It doesn’t have to be zero sum

From Bethel Woods and The Chapin Estate in Bethel, NY to the increasingly upscale amenities available at the Woodloch complex in Hawley, PA, it looks like big money is settling into our area.

Everybody likes money. But sometimes in a region like ours that has endured a prolonged economic slump and depressed incomes, sudden injections of money can give rise to apprehension as well.

The problem is not just how much money there is, but how it is distributed. When big money comes in, does it stay at the top and benefit only the top? Or does it serve as a catalyst for financial and economic growth for the whole community?

There is little question that Bethel Woods, for instance, will draw more people to Sullivan County than would have otherwise come here. But some are concerned that it will also draw people away from other attractions, such as the independent arts company performances or concerts, or from activities such as river rafting to flea-market browsing, which tend to benefit individuals and small businesses.

But the effect of a big attraction on the local tourist economy is not necessarily a zero-sum game. While some who would have attended local shows or attractions might go to Bethel Woods instead, the flow is likely to work both ways. People who come up from the metropolitan area for an evening performance may well spend the day rafting, antiquing or browsing local galleries. Moreover, people who have never seen the beauties of the Upper Delaware River Valley may discover them for the first time on a trip to Bethel Woods, and want to come back for other purposes.

But while this type of synergy is a real possibility, it may be necessary for us to work at it a bit in order to make sure that small local attractions don’t get crowded out by their illustrious competition.

This upcoming weekend provides an example of the kind of conflict that can arise. Narrowsburg’s Riverfest, a community celebration with a 16-year standing, will occur on the same weekend as a Bethel Woods Jazz Festival featuring, among others, legendary jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. Unlike other performances scheduled this summer, the jazz festival has show times during the day, putting it in direct conflict with Riverfest. The demographic profile of the aficionados of the environment and the arts who tend to frequent Riverfest, moreover, probably tends to be pretty similar to that of the potential jazz festival audience.

The Bethel Woods staff has done a fantastic job getting the grounds and the scheduling together in time for the performance center’s opening this year, and they probably had little discretion as to timing when booking world-class acts such as those the center is seeking to showcase. But it is to be hoped that, in future years, local communities and events can be coordinated more closely, and further in advance, to avoid this type of conflict. In the end, it would benefit everybody—both larger-scale venues like Bethel Woods and the traditional festivals like Riverfest—if the two cross-fertilize each other. In that blending, we could encourage a sustainable cultural community that would be known for its rich choice of amenities. But in order for that to happen, a more self-conscious collaboration may be necessary.

This past week, we noticed a clever use of cross-promotion in our press release inbox: Mighty M is offering Bethel Woods audience members who present their ticket stubs at the Racino a free gift, and will sign them up for the Monti Money Players’ Club. We also noted that Eldred Preserve is offering dinner from 4:00 p.m. in conjunction with the Bethel Woods concert schedule.

Instead of worrying about the competition, businesses willing to work toward synergistic opportunities with Bethel Woods and each other, may find that there is more than enough of an audience to go around, to flourish and to grow.

Also in this issue:

• Janet Carter, a community inspiration: 1917-2006

Dr. Punnybone

Drug Traffic