It’s a milestone month for AVT… Thanks to the hard work of our Business Manager / Operations Director Courtney Marietta, we have officially received notification from the state that we have been incorporated as a business. What this means: now we will be able to open financial accounts, apply for 501(c)(3) non-profit status, and obtain separate liability insurance and tax-exempt standing, among a huge number of other things.

Right now, our biggest challenge is cash flow. While the 2010 Season will bring in ticket revenue for the first time, the season has been planned to operate at a loss; I do not want to charge any more than a nominal rate for tickets. The deficit will be made up by… me. I am thoroughly committed to this project; I have so far been AVT’s only source of funds. I am happy to do this, but to realize our ambitious goals, PATRONAGE and COMMUNITY SUPPORT will be essential.

All those who make a (tax-deductible!) donation of $65 or more for the 2010 Season will be designated as PATRONS OF AVT, and will receive 3 free ticket credits usable for any show in the season (they will normally be $7), an invitation to our annual Patron’s Reception, recognition in each playbill, and discounts at local AV businesses when showing your AVT Patron Card.

All those who were kind enough to become our first donors at the receptions we held after “Voices” will be given Patron status, regardless of the amount they donated.

The discounts at local businesses are in the process of negotiation; this will likely take me most of the fall and possibly longer to solidify, so I hope to be able to offer our Patrons this benefit gradually over time. If you are, or know, a local business owner who might be interested in partnering with us, please let me know. Local business discounts will be a great incentive for individuals to become Patrons; plus, any direct or in-kind support to AVT will be tax-deductible as well. We can offer a number of different advertising methods in return; in the playbill, in hosting our podcasts, on our website, etc.

One of our earliest supporters has been Sagebrush Cafe, on Avenue L-14 and 50^th St. West. They are currently hosting a Group Art Show, with mixed media by several local artists on display. Among these are several matted and framed prints of my black-and-white photography of Los Angeles; all net profit from the sale of these prints will be donated to AVT, so check it out!