HomeMy WebLinkAboutReports - 2023.09.21 - 40589
AGENDA ITEM: Sponsorship of the Greater Detroit Comedy Festival Presented by the City of
Pontiac
DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners
MEETING: Board of Commissioners
DATE: Thursday, September 21, 2023 9:30 AM - Click to View Agenda
ITEM SUMMARY SHEET
COMMITTEE REPORT TO BOARD
Resolution #2023-3376
Motion to approve the one-time appropriation of $15,000 in matching funds from non-departmental
transfers General Fund Special Projects line-item budget to the Board of Commissioners General
Fund Special Projects line-item budget for the purpose of sponsoring the Greater Detroit Comedy
Festival presented by the City of Pontiac; further, any release of funds to the City of Pontiac is
contingent upon Oakland County receiving an invoice and Pontiac City Council resolution approving
match funding equal to Oakland County's contribution for the sponsorship; further, the FY 2023
Budget amendment appropriating funds for one-time match payment will be included in a
subsequent quarterly forecast.
ITEM CATEGORY SPONSORED BY
Special Project Angela Powell
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
Summary of Proposed Project
The City of Pontiac is partnering with SamRose Entertainment (SRE) to produce a regional comedy
festival to take place in the city of Pontiac in May of 2024. The festival will consist of nearly two
dozen performances by nationally recognized comics and as many as 70 additional local and
regional favorites. Highlights will include stand-up and improv comedy performances, free
workshops, opening and closing night celebrations and a ticketed meet and greet event. Venues will
include the Strand, the Crofoot, the Lafayette Grand and the Pontiac Little Arts Theatre.
What is the estimated cost of this project?
Projected expenses of $302,827.70 with potential revenue of $385,270.00
Are there any possible funding partners or matching funds available? If so, please explain.
Revenue will be derived from ticket sales, merchandise sales and meet and greet revenues.
Corporate sponsorships will be sold and the City of Pontiac will be contributing to the effort.
What is the purpose of this project?
The Festival will put the City of Pontiac in the spotlight! The event will bring new visitors to the city
and benefit the local businesses. The opportunity exists to scale the Festival to include music, food
offerings and cultural events in future years. Live comedy is enjoying a huge renaissance and there
is no better time for Pontiac to put itself on the festival map with an event of this scale.
The intent of branding the Festival as The City of Pontiac presents the Greater Detroit Comedy
Festival is that we would be more likely to draw greater participation from across the region and also
discourage any other festival of this proposed scale to be launched in the market.
Who will benefit from the project and how?
Local businesses will benefit from new visitors spending money in their establishments.
Pontiac residents will benefit from their city being put in a positive light and the city will benefit from
the cache of a major festival taking place in Pontiac.
What is the expected duration of the project?
The festival dates are May 16th - 19th, 2024
Will the project/cost fall within one or multiple budget cycles?
One budget cycle
Will there be a need to organize support from any Oakland County Departments or outside
agencies? If so, please explain.
No.
Does this project fall within the scope of the Board of Commissioners’ authority?
Yes.
Will you be involved in this project; how so?
The festival will be organized and produced by SamRose Entertainment. Mike Geeter and Ann
Duke, doing business as SamRose Entertainment, producers of quality comedy events across
Michigan, produced the highly successful first annual Traverse City Comedy Fest from February 1st
– 3rd, 2023. The festival included almost 80 comics and 26 shows over the three-day period. The
shows were presented at four uniquely different venues varying in size from 110 to 700 seats.
Comics ranged from national headliners including Tom Papa and Maria Bamford, a dozen out-of-
state comics and over 60 comics based in Michigan. Over 4000 tickets were sold and over 90% of
the shows were sold out. The Traverse City Downtown Development Authority has contracted SRE
for the 2024 Festival.
What is the proposed timeline for this project (start/completion)?
Planning will commence in September 2023 with the Festival taking place in May of 2024
BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: Yes
Committee members can contact Michael Andrews, Policy and Fiscal Analysis Supervisor at
248.425.5572 or andrewsmb@oakgov.com, or the department contact persons listed for additional
information.
