SEPTEMBER 2010
the newsletter for Nuçi’s Space, a nonprofit musicians’ support/resource center
A Brief Look Back
I
n October 1999 I knew a little about Nuçi’s Space through an occasional headline in the Flagpole, Athens’ music weekly, and hearing a few people talk about it around town. Despite the lack of details, I thought I knew the basics. Nuçi, a fellow musician in town had taken his own life a few years back in 1996 and his family wanted to build a rehearsal space in his memory. Immediately I thought it was a great idea. My experience with rehearsal spaces up to this point consisted of a wide variety of old, dilapidated buildings that offered many fascinating ways in which you or a band member could permanently get injured. While taking a break during an evening shift at the Last Resort Grill, a coworker asked what I was doing after work. In addition to a few interesting shows, he mentioned there was a benefit for Nuçi’s Space at the 40 Watt Club that evening. Since my path home passed in front of the club, I decided to stop in to check things out. I pushed through the double doors of the 40 Watt and saw David Barbe and Daniel Hutchens on stage performing. While waiting at the bar an elaborate display near the coat-check caught my eye. Eventually I paid for my beer and made my way over to the display to start reading. • Every 42 seconds someone in this country attempts suicide. • Every 16.7 minutes someone completes a suicide. • Over 85 people a day die by suicide. The statistics continued for another 8 or 9 lines. Having lost a close friend to suicide in 1992, these numbers had a profound effect on me. As I learned more about Nuçi’s story and the Phillips’ plans for Nuçi’s Space I began to see myself, my friends and fellow musicians within their vision. Nuçi’s Space was going to be much more than just a rehearsal space. Excited about what I had just discovered, I took a piece of literature with an email address on it before I left the club. The email address belonged to Linda Phillips.
nuçi’s space by
Bob Sleppy
After a couple of months and several dozen email exchanges, Linda invited me to share in her vision for Nuçi’s Space, offering me the position of Executive Director in December 1999. Less than a year later, under the guidance and unyielding determination of Linda Phillips, Nuçi’s Space opened its doors on September 30th, 2000. It’s now late-August, 2010 and we are just weeks away from celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Nuçi’s Space. The organization has come a long way since that night at the 40 Watt Club and our grand opening 10 years ago. Since inception, Nuçi’s Space has assisted over 755 musicians with direct financial aid. Over $100,000 annually is allocated to this program alone. In addition to our counseling programs, thousands of musicians and bands have used our rehearsal rooms, performed on our stage and have made Nuçi’s Space their home. I am fortunate to walk into work each day knowing that I work for an organization, with a great staff, which spends each moment advocating for and supporting musicians and the creative community. Signed posters from Drive-By Truckers, B-52’s, Modern Skirts, The Whigs and Widespread Panic, with messages of support to Nuçi’s Space, line the front room of our building. The overwhelming support we receive from large and small businesses, countless musicians and artists, community volunteers and donors from around the country remind us that we’re not alone in our fight. We are hosting a 10th Anniversary Party at Nuçi’s Space on Friday, October 1st from 5:30–9:30pm. In preparation for this big event I am making a special request for your participation. We would like to fill the walls of Nuçi’s Space with messages of good will, “thanks”, testimonials and congratulations. You can send these to us via email at space@nuci.org or just drop a note in the donation envelope provided. If you’d prefer to share your comments anonymously please instruct us to do so. Thank you for your help and we look forward to seeing you in a few weeks.
396 Oconee Street Athens, GA 30601 706.227.1515 space@nuci.org www.nuci.org
Newsletter Contributors
Linda Phillips Bob Sleppy Will Kiser Laura Ford Matt Hudgins Photos
Pam Keener Design & Layout
Larry Tenner