As previously mentioned, I had the distinct pleasure of hanging with Kevin Stalheim (among others) in the thriving metropolis of Buffalo, NY a few weekends ago. He gave me his series’, Present Music’s, season brochure (pronounced PRESent Music, as in, “current” or “generally around” music, not PreSENT Music, as in, “we present music”), and I thought it was rockin’. Here is one of the brochure panels (please ignore the embarrassingly dirty scanner):
Intriguing images, good concert titles, clear date/time/locations, BUT the coolest part, I think, is the total lack of outlined programs. When I first looked at the brochure, I thought the programs were listed for each concert and the words were just jumbled; I then realized that the programs are not, in fact, listed, but that this was a kind of word-association game with the concerts instead! “Ryan Carter World Premiere…Innovation…Fish”: that makes me want to take a gander at their website, if not call and buy tickets on the spot. Here are two more:
From what Kevin has told me, Present Music concerts are 1. fun 2. all over the map, so this brochure reflects the spirit of the series perfectly.
One of the panels also has a great quote from an audience survey. The question was, “What was your favorite Present Music concert?” and one audience member answered, “My favorite Present Music concert is the one I haven’t yet heard.”
((goosebumps))
Mildly to moderately cheesy, perhaps, but it warmed my little publicist heart.
I saw Present Music! When I was in high school, my dad took me to his Beloit College class reunion, and I saw this flyer on campus for this concert. I totally fell in love with that concert, and I talked to someone (it must have been Kevin) and asked if they had CDs for sale, and he gave me the CD from their concert the night before! I listened to that over and over…Michael Torke, Elena Kats-Chernin, and Steve Reich…i was just in LOVE
It’s a pretty cool concept — the only thing I would have suggested would be to make the group’s URL more prominent, since their site contains all the relevant program info, plus substantial sound samples. Having said that, Present Music rocks: everything about the group, including their programming, the works they commission, and their presentation — is quality. Sa-lute!!
I agree with Steven that this kind of strategy, which operates in part by intriguing and tantalising the reader, needs to be properly backed up on the presenter’s website.
But I’d dispute his comment about “all the relevant program info”. For the concert last month the “program” is:
“Features: Sofia Gubaidulina, Your Mother Dances (Waltz, Charleston, Rag-time), John Adam’s Son of Chamber Symphony”
Then for the concert coming up in November, while they attempt to describe the spatial experience, the repertoire is even more vague. Is it all Henry Brant? Mostly Henry Brant? Henry Brant and? What are some of the pieces called? Why not link to their excellent information about Brant elsewhere on the site?
As for the 2009 dates, the concert information is really bare and doesn’t include clips. It was disappointing to visit the concert pages corresponding to the posted flyers and, instead of having my curiosity satisfied, be left no better informed than before. Now if I were an existing fan whose trust had already been won, that probably wouldn’t matter. But as a new visitor, I want to have a more tangible sense of what might be in store for the concert.