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Save the Bottom Line

   Discussion: Save the Bottom Line
Gordondon son of Ethelred · 20 years, 9 months ago
For those of you who haven't heard me being hysterical about it the Bottom Line is facing eviction. There is a site where you can sign a petition to help save it. Save the Bottom Line. Sign the petition and help save a historic venue. Remember Fruvous recorded on Bottom Line records, YWGTTM is always available there.
goovie is married! Back · 20 years, 9 months ago
sign the petition! be cool like me, gordon, chris, emilie, gella, shelly, pete & maura kennedy, pretty much all the djs at wfuv, peter holsapple, and al kooper. :)
Gordondon son of Ethelred Back · 20 years, 9 months ago
don't forget John, Leanne, and Melissa.
goovie is married! Back · 20 years, 9 months ago
*thwaps self*
see? all the cool kids are doing it! be cool! help save one of the best venues on the east coast!
Bender Back · 20 years, 9 months ago
and me *pouts*
Gordondon son of Ethelred Back · 20 years, 9 months ago
You were not forgotton, you hadn't signed when we posted that you batnose.
Nik Chaikin Back · 20 years, 9 months ago
i did my part.
Andrea Krause Back · 20 years, 9 months ago

D'oh. The site itself isn't blocked for me but the petition part gives me the blocky corporate warning. I'll try to remember later.

goovie is married! Back · 20 years, 9 months ago
My LJ friend Erin has posted about the Bottom Line on her blog with a link to the petition.
SaveTheBottomLine.com Back · 20 years, 9 months ago

Thanks to all who have thus far supported our online petition drive at www.SaveTheBottomLine.com. Please revisit our site to read the posts on our message board forum, to read the most recent press coverage of the impending eviction, and to see the current petition tally.

And please, ask your friends and family to sign as well.

Thanks,

CarmineDeMarco
SaveTheBottomLine.com

Gordondon son of Ethelred · 20 years, 9 months ago
I can't sleep so I made a list of everyone I know that signed the petition. I have broken them up into 4 groups.

Musicians
Graham Nash
Cadence Carroll
Paul Shaffer
Chris Rael
Noam Weinstein
Joy Askew
Richard Julian
Ken Rockwood
Christopher Williams
Margaret Dorn
Vicki Peterson
Marcia Pelletiere
Pete Kennedy
Maura Kennedy
Peter Holsapple
al kooper
Jenni Muldaur
Howard Fishman


Other Entertainers:
Robert Wuhl
Carol Leifer
Teresa Ganzel
beverly dangelo
Larry David
Marcia Wallace
Ron Darian
Patti D'Arbanville
Betty Buckley


Fruheads:
Lisa Goldberg
Nik Chaikin
Andrea Krause
J Andrew World
Leah Bender
Jill Josupeit
Katherine Kunz
Melissa Schick
Shelly Sholley
John Ryan
Gella Solomon
Leanne Davis
emilie
Carey Farrell
Gordon Nash


Radio People
Pat St.John
Jackie "The Joke Man" Martling
Sean V Cleary
Vin Scelsa
Russ Borris
Ginger Calder
Tara Anderson
Chuck Singleton
Darren DeVivo
Corny O'Connell
Janeen Shaitelman
John Platt
Karin Williams


Let me know who I missed.

I know that some of the people I called other entertainers are also musicians. Betty Buckley has played the Bottom Line.
goovie is married! Back · 20 years, 9 months ago
more people:
lucy wainwright roche (guess who her parents are :)
emily bidinger (great singer who performs in the downtown messiah chorus, does music for various anime stuff, and starred on the great space coaster)
patty romanoff (of bulletproof)
gail ann dorsey (dar's bassist from a few tours back)
bob mcnichols (efo's soundman bob)
kath maheux
rachel (formerly known as rai) morgan-wall
Gordondon son of Ethelred Back · 20 years, 9 months ago
Lucy must have signed since I last checked, same for Kath. I'm impressed you know Dar's former bassist and someone from teh downtown messiah that I don't know.
goovie is married! Back · 20 years, 9 months ago
why impressed? it's my job to know and remember all the stuff you don't.
Eri Back · 20 years, 9 months ago
missed me too.
Gordondon son of Ethelred Back · 20 years, 9 months ago
I still can't find you. How did you sign it?
Eri Back · 20 years, 9 months ago
Eri Gayler... I saw my name there after I signed it...
Gordondon son of Ethelred Back · 20 years, 9 months ago
It isn't there now. I wonder what happenned. I didn't think I could miss your name.
Eri Back · 20 years, 9 months ago

It's still there, I just found it.

