Last chance to comment on Cactus Cafe before May 7 deadline
We just sent this email to our email list, urging all Cactus Cafe fans to write VP for Student Affairs Juan González and UT President William Powers before Friday’s deadline:
Dear Cactus Cafe fan,
If you haven’t yet, it is critical that you voice your concerns now over the proposed hybrid “KUT” model being proposed for the future Cactus Cafe. Comments from students, faculty and the community will be received by Vice President for Student Affairs, Juan González, through Friday, May 7, and he has indicated he will “make a final decision promptly thereafter.”
Here are some key points to consider:
- The plan is so vague as to be incomprehensible, with many issues left open for interpretation.
- Only 150 nights of musical performance is mentioned and guaranteed—a drastic reduction—and all “outside the main academic calendar.”
- Current permanent Cactus Cafe staff and student employees will lose their jobs.
- No continuing daily cafe and bar operations.
- No short-term and long-term community input.
- Little or no learning opportunities for students.
- No paid student internships or student artist-in-residence programs as called for in other proposals.
- An untried business model with potentially three entities (KUT, SEC, bar operator) running the same space is simply too risky and a recipe for disaster.
- If KUT has shortfalls in fundraising, the Cactus Cafe will be the first thing to go.
- Although it has a wonderful musical heritage and its offer to step in for the Cactus is appreciated, KUT simply has no experience in booking a music venue that must sell tickets to survive.
Please be respectful when you comment to:
- "Juan C. Gonzalez, Ph.D." <VPSA@austin.utexas.edu>
- "William Powers Jr., President, UT Austin" <president@po.utexas.edu>
We invite you to repeat your comments on our website, here:
[ Below, on this page. ]
Regards,
The SaveTheCactusCafe.org team
Comments
Closing down the Cactus Cafe would be giving me a free open-heart surgery, because a bit of my love for the city of Austin, Texas would be removed from me, and from so many other people. I first moved to Austin from my native California precisely because I had discovered, from two former Austinites, how incredible its live music scene is. Later, I made over a dozen friends in working bands, at least two of them in the Cactus Cafe itself, as well as befriending Chris Lueck, who works behind the bar there to this day (I believe). THe historical importance of the Cactus, not only to Austin's live music scene, but to American music in general, simply cannot be exaggerated; if you don't believe that, just ask the many international students I've met in there, or the Australian couple who moved to Austin so they, too, could go to Antone's and ended up loving the Cactus, as well. This place is about making memories, not just money for the University of Texas, and making musical history, each and every night it's open. Studies have decisively indicated that exposure to music improves test scores in students---why would you want to deprive the student body at UT-Austin of this incredible venue, which, because of its on-campus location, eliminates the need for many of them to brave a drive home after a night of mild drinking while enjoying the musicians? This is an historic place in Austin, and in my heart, and it would be little short of criminal to shut its doors to replace it with a franchise restaurant of any description. "A politician thinks only of the next election, whereas a statesman thinks of the next generation." Thank you for your due diligence on considering the perils and possibilities in making this painful decision, which could adversely impact the University, as well as Austin in general.
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Input I sent-
I am concerned that Austin is on the brink of losing one of it's defining treasures, The Cactus Cafe. I graduated from UT in 1983 and the Cafe is one of the only ways I can remain connected to my university. When entertaining out of town guests, the Cactus is a top attraction. Austin's strength as an attractive community rests largely on the creative class, particularly musicians and the audiences who are inspired by them. From what I have seen, the KUT proposal looks like a recipe for disaster and will render the Cactus unrecognizable and useless to the community. While I agree that the Cafe's present operations could use some tweaking to benefit everyone, eliminating the staff and daily operations is unacceptable to me. I think KUT can play a role in the new and improved Cactus experience, however, the take-over approach looks like a deadly overkill plan. Please don't send community members such as myself into decades of mourning the loss of the Cafe and use your power to preserve this priceless venue.
Thank you for your time and wisdom.
President Powers,
I ask that you make the time to thoughtfully consider my input. I am a program specialist with one of the largest foster care and adoption agencies in the state. I arrived on the UT campus in 1969 from Corsicana, Texas. My mother was a country and western disc-jockey on KAND in Corsicana and a UT doctoral student confirmed late in my mother’s career that she was one of the first full time female radio personalities in the country. She took over my dad’s program after he died of TB in 1950. My mom’s radio show went by the iconic name of “Aunt Louise’s Texas Stomp”. I say this to inform you that while I have little musical talent myself, music has always been a very important part of my life.
