Kick Out The Jams
AppleJam concert series keeps the music coming
Appleton is known within the Fox Valley and beyond for many things: eclectic shopping, amazingly creative restaurants and a great nightlife scene. For being a larger metropolis, you would think that Appleton has something to offer everyone. But if you look closer, and you see a void that is missing from the cultural aspect of Appleton-live music. Don’t get me wrong, the whole Fox Valley (especially Appleton) is rich with talented local musicians, but when it comes to nationallyknown acts, Appleton is definitely lacking.
Enter Bill Maloney, owner of Xtreme Bar in Appleton, with a plan to get these great acts to the Appleton area.
Starting this spring, Fox Cities folks and beyond can enjoy great acts like REO Speedwagon right in their own backyard - metaphorically speaking, of course. They will be taking the stage at the Fox Valley Performing Arts Center on Friday, May 23rd as one of the first concerts brought to the area through an organization called AppleJam, which is led by Maloney. AppleJam will provided great live music allyear round at the PAC and at the Time Warner Cable Stadium (you know, where the Timber Rattlers play.) as a part of the Time Warner Cable Concert Series.
Now, I know that you’re thinking - now you don’t have to travel to see great bands! While this is definitely a plus, there is even more to the concerts than that. When people purchase tickets, not only are they paying to see a great act, they are also helping a much-needed cause in Appleton, known as the city’s SafeRide Program. All proceeds from the shows go to help fund this cause.
“The Appleton area has these amazing performance venues, with the Fox Valley PAC and the Time Warner Cable Stadium, and yet there are no big name concerts,” said Maloney of what led to the idea. “There is an obvious need and desire for this type of entertainment here.”
While national acts in Appleton are a need, the necessity of the SafeRide Program is even bigger. “Appleton was one of the only larger metropolitan areas that didn’t have [a SafeRide program] in place,” Maloney said.
SafeRide is an expensive but very necessary program. Since each cab ride costs on average $16, this can be a large expense for a sizeable bar. Currently, a bar pays $2 per person of capacity. For example, let’s say the person capacity for C U Saloon is 160 people (just a guess), so in order for them to be a part of the SafeRide Program, they must pay a yearly fee of $320. Once a bar is a part of the SafeRide Program, it is then their responsibility to go and purchase the taxicab vouchers. Bar owners purchase these tickets for $3 a piece. Essentially you’re getting home safe and sound for $3 - a small price to pay when you consider the costs associated with the OWI (not to mention the risks of taking someone’s life) if you get behind the wheel.
There are 62 bars within Appleton, and it is Maloney and AppleJam’s goal to have each and every one of them enrolled in the SafeRide Program by the end of the first AppleJam season by helping offset those costs for the bars.
“Our main goal is to have no drunk drivers,” said Maloney, and with the anticipated success of AppleJam, they are getting one step closer.
SafeRide is not only for preventing drunk driving. Say that you’re out to dinner with your significant other and get into an argument and you need to get out of there pronto. SafeRide is there for you. If you’re out with some friends and you’re just not feeling up to par, again, SafeRide is there.
According to a Wisconsin Transportation figure, a city the size of Appleton will save one life every 18 months through the SafeRide Program. “It may be costly, but if we can save just one life through the program, it is well worth it,” stated Maloney.
In addition, the SafeRide Program not only helps you get home safe, it also helps you the next day. If the next morning, you go to College Ave and you’re welcomed back to your vehicle by a nice, friendly overnight parking ticket, bring your SafeRide ticket into the police station, and they’ll clear up that ticket, lickety-split. Nearly everyone has witnessed the person who is very bullheaded about handing over their keys and not driving after a night of drinking. As a bar owner Maloney has definitely seen his fair share of this.
“It makes it all worth it the next day, when that person apologizes for being a jerk and then thanks you for making sure that they got home safely,” Maloney said. So now that you’re all educated on the do-gooder aspect of AppleJam, let’s get on to fun!
While REO is the first officially announced concert, there is so much more in the works. Maloney has grand plans for the city of Appleton. Aside from the Time Warner Cable Concert Series, Maloney also purchased the Appleton Downtown Concert Series from the Downtown Appleton Inc. This is a free concert series held in Houdini Park, every Thursday evening throughout summer for nine weeks. Anywhere from 500 to 1000 people attend this concert every week.
Jennifer Stephany is another key player in this whole game. Stephany is part of the Downtown Appleton Inc, and has been working closely with Maloney and Schroeder on the AppleJam project.
“It just made sense to us to team up with AppleJam, purely based on the safety and responsibility aspect,” said Stephany. “On a different level, it will bring more awareness to the PAC and the downtown area and businesses.”
No event could ever go on without great sponsors. When AppleJam was pitched to Time Warner Cable for sponsorship, they were all about the idea.
“I can’t say enough about that company - they deserve all of the credit that they can get,” said Maloney about the main sponsor. “When we pitched the idea, they loved all of the parts of it-from the live music to the SafeRide aspect.”
Other sponsors include Miller Lite, Deluxe920 Magazine and WAPL. Maloney hope to gain more sponsors after AppleJam is off and rolling.
“Purchasing the summer concert series from the Downtown Inc was a great acquirement [sic],” said Maloney. “It just offers another outlet to our sponsors.” Currently, AppleJam is planning quite the first year. With REO kicking off the season, AppleJam is also planning on three other big acts throughout the next year, along with a larger country concert, possibly featuring Trace Atkins, at the Time Warner Cable Stadium about two months after Country USA concludes. Patrons can expect all types of music through the AppleJam concerts-anything from country to rock to stuff the kids will like. “We want to hit all of the genres,” said Maloney. “We want to get as many people as possible to enjoy the music that they like.”
And while the concert series is featuring national acts, it is also going to give local acts a chance to shine, as opening shows. “We really need to develop and spotlight the local Appleton music scene-there’s some incredible talent that deserves to get the recognition.
Now that you’ve read all about AppleJam, you’ve got the Best of REO Speedwagon running through your head, and can’t wait to go out and get your tickets. Tickets can be purchased through the Fox Valley PAC box office. Prices range from $37.50 to $77.50 for prime seating.
