Letter from the Reservation 4/22/09: What if WE WERE NEVER BORN????

Posted: 12:00 AM, Wed, Apr 22 2009

What's up everyone? You all look amazing as always. Sick wrap/hoodie/kicks/lenses, etc., by the way. It's been a minute, and a lot has gone down in the last however long it's been. There's a lot to catch you up on. But first, I just want to say how proud I am of all of the basics kids. You guys are all doing the real work, and confronting real world issues that most people just sweep under the rug with idealistic nonchalance, or worse yet, finger pointing, saying, "them, them, them." But The Basics Fund kids--the Warriors, say, "us, us, us." You guys take responsibility for things that no one else will. Health care for artists is a good example, but that same level of realism and social responsibility exist on every level of how The Basics Fund works. There is a real need for this whole bus thing that we do. I did an experiment the other week to see what would happen if I took a bunch of kids down to a show in my car for free. As expected, everyone wanted to party in the car on the way down. I said no, of course, not until we get there. When we did get there, they were offering me—their designated driver, shots and beers as if I was just another passenger. I can imagine how frequently these offers are not turned down when it's friends driving friends instead of someone who is a professional sober driver, and that's why I'm really impressed that you guys accept the reality of this situation and make these bus trips happen week after week. It doesn't matter if you're driving, DJing, promoting, or riding the bus or even just sending us love, you are a vital part of something that really does make an impact on the lives of a lot of people.

With all that in mind, I'd like to ask a favor of everyone who's ever ridden on one of our buses. If you would be so kind as to respond to this message with a letter containing a story from your own life about a time when you did not ride the bus, and went to a show or art-related event, and ended up riding or driving back home in a dangerous situation where something happened, or almost happened. Tell your story. Give details. I will compile these stories into a series of anonymous letters. Please start them with To Whom it May Concern: and end them with, "That is why I ride The Basics Fund buses." …or something to that effect. I know we're all busy, but if you could just knock this out right away, so that it doesn't get pushed aside and forgotten about, it will really mean a lot to me, and to everyone who benefits from what The Basics Fund does.

Contents:

1. Soon-to-be Sponsored Artists Added to Website (donate online directly toward their health insurance policies)
2. New Live Painting Collective
3. New Bus to Show Pricing
4. New Bus to Show Phone Number
5. Festivals & Red Rocks Lists Now Open
6. Birthday Party
7. Calendar


1. We finally implemented a "soon-to-be sponsored artist" category to the artists tab on our website. This allows us to let y'all know who's next up to be sponsored with health insurance, and even speed the process along by donating directly toward their policies. Some really great people are on this list, and you can show your support by donating online in $10 increments, or by calling 303.579.6555 to run a card for a higher amount, or by sending a check to:

The Basics Fund
1388 Cherryvale Rd.
Boulder, CO 80303

2. The Basics Fund has launched a new fund-raising campaign, and like Bus to Show, it benefits everyone involved while simultaneously generating funds to pay for our artists' health insurance. The campaign is called "The Basics Fund – Live Painting Collective. We have teamed up with many of the venues in Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins, as well as with many of the Live Painters whose work and presence have become such an amazing element of the live music events that we all love. Our goal is to help these artists to make live painting more sustainable as a career by sponsoring the printing of their previous works, and selling them at the venues as well as online at www.thebasicsfund.org under the artists tab. The proceeds are split evenly between the artist and The Basics Fund. Additionally, The Basics Fund is assisting with communications with venues, bands, promotions companies, and painters, and also aiding and abetting the set up, break down, and clean up of the artists' areas before and after shows in order to relieve any burden that this element of the show may have previously caused to anyone helping to make it happen. Please look for our booths at venues to purchase prints of artists work. We will also be taking advanced bus reservations at these booths.

3. Speaking of bus reservations. The standard Bus to Show rate to most shows is now $15 instead of 25. It is BYOB. Still gonna have live music on board as much as ever.

4. In case you haven't heard, The Basics Fund has a new number just for reservations. That number is 720.204.0408. You must reserve & donate in advance in order to ride the bus. That means call early people!

