The Footlights blog gives readers a glimpse behind the scenes at Foothills Performing Arts Center in Oneonta, NY. On this blog, you'll read news about upcoming performances, interviews with artists, reviews and the occasional cultural rant.

It's all part of our mission to bring more fearless performances to the Central and Southern Tier regions of New York. We invite you to be a part of that quest.

Tell Us How We Are Doing

We invite you to post on our blog; perhaps about a show or event you have been to at Foothills, or perhaps about something you would like to see at Foothills.

Please be candid with your posts. We want to hear what you are thinking about us and what we are or aren’t accomplishing for you and the community.

22 comments to Tell Us How We Are Doing

  • michele

    Who wants to see Phish at the hills?

  • Went to hear the Native Sons last Thurs. They were terrific, as usual, but then the piano player is my son. The space was really nice,and the amenities were good. It was not that well attended. Your advertising features Foothills, and your artists seem secondary. Most people come to hear/see artists and the venue is not all that important to them. My one recommendation, and not b/c I’m related to an artist, would be to promote the artists more in your advertising. I think you’ll get a bigger draw. Look at Broadway advertising- the show is the point of the advertising- the Theater gets a mention at the bottom. People come for the entertainment, not the venue.

    I’m very excited about your new theater. The building is beautiful. I’m a fan of musical theater and looking forward to not having to drive home from Utica or Schenectady in the middle of the night after seeing a touring show.

  • justine woolner wise

    any chance of bringing Reno- comedienne, performer, up to foothills? see citizenreno.com

  • Brad Morley

    Great to see the progress on the building, looking forward to seeing the final completion and the performances on the “Big Stage”. I will make my “seat endowment” before the end of the year!

    Have made some of the various evenings of entertainment you have had, Thursdays Jazz, and wish for your success.

    I might add that your web site needs some updating, still showing all kinds of events that happened last spring and summer. Also add a link for archives, showing the history of past performances, photos etc. Waiting for something I can audition for, been a long time since I was in Tom Sawyer.

    Keep up the good work .

  • Mary Rab

    Would love you to reinstate monthly or weekly ballroom / swing dances with lessons.

  • C

    I was at the public hearing last night, and the sound quality in the atrium was truly awful. Aside from being incredibly frustrating for those of us there to hear what was being said, it left a very bad impression (in my mind, anyway) in Foothills’ ability to produce events in that big, brand-new facility that you spent so much money on.

    Because of it, I’m sorry to say I will think twice about paying to attend any of your productions.

    • Jennifer

      Dear C-

      I am sorry you chose not to use your name – it would be nice to know
      whom I am addressing. I was there on Monday night and I agree that
      it was frustratingly difficult to hear many of the speakers.

      I am going to assume that you are not familiar with sound
      technology. I am also going to assume that you have not been to any
      performances at Foothills recently – otherwise you would have some
      basis for comparison of the sound quality at the meeting and the
      sound quality during performances.

      The meeting on Monday was not a Foothills production. We made the
      space available to the meeting organizers. They requested the atrium
      specifically and they asked for a hand-held microphone, both of which
      were provided. The atrium is not an auditorium – it is a foyer.
      Anyone who has seen the space can imagine the difficulty in managing
      acoustics in that environment. When the mainstage is completed, the
      community will have a well designed and well equipped space for such
      events. Monday night was a demonstration of the need within the
      Oneonta area. Perhaps some financial support will be forthcoming to
      get the mainstage finished and online for the benefit of folks like
      those who were eager for a forum to express their views on Monday.

