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Doug Elfman
Zappos foursome buying First Friday arts event
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First Friday's operations are being sold later this week to four men involved with Zappos. They vow to expand art exhibits, parking and shuttle service for the downtown art party.
The foursome, operating as First Friday LLC, are buying First Friday's trademark, Internet presence, mailing lists and assets from nonprofit Whirlygig Inc.
The new First Friday Four are Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh; Zappos partner Fred Mossler; developer Andrew Donner (who facilitated the Zappos relocation deal downtown); and Joey Vanas, a marketer who works on many Hsieh projects.
Zappos does not have any ownership stake, says Vanas, who handles the LLC's day-to-day operations. This is a personal investment.
Their launch event will be the ninth anniversary of First Friday on Oct. 7. Whirlygig founder Cindy Funkhouser will help with their transition for a month or more.
The deal came suddenly. Whirlygig suspended functions two months ago, although events continued in August and September.
During that time, Whirlygig approached Zappos for sponsorship but also expressed interest in selling, "to hand it off and give it some wings," Vanas says.
Hsieh and friends, downtown boosters, chose to buy.
"Cindy and Whirlygig did a great job in creating something for the community," Vanas says.
But there was only so much the one- or two-person Whirlygig could pull off without major resources, he says.
"We wanted to come in and put some real support behind it -- put some infrastructure in place, and help it build and grow."
Initial plans: More art booths and music stages; an expansion of art locales starting in Fremont East; and more and better artists.
"There are artists in Las Vegas that are great artists that don't come out and show at First Friday because there isn't the buyer audience for their level of work," Vanas says.
"We want to change that perception, but we don't want to cut off the young artists that are trying to make their first break."
Vanas also intends to invite outside artists from Phoenix, Southern California and other places that stage First Fridays.
As for the event's dreaded parking, Vanas (who got a $20 parking ticket Friday) is seeking more parking lots and shuttles.
And because Vanas' background is in marketing -- at Miami's Fontainebleau hotel, plus events here and Hsieh projects -- he's developing more marketing, advertising and public relations.
As a for-profit LLC, the group will wield more financial leeway to expand, but they're not expecting riches, he says.
"It won't be a profit-turner but a community event that will hopefully sustain its own growth," he says. "It's more of an investment in the community that we all live in now."
No doubt. Three of the four live in Ogden condominiums, and Vanas is nearby.
They hope their larger infrastructure will lure more sponsors. Money also comes in from food and liquor sales, vendor fees and Friends of First Friday memberships.
Vanas is counting on the city to transform the epic permit process into a yearly event, instead of a monthly chore.
He won't divulge the purchase price.
"It wasn't a huge number," he says.
Funkhouser says the price will pay off an operations loan and some debts.
"Our entire board is very excited to pass the torch on to someone that capable," she says.
"They enjoy the grass-roots part of it.
"They come to the events," she says. "I'm gonna sleep pretty good at night."
Vanas says his approach is to reach out to First Friday veterans for input.
"They've been thinking about it for years. We've been thinking about it for a month. So let's listen to those people."
Doug Elfman's column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Contact him at delfman@reviewjournal.com. He blogs at reviewjournal.com/elfman.
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How do you sell a non-profit and how is it that whirleygig was in debt? The whole thing has a bad smell.
When I went a couple of years ago, it was interesting but I wasn't excited by the art, and much less by the music. When I went a couple of months ago, it was a teenfest, which is great for them, but not my stream.
Good that someone is stepping in, but geez, zappos? Really, they just need to give Hseih the keys to the city and rename the town. Five years from now, we'll see where LV is and if the community is any better.
It is sad that other people, residents and business owners have complained for years about the "permit" process for EVERY event. If this group get through, making permitting not necessary, then there will be success. There is so much BS put in front of a business, that, unless you are someone or connected to someone or buy some one, you are stuck..in this Free Nation of Opportunity,with more boulders in the road than modern man can move.
Welcome to Zapposville....
I see the arts thriving since Whirlygig got out of the way which is good, but the "emo kids" that others have mentioned won't have anywhere to go. If you want to see what happens when you don't give the kids something to do just Google the Kansas City Star and "Country Club Plaza riots" where someone got shot with the KC Mayor less than a block away. It's easy for Tony and Co. to spread their wealth to support the arts...that's the easy philanthropic choice. But could he find a way to help the kids? Betcha he's not even remotely interested in that kind of work.
Please note that the phrase "better art" came from reporter Elfman and is not a direct quote from anyone at First Friday, LLC. I think the change will actually bring better festival attendees that have some money to spend on art. First Friday has been overwrought by underage emo kids with few bucks in their pockets. I'm not heading downtown to deal with that. Having a successful "think outside the box" team put their own dollars and reputations on the line will bring the event to where it deserves to be, in the limelight. Change is indeed scary, but exciting and necessary.
I think these guys will do a great job. I sincerely hope they will cut the costs for vendor space. They charge so much it makes it almost impossible for them to make a profit. I hope they don't make it so expensive that it's out of reach for the average person and even the teens that go there now. Art takes many, many forms. I hope we will see a broad price range so everyone can make a purchase be it large or small.
And the 'sucking in' continues. Downtown is a vile monster that has destroyed men far smarter and better positioned financially than Hsieh. Good luck with tha, the ghosts of Minami, Main Street Station, and others look forward to meeting you in the failed business ideas graveyard.
Good For first friday, Good for Downtown, Good for Las Vegas- A WIN-WIN-WIN Thanks TONY & Company
another great move to help all
Well maybe they can solve the parking problem downtown. MAKE IT FREE!
Bravo! This is great! This is how grown up cities create wonderful cultural events and long-standing urban entertianment. Good-luck to the new foursome. Cindy had a great idea and she has now raised it and sent it to college!
This is great news, in my opinion. The event seemed to be geared towards the late teen/early 20's crowd, with art and music to match. That is the crowd who wants to party, and they don't generally have the money to actually buy art. I haven't been in over 2 years because it was more of a loud street party than an art event, but will certainly be giving it another shot. Bring in the right crowd and you will attract decent artists, and people will spend money. Denver ran their First Friday event with shuttles, wine and cheese at the galleries, etc., and people actually dressed up for the event. A friend who owned a gallery banked more in that one night than the rest of the month, and it was a nice cultural night out for folks who actually had money to spend. Vegas doesn't need a street party...there is plenty of partying here now. We need a nice night out for residents who want to do something other than be in a mix of loud, obnoxious kids, and if I have to pay $5 for entry to something like that, I'll be happy to do so.