DFT Communications Floating Stage Stands Apart in Performing Arts
June 21, 2012
By Eric Wise, Star Staff Writer
Eleven years ago, Dan Dalpra didn't know that would be the last year the Bemus Bay Pops performed their annual concert on the roof of his Bemus Point restaurant, the Italian Fisherman. That was because one year later, they'd be performing on a one-of-a-kind floating stage.
"The last year, we were starting to get a little worried about the roof," said Dalpra. "We contacted Pepsi and some other groups to help sponsor the DFT Communications Floating Stage. Nobody had really heard of one before that, but we figured, "how hard could it be?"
After researching and gaining understanding of what the process would entail, there was no holding Dalpra back. He and his team found a company in Knoxville Tennessee that could manufacture the stage at a weight capacity of 65,000 lbs. set to safely hold more than 200 people.
Once the stage itself was taken care of they hunted down a company to design and build the unique top structure.
"We wanted a similar theme to the Sydney Opera House," said Dalpra. "We found a company in Colorado who could do it. The rest is history".
And what a history it has been. Since that first year the Floating Stage has grown to host some sort of event nearly every night of the week during the summer season.
"We decided to do something more than once a year," said Dalpra. "So we started events on Sunday afternoons. We found sponsors to do multiple shows. People brought their own chairs down and the whole thing evolved from there."
Annual shows like Chautauqua Idol and the Light the Lakes event have become a hit with local residents, but don't expect Dalpra to let a sleeping dog lie.
We just keep looking for innovative ways to generate revenue so the stage can become self-supporting," said Dalpra. "Our yearly budget is about $300,000, but the stage and the Bemus Bay Pops generate around $12-14 million a year for this region."
In the beginning, all the events at the stage were free so we figured out what service people would be willing to pay for", said Dalpra. "We found out most didn't like lugging their chairs to the stage three hours before a show to hold a spot so we bought lawn chairs and sold tickets for those chairs. Of course, it's still open to the public to sit in the street or pull up on their boats."
Maintenance on a floating stage with a decade under its belt has been pretty easy going with the most intense jobs being power-washing and cleaning up the area. But as the stage grows older, Dalpra foresees some usual maintenance needs.
"The canvas will likely need some adjustments soon" said Dalpra. "We'll have to work with the floats underneath and possibly replace them as well as some of the pressure treated wood in the stage. But overall, it's held up great for ten years in business."
With his eye always on the future, Dalpra has a great vision for what the stage could someday become.
"We'd love to expand the size of it at some point," said Dalpra. "As we get more and more acts in, we need to have dressing rooms. People want to use it for weddings and such, but we need more of a kitchen set up to really do what we'd like. When things with the economy turn around, we'll see more opportunities for growth."
Be Safe.
Pat Locke
Maestro Muse
