100 percent of the stage expansion and most of the electric work was paid for by a grant from the Middletown Community Foundation as our support of the Bash this year. We have been a major sponsor of the concert series ever since it started and a few weeks ago approved our support of their 2012 series. We closely analyze their financials when we review their grant application, just as we do with all other applicants to the Foundation to ensure money is being properly spent if any of the Foundation's grants are being used to support it.

Let me see if I can answer your questions. The We Can Business Incubator is the organization that handles our event as far as bookkeeping, some logistics etc.  They also do other events in town such as The Legends of Rock and some charitable events.

The Bash can’t survive on beer sales alone. We have Corporate and private sponsors that supplement what we need to do the shows. It costs a lot to do these shows when you consider: Bands, sound engineer, insurance, street closure, police, portable toilets, ice, beer, kid zone inflatable, electric,  setup/cleanup, dumpster rental, and the other misc. things that pop up every week.

Total beer sales were down last year I think due to the more family friendly event so there where a few shows that the sales did not cover the expense. That’s why we have Sponsors. In addition last year we spent around $10,000 upgrading the stage to include adding 6 feet to the front of it and adding more electric to the stage and vendor area. All this was submitted to the proper channels at the City and inspected and approved by the City. We paid for it through our Corporate Sponsors.

Beer sales are overseen by our Committee. People working the tent are trained to look for anyone who has over indulged and a Supervisor is there to help them. At least 3 people are out front checking ID’s and putting beer only bracelets on people. You can’t buy a beer without it and only 2 beers can be bought per person at one time.  You will also see that the Police Officers generally are located near that beer tent. I ask them to help us keep an eye out for anyone who has had too much to drink so we can cut them off.  We’ve only had 1 instance where a person was asked to leave and that was a gentleman who brought his own beverages in illegally. We caught him and the Officers escorted him out. Luckily he was walking.

Our BEER ONLY permit comes from The State of Ohio. We submit a detailed area map showing the designated area for consumption. We then rope that area off and place signs saying no alcohol beyond this point. We also patrol the area for illegal beverages brought in. The Kid Zone is outside this area.

Some of the non profits that have benefited from the tips are; Paws, Saint Vincent DePaul, Arts on Main, to name a few.

We receive no money from the city. We also pay them for the street closures. We also pay the Police Officers directly.

 This is not a money making event and was never intended to be. Everyone is a volunteer. In fact it costs me money by taking me away from my real job every other Wednesday. I know the rest of the Volunteers feel the same way.

The Bash has always been about giving locals a FREE event in the summer where they can bring their families and have fun.