It's obvious that this organization is a croc. The musician's in this town have nothing positive to say about it. Seems to me that the only comments here that support it are being written by the elected panel, and not entirely sure they are not being posted by the "president" himself. If they don't want this drama, then get it together. Inform the public properly, keep minutes of your meetings, publish the booklet in a timley manner and try to create more than one event for every two years. Also pay your musician's who play that event. Either bill it as a fundraiser and be upfront with them or find another way to make revenue. Try being open to these comments and see why you are failing, and accept offers of help to get things going. I know many of these people who were fired and they are more than capable. Many did the task they were asked and were canned only because their opinon did not match the "president". He is not the whole here. Blues lovers are a diverse group with strong opinions (which should be). Those running things needs to realize they are not speaking for the musicians whom they base this organizaion on.
Whats the point in paying to promote a show in the KCBN? It only reaches the few people who are members, and from reading all this they obviously don't care unless it meets their agenda. I tried to find a copy to see if it was worth advertising the music store and searched L.S. and Indy. Still have not located a venue who offers the Blues New's newsletter. By the way, the group charges way too much to post an event seeing that one must write their own article, and by the time the newsletter gets out it is usually past the event. What was that $50.00 for? I wasn't even offered a copy check or any e-mail returned to say it was accepeted. BAD BUISNESS ETHICS! F.Y.I. You don't need to pay the B.S. to get KKFI to help promote either. Pitch offers free spots for events, so don't get all high and mighty there Tired of the Drama.
Sorry to hear of all this drama. Similar situation went down with a Blues Society in my area, grudges still held almost a decade later. Seems to me there is genuine passion there, and sometimes when people feel strongly actions and words come out harsher than perhaps intended. KC is truly one of the hot spots in the Blues, with some of the hottest Blues bands - hard working bands that deserve a support system that works in harmony instead of discord. Wishing you all the best. Sky
I think Trampled Under foot, Samantha Fish, and Levee Town are some of the best young KC talent to have come along over the past 10 years. Several other groups have come along very well in recent years who actually know something about the blues. I am a fan of Cadillac Flambe, Dog House Daddies, Dan Bliss, Ernest James, Lonesome Hank, Lee McBee, Mama Ray, Blues Notions, Mike Elrod, Shinetop, and Scottyboy Daniels and many others. I love all of our remaining heritage acts like Millage Gilbert, Linda Shell, Bill Carter, Richard Townsend, Eugene Smiley, Frank "Iron Jaw" Oakley, and Everette DeVan.
I love Kansas City's 130 year contribution to blues and jazz heritage. I would love to see KC support its music the way it deserves. I wish I knew the answer to get everyone rowing the same direction for the KC blues scene cause.
I have no skeletons hiding in my closet. I have nothing to hide. I am a music activist. I have given my heart and soul to promote the advancement of the blues in KC and around the world. Every project I have ever worked on always had music first in mind. I have never taken or stolen a single dollar for my efforts. I always hope that I do not spend to much money in something that I support. I believe in great music and musician causes. If anyone believes that I am a crook and loves to see my name in this type of print/press/media please give me a call. Please be sure to call around town for my references with musicians, club owners, and fans alike. I welcome your thoughts and insights.
I would love to see the KCBS supporting the blues in a positive fun way.
Dawayne Gilley
Kansas city
816-728-5694
KC has two of the top "blues" acts in the nation & internationally in Trampled Under Foot and Samantha Fish (don't hate, check their '13 tourdates) and this is the best the KCBS can do for press outside of their monthly "newsletter"??? F'n embarrassment. No wonder so many newcomers never give the present-day genre a chance.
We belonged for one year. I had ordered a Tshirt from them. I kept send emails that were never answered. Took over 6 months to get it.
Before we met my girlfriend used to got out dancing to the Blues almost every night. When we met we would go once or twice every week. The bands always loved us. They appreciate someone would dance to them. And it sometimes encouraged others to get out on the floor.
But a lot of bars have cut out hiring bands or holding jam nights. Very few Blues bands or single musicians have an presence on the web. And most bars don't put up schedules on their basic web sites. The only source of information is the KCBS web site. Unfortunately they list so few musicians any more. And their always out of date listing of bars is gone. Been several times we went out only to be told, "we haven't had Blues here for months."