It is logical that the older I become the more I value tradition while accepting the fact that popular culture is an evolutionary process that is always shedding itself and reinventing itself. That is a necessary and healthy process. A major task of society and academia is to arbitrate the vagaries of popular culture and determine what has value, what is worth retaining and what should be discarded.
Austin’s diverse culture is a wonderfully unique and difficult to catalogue mix of art, media, music, movies, theater, dance, sports, politics, and the natural and environmental landscape that fiercely hangs on to a mystical ubiquitous old west, blues, cowboy, hippie, karma vibe that brings a smile to most folks, even those with a conservative nature. If we are not embraced at least we are warmly tolerated by most folks.
The Cactus Café is and has been an important part of the University’s and our community’s culture. It is absolutely part of our cultural landscape that we should value and defend. The Cactus Café is part of our cultural consciousness. It is not a building or a venue. It is the sum of its history, the performers, the audience, and the staff that has made it a cultural and University landmark. I must admit I haven’t been in a while, but it is always on my radar. I frequently say, “Wow, so and so is at the Cactus, we should go”. It is reassuring that the Cactus is an anchor in our culture, to loose it would be a mistake. Don’t just put it on life support, revive it. Honor the work of its leadership and staff and let them continue. It is not just about dollars and cents, it is about dollars and sense. It makes sense to keep the Cactus open. Thank you.
Best regards,
Mike Foster
Dear President Powers and Vice-president Sanchez:
Normally, I would send these comments from my personal email account, but since I'm writing in part as a longtime member of the UT community — Class of 1968 and a UT staffer/lecturer at the LBJ School, 1980-82, 1985-present — I felt it would be appropriate to use my UT email address instead.
I have been a regular Cactus Cafe patron from Day 1 and have experienced hundreds of wonderful evenings of music, the likes of which have never been matched anywhere else, whether in New York's clubs, Barcelona's cafes, Rio's samba clubs or London's pubs. (Okay, maybe a few sessions in Ireland come close, thanks to my friend and Cactus denizen Ed Miller for those recommendations!) The Cactus is part of UT's education and arts mission and is revered and patronized by the larger UT community — students, faculty, staff, and alumnae, plus visitors who come from near and far.
I've listened to all the discussions, reviewed the proposed options and thought long and hard about the situation. I just don't get it. We have a truly unique jewel in the Cactus as it's now being operated. It's ambience in this particular setting can't really be replicated elsewhere. It is recognized all over the world as part of what makes Austin and UT the great places they are. Big-time stars are ready and willing to address any revenue shortfalls.
Let's retain the Cactus largely as it is, enhance and better structure student involvement in its programming to an extent, and move forward.
Thanks for your consideration.
Respectfully,
Christopher T. King, Director
Ray Marshall Center, LBJ School
UT Austin
I am a KUT member and have donated to KUT multiple years. Being familiar with KUT, I have these concerns that make me not support the KUT model for the Cactus Cafe. The Cactus will interfere with KUT's mission to provide public radio. Local programming will suffer if KUT has to spend resources on the Cactus. Federal restrictions on public radio will make it hard for KUT to promote the Cactus without being in violation of the Communications Act. KUT is an excellent news organization, but it has a ten year track record of repeatedly cutting music while increasing news. Is KUT's news-focused management really qualified to run a music club?
KUT can no longer afford to have the number of DJs and local music programming hours it used to. In 2009, KUT budget concerns forced KUT to remove 15 hours a week of local DJ music. These timeslots were replaced with a cheap lower quality taped DJ from California. If KUT no longer has the resources for local DJs playing local music, can they take on the additional costs of running a local music club?
KUT listeners and station management would agree the main priority of KUT should be to focus on its radio programming. KUT should not be distracted by running a student union service. Any additional revenue found should first be spent to re-hire local DJs back to the slots occupied by the taped DJ program.
KUT having to spend additional revenue on running a music club would compromise their ability to pay for current DJs and programming. KUT running the Cactus could lead to even more local DJs losing their timeslot, and a further reduction in quality local programming.
The Communications Act limits public radio stations on what they can say and do. Most notably public radio is restricted from airing commercials. Public radio is also restricted from "calls to action" that encourage listeners to make a purchase. This means djs can not say on air "come down to the Cactus tonight". KUT simply listing a Cactus concert would be a gray area, as technically KUT would be leading listeners to make a purchase from KUT.
