P.I.E. Puts On Last Benefit Concert of the Semester
Story and Photographs by Lorna Oppedisano
P.I.E. vice-president Ryan Whitman and president Caitlin Moriarty
The end of the semester has finally come. The light at the end of the tunnel is visible. With the last few weeks coming to a close, what will you do with the last of your free time and money?
Syracuse University organization Play It By Ear, also known as P.I.E., offers a break from all those late night cram sessions and an alternative to the usual partying.
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P.I.E. is hosting their last event of the semester, a concert to raise money and awareness for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, on Thursday, March 6 at Funk ‘n’ Waffles. The concert will provide live music from 7 p.m to 9 p.m., and admission will be five dollars, according to P.I.E.’s founder and president Caitlin Moriarty.
P.I.E. is a non-profit arts advocacy organization founded in October of 2009 by Moriarty. According to the group’s Facebook page, P.I.E.’s “purpose is simply to bring people together to enjoy live music and other social and artistic events while raising money for great causes.” Each year, P.I.E. picks a focus charity to dedicate their efforts to, the Facebook page reads, and the cause for 2010 is the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
However, this semester, P.I.E. has not limited their endeavors to this one cause. At the start of the semester, P.I.E. held a concert at Funk ‘n’ Waffles to benefit victims of the Haiti disaster, raising over $1000 for the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, according to P.I.E.’s Facebook page. Many people view this concert as a success.
“It was huge,” said Liz Lewis, SU sophomore. Lewis was one of the artists to play at the Haiti benefit concert. “It had a great vibe. I had a lot of fun, and there were a lot of talented people.”
Lewis is among the artists scheduled to play at the up-coming event as well. Moriarty named Lewis, Sarah Detweiler, Priya Mahendra, P.I.E.’s vice-president Ryan Whitman, and Moriarty herself as the artists who will donate their time and talent to the cause.
This is not the first concert event P.I.E. has put on at Funk ‘n’ Waffles. Moriarty said this is due to Funk ‘n’ Waffles’ great attitude and willingness to help. Using a venue on campus costs a lot of money, said Moriarty.
“Funk’s just like, ‘Bring people in and play!’,” said Moriarty. “They’re so helpful.”
Moriarty said Funk ‘n’ Waffles co-owner Adam Gold is accommodating, and she loves bringing them business.
Although the music of the event lasts a mere two hours, the planning process is much longer and more involved.
According to Moriarty, organizing an event begins with a great deal of brainstorming. After the conception the ideas, the next step of the process is promotions, said Moriarty.
“This is where I sometimes fall short,” said Moriarty.
The campus is filled with thousands of students that P.I.E. does not have the capacity to reach, said Moriarty. Apart from that, Moriarty pointed out the fact that P.I.E. does not have a large budget, as one hundred percent of each show’s profits are donated to the designated charity.
“Every cent I make, I give away,” said Moriarty.
This makes P.I.E. dependent on channels of communication such as word of mouth, Facebook and Twitter, according to Moriarty.
The final steps of putting together the benefit show include deciding what kind of artists and audience would be best for the concert, said Moriarty.
“And then hoping everything falls into place,” said Moriarty. “They usually do, which is nice.”
Moriarty said her hopes for the final benefit concert of the semester are not as high as those for the Haiti benefit show. Moriarty pointed out that this cause does not have the same response as the Haiti, nor is P.I.E. teaming up with campus group Artists on the Brink, who can offer more channels of promotion. The timing of the up-coming concert is also an issue, said Moriarty.
“To be honest, it’s smack in the middle of finals,” said Moriarty. “With any allowance from parents gone, people are pinching pennies until they get home.”
Moriarty expects this concert to be much smaller and more intimate, she said.
Some people have more optimistic hopes for the turnout of the benefit show.
“I think that the event will go really well, as there are so many talented people in this campus looking for chances to perform, as well as an equal number of people who want to hear performances,” said Mahendra, SU sophomore, in an e-mail interview. Mahendra is one of the musicians scheduled to play at the event.
Whitman, P.I.E.’s vice-president and musician, also has high hopes for the turnout.
“I think it will turn out really well,” said Whitman. “A lot of people know about it because of Haiti [benefit concert].”
The cause also has potential to bring people to Funk ‘n’ Waffles that night.
“I would [go] because it’s for a good cause,” said Jeffrey Kuffour, SU sophomore.
Many students’ families and lives have been in some way touched by the effects of cancer, and appreciate such an event.
“As a person who’s had a family member affected [by cancer], it’s good to see a concert that benefits cancer research in any form,” said Alex Brewer, SU sophomore.
After this semester comes to a close, P.I.E. plans to get more involved in the greater Syracuse community in the fall, according to Moriarty. As far as charities to support, Moriarty said that the Make a Wish Foundation comes to mind. Moriarty said she would like to speak about P.I.E. in local public schools, as well as get P.I.E.’s business plan into place for the future.
As for this semester’s closing concert, however, Moriarty is looking forward to the night of May 6, she said.
“It’s a nice chance to get together with friends before we go home for summer,” said Moriarty. “And eat waffles as always.”
Tags: Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Funk 'n' Waffles, P.I.E., Play It By Ear
