Happy birthday, NJArts.net! Site still going strong as it turns 4

by JAY LUSTIG

NJArts.net launched on Sept. 15, 2014, with an ambitious plan to cover all the arts in all of New Jersey. More than 2,700 posts later, here we are, on the day before the site’s fourth anniversary. And you didn’t send a card!

Seriously … thanks to everyone for reading, for sharing the posts on social media, and for telling all your friends about what a great resource the site is (hint, hint). Creating a website wasn’t really something I was looking to do, after 30 years in print journalism. But it seemed like the only thing I could do, after leaving The Star-Ledger/NJ.com. It’s been an amazing adventure; I feel like whole new worlds have opened up for me. I still love working on it, and am encouraged that an increasingly large number of people seem to see it as something worthwhile, and special.

What I don’t love is the business side of it, but I do want to take this opportunity to remind regular readers that while we don’t have a paywall, we do ask that they pay a voluntary subscription fee of whatever amount seems right to them (it’s not tax-deductible, since we aren’t a non-profit). Payments can be made via the “donate” button at the bottom of this page. If you’ve made one already, first of all, thanks. And second of all, don’t you remember how good that made you feel, and don’t you want to feel that good again?

In regard to the state of the site … our viewership and ad revenue continue to grow steadily. We recently became an official Ticketmaster affiliate, which has generated a small amount of money so far, but could be a significant part of the financial picture, going forward.

Richard Barone, James Mastro, the Glenn Mercer Band and Elk City will perform at a benefit for NJArts.net at Tierney’s Tavern in Montclair, Oct. 6.

Thanks to our marketing and advertising director Cindy Stagoff, who is also the primary organizer of our next benefit concert, taking place Oct. 6 at Tierney’s Tavern in Montclair. Richard Barone and James Mastro of The Bongos will perform as a duo, as well as with backing from Elk City. Joining them on the bill are The Glenn Mercer Band, and Elk City (performing on their own). It’s a great bill at a relatively small venue. You can also contact Cindy about sponsorship opportunities by emailing cstagoff@comcast.net.

Thanks also to Tom Skevin, the primary organizer of our last two benefit concerts (at the Stanhope House and Crossroads in Garwood) as well as an occasional writer and photographer for the site. Thanks also to all others who have written posts and/or taken photographs over the past year, or allowed me to re-publish their writing: (in alphabetical order) Jenifer Braun, Danny Coleman, Robert Ferraro, Ben Horowitz, Robert Johnson, Catherine LaMoreaux, Mike Lustig, Bob Makin, Eldonie S. Mason, Wes Orshoski, Helen O’Shea, Matteo Palermo, Leo Sacks, Ed Silverman, David Gerald Palladino-Sinclair, Taylor Shields and Jim Testa.

I want to remind everyone to sign up for our free newsletter, which comes out about twice a week, and is a great way to stay up on everything new the site has to offer (sign up here). I’d also like to mention some of the parts of the web site individual readers might not be familiar with:

Ticket Giveaways: Usually several new ones are added every week.

On-Sale Information: A roundup of notable new NJ shows going on sale soon, updated daily. This is the only place on the internet to get all that information, in one place.

Event Listings: Also updated daily, with events listed by genre.

All entries in our 350 Jersey Songs series (published daily in 2014 and 2015) are archived here.

Lists of links for NJ venues (grouped by county), artists, festivals, independent bookstores, independent record stores, media outlets, arts organizations and arts schools can be found at the top of the home page.

Also, at the bottom right hand of the home page, you’ll find links to posts with more NJ Arts news, under the heading “From Other Web Sites …”

Okay, that’s it for now. It’s been a great year, with lots of growth. And lots of great stuff, I’m sure, is still ahead. Thanks for being a part of it!

We need your help!

CONTRIBUTE TO NJARTS.NET

Since launching in September 2014, NJArts.net, a 501(c)(3) organization, has become one of the most important media outlets for the Garden State arts scene. And it has always offered its content without a subscription fee, or a paywall. Its continued existence depends on support from members of that scene, and the state’s arts lovers. Please consider making a contribution of any amount to NJArts.net via PayPal, or by sending a check made out to NJArts.net to 11 Skytop Terrace, Montclair, NJ 07043.

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