About the UHTC Crew Appreciation Project
They haul, they tune, they set up and they take down. They cook and serve, they drive the trucks and the buses. Most importantly: they take care of Our Man and his band.
They are the crew of the Unified Heart Touring Company and they make the world tour possible. When the tour comes to its end in Las Vegas we will show them that we appreciate all the hard work they put in to make the tour such a smashing success.
This is a collective effort by a group of fans and all are welcome to join. In an attempt to keep this a surprise for the crew, we did not discuss this project on the forum or in other places where members of the crew might have seen it.
Please participate in the discussion under the various pages on this site. If you have any questions or comments that you would like to relay in private please email Avi Elkoni at: weloveuhtc@gmail.com
Hi Avi
Great idea! I am wondering though, what about the band? what about the moderators including Maarten, Marie Mazur, Jarkko,Dick, etc.
I love the road crew and agree this is a great idea…not sure how involved I will be so want to see what ideas people have…do you have any?
take care
Leslie/Mutti
Hi Leslie, Thanks for joining us!
I adore the band, I got to meet most of them and I treasure the items they autographed for me. But the band gets applause during and after every performance and the crew doesn’t. I am all for recognizing the band, but this project is all about the crew — the “unsung heroes” of the tour as my partner in crime Leonard B. cleverly calls them.
I have a few starter ideas. We’re going to do “thank you” cards for sure and hopefully we’ll have enough donations for some sort of trophy for each member of the crew. Someone proposed T-Shirts (I like that idea a lot) and I’m waiting for her to post it in the “project ideas” page. I have a few more but I really want this to be a collective effort, not just a pool of ideas from one or two people.
The more fans get involved, the better, so please: tell your friends!
I know that this was started as a crew appreciation and that in itself is a worthy, fantastic cause. But, if there is any money leftover, I agree with Leslie, why not the band and moderators also? By including the band, whatever gift is the ultimate choice, we are saying to the crew that their contribution to this tour is as equally valuable as the band’s. The moderators are not part of the UHTC, but there is a definite link. Without them, we would not have been privy to presales which enabled us to have access to better seats (most of the time
), band meetups before concerts, known about concerts before they became general knowledge, nametags,……. These things are also part of the tour. Why not include the band and moderators?
Love this idea! And I’m happy to volunteer my time. I sent an e-mail to your “official” e-mail address… Thank you for starting this!
Hi Kelsey
thanks for joining us!
Hi Mutti ~
I understand your inclinations to spread the net further. We owe so much to so many.
I agree with Avi, however, that this ought to be focused wholly on the crew… those unknowns who Leonard has in his way given much credit to for making it all happen. He walks onstage and it is all there for him, everything in place and ready to go. Jarkko has gotten his kudos and presentations in various ways, Marie needs to at some point, and the rest, as well. For now, though, this seems really to be inspired toward recognizing the unsung efforts of the crew across time, strictly relating to all those whose efforts bring Leonard’s great performances to a theatre near you. Really, the crew.
~ Lizzy
Hi Lizzy, I love this idea. Without the crew … none of us would be here discussing them! Will be happy to do what I can. Please let us know.
great Idea. Count me in . How can I help?
Anne
Hi Anne, and welcome! Stay tuned for volunteering opportunities (also, very soon we will start collecting donations and every little bit helps)
What a thoughtful idea; how many crew people are we talking about? I read Joey’s tumblr faithfully and can see how hard everyone works. Count me in.
Patricia aka grannypoe
Hi Patricia, thanks for joining us! Hopefully the growing list of LV concert-goers that you are maintaining will help us next week when we start collecting donations!
Hi all,
great idea to thank all the helpers “rather invisible”!
What about a button “Working for the Miracle”?
Conny
Love it!
I like the idea of that for a t-shirt, as well, Conny!!!
SO TRUE IN EVERY SENSE!!!
I love it, too – especially for a t-shirt. What a neat idea. Conny’s seriously creative.
i agree with lizzy!!! a tee shirt with that “working for the MIRACLE” would be perfect. kudos, conny!!!
Actually, I LOVE that idea for a t-shirt!!!
Hi Avi,
Fabulous idea! Sorry I didn’t respond sooner as I’m in the mountains of Colorado right now and only check my laptop occasionally. I am all for it!! The crew is awesome and they are definitely the unsung heroes. While others are sleeping they are many times driving long distances throughout the night to the next venue, and having to work with local crews at arenas and concert halls around the world, sometimes with language problems. Great idea!!!
Diana
Hi…Absolutely great idea…offer any help needed..Be part of anything decided…..If I have any ideas will mention them…..There is always room to give love and appreciation…You are truly a great group of people…jeanne
Thank you jeanne and welcome, keep an eye out for updates!
Welcome Diana! (and not to worry — we know you’re a regular globe-trotter, your temporary silence lovingly accepted…)
Hi,
This is a great idea, very happy to be involved any way I feasibly can. Donations, certainly. Ideas, possibly – I will have a think. T-shirts are sounding like a great move.
Ruth
Thanks for joining us Ruth! Looking forward to working with everyone on this project.
Don’t forget, Jeanne
… your oversight was likely just a matter of timing!
Hi
This will be my first L.C. Concert. Really looking forward to it. Would love to help and will contribute also.
Marie
Welcome Marie, and thank you for joining us! (also: see you in Vegas!)
Well, Marie (Cheshire gal) ~ You aren’t the one I was thinking you were, when I said it’ll be Great to see you again! Well, change that to it’ll be GREAT to meet you! I’m so thrilled you’ll be seeing Leonard for the 1st time!!! You will be deeply impacted by the experience.
~ Lizzy
Count me in! T-shirts are a good idea, but I’m also thinking something a bit more permanent..
cheers,
evelyn
This is a fantastic idea.