Name (required):Eri Gayler
E-mail:[email protected]
City/State (required):Edmonton, Alta.
Friday, September 19th 2003 - 04:58:42 PM

Zach Back · 20 years, 9 months ago

*Raises hand*

I signed it, too. I've never been there, but it has obvious cultural and sentimental importance to many people, so I felt I should help.

danced with Lazlo Back · 20 years, 9 months ago
I'll say. It's the first and last place I saw Fruvous, discounting the Opera House show they broke their hiatus for.
Gordondon son of Ethelred Back · 20 years, 9 months ago
A few more people have signed including some you might not expect.

Musicians:
Terre Roche
Al Yankovic
Yanni Chrysomalis (yes Yanni)


Other Entertainers:
Richard Belzer
Stacey Keenan


Fruheads:
Rachel Beck
Andrew Lange
George E. Nowik



Gordondon son of Ethelred Back · 20 years, 9 months ago
and a few more:

Musicians:
Madeleine Peyroux
Valerie Vigoda of Groovelily

Fruheads:
Carolyn Wember
Lori Martin
Gordondon son of Ethelred · 20 years, 9 months ago
Good news the Bottom Line has received a temporary reprieve. NYU has extended talks for 4 weeks to see if they can work out a deal for a new lease. Sirius Satellite Radio is the White Knight. they have put the money to pay the back rent in escrow. Keep up your support, if you haven't written or signed the petition do so now.
Gordondon son of Ethelred · 20 years, 9 months ago
I wrote to some guys on Bottom Line records. I never can get their name straight. Mochie Fruchips or something. I figured it couldn't hurt.
hudsonhawke · 20 years, 9 months ago
Because I'm a New Yorker, a music fan and an NYU alum I've been trying to prevent my alma mater from making this huge mistake . One of the groups I believe the NYU administration might fear, and maybe even listen to, is the NYU alumni, so one of the projects I'm working on is mobilizing that group. To that end we've put up a NYU Alumni petition at http://www.savethebottomline.com/alumni.html
Because the clock is ticking we're trying to publicize the petition in places where NYU Alumni who also care about music and The Bottom Line might be. Please let friends, family, pets, imaginary friends etc. know that TBL's fight in not over. If you could post the letter, parts of it, forward it or create your own message it would help immensely. Of course because the club is due back in court next week every second counts.I thank you in advance,




Dear Fellow NYU Alum,

The Bottom Line has been a part of the cultural fabric of Greenwich Village for 30 years. For many of us it has also been an important part of the NYU experience. Unfortunately that experience is now in danger of extinction. Adding insult to injury that extinction would come at the hands of the club�s landlord, our alma mater.

You may have already heard that NYU has taken measures to evict The Bottom Line. You may have also heard that Sirius Satellite Radio stepped in to pay the back rent The Bottom Line owed to NYU. While that generous act has granted the club a short reprieve, the club is still in serious danger. The owners of The Bottom Line are due back in court on October 23, at which time NYU appears ready to resume their plans to evict.

It appears that University may not understand the importance of this issue.� We have learned the following through concerned sources inside the University and City Government:

1. The new lease that NYU presented The Bottom Line is twice the amount of the lease proposed by NYU in 2000, at the peak of the real estate boom.
2. NYU, as a nonprofit institution, pays less than $60,000 a year in taxes on the entire building, an amount far bellow NYU�s yearly lease revenues from The Bottom Line alone.
3. NYU claims to be �subsidizing the club� yet has no other expenses other than these taxes as the landlord.
4. NYU stands to additionally gain by improvements made to the property by The Bottom Line.

