Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs
Encyclopedia
The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs (MAC) was founded in 1983, primarily as an organization for cabaret
owners, managers, and booking agents to meet and exchange ideas. The organization started accepting performers in 1985.
MAC is currently a trade organization, designation 501C6, with a dues-paying membership. It differs from an organization designated a 501C3 in that contributions to MAC are not tax deductible.
MAC's first president was Curt Davis who, upon his death, was succeeded by Erv Raible, co-owner of several New York piano bars and cabarets. Past presidents include Jamie deRoy, Michael Estwanick, Barry Levitt, Judy Barnett, Scott Barbarino and Ricky Ritzel. Its current president is Lennie Watts, appointed in 2009.
MAC’s mission is to advance the art and business of live entertainment. A trade association, its activities are designed to heighten public awareness of the field’s contributions and vitality, to honor its creativity, to build its current and future audiences, and to speak out as an influential voice on behalf of MAC members and the industry at large.
To help educate members to the business and behind-the-scenes aspects of live entertainment, MAC presents seminars and panel discussions on a variety of subjects. Recent topics have included: producing and marketing CDs, publicity, and using the internet as a marketing tool.
MAC serves as an advocate for its membership. At various times over its history, MAC has been an active participant in dialogues designed to change or overturn legislation adversely affecting New York's community of performers and clubs. The MAC advisory board presently includes Joan Rivers
, Kaye Ballard
, Phyllis Diller
, Jerry Herman
, Liza Minnelli
, Rex Reed
, Margaret Whiting
, and Julie Wilson
.
Since 1986, the MAC Awards have been presented by the Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs at an annual ceremony usually held in late spring. Originally, MAC Awards were simply given by the Board of Directors to whoever they felt had made a contribution to live entertainment, whether a business person, local performer, dedicated critic, or cabaret luminary. Currently the annual Awards Show shines the spotlight on up and coming, locally established, and nationally recognized cabaret, comedy, and jazz performers, as well as behind- the-scenes professionals. Awards are voted by the MAC membership. Honorees and performers at the awards over the years include Sylvia Syms
, Liza Minnelli
, Beatrice Arthur
, Barry Manilow
, Rosemary Clooney
, Manhattan Transfer
, Keely Smith
, and Betty Buckley
.
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
owners, managers, and booking agents to meet and exchange ideas. The organization started accepting performers in 1985.
MAC is currently a trade organization, designation 501C6, with a dues-paying membership. It differs from an organization designated a 501C3 in that contributions to MAC are not tax deductible.
MAC's first president was Curt Davis who, upon his death, was succeeded by Erv Raible, co-owner of several New York piano bars and cabarets. Past presidents include Jamie deRoy, Michael Estwanick, Barry Levitt, Judy Barnett, Scott Barbarino and Ricky Ritzel. Its current president is Lennie Watts, appointed in 2009.
MAC’s mission is to advance the art and business of live entertainment. A trade association, its activities are designed to heighten public awareness of the field’s contributions and vitality, to honor its creativity, to build its current and future audiences, and to speak out as an influential voice on behalf of MAC members and the industry at large.
To help educate members to the business and behind-the-scenes aspects of live entertainment, MAC presents seminars and panel discussions on a variety of subjects. Recent topics have included: producing and marketing CDs, publicity, and using the internet as a marketing tool.
MAC serves as an advocate for its membership. At various times over its history, MAC has been an active participant in dialogues designed to change or overturn legislation adversely affecting New York's community of performers and clubs. The MAC advisory board presently includes Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers is an American comedian, television personality and actress. She is known for her brash manner; her loud, raspy voice with a heavy New York accent; and her numerous cosmetic surgeries...
, Kaye Ballard
Kaye Ballard
Kaye Ballard is an American musical theatre and television actress, comedienne, and singer.-Life and career:Ballard was born as Catherine Gloria Balotta in Cleveland, Ohio, to an Italian American family, the daughter of Lena and Vincent James Balotta.Ballard established herself as a musical...
, Phyllis Diller
Phyllis Diller
Phyllis Diller is an American actress and comedian. She created a stage persona of a wild-haired, eccentrically dressed housewife who makes jokes about a husband named "Fang" while pretending to smoke from a long cigarette holder...
, Jerry Herman
Jerry Herman
Jerry Herman is an American composer and lyricist, known for his work in Broadway musical theater. He composed the scores for the hit Broadway musicals Hello, Dolly!, Mame, and La Cage aux Folles. He has been nominated for the Tony Award five times, and won twice, for Hello, Dolly! and La Cage...
, Liza Minnelli
Liza Minnelli
Liza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
, Rex Reed
Rex Reed
Rex Taylor Reed is an American film critic and former co-host of the syndicated television show At the Movies. He currently writes the column "On the Town with Rex Reed" for The New York Observer.-Life and career:...
, Margaret Whiting
Margaret Whiting
Margaret Whiting was a singer of American popular music and country music who first made her reputation during the 1940s and 1950s.-Youth:...
, and Julie Wilson
Julie Wilson
Julie Wilson is an American singer and actress.Born in Omaha, Nebraska and first finding a musical outlet with local musical group Hank's Hepcats, Wilson headed to New York City during World War II and found work in two of Manhattan's leading nightclubs, the Latin Quarter and the Copacabana...
.
Since 1986, the MAC Awards have been presented by the Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs at an annual ceremony usually held in late spring. Originally, MAC Awards were simply given by the Board of Directors to whoever they felt had made a contribution to live entertainment, whether a business person, local performer, dedicated critic, or cabaret luminary. Currently the annual Awards Show shines the spotlight on up and coming, locally established, and nationally recognized cabaret, comedy, and jazz performers, as well as behind- the-scenes professionals. Awards are voted by the MAC membership. Honorees and performers at the awards over the years include Sylvia Syms
Sylvia Syms
Sylvia M. L. Syms OBE is a British actress. She is probably best known for her roles in the films Woman in a Dressing Gown , Ice-Cold in Alex , No Trees in the Street , Victim and The Tamarind Seed...
, Liza Minnelli
Liza Minnelli
Liza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
, Beatrice Arthur
Beatrice Arthur
Beatrice "Bea" Arthur was an American actress, comedienne and singer whose career spanned seven decades. Arthur achieved fame as the character Maude Findlay on the 1970s sitcoms All in the Family and Maude, and as Dorothy Zbornak on the 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls, winning Emmy Awards for both...
, Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow is an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, conductor, and performer, best known for such recordings as "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "Can't Smile Without You", and "Copacabana ."...
, Rosemary Clooney
Rosemary Clooney
Rosemary Clooney was an American singer and actress. She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the novelty hit "Come On-a My House" written by William Saroyan and his cousin Ross Bagdasarian , which was followed by other pop numbers such as "Botch-a-Me" Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 –...
, Manhattan Transfer
The Manhattan Transfer
The Manhattan Transfer is an American vocal music group. There have been two manifestations of the group, with Tim Hauser being the only person to be part of both...
, Keely Smith
Keely Smith
Keely Smith is an American jazz and popular music singer who enjoyed popularity in the 1950s and 1960s. She collaborated with, among others, Louis Prima and Frank Sinatra.-Career:...
, and Betty Buckley
Betty Buckley
Betty Lynn Buckley is an American theater, film and television actress and singer. She is a Tony Award winner and Grammy Award nominee.-Early life:...
.