KUT is a top notch news organization, but they invest a minimal amount of their resources into local music programming. Music is a second priority for them. The majority of their programming budget goes to news. The majority of employee and labor costs are spent on news and departments other than music. Every major initiative taken by Director Vanderwilt over the past 10 years has been news/talk related. There is a ten year track record of Vanderwilt repeatedly cutting music and increasing news. It's a valid concern KUT's Cactus music will be an even lower priorty.
Besides all this, the KUT plan is of today too vague. Vanderwilt is quoted as saying "there is no model". If you are leaning towards the KUT plan, it would be best to have more details before proceeding.
Eric S
Dear Mr. Gonzalez and Mr. Powers,
The Cactus Cafe is rare and unique and a critical piece of this city's
musical heritage. You have a responsibility to protect and preserve
this treasured institution.
I have lived in Austin for 30 years and as such I think I have a
pretty good feel for what makes this city so great. I'm begging you
to keep the Cactus Cafe as close to the original as possible. Please
do the right thing.
rp johns
Here's what I sent yesterday morning:
I write further to my previous letter following the initial announcement about the proposed closure of the Cactus Café. Although residing in the UK I flew over to Austin for the concerts on 6th and 7th March, in part to show my support for this iconic venue and to enjoy what may have been my final opportunity to see and hear live music at the listening room I regard as the best, bar none, for acoustic music.
Since returning home I have watched with interest as developments have unfolded and would like to thank the administration for listening to the voices, from the local, national and international communities calling for reconsideration of the decision to close the Cactus Café.
I am heartened to note that matters have progressed positively and am encouraged by the fact that students who previously may have not been aware of the Café’s offerings want to be involved in its future. The programming so adeptly managed by Griff Luneburg and his team has served the Café well and I hope that they will be allowed to continue in their existing roles. To me it makes complete sense for the University to use their many combined years of experience to train and mentor student interns in the rudiments, complex as they are, of running a successful music venue and upholding the Cactus Café’s world-wide reputation amongst followers of acoustic music.
I will without doubt visit Austin again; my first visit in 2004 was the catalyst for what has become a regular sojourn and each time I have been drawn to the Cactus Café by virtue of its programming and the sheer quality of performances helped in no small way by the existing management team’s attention to detail and careful regard for artists and audiences alike.
I implore you therefore to accept the option, which allows Griff, Chris and Susan to remain in post, together with their (changing) team of student interns. I appreciate that a new business model will call for evidence of profitability but I am sure that given their intimate knowledge of the business, they are more than capable of ensuring that the Cactus Café continues to build and improve on its existing strengths.
Yours sincerely
Jela Webb
Here's what I sent Thursday, 11:47 pm. I know it's late.
I am an Austin citizen who would just like to plead with you one last time to keep the wonderful Cactus Cafe as close to the original as possible, including its employees who have made it what it is. The Cactus Cage is a huge part of the quality of life here in Austin, and a true piece of this state's amazing music heritage. It is baffling to me why you would ever "mess with" such a treasured institution.
Please put yourself in the shoes of the people who love this place. My family and I moved here 7 years ago from out of state, and fell in love with Austin precisely because of places like the Cactus. Actually, there is no other place like the Cactus, because it is small and intimate, books the best music, and actually has seats where people over 35 can comfortably appreciate the music that put Austin on the map. It also holds the soul of decades of Texas-defining music in its walls.
This place is bigger than UT; it is really a bridge between the university and the community--at least we thought it was. Sometimes there is more than money to consider. There is community, culture, history, and beauty. Please reconsider!!!
Lynda Boyer
Austin, Texas
sent my emal tonight! Do you think they actually read all of them? I doubt it.
Keep the cafe part of the UT system, would you sell off a portion of the business school? It seems like a historic piece of UT and such a great academic tradition which also serves as an outlet for FA students should be retained for future students and alumni.
save the cafe!! my husband and i met there about thirty years ago when we were both students at u.t and we still go there to listen to some of the best music in the world.
sunyong
While I am a dedicated listener and member of KUT and appreciate the station's willingness to step-in on behalf of the Cactus Cafe; what I as a listerner, member, frequent customer of the Cactus, as well as an Open Stage participant, would like to see is for the Cactus to remain open and unchanged.
It is such an important and historical music venue words fail to express the vastness. In my opinion the Cactus Cafe is as important to the University of Texas and the way UT is represented to the world as a cultural beacon as football and the Blanton Museum of Art. As vast as the great state of Texas a beacon to the world.
Let's use all of this energy stirred up and keep the Cactus Cafe the Cactus Cafe.