Fortunately as alumni, a group that NYU doggedly pursues for contributions, we have leverage with the administration. We can use that leverage to demand that NYU do the right thing in dealing with The Bottom Line. We can let the current administration know that to do otherwise would be disregarding the history of the Village and tarnishing the image of the University. �NYU has a huge opportunity to embrace The Bottom Line as an important asset for the school and its students rather than shortsightedly focusing merely on their real estate portfolio. We can't let them miss this opportunity.

By following the link to our petition in support of The Bottom Line, you can use your power as an alum to let NYU know that they can�t destroy this cultural institution without paying a price.�



Please Sign and Voice your Support: http://www.savethebottomline.com/alumni.html



We would appreciate you forwarding this letter to other NYU alumni that may wish to help save The Bottom Line.�

Thank you,

NYU Friends Of The Bottom Line
Phoenix · 20 years, 8 months ago
This is from the Suzanne Vega announcement list:

Benefit Concert to Save The Bottom Line

As many of you may know The Bottom Line is in danger of losing their lease - NYU is the landlord and they want the space back for classrooms. Many people are pitching in to save The Bottom Line as an important institution.

Bruce Springsteen writes, "Over the last 20 years, the Bottom Line has made itself a central part of New York City culture. When I think of the most memorable nights in my own career, few match the week of shows we did there in 1975. As a musician, as a citizen, and as one who loves New York City, I truly hope that a solution can be found that allows the Bottom Line and Allan and Stanley to continue their important, valuable work for many years to come.�

On Friday, December 5 , Suzanne will be appearing with Dar Williams and John Hiatt - the three will be onstage together and trade songs and stories. There will be two shows at 7:30 and 10:30 pm.

You can learn more about The Bottom Line and the problems they're facing at the "Save The Bottom Line" web site:http://www.savethebottomline.com/

There's a petition on the above site, which you can sign..

Gordondon son of Ethelred Back · 20 years, 8 months ago
That's interesting. Allan has said a number of times that there wouldn't be a benefit concert. I wonder what made him change his mind.
Mamalissa! · 20 years, 8 months ago

I got this today:

*************************************

PLEASE DONATE NOW! THE CLOCK IS TICKING!

The Bottom Line's fight is not yet over. As you may have heard, Bruce Springsteen and Mel Karmazin made significant contributions, along with Sirius Satellite Radio, to help save the club.

Unfortunately, The Bottom Line needs more money to negotiate with NYU and secure a new lease. It is a dire situation and to add insult to injury, NYU is asking for a 250% rent increase and demanding costly renovations. The Bottom Line has only managed to raise one third of the money it needs. It is imperative to get this money for The Bottom Line's survival.

In his impassioned closing argument The Bottom Line's attorney Mark Alonso spoke for all of us when he asked the judge for a little more time before she made her ruling.

Judge Recant asked, "What would be the difference in making the decision today versus next week?"

"I need to raise the money to properly negotiate a lease with NYU," Alonso replied. "Your Honor, I am a cynic and not a romantic, but this club is a special place, loved by millions of people, and I can see music fans around the world rallying to save it. We just need the time."

If each of us comes forward and contributes what we can, we will save this venerated club. Just as in "Its a Wonderful Life" when the town comes together to save George Bailey, we can come together to save The Bottom Line.

We need to act fast! Please contribute whatever you can, but contribute.

Please send a check or money order made out to Save The Bottom Line. Mail it to

Save The Bottom Line, 15 W. 4th St. NY, NY 10012. Or you can

contribute through Pay Pal by going to www.savethebottomline.com.

Help by distributing this message to everyone you know and ask them to pass it on to everyone they know to keep the message circulating. We need to get momentum. The clock is ticking. The judge's ruling may only be a week away. Please help.

Thank you,

Friends of The Bottom Line

www.savethebottomline.com.

Help by distributing this message to everyone you know and ask them to pass it on to everyone they know to keep the message circulating. We need to get momentum. The clock is ticking. The judge's ruling may only be a week away. Please help.

Thank you,

Friends of The Bottom Line

goovie is married! · 20 years, 8 months ago
the kennedys have written a song called "savethebottomline.com." hear it here.
Gordondon son of Ethelred · 20 years, 8 months ago
Someone named Natalie Portman-Marsh has signed the petition. Is this the actress, Natalie Portman? She lives in Boulder Co.
George E. Nowik Back · 20 years, 8 months ago

well, she's attending harvard at the moment and there is no mention that she's married, so something tells me that it's a strange coincidence.

