Looking for feedback on a non BM related project idea...

lonestoner916 · Post by **lonestoner916** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 12:12 am

The following synopsis was written by me during a brief spurt of creative energy while I was drinking heavily last week. In the sober light of day I read it over this afternoon and I still like the concept but I think it needs a lot of work and some polish. I'd be very interested to hear from you my lovely ePlayans, should I try to make this happen??

Reverse Affluence
-A night of fine dining with Sacramento's homeless??

How many times have you done it? You're walking down the street and you come across a homeless person sleeping on the sidewalk. Shaking your head in disgust you step over or around him and continue on your way. At best you might give the guy a dollar if he asks. What if instead you gave him a special invitation to a gourmet meal at the local soup kitchen unlike any other.

Basically the idea is to provide an amazing multi-course gourmet dinner for around five hundred of Sacramento's homeless, complete with wait staff and "wine" stewards, candlelight for ambiance, and a string quartet or other appropriate entertainment. This is both a charity event as well as a performance art piece and a documentary film to help raise awareness of the city's homeless. A documentary and promo video will serve as both documentation of the project and it's progress and as a public service announcement that will hopefully inspire other cities to experiment with similar projects.

$1500-$2000
Food costs and Tablecloths, cutlery, candles, etc.
Sparkling cider??

tuxedoed waiters, white linen tablecloths, string quartet or other appropriate entertainment.

FUNDRAISING:
The bulk of the funds needed for the project will raised from donors to Kickstarter, with additional funds to be raised by myself and my team. Whenever necessary we will use donated or discounted materials from area corporations.

Incentives:
Donors contributing $1-$5 will receive a handwritten and hilarious thank you card written printed on an official event invitation by yours truly.
Donors contributing $5-$20 will receive an autographed can of beans and thank you card.
Donors $20-75$ card, can-o-beans, t-shirt
Donors $100 or more card, can-o-beans, sweat-shirt, DVD
Special VIP donor package, $500 card, can-o-beans, t-shirt, DVD, and a seat at the Benefactor's table for the event, including a meal of your choice and a special honorable mention before the start of the meal.

Volunteers (Dining Room): Wait Staff, Wine Stewards, Hostess, Emcee (me I guess?), security, videographer
(Kitchen): Head Chef (me again!), 4-6 sous chefs, 2-4 prep cooks, 2-4 Dessert duty

graidawg · Post by **graidawg** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 1:08 am

sounds like a great idea, you could even get the food from the stuff supermarkets throw away.

Post by **Elderberry** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 6:06 am

For this to work I would think you'd need to coordinate some way for them to get showered and possibly provide new shoes and clothing to wear to attend the event. This would also give them something to take away from the event as well.

Except for the publicity and increased level of awareness, I would wonder if the time, money raised and effort might be spent in a more helpful way, like a not so formal meal every day for a year for example.

Additionally many of the homeless are mentally ill, so a gathering of them unsupervised at a formal setting might present some interesting challenges to say the least.

I'm not saying this is a bad idea, but that the logistics need to be thought through thoroughly and possibly coordinated with an organization that is already working with the homeless and can help you understand their special needs and considerations to help you pull this off successfully.

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 7:30 am

Great Idea and I'm in if I can help even though I'm south about 2 hours.
But.... All the resource's that are needed if turned into cold hard cash can do so much more for those in need instead of "ONE NIGHT" The Sacramento area has a "Vet's Camp""tent city" that the county set up once a year with all the right help.

lonestar, add me to your help list though.

lonestoner916 · Post by **lonestoner916** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 10:22 am

graidawg wrote:sounds like a great idea, you could even get the food from the stuff supermarkets throw away.

I'm looking into getting at least some of it that way...

lonestoner916 · Post by **lonestoner916** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 10:33 am

jkisha wrote:For this to work I would think you'd need to coordinate some way for them to get showered and possibly provide new shoes and clothing to wear to attend the event. This would also give them something to take away from the event as well.

I've considered that but it seems like a huge undertaking in and of itself. Perhaps just a shirt and tie for every man?

Except for the publicity and increased level of awareness, I would wonder if the time, money raised and effort might be spent in a more helpful way, like a not so formal meal every day for a year for example.
Yes, it's extravagant, but that's sort of the whole point.
Additionally many of the homeless are mentally ill, so a gathering of them unsupervised at a formal setting might present some interesting challenges to say the least.
I've seen firsthand just how bad it can go when you get that many street people in one place but I think this can work. "Unsupervised?" Perish the thought!