One night the calendar listed a jam and I couldn't find it on the web. Luckily I did get a director to answer and tell us where the bar was.
There's a competing group that's started up. It's more musicians than listeners like KCBS. The members we know didn't look this group was going to well funded.
Damn shame. The 2 nights each week there are jams close to us she has to work.
All I know about KCBS is this..
I attempted to support the KC Blues scene by offering shows at a club I was booking. Nobody wanted to build a scene. Only 2 Blues Bands (Scotty Daniels and Coyote Bill) wanted to play shows without large guarantees. All I got was flack about stingy club owners and multiple band bills from 99% of the other artists. In all of the other scenes around town, people book shows with other like minded bands, they play and have fun. These bands do not make a living at playing. They do it because of the culture and community. When you have a group of people that are only worried about money and ego's, you put the brakes on networking (actual, not social) and scene building. None of the other genre's in town have a society that requires minutes or votes. They have a subculture. They play, they network, new bands are formed as other bands break up, people throw festivals and everyone has fun. The music is rich, the cultures are prominent and everyone wins. The punk scene doesn't have a president, neither does the hillbilly scene. The Modern rock scene doesn't either... But all of these scenes, have independent promotional groups that push their prospective scenes forward with kick ass shows. Not meetings. I eventually left the KCBS group on FB because I was tired of getting blasted for not offering $800 to cover upkeep and maintenance on their egos. I guess I can't blame them too much if they're being taxed by the society they belong to. My final conclusion is that The blues scene in KC needs more artists like Coyote Bill and Scotty Daniels. Folks that care about preserving the art and bringing it to the masses.
If this was supposed to convince everyone that the entire KCBS is corrupt and inept it has done the opposite for me. I see the same people mentioned in the article on the KCBS FB group starting rumors and bad mouthing people in an attempt to cause discord within the blues scene here in KC. Is this the kind of people we want to be board members or the president?
I have enjoyed all of the recent events that were sponsored by KCBS that I have been able to attend, I enjoy reading the monthly magazine and love hanging out with other KCBS members. The KCBS as I know it now serves its purpose and does it well. I would encourage David to attend a few events and interact with the majority of the KCBS members. I think he will find that most are very happy with the way things are ran and the issues that could be improved will be with the new board and Joe.
There are a very vocal minority that either quit the board or were voted off because they were likely incompetent. If there was any doubt in my mind as to who might best lead KCBS it definitely ain't Karen Baum, Micki Houze, Janet Stephens, or anyone that is affiliated with them.
"basically asked to pay to share information about a blues event" are you referring to the $25 a year fee, which equates to $2 per month, which also get's your event announced on the radio and in the blues news? Do you know how expensive normal radio advertising costs? If you think someone is profiting from these fees, you are sorely mistaken and clearly need to enroll in a business class at your local community college. Web designs, printing the blues news, flyers, etc. Non of these are free. If you know someone that can do all this free of charge, please let me know!
Stop with these uneducated and lack of common sense comments, it's only making some of you look like fools.
No wonder the 501 (c) 3 was revoked from previous board members. CLEARLY non of you realize it takes FUNDS and properly managing those funds to provide all of these services.
I am a younger generation blues fan. Let me tell you, what you are doing with all this drama is reducing the advancement of the blues culture in Kansas City!
I worked with the BS for many years back in it's heyday and it was always a pleasant expeience. However, for the last event I worked on it was like pulling teeth to get a proper response from the group in a timley manner, and was basically asked to pay to share information about a blues event. Is the Blue's News an organization to promote the scene or to attempt to profit from it? I was always informed it was a not-profit organization to create events and awareness for the public but it seems a bit turned around these days. No I am not one of these "trolls" you speak of, just trying to understand what it is this group is doing with our blues in K.C.
If the story seems one sided, it is because little Joe refused to be interviewed. Again-what is he hiding? From the facts, amassed in this story, it is plain to see that sherrick is killing the blues soc. I am surprised that the Sec of State or Attorney General has not begun to investigate. That treasury used to have a lot of money or so I've heard.
this article is an extension of the Facebook page. Get a Life folks!! You're making fools of you and fools of everyone else. If you can do it better, make your own society and put on your own festival. A lot of energy has been wasted, bitching about what you want changed. Do something about it!!
