall during the day at one time.
Wow,
Some people are spending a little too much time on the internet blogging. People volunteer there time and you criticize them. The worst part about it, few have even presented any reasonable points with evidence, support, etc. Even better, the few points people have made have been purely incorrect, like the fire on Monmouth St??? I am only a volunteer fireman though, what would I know. I guess I am also the parasite of Red Bank since I am helping people who aren’t poor. Should we cancel the fireworks, jazz festival, tree lighting, etc. to be sure that no one comes into Red Bank? But I digress, get off the backs of those who volunteer their time in an effort to make Red Bank even better! Maybe LordJohnWarfen, DJLewis, sandhoofs, MustangSally, Tad, etc. should spend some less time on the internet and start helping out others with their apparent free time.
Yours truly,
EMT/Fireman Volunteer
The fireworks are a perennial disaster. Drunken idiots battling roided out cops, Bennys littering our own personal Hoboken. What will we do without Kaboom’s Stinkfest?
Chris,
Respectfully LordJohn loves the fireworks, please do not group me with the anti fireworks folks. And than you for your volunteering, its what makes a town a community.