Best regards,
Dana McBride
It is sad that the University of Texas does not seem to be fully aware of the fame of the Cactus Cafe. On a recent trip to Europe, and in a discussion with some folks we met in Paris, we mutually shared lore of the history of the Cafe and it's place in American music culture. We come to Austin from across the country (California) for a week every year to attend shows at this historic venue, and to be treated with great respect by the existing staff. In fact, I am surprised that no one has proposed protecting it as an historic site. Surely we will not return in the future should the venue experience some of the changes discussed that we have seen thus far...
Rory Osborne
Melanie Truan
May 5, 2010
Dear President Powers, Dr. Gonzalez and The Texas Union Board of Directors,
My name is Laura Thomas. I am a native Austinite, and I hold two degrees from UT Austin (BSW/1986, MSSW/1995). I am also a local music industry professional. I own my own booking agency and represent a roster of ten artists.
I want to thank the University for the efforts to gather information and concerns on the future of the Cactus Café over the past few months. We have come a long way from the January announcement of the closing of the Cactus. The April 21 forum announcing that the Cactus Café would stay open as a live music venue left us with some hope.
I was in attendance at the April forum, and it seems there are two issues left on the table. One, it has been made clear that students want to be and should be involved in the future of the Cactus Café. Second, the University has stated the need for an improved business model at the Cactus Café. The 20 or so students in attendance at the April forum are hardly representative of the 50,000+ students attending the University. It felt like the handful of students who spoke had been coached to express support for the KUT plan. The students said they feel disconnected, disenfranchised and what they were asking for was the opportunity to be involved as interns at KUT, so they could then be involved with the Cactus Café. Huh? If students have the desire to intern and be involved with the Cactus Café, the current Cactus management and staff are more than capable and interested in working with those students directly. The University should give their very own, award-winning and successful current Cactus Cafe staff the opportunity to connect with the students. The Cactus Café just won their 9th Austin Music Award of “Best Acoustic Venue”. 25,000+ FaceBook supporters and 6000 petition signers tell us the Cactus Cafe is alive and well. The Cactus Café is not broken. The challenge now is to listen to the students who want to be more involved with the ALREADY SUCCESSFUL Cactus Café and allow CURRENT manager Griff Luneburg to improve the business model to the satisfaction of the University Administration.
The burning question I have had for some time is – why hasn’t Griff Luneburg been included in any talks to address the future of the Cactus? It seems the wrong people have been attending the meetings regarding the future of the Cactus. Save the Cactus members have no official decision making capacity for the Cactus Cafe. Texas Union Board student members did not seem to have an opinion before the decision to close the Cactus went public. Disconnected students, Texas Union Management and Griff should have been included all along. When an employer is unhappy with an employee or program – typically the employee or manager of the program is given the opportunity to remedy any concerns before any drastic measures are taken (example: firing Griff or inviting a new partnership such as KUT into the picture). Has Griff had his annual evaluation lately (which I am sure is mandated by the State), and did the Administration document and make Griff aware of their concerns? Was Griff allowed in his annual evaluation to make a plan of correction to remedy business model concerns and an action plan to include students? If none of this was address in his last evaluation, then I think it would be prudent to include in his next one. Griff has not being treated properly throughout this ordeal. We are at a new juncture, and there will be many people upset with the University of Texas if Griff Luneburg is not given the opportunity to address or be involved with any remaining concerns the University has with the operations at the Cactus Café. Perhaps Griff, disconnected students and KUT could sit at the same table… imagine that.
As someone who has been working in the music business for over ten years, and I deal with hundreds of venues all of the country and Europe, I can honestly tell you the Cactus Café is a true gem, the benchmark or touchstone for all other listening rooms in the world. My hope in this is to preserve the venue’s current programming. The Cactus Café is a venue made for singer songwriters – there are stories, songs, spirits and ghosts living in that room. There is no other venue in town where you can go and hear a pin drop when the performer is on stage. No other room can you hear the power of song. Song and story are held sacred. The room is full of history and tradition honoring the art form of the singer songwriter - it is the University’s duty to preserve it and to keep the room dedicated to this art form. Working with countless venues each week, I intimately know “the people make the place”, and Griff Luneburg and staff have made the Cactus Cafe the legendary venue it is today.
I am writing today to ask that the University and powers that be choose the Texas Union Management plan and that current management and staff be kept on board. I am asking the University to work directly with Griff Luneburg and to give him the chance to make the business model changes and the connection with students. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Laura Thomas
ComboPlate Booking
thanks & please keep the cactus as it has been thanks athuai rush