I'm not saying this is a bad idea, but that the logistics need to be thought through thoroughly and possibly coordinated with an organization that is already working with the homeless and can help you understand their special needs and considerations to help you pull this off successfully.

This would all be done in coordination with Loaves and Fishes, a local homeless charity that provides two meals a day and nighttime cots for those in need. Once upon a teenage drug trip I even had a meal there myself! The logistics would be kind of a nightmare but I think if it wasn't a total disaster it could really do some good and create the weird WTF moment that inspired this whole thing.

lonestoner916 · Post by **lonestoner916** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 10:37 am

ibdave wrote:Great Idea and I'm in if I can help even though I'm south about 2 hours.
But.... All the resource's that are needed if turned into cold hard cash can do so much more for those in need instead of "ONE NIGHT" The Sacramento area has a "Vet's Camp""tent city" that the county set up once a year with all the right help.

lonestar, add me to your help list though.

Sacramento has a couple "Tent Cities" and the population seems to be growing at an alarming rate. Again, yes it's extravagant and perhaps even wasteful but I'm hoping the end result will benefit those in need more so than just enjoying a "fancy meal." Right now it's just a crazy idea in my head but if it turns into anything more expect an email!

maryanimal · Post by **maryanimal** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 11:07 am

I think its a noble idea! The fancy meal would be wonderful, however, speaking in terms of the homeless and mentally ill, there may be repercussions wherein, yes, they'll most likely have a great time, but after the event is over and they all leave, they'll remember where they'll be going after the the event. I KNOW they'll be very grateful for such an awesome evening, but there could be a chance of deeper depression in some.

I agree with all the suggestions these terrific eplayans have posted. Here in town there's a resaurant that offers the homeless a free meal in the style of your idea! They have a set menu for a 4 course dinner (appetizer, soup or salad, main dish, dessert). They get served by friendly staff, treated like any other paying customer and even take home their leftovers. I like the idea of fresh clothing and showers. Clothing can be donated from the community or clothing banks. Plus having donors of cash would help this really get off the ground!

You can ask the loaves and fishes org. to maybe help with the sign up of attendees, bathing facilities, clothing distribution. When someone signs up, they'll tell the person in charge what size they wear, so when they come in for a shower, they'll get their fresh clothing.

Just a thought! I really love your idea!

moonrise · Post by **moonrise** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 12:04 pm

Among many daytime gigs over my life, I was also a Maitre d' and Sommelier for most of my life, five nights a week.

Many nights I left my job shell-shocked because of the extravagant "normalcy" I witnessed at work. I couldn't afford to dine there myself (unless comped or given 50% discounts)

Our guests drank bottles of wine $200 to $400 like water and often left the bottles unfinshed (trash to them) and on weekends $2,500 all the way up to $20,000.00 per bottle.

We served a mandatory 8 to 10 course meal, eat it or look at it and we'd remove each course and throw it away, sometimes only one bite, if that, was taken from each course.
The waste was/is mindblowing. (This is still going on)

Jkisha brought up many GOOD well thought out points I hadn't thought of.
Right on JK!

Loaves and Fishes is a great organization! I've seen them on the news

I realize this is a 'performance art piece' but perhaps a once monthly 3 or 4 course 'finer' dining experience would be more effective, not as
shell-shocking and it could give these homeless people something inspiring to look forward to each month...maybe snap some back into seeking a better life.

The first event could be extravagant and done the way you described for raising awareness!!

However leaving them flat after that, it might be a let down if it didn't improve the exisiting assistance programs.
After the 'performance piece' (if done extravagantly) I should say again, perhaps a simpler white table cloth monthly dinner could cheer some of them up enough to try harder to improve their lives.

Just my gut instinct.

lonestoner916 · Post by **lonestoner916** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 1:04 pm

moonrise wrote:Among many daytime gigs over my life, I was also a Maitre d' and Sommelier for most of my life, five nights a week.

Many nights I left my job shell-shocked because of the extravagant "normalcy" I witnessed at work. I couldn't afford to dine there myself (unless comped or given 50% discounts)

Our guests drank bottles of wine $200 to $400 like water and often left the bottles unfinshed (trash to them) and on weekends $2,500 all the way up to $20,000.00 per bottle.

We served a mandatory 8 to 10 course meal, eat it or look at it and we'd remove each course and throw it away, sometimes only one bite, if that, was taken from each course.
The waste was/is mindblowing. (This is still going on)

Jkisha brought up many GOOD well thought out points I hadn't thought of.
Right on JK!