This article is shameful. This article does not represent much more than about 20 folks with their noses bent out of shape. You're all really big about posting nasty comments, but I haven't seen any action on the complainer's parts.
And Dwayne Gilley, really??? I think someone needs to dig a little deeper into his 'handling of kckstreet fest funds' before you use him asan 'authority' on how to put on a festival. He just likes to see his name in print.
Mean spirited bully? You obviously don't even know Joe LOL
Most of these comments are probably from the usual troll/s that have nothing better to do with their time than create needless drama. To all the trolls, I have a few questions for you. If you disagree with how the KCBS operates, what have you done to help the blues scene? Where's your music festival? Last I knew, anybody in our great country can be a music promoter, what bands have you brought to KC? What have you done to better and strengthen our community if you dislike it so much?
I wish I could sit around all day long and collect disability checks and troll all the message boards.
If you don't like the KCBS, do something productive for the KC blues scene. Stop sitting around on tax payer dollars.
there is always conflict of interest when one becomes elected into a position of any sort. there are always going to be people who are unhappy about the election. and feel the wrong person got elected.. keep in mind that he was fairly elected by his peers and are apparently confident in his abilitys after serving one year as president. ive head of this contencious woman before, and she has it in for js.. really this woman needs to get a life and move on.
The article is accurate. I have no vested interest in either side and am just a fan who is completely disgusted with the abuses and lack of transparency from Joe Sherrick and his gang. It is very telling that Joe insists on muzzling the board and hiding information which should be shared with the KCBS. He is a very negative, mean-spirited bully if you aren't one of his friends or someone who can do something for him. I picked this up long before I knew who he was, and just knew him as "that short, mean dude I see at blues events and try to sit far away from."
JW, a very uneducated comment about how the IBC winner is chosen. There is a panel of non-biased judges, who have no information about the musicians in the competition. And attacking a local blues band? That's very counter-productive for the blues scene. Sounds to me like this comment is from someone whose talent couldn't cut it to win the competition.
Joe has the public speaking skills of a nervous 3rd grader giving their first book report
to the class. Oh wait.. perhaps this is a "short man syndrome" issue. Plus the election farce we dealt with (who ever heard of votes in a plain large envelope being transported
to who knows where with no chain of custody?) Laughable.. I show up and often play at few jams around town and enjoy the IBC events..until this year. Sorry to say the Band (not the solo-duo) act chosen by (I'm sure a nudging from the "Little" man himself) was a comedy of error's. I heard several comments in Memphis to the tune of "What was KCBS thinking of sending this circus side show to compete and represent? Definitely didn't help our rep down there. Thanks again JS. I've heard several musicians and band members say the same. Longing for the days of old I suppose. Lost all hope in this so called "society".
The ball is in Joe's court now. He can either throw the ball towards the hoop, or take his big feet and flatten it.
Joe pours his heart and soul into the KCBS. How dare these ex board members speak ill of him. Before Joe was the president, the KCBS was ran without business sense. It was a clique of people, who showed favoritism to their friends. Every organization must produce some sort of revenue to keep it going. Joe has done more in the few short years as president than any of these previous board members. This article is completely one sided and biased. And how is this story worthy of the front page of the Pitch Weekly? Isn't there more important issues to cover in Kansas City? This is just a bunch of middle aged former board members, who are upset because they got voted off the board. They got VOTED off the board because they can't fulfill their duties properly. Stop crying like a bunch of Johnson County teenagers, whose daddy didn't buy them their favorite BMW for their birthday.
Re: “The endless drama of the Kansas City Blues Society”
The article is correct in describing the shambles that was allegedly the last AGM of KCBS. it was not according to not for profit rules. The Board election was a comedy of errors. Many were not asked for evidence of membership. There were, and are, no Annual Accounts presented in spite of regular repeated requests. The KCBS Board did not present its Annual report to members. There was no pre-published agenda. The Board did not present detailed ideas for budget and use of its income from membership fees etc. request for this proper information is sadly met with belittling vitriol and secrecy ie the Board confidentiality agreement. Alone that is a breech of not for profit protocol. Only when KCBS data is provided is there a chance that harmony may prevail. With present social media, the KC Blues will carry on - regardless. Hallelujah.