My thoughts and public post on the Yuma Block Party project are long overdue. I use the word “project” because I don’t use the word “business” any longer when talking about this venture we all went on in 2011.
As someone that was raised in Yuma, you can’t help but remember the live events that brought the community together in downtown Yuma. We (myself and some very resourceful friends) sought out to create that again. However, long-term sustainability was more difficult than ever imagined.
I want to first thank all those who attended and participated. It was you who we had in mind when we put these events together. An event, once a month, family-friendly, free on Main Street in Historic Downtown Yuma.
I want to thank the vendors and downtown merchants who contributed in unique ways, like offering specials, hosting entertainment, and bringing energy to what could otherwise be a dry Friday night.
I want to thank the staff of the City who found solutions to the issues I created. (like scheduling the shut down of the street at 3:00 PM, Oops! sorry I had no idea it should have been 6:00 AM… live and learn I guess? I didn’t want to waste the street for half the day, but I now see why it gets shut down in the morning… again sorry about that.)
I want to thank my friends who sweated gallons in August alongside me and put in long and late nights planning and prepping. Early mornings in meetings and even some days without sleep.
I want to thank the bands and entertainment that added flavor to our events.
I want to thank all those who gave me ideas and input.
…..
Where it all started.
4th Friday’s was conceived in Tucson, born in Texas, and was being raised in Yuma. The name and concept came from the Tucson events, (2nd Saturday’s in Downtown) and the coordination of live music came from what I saw at SXSW in Austin.
The Yuma Block Party name really came from Mark M. He reminded me that a “Block Party” has automatic name-recognition along with positive memories of past block parties. The name of the company was 4th Friday’s on Main, LLC. The 4th Friday’s on Main is a direct reflection of the outstanding program Michael K. has put together in Tucson.
If you are not familiar with 2nd Saturdays in Downtown. I suggest you take a trip to Tucson sometime and explore. The efforts that the downtown Tucson community has put into making a unique and vibrant nightlife community that has the potential to rival those of Austina and San Francisco. 2nd Saturday’s in Downtown is a monthly street fair that is organized and driven by the local downtown merchants and restaurant owners.
The whole concept was to:
1. Give local Yuma residents a free monthly event to attend.
2. Give musicians, bands, and performers another outlet to showcase their work and music (and play some extra gigs that they would not normally play.)
3. Give the staff and business owners a reason to stay open past 8:00 PM, make some extra tips and get extra business.
4. Expose the community to some of the cooler things in life…. like live art exhibits, special screenings of shows and movies, and free stuff.
…..
In the end.
It just got to be too much for me and the rest of the staff.
After I made the decision to shut it down, I was finally able to get a full night of sleep. Before that, it was working until 2:00 or 3:00 AM and then up and at ’em at 6:00 AM for the radio, politics, business for Media Management and Block Party until 2:00 or 3:00 AM again. Oh, and there was a re-election campaign in there somewhere.
Maybe one day we can do something like this again, I’ve learned some expensive lessons and I’d hate to see them go to waste, but I will wait until my accountant calls and tells me I have to spend money…. until then, Thank you for all the support.
– Cody Beeson