Klarinet Archive - Posting 000487.txt from 1998/03

From: "Benjamin A. Maas" <bmaas@-----.net>
Subj: Music Promotion
Date: Sat, 7 Mar 1998 23:33:18 -0500

I have been in the process of starting a contemporary music ensemble for the
past few months. Our first concerts are going to be at the end of this
month and the second weekend of April. We are right now in the throws of
publicity.

Has anybody out there dealt with issues of marketing new music to a general
(non-college) audience. I have found that when you mention "contemporary
music" that people freak out and you don't get anybody at your concerts. I
have been thinking about billing it as a concert of American chamber music.

The program looks to be as follows:

Ray Pizzi- Woodwind Quintet (heavy jazz/fusion influenced piece. Higher
faster-louder)
Russell Steinberg- Subterranian Dances (Pirot Ensemble)
Stephen Gryc- Fantasy on a Theme of Bartok (oboe + string quartet)
Dominic Argento- To Be Sung Upon the Water (soprano, clar., piano)
Beth Weimann- Villancico (flute, clarinet, viola, cello)
Frank Proto- Afro American Fragments (bass clar, cello, dbl. bass, narrator)

There is a strong possibility of us getting the famed actor, Paul Winfield
to narrate, but it is not confirmed.

It is a big program and the quality is going to be quite high, but how can
we get an audience. We have some pretty big mailing lists, but many of the
people on them have some pretty conservative tastes in music.

Any help or experiences others may have had would be GREATLY appreciated.
When the concerts get a little closer, I will post dates, times, and
programs to the list.

Thanks in advance.

--Ben

Benjamin Maas
Clarinetist and Digital Recording Engineer
Student, University of Southern California
Executive Director, Digital Renaissance Consort
bmaas@-----.net
bmaas@-----.edu