Count me in for a donation and any other help I can give to this project.
Nancy
Great idea. I’m happy to be involved. Donation or any other help, let me know. All the LC concerts I’ve been to have been fantastic, in no small part due to the crew.
Mandy
Happy to be involved. Will try to think some creative thoughts and contribute in whatever way is needed.
I think a photo album for each member of team she will be nice, but it`s difficult to find photo with everyone (we need a “scout” from inside)
It`s just anoather ideea
Vali
I agree, to make the photo book work, we will need help from the inside (probably from Lorca) and we’ll have to be very careful when choosing pictures to include everyone (this might be hard since I’m not sure if all of the people on our list don’t travel with the crew)
What can I do to help ?
Welcome Michael! I am forwarding to you the email that went out to all volunteers last night.
What a wonderful idea! T-Shirts are a great idea as is your idea of the buttons Conny. I’m thinking of a idea of framed certificates with something along the lines of “In recognition of your much appreciated hard work in making all the concerts possible”. Could be signed Sincerely L.Cohen forum and have Unified Heart on it. Would be a great keepsake for them all.
My only niggling concern about the photo album is that in today’s world of many cameras, including good ones on phones, and Joey Carenza’s photologue, that the Crew may have already taken themselves, or be privy to their choice of many photos already, and they would know best what they prefer. To those of you interested in the photo album idea, what particular kinds of photos did you have in mind for them?
I’m in, let me know what the consensus is!
Lynne
Thank you, and welcome!
Sorry it took so long to respond, I just got back from France last night. I had the same idea as Musicmania – to give framed certificates of recognition – & I also like the idea of T-shirts. Thank you for starting this, Avi, let me know any way I can help!
Welcome and thanks for joining us!
Great ideas! keep me posted..thanks Leslie
Oh oh, looks like we have one more crew member we did not know about!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5120726&fbid=445908000817&id=51779680817&ref=nf
Hi Avi and Everyone ~
I’m hoping that people can actually begin making contributions, so we know ongoing how much cash we have to work with to accomplish these wonderful plans. I can’t figure out how to assess that, as there doesn’t seem to be a way to see any totals. If people could start doing it, though, Avi could keep us posted with a running tally. It seems like a long way off, but in reality it’s not.
And, Avi, is there a way to post a link to the mock-up that Grace created for the paperweight? Or the mock-up itself? Or would it be better for Grace to just contact Sheila directly and talk with her about it?
Hi Lizzy,
Yes, the PayPal link works and we have already received a few donations. Our Financial audit process is also in place to ensure the money is managed transparently and without error. At this point we have received too few donations, if I post the total received I can’t protect the privacy of donors, but once we receive just a few more I will definitely post the number and update it regularly.
Hi Avi ~
I wouldn’t go with numbers of donations, so much as with total amounts in dollars, since that’s what will determine where we’re really at. Is there any way that you can post an announcement at the top somewhere to ‘announce’ that PayPal is now in place for actual donations to be made? I know you have the PayPal symbol there, with the symbols of various credit cards, but some verbiage to accompany them might still be a good idea.
Do you have a mailing list back there behind those closed doors of the people who have responded here… so, perchance, you might send out a mass email [blind copied] announcing that PayPal is now up and running and if they’re planning to participate, it will be helpful if they can make their donation now [tactful words to that effect]. Our exchange seems somewhat lost in the thread and I wonder how many people have kept returning as several of us have… or if they’re giving it some time. Of course, the problem with that is the busy/ness of our lives and how sometimes things just simply slip our minds.
Hi Lizzy,
My point was, with so few donations it is still possible to figure out individual donations from the total. Just a few more, and it will be safe to publish the total.
Yes, there is a mailing list of all responders (and the doors, I hope, are not too closed…) I will send another email blast tomorrow. I’m trying to limit outgoing email to no more than once a week, and send it out close to the weekend when people have more time for these things
Ah. Gotcha
. Thanks, 
:).
This is a great idea! I’d love to help. Count me in as a volunteer.
Sue (sue7)
Absolutely brilliant idea – the crew are fantastic and deserve recognition! Count me in xx
Fantastic idea!
it’s long lasting and a continuous reminder.
I join the lovers of the Conny’s phrase on Lizzy’s T-shirt idea
Musicmania’s idea to add to it a framed certificate makes it even more wholesome.
I’m in and will gladly help with what I can.
See you all in December,
–Sharon
Such a wonderful and thoughtful idea. Please count me in.
Carolyn
Hello!
This is a great idea, very happy to be involved any way I feasibly can. Donations, certainly. Idea
T-Shirt are a great idea and a wounderful idea of the
buttons from Conny.
I’m so sorry I can not come to Vegas. My last concert is in Bratislava.
You are truly a great group of people.
Marina
just changing my address
Gracias por los set List!!!
hi
and
shalom
thank you for your effort….
people can sign the groupcard…
to thank leonard cohen and the band for the
grace and best quality performance. they are a..
quantum…..for a better world….
thanks again……
I only discovered this today, must have been in shock since my personal last concert in Marseille. What a great idea. As I am not very creative ( an word and numbers type) I support every idea. The donation is on it’s way. Christel
Welcom Christel and thanks for joining us!
Thanks guys and gals, without all your hard work, the magic would not happen.
Consider it a job very well done.
To all of the less-famous members of the team,
I attended three shows on Leonard Cohen’s World Tour, and all of them came off flawlessly. I know that would not have been possible if it were not for your collective efforts.
Thanks for making it all happen every night, you rock!
Dear Avi,
Thank you for organizing this! I just sent my donation via paypal. I feel like my appreciation will be heard now thanks to you!
Peg
Thank you Peg and welcome! The donor list has not been printed yet, and your name will be included.