�-= george =-

goovie is married! Back · 20 years, 8 months ago
yup, agree with george here.
George E. Nowik · 20 years, 8 months ago

by now, i presume most of you who have signed the petition have received an email from john beckman regarding the NYU take on the entire affair with the bottom line.

if what he says is true, then i don't see any reason why the club has any right to stay in business.

there was a CD released by Extreme some time ago called Three Sides to Every Story, and it was written in three chapters: "Yours, Mine, and the Truth."

somewhere in the middle of all this is the truth.

if the bottom line really does owe that much in back rent and they do indeed have financial backers that will help them out, then for petes sake get it taken care of.

from a business perspective on the lease that the bottom line proposed and NYU accepted and is waiting for them to sign, that's a pretty sweet deal for the club.� what's stopping them?

�-= george =-

Starfox Back · 20 years, 8 months ago
I was reading through the site to learn about the issue, and it seemed pretty slanted today. While I certainly feel the club probably provides more intangible benefit than whatever the university may use it for, if they owe that much money in back rent, they are simply not owning up to their end of the voluntary contract they signed with the university.

Now, if the allegations that NYU is demanding all sorts of unreasonable things to keep them in business then I'm against that too.
George E. Nowik Back · 20 years, 8 months ago

if the rent that they are currently paying is unreasonably low, then that settles that.� NYU has every right to raise the rent to keep at par with rent of the buildings in that region.� i'm sure it's in the original lease somewhere.

something just doesn't smell right, especially with the frantic nature of the save the bottom line web page right now.� i'm all for keeping the place in business, but now it appears that the picture they're painting of NYU being a terrible entity isn't quite as clear as it once was.

�-= george =-

stealthlori Back · 20 years, 8 months ago

Well, unless it was understood to be a rent-control lease, I'd agree.�

I'm a bit confused as to the seeming lack of cooperation on the part of the BL.� I'd like to see them address the salient points in the Beckman letter, particularly why they haven't signed a lease that they pressed for.

George E. Nowik Back · 20 years, 8 months ago

i'm with you there.� the bottom line seems to be trying to extend the point at which they actually pay off their obligations and are now desperately trying to raise money.� my guess is that they are trying to raise money for said back rent, as well as for the cost of renovations (which would get them three months of rent-free existance).

well, i guess now we wait and see.� the email john sent out seems remarkably reasonable and cool toned; he's not accusing anyone of anything.� it seems more like it's just a matter of laying out the facts and a curiosity as to why they haven't signed the lease that they pushed for.

unless, of course, the bottom line cannot pay for the terms of said lease.� in which case, then there is a problem.

�-= george =-

ChrisChin is Getting Old · 20 years, 7 months ago

On Wednesday, the court granted NYU's request to evict the Bottom Line and the earliest the�eviction notice�can be served is Monday!

this is the information that was passed out last night at the Bottom Line:

<< Final Effort to Save the Bottom line

We are asking you to please:

-write a handwritten letter
-write an email
or
-call
the following politicians, who greatly influence a situation like this.

John Sexton - the President of NYU is Included in the addresses as well.

Tell them that THEY CANNOT LET THIS HAPPEN TO ARTS, CULTURE AND MUSIC IN
NYC'S GREENWICH VILLAGE.

ALSO
we ask that you send this immediately to anyone and everyone you know who
would prefer to see ART win.� especially important are those of you who have a
large emailing list you can send this to.

We need your help.� NOW.

Hillary Clinton
http://clinton.senate.gov/email_form.html
or
[email protected]

Chuck Schumer
http://schumer.senate.gov/webform.html

Jerome Nadler
[email protected]

Mike Bloomberg
http://nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html� >>

nate... Back · 20 years, 7 months ago

John Sexton - the President of NYU


any relation to martin?