Loaves and Fishes is a great organization! I've seen them on the news

I realize this is a 'performance art piece' but perhaps a once monthly 3 or 4 course 'finer' dining experience would be more effective, not as
shell-shocking and it could give these homeless people something inspiring to look forward to each month...maybe snap some back into seeking a better life.

The first event could be extravagant and done the way you described for raising awareness!!

However leaving them flat after that, it might be a let down if it didn't improve the exisiting assistance programs.
After the 'performance piece' (if done extravagantly) I should say again, perhaps a simpler white table cloth monthly dinner could cheer some of them up enough to try harder to improve their lives.

Just my gut instinct.

Excellent insights! I would love to make it an ongoing or annual event if there was enough interest. I plan on doing some volunteering with Loaves and Fishes even if this project doesn't happen.

Monkeypoo · Post by **Monkeypoo** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 3:36 pm

I am in agreement. Your idea/plan is very noble. It made me smile and warmed my heart. It's nice to know there are compassionate people who care about our homeless people. I live in Ukiah (population 15K) and it seems to be a major hub for a lot of homeless people that are coming and going up and down Hwy 101. Some stay for quite extended times, because there are a lot of services here to help them, which is very fortunate. That is, if they choose to take advantage of the services. Ones with mental health issues can go to Hillside Clinic. There's the Ford Street Project for those with drug & alcohol problems. The Buddy Eller Center provides beds and shelter for many. Plow Shares provides meals. They have a huge garden where they grow veggies. The Hospice Thrift Store donates oodles of clothing, bedding, blankets, coats and more to all these agencies. There's also the Food Bank and the Community Center that provides food, helps them find jobs, and treats them like they are human beings. The Food Bank also has a garden that grows nice veggies. And it's amazing how much the folks in our community contributes and donates to all of these agencies. I've been a volunteer at the Hospice and Food Bank for about 6 months - when I'm not taking care of my grandson Jasper. It's definitely one of the most rewarding things I've ever done. I highly suggest volunteer work in one's community.

Sic Pup · Post by **Sic Pup** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 4:39 pm

Monkeypoo wrote: I highly suggest volunteer work in one's community.

Seconded, I volunteer for a chuch farm where all the produce goes to food banks and shelters. Individuals too, but they are asked to help with the chores. There's something about working side by side with families in need that's very fulfilling. I work hard and long but I get much more out of it than I put into. I can't wait to get back onto the field in a couple of weeks.

delle · Post by **delle** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 9:15 am

I so donâ€™t like being contrary, but I have to say that this gives me a really uneasy feeling. To be honest, by the time it got to the mention of the filming I actually cringed.

The words that immediately sprung to mind were â€œinappropriateâ€

lonestoner916 · Post by **lonestoner916** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 2:34 pm

[quote="delle"]I so donâ€™t like being contrary, but I have to say that this gives me a really uneasy feeling. To be honest, by the time it got to the mention of the filming I actually cringed.

The words that immediately sprung to mind were â€œinappropriateâ€

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 6:04 pm

I don't know much about homeless, but I do know a little about poor. I grew up in the middle class, and I'm back in the middle class, and even when I was poor I had employed parents with enough excess wealth to pull me out if I fell into the deep end, so maybe I don't know much about poor directly. I dunno. I do know people who grew up poor--and what I've seen is that it is soul-killing.
I believe that extravagant experience is good for the soul. I think feasts and parties help us through dark times. I know that the skeleton of being middle class is scrimping and being careful with money, making sure that some will be there when needed and paying off debt and buying the economy size detergent to make sure that you there. I have my doubts about applying those techniques wholesale to the problems of poverty. I have my doubts about the long term benefits to the human character of living a life of poverty; constantly saving, yet permanently forced to do things the expensive way, everything becoming an emergency because of deferred maintenance, for, I dunno, sixty years. (Is that a reasonable lifespan? Too long? Too short?)
It often comes up on the board, with the posts looking for gift tickets, and we (myself included) slam on those pretty hard. Yet, I also decry the tone that creeps into some of these posts, that poverty is a sin for which you must atone by a lifetime of dreary subsidence, never permitting yourself to wish for, much less experience, better.
And so: I believe that we must better tend to our homeless, find ways to help them off the street, off drugs (if appropriate), to some sort of social contribution. I find it hard to believe that giving them better food than hash and government cheese once or twice or thrice in a lifetime is going to spoil them in any way. Life should be joyful, not miserable. I have come to this after 25 years of misery, and it remains a tenet that I will fight for. I believe in the practical, but also the poetic.

