MUF - may the 4th be with you!

A$3,709
of $3,200 targetyrs ago
Successful on 28th Feb 2013 at 12:00AM.
Yes, it's the 4th Melbourne Ukulele Festival ( 1-3 MARCH  2013) & the craze for the uke continues unabated!

BACKGROUND
The Melbourne Ukulele Kollective (MUK) is Australia's oldest ukulele group & regularly performs at many prestigious events. To showcase the growing skills of local & national ukulele players, & to bring international talent here to enrich the experience of Australian beginners & afficionados, MUK has also planned & presented the highly acclaimed MELBOURNE UKULELE FESTIVAL, (main sponsor LORD UKE), which is now approaching it's 4TH YEAR. YAAAY!!! may the 4th be with you!

OUR PROJECT now is to make the 4th Melbourne Ukulele Festival (1-3 March 2013) more viable to pay every single performer & community group for their performance at the festival as well as offer performers discounted festival tickets - this is something that is not done by many (maybe any) other ukulele festival/s in Australia.

NEW INFO: In our quest to raise funds to enable this (see below for why and how), we have some new rewards about to come on line. But we now need to ask a favour -- we set our Pozible ticket rewards based on the information we had at the time. There have now been changes to what we can do, and so........from now we really need people to buy their workshop & concert tickets via the ticket page of the MUF website (www.muf.org.au) because it causes us administrative problems otherwise, and the pledge amounts that are on Pozible for the concert tickets now mean that we will LOSE money rather than raise funds on those items. Buying via www.muf.org.au may advantage you anyway, as there are now cheaper childrens, concession, groups and family options than offered here.
We will of course honour any ticket rewards pledged on Pozible, but would ask you to support us better by selecting other rewards.
NOW - back to our project.............

Scott Wise soprano, tenor and concert ukuleles

WHY?
Both MUK and the Melbourne Ukulele Festival have provided substantial opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to get involved in music, who thought they would never be able to play an instrument, never mind perform publically. 
The FESTIVAL has developed each year to enormous acclaim (see audience evaluations below). The first festival had performers from (just) all over Australia. 2011 had acts from USA, Israel, & Belgium amongst others. In 2012 we were able to also bring over legendary players from Hawaii, Japan, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Paris, & the amazing Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, & had to turn down other Internationals for lack of space. 
2013 is shaping up to feature acts from Canada (James Hill), USA, Hawaii & New Zealand as well as from all round Australia.

James Hill and Anne Janelle

Importantly, the festival continues to develop its committment to the ukulele community. In 2011 we paid every person/band/community group who performed at the festival. In 2012 we repeated that & added in reduced price performer tickets, as well as assistance with travel & accommodation for those from far afield

BUT..., honoring the above has taken a great toll on MUK, which is a community group with no sponsor or membership fees to draw on & which provides free beginners lessons - we have therefore had to donate all of our various performing fees to float the festival, & each year we have run very close to the wind or at a slight loss in order to provide as much as we do for as little $ as we do.

We believe it is important, not only to help non-professionals with the costs of getting to the festival to perform & enjoy, but to foster in them a sense of self-worth, self-confidence & performance pride

MUK performing at BMW Edge 2012

BUDGET COSTINGS:

We are aiming to pay every group $200, & currently have 16 non-professional bands & community groups coming from around Australia to perform at the 2013 festival (including Brisbane, Newcastle, Canberra, Sydney, Gippsland, Geelong, Country Victoria, Melbourne). Given that some groups have up to 20 members, $200 is very modest!  However, it is definitely better than nothing, so..... 

16 groups x $200 = $3,200

(This is not including costs for professional bands or international acts which have their own sponsors or are funded by our Main Sponsor, LORD UKE; or for the costs of venue, sound equipment & engineer hire etc. which we are funding ourselves.) 

EVIDENCE OF WORK IN PROGRESS:

Visit the festival website on www.muf.org.au.
Many performer profiles are already up. The progam is now online: www.muf.org.au/program
You can also find us on facebook.

THE 1-3 MARCH 2013 FESTIVAL WILL INCLUDE:
+ A Friday night dinner and show at the Regal Ballroom, Northcote, then Saturday and Sunday based in Northcote Town Hall which will host...
+ reasonably priced ticketed concerts
+ the all weekend undercover Ukulele market for luthiers' instruments & ukulele paraphernalia
+ a CD and merchandise stall
+ a ukulele restringing service
+ free beginners and kids workshops
+ free performances
+ low cost intermediate and advanced workshops
+ uke art exhibition see pimp my muf on facebook
+ plus: chalkboard concerts and informal jamming at Bar 303
+ performances at Open Studio

EVIDENCE OF CAPABILITY TO FINISH THE PROJECT

The website also has photos & videos from MUF 10, 11 & 12, as well as a clip from the festival's appearance on ABC's Art Nation on 20 March 11.  

AUDIENCE EVALUATION from 2012 Festival included:

"Well done!!!! What a great fest!! I'm inspired :-)"

"I had such an awesome time!"

"Great camaraderie amongst the uke fraternity."

"Great vibe - excellent venue - great location"

"Thank you so much for a fantastic festival. It was so much fun!!! I'm really looking forward to next year"

"I had so much FUN. I don't remember ever having such a goofy grin on my face at a music concert before."

"Loved the world class performances & excellent sound - thank you !"

"It was a wonderfully supportive atmosphere - such a great community. We got a great feel for the versatility of this little wooden box with 4 strings. We will be back and stay for the whole shebang next year - kid's out of town activities can wait!"