Starfox Back · 20 years, 7 months ago
See, now why are they trying to get Congressman and Senators involved in this? It is a local and state issue. From all I've read, the Bottom Line is not acting in good faith which is why the court granted the eviction.
George E. Nowik Back · 20 years, 7 months ago

the only thing that they have to do is adhere to the terms of the lease that they created themselves.� if they are unable to do this, then no interference from any state or government agency is going to be able to prevent the closure of this facility.� as far as i am concerned, they've lost any chance of saving themselves from themselves if they're not willing to play by the rules.� business is business, and they've shot themselves in the foot.

why don't they try playing by the rules for once and actualy paybills? (:

�-= george =-

Gordondon son of Ethelred Back · 20 years, 7 months ago
They did pay bills. In the aftermath of 9/11 they fell behind as did so many other businesses downtown. Yes NYU has a legal right to evict them just as Scrooge had the legal right to collect his debts. There are other considerations that what you are allowed to do.
Starfox Back · 20 years, 7 months ago
Um, 9/11 was TWO years ago and from the news articles I've read on it, it seems like NYU has been more than accomodating, sooner or later they should be paid what they are owed. It's not like NYU tried to evict them the instant they were late on the rent.
Agent Scully Back · 20 years, 7 months ago
What does this issue have to do with the state? It's a NYC and NYU (which is not a state school) issue. I would say it's more of a local issue. I have a question...is this club run by the same people who did the Bottom Line record label? (if it is, it explains a lot on the money problems)
Gordondon son of Ethelred · 20 years, 7 months ago
I just sent off emails, one to John Sexton at NYU, and the others to the suggested elected officials. The letters are essentially the same except that the first was written as a supplicant, and the others as an advocate. Here is the letter I wrote to NYU"

In 1967 Penn Station was torn down to make way for Madison Square Garden. This act of Lewis Mumford called �public vandalism� so upset the people of New York that we vowed it would never happen again and the Landmarks Preservation Commission was created. This point wasn�t that there was something wrong with MSG, or that it wasn�t needed or a valuable addition to the city, but rather that the city also needed to preserve its treasures. Landmarks aren�t always of brick and mortar, they can be of dreams and vision.

The Bottom Line is part of the fabric of the city. It is the premier venue for music in an intimate setting. In an age where corporations control entertainment it is a place where an individual books the acts, guided not by focus group and market research but by his own taste. The Bottom Line is not only a place for great musicians to play individually but a place where for collaborative shows like Required Listening, In Their Own Words, Nightbirds, and of course the Downtown Messiah. These were not shows that were conceived elsewhere then found the Bottom Line, the Bottom Line was part of their conception.

NYU legally has the right to evict the Bottom Line, just as MSG had the right to raze Penn Station. Having the legal right doesn�t make it the right thing to do. NYU is a great cultural institution and is now in a position to save another one. The Bottom Line�s fate should not be decided by numbers, by dollars and cents, but by people who understand its true value. I teach math at NYIT and appreciate NYU�s contributions. The corner Mercer and W4th is my favorite corner in the city, the home of two of my favorite institutions, the Courant Institute and the Bottom Line. In the future I don�t want to see that corner and know that one of them brought about the demise of the other. Please work to find a solution that both you and the Bottom Line can live life with.

Sincerely,
Gordon Nash


George E. Nowik Back · 20 years, 7 months ago

the thing that puzzles me, gordon, is that - unless the folks at NYU were flat out lying - it seems that NYU has been actively working with the bottom line to come up with a solution that�will keep the club in place and running.� what has been actually taking place has been the bottom line being unable (or unwilling ... who could say) to keep up their ends of the various bargains generated.� again, unless the folks at NYU are embelleshing or lying, NYU accepted the terms of the bottom line's own proposal, yet now the bottom line won't sign it and is instead dong a fairly good job of maintaining its public defamation campaign against NYU.� from an outsider looking in (who actually really does like the bottom line and would like to see it stick around), it appears that the club is trying to buy a whole lot of time and not have to pay for it.� they're obviously in a world of financial hurt and NYU has said they're willing to work with them on it.�

so what's the hold up?� sending plea letters to NYU to back off will not accomplish anything.� the real plea letters should be sent to the guys in charge of the bottom line to urge them to sign the lease that they themselves created yet will not finalize for whatever unknown reason and get them to discontinue this ridiculous attempt at buying time because all it will accomplish is giving NYU enough fuel to the fire that is an eviction notice.

