First Lutheran’s Activity Center will welcome over 250 guests on October 4 to launch the 2024-25 season of our First Friday Jazz concerts. These 11:30 AM-1:00 PM monthly performances will run from October through May, marking the 13th season since our debut in October 2011.
Our inaugural concert in 2011 featured the renowned Lincoln trumpet player, Mac McCune, and his ensemble. Despite expecting an audience of 50, we were astonished when around 250 attendees, mainly retirees, showed up. The lunch arrangements were chaotic; neither we nor the restaurant manager had foreseen such a turnout. Orders were rushed to the restaurant, leading to delays. This mishap taught us the importance of having food readily available on-site.
We decided to have volunteers prepare meals in our church kitchen at a modest price. Approximately half of our audience opts for this, while others bring their own lunches. Through trial and error, we discovered a successful approach. Surplus lunch proceeds and donations sustain us independently. Musicians are compensated fairly, a professional sound engineer is employed, and marketing expenses are covered. First Friday Jazz supported the installation of sound-absorbing panels and audio equipment for enhanced acoustics in the Activity Center.
The success of First Friday Jazz is evident in its consistently packed concerts as we enter our 13th year. We draw an enthusiastic daytime crowd with many loyal attendees. Musicians eagerly entertain our appreciative audience. Annually, we welcome back beloved acts and occasionally introduce new talents. The start of each season feels like a reunion for our audience—old friends gather, eager to reconnect since the previous May concert.
The primary benefit of First Friday Jazz to First Lutheran is its role as a gift to the Lincoln community. We offer an East Lincoln venue for jazz performances, attracting diverse audiences from the city and beyond to our church.
Join us for the upcoming 2024-25 season of First Friday Jazz!
