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Parks & Public Spaces
Application from Awestruck Marketing Group for “Cirque du Soleil - Glade,” a special event in Madison Square Park on Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014 from 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
At the regularly scheduled monthly Community Board Five meeting on Thursday, October 09, 2014, the following resolution passed with a vote of 36 in favor; 0 opposed; 2 abstaining:
WHEREAS, Awestruck Marketing Group ("Applicant") has submitted an application for "Cirque du Soleil - Glade" ("Event") in Madison Square Park on Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014 from 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.; and
WHEREAS, The event would be limited to a twenty-minute performance, followed by forty minutes of ancillary performances, all to take place in the southwest gravel area of Madison Square Park, and would be comprised of two tents, six carpets, nine balloons, four scent machines, five kites, forty magic trees, and twelve performers on a round, mobile stage measuring nine feet in diameter; and
WHEREAS, Installation of the event commences at midnight the night before the event, with breakdown to be completed no later than 10:00 p.m. the day of the event; and
WHEREAS, Although the event has a marketing component as a tie-in with Glade air fresheners, the branded signage is minimal, and would primarily be visible during the twenty-minute performance schedule only; and
WHEREAS The event is free, open to the public, and allows members of the public to watch a performance from Cirque du Soleil; and
WHEREAS, The event is limited to the gravel area next to the concession, with nothing blocking park access or park pathways at any time; and
WHEREAS, Although filming will occur for stock footage, Applicant agreed to utilize waivers for any members of the public who are filmed, with no use of 'user-end agreement' sandwich boards placed at park entrances, in response to concerns of Community Board Five; and
WHEREAS, Production trucks would be limited to the west side of Madison Avenue between 23rd and 24th Streets; and
WHEREAS, Amplified sound would be limited to two hours, with all speakers directed within the designated footprint and not outward to the neighboring businesses, residential buildings or sidewalks; and
WHEREAS, No promotional materials or samples will be distributed, although Applicant will be handing out 500 Venetian masks for members of the public to wear during the performance; and
WHEREAS, As is customary for similar large-scale, commercial events, Applicant agreed to make a donation to the Madison Square Park Conservancy, in addition to the required Parks Department fee; and
WHEREAS, This is a one-time event, with no plans to recur; and
WHEREAS, Applicant was communicative and responsive to community concerns, and modified the details of the proposed event in response to concerns from Community Board Five, including the placement of speakers, reduction of proposed signage, reduction of plans for filming, elimination of pamphlet distribution, elimination of branded information on carpets used in the event, and location of all event components on the gravel areas only; and
WHEREAS, No members of the public testified in opposition to this event; therefore be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends approval of the application from Awestruck Marketing Group for "Cirque du Soleil - Glade," a special event in Madison Square Park on Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014 from 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.