CONTACT
Angela Powell, Commissioner
ITEM REVIEW TRACKING
Aaron Snover, Board of Commissioners Created/Initiated - 9/21/2023
AGENDA DEADLINE: 09/21/2023 9:30 AM
ATTACHMENTS
1. Greater Detroit Comedy Festival Sponsorship Proposal
COMMITTEE TRACKING
2023-09-14 Full Board - Refer to Finance Committee
2023-09-20 Finance - Recommend to Board
2023-09-21 Full Board - Adopt
Motioned by: Commissioner Michael Spisz
Seconded by: Commissioner Karen Joliat
Yes: Michael Spisz, Karen Joliat, Kristen Nelson, Christine Long, Robert Hoffman, Philip Weipert
(6)
No: David Woodward, Gwen Markham, Angela Powell, Marcia Gershenson, Janet Jackson,
Yolanda Smith Charles, Brendan Johnson, Ajay Raman (8)
Abstain: Charles Cavell (1)
Absent: William Miller III, Gary McGillivray, Michael Gingell, Penny Luebs (4)
Failed
City of Pontiac presents the Greater Detroit Comedy Festival
May 16 – 19, 2024
Sponsorship Proposal for Oakland County Commissioners
The City of Pontiac is partnering with SamRose Entertainment (SRE) to produce a regional
comedy festival to take place in the city of Pontiac in May of 2024. The festival will consist of
nearly two dozen performances by nationally recognized comics and as many as 70 additional
local and regional favorites. Highlights will include stand-up and improv comedy
performances, and free workshops, opening and closing night celebrations and a ticketed
meet and greet event. Venues will include the Strand, the Crofoot, the Lafayette Grand and
the Pontiac Little Arts Theatre.
The Festival will put the City of Pontiac in the spotlight! The event will bring new visitors to
the city and benefit the local businesses. The opportunity exists to scale the Festival to
include music, food offerings and cultural events in future years. Live comedy is enjoying a
huge renaissance and there is no better time for Pontiac to put itself on the festival map with
an event of this scale.
The intent of branding the Festival as The City of Pontiac presents the Greater Detroit Comedy
Festival is that we would be more likely to draw greater participation from across the region
and also discourage any other festival of this proposed scale to be launched in the market.
Mike Geeter and Ann Duke, doing business as SamRose Entertainment, producers of quality
comedy events across Michigan, produced the highly successful first annual Traverse City
Comedy Fest from February 1st – 3rd, 2023. The festival included almost 80 comics and 26
shows over the three-day period. The shows were presented at four uniquely different
venues varying in size from 110 to 700 seats. Comics ranged from national headliners
including Tom Papa and Maria Bamford, a dozen out-of-state comics and over 60 comics
based in Michigan. Over 4000 tickets were sold and over 90% of the shows were sold out. The
Traverse City Downtown Development Authority has contracted SRE for the 2024 Festival.
The City of Pontiac and SamRose Entertainment respectfully request that the Oakland County
Commissioners support this effort as a lead sponsor.
Benefits of the sponsorship to include:
• Oakland County logo on all print ads and other forms of advertising.
• Logo on cover of official program.
• Half page ad in the program book.
• Logo on all signage and collateral for the Festival.
• Mentions in social media.
• Mentions in earned media where possible.
• 75 tickets to festival shows of your choice at the Strand, Crofoot and PLAT. (individual
ticket value not to exceed $40).
• 8 tickets to the Opening Night Celebration.
• 8 tickets to the Closing Night Celebration.
• Ticket discounts to all Oakland County employees.
• Provided space at either the Strand or Crofoot to host a private pre-show reception.
(food and beverage not included)
• Additional benefits t.b.d.
Total Sponsorship Request: $15,000.00
Signing of this Document will constitute an agreement.
Oakland County Representative Date
Mayor Tim Greimel, City of Pontiac Date
Michael Geeter, President, SamRose Entertainment Date
Ann Duke, Vice President, SamRose Entertainment Date