"MUCHO PERFECTO!"

Much appreciated 'Festival Supporter' status. Your name (and gorgeous photo if desired) will be displayed on our website Festival Supporters page, with an acknowledgement that you are a warm and wonderful human being who has selflessly helped enable the Festival & the ongoing surge in intergalactic ukulele 'lerve'!

1 chosen

Est. delivery is Jan 13

A set of 4 Aquila ukulele strings (soprano, concert and tenor only: retailing up to $19.95) - these are one of the most sought out strings by uke players. To be collected at the festival, 1-3 March 2013 NB. If you have a cheap uke, putting on these good strings will hugely improve your sound quality for minimal outlay

4 chosen / 46 available

Est. delivery is Mar 13

Workshop pass for entry to the amazing Benny Chong (Hawaii) ukulele jazz workshop held during the Festival weekend (Mar 1-3). To be picked up at Festival NB: Audience evaluation overwhelmingly voted Benny the Festival favourite in 2012

5 chosen / 45 available

Est. delivery is Mar 13

Workshop pass to Canada's legendary James HIll ukulele workshop, to be held during the Festival weekend (Mar 1-3). To be picked up at festival NB: You name a musical style and James seems to be able to effortlessly turn his hand to it. He is a great communicator and tutor

9 chosen / 41 available

Est. delivery is Mar 13

Concert pass for the Sunday night festival concert (Mar 3) - Featuring Legendary Ukulele Ladies: 6 great national and local acts, over 3 hours of quality music. To be picked up at festival NB: Will cost $30 if purchased at the Festival or through the booking service

1 chosen / 99 available

Est. delivery is Mar 13

Concert pass for the Saturday night festival concert (Mar 2, to be picked up at festival) - more than 3 hrs featuring 5 acts finishing with an hour of that Jazzy Hawaiian master, Benny Chong, festival favourite at the 2012 Festival! Not to be missed NB. Will cost $40 if purchased at the festival or through the booking service

5 chosen / 95 available

Est. delivery is Mar 13

Pass to the ritzy opening night Festival concert (Mar 1st) at the plush Regal Ballroom in Northcote, featuring the inspirational James Hill (with Anne Janelle) from Canada, plus four other class acts Frock up, get out your pearls, darlings, and maybe book for dinner too (dinner bookings and payment, approx $40, separately through Regal Ballroom)! Yum!

7 chosen / 143 available

Est. delivery is Mar 13

Festival weekend pass (Mar 1-3) - Yes, Friday night at the Regal Ballroom incl. James Hill (Canada), Saturday night at Northcote Town Hall incl. Benny Chong (Hawaii), and Sunday night at Northcote Town Hall with a bevy of National and local stars, plus lots of daytime music, market and more! Go on! You deserve it! NB: Normally $100 if bought at the festival or through the booking service. To be picked up at festival

12 chosen / 188 available

Est. delivery is Mar 13

Yes, it's the works! Festival showbag comprising 1 weekend pass, 1 workshop pass to James Hill, 1 T-shirt (size and colour of choice as available, design as per logo above), a set of Aquila ukulele strings, a sticker and a poster (normally $170) to be picked up at festival. This deal is ONLY available through Pozible - it wll not be available at the Festival itself. So hurry, hurry, hurry!!!!

4 chosen / 146 available

Est. delivery is Mar 13

Treat yourself! A unique Koyama rosewood soprano ukulele with redwood inlay of hibiscus on headstock, & MUK inlaid on fretboard, to be picked up at festival (Mar 1-3) Beautiful and mellow. Worth over $500! But we're offering it with 20% off!

0 chosen / 1 available

Est. delivery is Mar 13

Have the wonderfully quirky massed ranks of the Melbourne Ukulele Kollective perform at YOUR event or party for 1hr (Melbourne only. Date and time by arrangement and subject to MUK availability, any month from March in 2013) Ooooh!!

0 chosen

Est. delivery is Mar 13

This is a brand new Cole Clark top end solid Tasmanian Blackwood UL1A concert uke with maple pinstripes, unique "Carved to fit" soundboard & Cole Clark's Rechargeable Faceblend system, the finest on-board amplification. To be picked up at Festival. Retailing for $1000, but for you $$699!!

0 chosen / 1 available

Est. delivery is Mar 13

One gorgeous brand new hand crafted Scott Wise feather-light Tasmanian fiddleback blackwood soprano ukulele (see ukulele at right of photo), with rope inlay binding and Aquila strings Make no bones - this is a highly desired players ukulele retailing at $1095.....but we're offering a 30% discount on that price!! Pick up at Festival for $795, or if you need it posted we will require another $30 Sound like a pro!!! Look like a million dollars!!

0 chosen / 1 available

Est. delivery is Mar 13

Make your event THE event of the season - with a 2 & 1/2 hr performance (incl breaks) by the colourful, quirky and energetic Melbourne Ukulele Kollective. In a colour or themed costumes of your choice, with a song specially written for your special person or event. You'll be the talk of the town - go on, you're worth it !!!!! NB: 30 km radius of Melbourne, date and time in 2013 by arrangement and subject to MUK's availability

0 chosen

Est. delivery is Mar 13

See the brilliant young Hawaiian legend of Ukulele, Jake Shimabukuro, live in concert at the Corner Hotel, Richmond on April 5th Double pass - retailing at $110. For you just $75!

1 chosen / 0 available

Est. delivery is Apr 13