Elorrum · Post by **Elorrum** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 7:18 pm

Some very well written articles here.

Everyone deserves to feel respected. This is what goes away out there. It's hard to summon up self respect when none is shown to you. Homeless people get looked at as problems, or charity opportunities, and not as real people with true stories. They are someone's children, parents, brothers, sisters. I know how it can just kill you piece by piece not having a place to call your own, a door to lock, somewhere to go. Throw a party by all means. Give something lavish, why not? Being waited on and having a choice beyond "here's your plate, find a seat" would be wonderful. I like what Fishy said about this, a rare experience is a cherished one.

Filming it? Calling it a performance art piece? I'm with Delle... this commodifies the experience, and wraps it into a nice little bundle to be trotted out elsewhere. Makes me uneasy.

delle · Post by **delle** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 6:41 am

It occurred after reading your response, LS, that one thing could make all the differenceâ€¦.

Knowing that the thick skin may very well include weak spots for being seen by oneâ€™s family, you would have to be able to promise, as people enter, that they would not appear on film if they did not wish to. This means no scanning of the crowd during the event. No chance of someone showing up behind someone else whoâ€™s being interviewed.

This means scanning the empty room, beautifully arranged, (quartet warming up, candles being lit, etc.â€¦.) before the event and the clearing afterâ€¦ but never during, and managing your interviews in a secure manner.

The alternative would be the all too yucky to imagine â€œsee this? Itâ€™s yours if you sign this waiverâ€

graidawg · Post by **graidawg** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 7:42 am

My take on this.

I've been homeless twice and under the threat of homelessness again right now. it's horrible. not knowing where your going to sleep not being able to wash or cook food.
The worst part is knowing that most of the people you see, don't see you
having a lttle luxury thats not going to prevent you eating for the rest of the week would of lifted my spirit immensely and having the chance of it happenning again the next month more so.
so filimg it and being able to tell my story would be even better, the chance to explain why i was on the streets - that it wasn't necesarilly my fault to educate thepeople who ignore me again it would help.
The shower and clean clothes- that would make me feel human again

Reading this and the thought people put into it, thinking entirely of how it would affect the people its aimed at genuinely tugs my heart strings. You have no idea how much reading normal people who aren't doing this because they haven't given there charity donation this month but who people down on there luck and suffering and want to help genuinely and thoroughly brings sunshine to my dismal feelings

after my second period of homelessness i lived in a hostel for nearly 2 years, that is in many ways almost as soul destroying because its so impersonal. Hers your bedding hers your soap and razor here are the rules, we lock the doors at 10, no coming in drunk, blah blah blah. Its difficult to talk about because of the the way you are prcessed like you are a fool who cant wash themselves, because many are and they need to cater to them and the shame at being there.

I agree there may well be problems and they need to be considered, the what if's and what to do. Invite rich people who have to pay, provide them with clothes prior to the start and mix them in with the homeless, make them see they are no different given a chance. however it works out you shoudl know its already brightened one persons life

It is a small way what burning man is, in some ways, all about.

lonestoner916 · Post by **lonestoner916** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 8:15 pm

Update: It's been three weeks and my emails to Loaves and Fishes remain unanswered. Now that it FINALLY stopped raining, I'll be going down there in person to talk to the staff and hopefully help out a bit.

lonestoner916 · Post by **lonestoner916** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 3:06 am

Update: Loaves and Fishes, for whatever reason, seems to want nothing to do with yours truly. After my emails went unanswered and I couldn't get anyone on the phone I went down there on a Thursday, supposedly orientation day for new volunteers, and was turned away, I was told they had all the help they needed, thanks very much. Great charitable organization, but really clique-ish and not as friendly as I'd hoped.

A couple weeks ago, after a sleepless night, I took the short walk up to the corner store and got a tall can of beer and a deck of smokes and went over to the nearby American River to watch the sunrise. A couple of the local homeless guys (and one girl) were sitting under an overpass (bridge) and I decided to do some field research so I pulled up a rock and introduced myself. Since then I've gotten to know them really well and have met almost twenty men and women who are homeless within a couple miles of here. They are dirty and smelly and suffer from various physical and mental ailments and they are also the nicest people you could ever hope to meet. I've bought a lot of beer and cigarettes over the past couple weeks but what I have received in return is priceless, just the stories alone are worth every penny!

More than ever now I want to make this crazy idea of mine a reality!