The one where I get pitched

As if we need any further proof that "media coverage" in 2008 is undefinable, once a day or so someone sends me something to potentially write about here:  a website or marketing initiative from their organization that they they think I'll like, or something from another organization they think I'll hate. So I spend my days pitching stories whilst getting pitched. It's all very silly.

Someone's father...wait for it...in-law sent me his daughter-in-law's chamber music website a couple weeks ago. That was cute, but the site was bad. It did make me wonder how often parents pitch their kids' concerts to local newspapers. I'll bet it happens all the time, and hey, why not. I also immediately read pitches from people I know, so if a journalist I work with, for example, sends me a ridiculous press release, that moves to the top of my so-much-bad-PR-to-write-about-so-little-time list. Goes to show how relationships reign supreme when it comes to pitching...anything.

As a gesture of solidarity to my fellow pitchers of all shapes and sizes, here are two things I was sent recently that I like:

The Zagreb Guitar Quartet of Croatia's website. It's easy to read, the photos are consistent and elegant, and they have quote and a one-sentence bio right above the e-fold. Nicely done. Then, right there on the homepage, they have Latest News, Concerts, Quick Links, and Twitter Updates (9.6 from the sassy judge from New York for keeping up with the e-Jones), as well as an embedded Last FM playlist. They also have a discreet normal navigation bar at the top of the page, if that's your preference. On the About page, I really like the map of places they've toured; I often forget how international touring classical artists really are. Their press kit is great because 1. they give you the options to download elements separately or as on zip file and 2. they tell you how big the files are, so you're not like, "24 MB!! COME on." when you start downloading. Not surprisingly, their e-newsletter is very clean and aesthetically appealing as well:

I'm not thrilled about being auto subscribed to the list, but I'll give them a get out of jail free card because everything is so clear. Also, I may be wrong, but the site and e-newsletter don't look terribly expensive, so let's not assume that classical musicians and organizations just can't afford good materials.

The River Oaks Chamber Orchestra in Texas, a 40-person ensemble in its fourth season, sent me an e mail about a subject near and dear to my heart: text messaging. After a recent world premiere, they asked the audience to text in their immediate responses to the piece. They then posted the responses on their website.  I've said before and I will say again, we're all very fortunate to live at a time when we can truly create our own media coverage. If you're not getting on TV, "broadcast yourself" on YouTube. If critics won't come to your concert, have the audience that does come review it.