5. Speaking of calling early, we're opening up lists for festivals and the big Red Rocks Shows.

a. 5/07/09 – Boulder to The Dead at Pepsi - $15
b. 5/30/09 – Boulder or Denver to Bisco Inferno at Red Rocks - $15. Check in at 12:30, Bus leaves at 1:00PM
c. 6/03/09 (Wed Morn) - 6/08/09 (Mon Night) Bus to Show: Colorado to WAKARUSA (Ozark, Arkansas). 230 bones/head
d. 6/05/09 Boulder, Denver, or FoCo to Re:Creation w/ Shpongle, Hallucinogen & OTT @ Mishawaka. $20 from Boulder/Denver, $15 from FoCo.
e. 6/10/09 (Wed Morning) - 6/15/09 (Mon Night) Bus to Show: Colorado to BONNAROOOOO!!!!!!! The Basics Fund will be heading down to Bonnaroo for the 3rd time. (Manchester TN). 260 bones/head
f. 7/01/09 (Wed Morning) - 7/06/09 (Mon Night) Bus to Show: ROTHBURY!!!!!! The Basics Fund will be going in for a 2nd helping of Rothburries, this year, and throwing it's "Official Something Else Other to do Than Something Official to do Party." If you don't know, now you still don't know. If you know, now you don't know anymore. (Rothbury MI) $260/head.
g. 7/24 (Fri) - Bus to Show: Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins to STS9 @ Red Rocks $20…w/ EC Late Night Re:Creation Option ($25)
h. 7/25 (Sat) - Bus to Show: Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins to STS9 @ Red Rocks $20…w/ EC Late Night Re:Creation Option ($25)
i. 7/30 (Thurs) - Bus to Show: Boulder, Denver and Fort Collins to Phish @ Red Rocks $20, $25 from FoCO
j. 7/31 (Fri) - Bus to Show: Boulder, Denver and Fort Collins to Phish @ Red Rocks $20, $25 from FoCO
k. 8/01 (Sat) - Bus to Show: Boulder, Denver and Fort Collins to Phish @ Red Rocks $20, $25 from FoCO
l. 8/02 (Sun) - Bus to Show: Boulder, Denver and Fort Collins to Phish @ Red Rocks $20, $25 from FoCO

6. And one last thing before you go. The Basics Fund is turning 2 years old, and I am turning 30. So is my friend Dave. And in true BTS fashion…we're throwing DOWN!!!!!!!!! Here's the deal:

5/23 (Sat) - Suckadeez Productions Presents: The Basics Fund's 2nd Birthday, Dustin's & Dave's 30th Birthday, & 1st Annual No Pants Disco Dance Benefit Party. W/ Full-Contact Dance-Off & Dancelympics. 2 PM- all night @ The Reservation (BTS Headquarters). Shuttles from The Goose & B-Side. limited camping available. www.thebasicsfund.org for details. Bring your wad/checkbooks. Admission is free, but this is a fund raiser.

2 PM: Dance-off sign up, BBQ, Chillin'
4 PM-8PM: Dance-off . Artists TBA. $5 entry per category. Categories: Endurance; Intensity; Goofy; Pop/Lock; MJ; The Clandon; Hoopin; Beer-Spillin Bluegrass; Vogue/Pose; Couples Choreographed, More TBA.
8 PM-10PM: live listening sesh. Featuring TBF Sponsored Musicians
10PM-11:00 Prizes, Speeches & Love
10:30PM-All Night: No Pants Disco Dance. Check your pants at the door. DJS inside, Bluegrass outside. Pick your poison. Lose your pants. Artists TBA.

email crutches11@gmail.com with more category suggestions, prize donations, or to help sponsor the event.
7. Calendar: Check out www.thebasicsfund.org/events for the full calendar with details. Call 720.204.0408 to reserve.

Alright y'all. Thanks again for all of your support. Don't forget to write those letters. And we'll see you in the future.

Love with every chamber of my four chambered heart,

Dustin Huth
CEO/Bus Driver/Ghost Chief
303.579.6555
The Basics Fund
dustin@thebasicsfund.org