      Let me point out that the system we made available on Monday was a
      rental system – an expense that Foothills incurred in order to allow
      that meeting to happen. The speakers were Mackie SRM450 and the sound
      board was a Mackie 1402-VL2 pro mixer,Both products are top of the line
      that are used by many performance spaces. The microphone was a Shure pg58.
      We have had several occasions where people were successfully amplified,
      such as the Main Street Merchants’Auction, with exactly the equipment that
      was used on Monday. By far the biggest problem with the sound was that the
      presenters on Monday were not practiced in using a microphone. In order
      for the sound system to do its job, people need to speak directly into the
      end of the microphone.Amplification would have been more successful had
      someone with experience held the microphone for each speaker, but meeting
      organizers decided at the last minute to make the microphone
      stationary. As you saw, it was therefore not at the right height or
      correct angle for most of the speakers. You know what they say about
      design by committee.
      I question why your vitriol is directed at a non-profit arts
      organization that is struggling to make a meaningful contribution to
      the community. The Foothills project has employed many people in the
      area and continues to do so. Our sales tax contribution is larger
      than any tax payer monies that have been allocated to Foothills
      locally. Perhaps your anger at the DEC and the prospect of gas
      drilling in the vicinity did not find an adequate outlet on Monday.
      The arts are an excellent way to share and sharpen perspectives, to
      express yourself meaningfully and to be enlightened by the
      expressions of others, to effect change and sway public opinion. I
      hope you will reconsider your resolves and perhaps find some solace
      in the arts.

      Jennifer

  • Nancy Karaman

    Jennifer McDowall and Christina Hunt….what a team….look out Central New York, here comes Foothills!!!

  • Jessica

    I saw the performance of MOM the musical and I was really impressed both by the show and the venue. It had a relaxed atmosphere, allowing drinks to be brought into the theater that was really nice and welcoming. I keep meaning to make it to more events so please keep having good stuff like this!

  • Ann Epner

    I’d love to see more of the programming at Foothills. More timely notification would be helpful, and for the benefit of those of us who have to travel to attend events, earlier start times in the evening (7 or 7:30), more matinees, or anything that you can do to make the long drive easier would be enticing.

  • Karen Given

    I agree with Ann Epner….the late show times for movies is an obstacle for my husband and me. We have to drive 30 minutes, which is not the problem—-the late ride home is. If people aren’t attending, it might be worth trying an earlier start.

  • Matt

    I’m curious to know where in the building process the theatre is in. I was under the impression that it should have been finished by this point, and a breakdown of what type of spaces are being used for activities while the main stage is unavailable.

    The Monday movies seem interesting, and going to one would certainly answer my questions, but out of curiosity, how many can attend the movie showings, and what type of equipment is used to project them?

    Also, what is the planned capacity of the theatre upon completion?

    Thank you for your time.

  • Brad

    Sorry to learn this evening of the letting go of all but one employee, sure hope with this new building and great chance for Foothills to shine the board has a plan to get back on track. A sad day for the arts in Oneonta.

  • HGR

    i am disapointed that you canceled the luster kings..real art, but you are going through with Amal, a show that has been there for the last 3 years. what the it guy couldnt hndle peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? it dosnt take a brain surgeon to cook them up!

    • Foothills

      Hey HGR,
      I see you can’t gather up the nerve to leave a real name.
      Any who despite what has transpired at Foothills, do all of us a favor and don’t drag me through the mud. If you honestly think that I can’t make a Banana sandwich or the like perhaps you need to get a grip.
      Dan

  • Brian

    Is the entire film series cancelled in light of the Foothills’ recent “development” or was there simply a technical reason as to why the scheduled showing of The Shining was cancelled? If the entire film series is now defunct, could you please make this better known.

  • tracy

    I find it extremely hard to read the neon orange print on the gray background in the e-mails. So, unfortunately, most times I do not even try. Is there any way to make easy to read, or is it just me? Thanks!

  • Foothills

    Tracy,
    I have looked at the last email I would be glad to see if there is a way to improve the readability would you be able to forward back to me the email you received. I have to look into this orange On several computers I did not see orange in the email but that is not to say there is not a problem.
    Dan

  • David

    The Metal as Art event was fantastic. The combination of various arts is a nice change. My only complaints were with the sound and the positioning of the drum kit. It wasn’t horrible, but I’ve heard better at the Foothills. I look forward to more events like this one.

  • I just wanted to thank Foothills for the incredible job you pulled together last minute for the Oneonta World of Learning. They called you at about 8:30 in the morning and you stepped up to the plate. Sound systems, ice cream, water, tables, lighting, – truly an amazing display of hard work and a commitment to supporting local organizations.
    You guys deserve a huge pat on the back.

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