i saw two amazing shows at that club and i want to be able to go back someday and see more.� obviously there is a lot of love for the facility itself, but i think that is being misdirected into love for the owners who are clearly doing the facility a disservice by not playing fair at business.� NYU gave them the opportunity to ratify their own lease.� so for pete's sake, sign it already. (:� -then- they can start their campaign to raise money to pay for all the back pay that they owe.� if The Boss is so adamant about keeping the place in business, then why doesn't he stop writing advocacy letters and do one or two shows where all of the entry fees are donated to keep the place going?� it certainly can't hurt, especially if it is a cause he believes in.� i'm fairly certain other artists would be willing to do the same.

there is obviously a solution to this.� putting pressure on NYU will only make them more resigned to the fact that it has to go.� and when they do evict the bottom line club from that location, people will likely be up in arms about how evil and cruel the school is which is highly unfair and misdirected.

the source of the issue is club ownership.� start writing to them to save their club.� they hold the paper in their hand and they're letting it go up in flames.

i'm all about seeing both parties play nice.

�-= george =-

goovie is married! Back · 20 years, 7 months ago
what george said. something just isn't right here.
Gordondon son of Ethelred Back · 20 years, 7 months ago
Either NYU is lying, Allan Pepper is lying, or there is a lack of trust and communications. I know Allan and not only do I believe him but there is no reason for him to lie. I don't actually think that NYU is lying either. I go for the last option which is why I think they need outside parties to clear things up.
nate... Back · 20 years, 7 months ago
I've been staying out of this because, well, I really don't know the whole story...

But, are politicians really the outside parties they need?
Would not, perhaps, a legally binding mediator be a better solution?

I dunno.. I'm just trying to think of options.
Gordondon son of Ethelred · 20 years, 2 months ago
In the Newsday today there was a short article saying that Allan Pepper has found a new location for the Bottom Line. He isn't giving any details yet. It seems that the Bottom Line isn't gone, it has just gone on Hiatus.

In more good news Sirius Satellite Radio is broadcasting shows from the clubs last year.

The Sirius - Bottom Line Concert Hour which are a series of shows recorded by Sirius Satellite radio from June 2003 - Jan 2004. During that now historical seven month period, Sirius captured a number of great performances which are now being broadcast monthly on Folktown 38 every Friday at noon with a repeat performance on Sunday at noon and on Sirius Disorder 24 every Thursday at 5:00pm with a repeat performance every Sunday at 10:00am Eastern. These shows are hosted, with love, by Meg Griffin and sound so great if you close your eyes you'll feel like you are sitting at your favorite table at The Bottom Line.

FROM SHOWS SIRIUS RECORDED DURING 2003 AT THE BOTTOM LINE:

FOLKTOWN 38

Friday, May 14th @ Noon
Sunday, May 16th @ Noon
Dar Williams, John Hiatt, Suzanne Vega
Recorded December 2003

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SIRIUS DISORDER 24

Thursday, May 13th @ 5pm
Sunday, May 16th @ 10am
David Johansen and The Harry Smiths
Recorded 2003

Phoenix · 20 years, 2 months ago
Can please someone record that I'd love to set up a trade...
Gordondon son of Ethelred Back · 20 years, 2 months ago
I'm pretty sure it is webcast.
Phoenix Back · 20 years, 2 months ago
that would be so cool. Thanks for the info!
ChrisChin is Getting Old Back · 20 years, 2 months ago
yes you can. Apparently, you can go to www.sirius.com, click on the Listen tab (up on top) and register for a free 3-day pass, allowing you to listen to their streams without interruption for well, 3 days. So, if you time it right you can stream the show.

(of course, now I realize that I'll be at work or at the AIDS Walk on both of the dates...so if someone could tape the broadcast or stream for me, I would be immensely in your debt and shower you with some mix CDs or live shows).
Phoenix Back · 20 years, 2 months ago
Great! If this works out I'll definitely record the stream. For me this will be at 6pm - so no problems whatsoever ;-)

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