Archives for 2008

Apparently, the Broadway Godspell revival ad campaign wasn't as good as I thought it was.  … [Read more...]

In the third paragraph of his August 6th article in The New York Times, Dan Wakin quotes Opera Omnia artistic director Wesley Chinn's press release:The first news release quoted the founder and artistic director, Wesley Chinn, as saying, "I can't actually pretend to quote myself in a release I'm writing myself just to satisfy the conventions of press-release style."Fourth paragraph:If the tongue-in-cheek communiqué was meant to draw attention during the summer doldrums, it worked. But further investigation reveals that Opera Omnia is a serious … [Read more...]

Each week, I'll post an interview with someone far more knowledgeable than myself on specific marketing and publicity subjects. This week, Juilliard masters student (and my assistant!) Allegra Lilly on how prepared she feels Juilliard students are for The Industry post graduation. Allegra Lilly began playing the harp at age seven and made her solo debut with the Detroit Symphony at age twelve.  Recent honors include winning the Anne Adams Award of the American Harp Society, taking third prize in the Concours International de Harpe in Nice, … [Read more...]

Nope, I'm not going to write about it, but I sure wish the press would!The Olympics have renewed my fascination with all things surrounding child prodigies and, especially with the games being in China, I wonder why we haven't seen child prodigy athlete vs. child prodigy classical musician press. Surely there are huge, glaringly obvious similarities: extreme focus on a singular pursuit from a very young age, supportive beyond-supportive-parents (or parental figures), intense training, legendary coaches/teachers, presence of natural gifts, … [Read more...]

The New York Philharmonic's Facebook group is "secret". Seriously? The Philharmonic decides who is worthy of their Facebook group? Facebook, a free digital platform that makes access to new things almost too easy, and somehow - somehow - the Philharmonic finds a way to make it exclusive?  … [Read more...]

Oh bless the Godspell Broadway revival ad campaign my soul: Creepily religious, straightforward and smart. Gets people who already know Godspell excited and people who don't, intrigued. All for the best. I realize core-classical music doesn't have lyrics to pull from, but I would love to see an ad campaign for a presentation of The Rite of Spring (I know I've used this example before) that uses quotes from all the terrible reviews and then just says "www.carnegiehall.org/ichoserite" at the bottom. Or, "I am delighted to add another unplayable … [Read more...]

My friend Meg joined me at the exceedingly lovely Mostly Mozart Festival's presentation of Ravel, Faure and the-man-of-the-two-hours on Saturday night. Previously, Meg was my date to Satyagraha at The Met, lured there by the promise of puppets. Whenever I go to a classical presentation with a first-timer, I become eminently more aware of the comedy of errors that is the audience. What a crew. Here are some of the highlights: Saturday night, 7:45 pm. We found our seats in the orchestra and sat down without incident, which is more than I can say … [Read more...]

Each week, I'll post an interview with someone (or someones) far more knowledgeable than myself on specific marketing and publicity subjects. This week, American Public Media's National Marketing Manager for classical music Tim Peterson, and Managing Producer of Performance Today Silvester Vicic on the current state of public radio: quite possibly the oldest media supporter of new classical music. Tim J. Peterson joined American Public Media as National Marketing Manager for the Classical and Marketplace portfolios in the fall of 2007.  He … [Read more...]

If The Public Theatre's opening night of Hair doesn't make it onto the cover of The New York Times tomorrow, free publicity for everyone reading.The last minute and a half was truly the most remarkable thing I've ever seen on a stage, through no fault (?) of the production's own. … [Read more...]

First, I must footnote playwright Jason Grote for that phrase. He mentioned it in an e mail exchange, and I warned him that I would be claiming it as my own in the future. The future is now. Hilary (Hahn) was in The NY Times Crossword last Thursday. 54 down. The clue was "violin virtuoso", the answer: Hahn. Really? People got that? I started to count letters on my fingers...I-T-Z-H-A-K...B-E-L-L...At this point, I have lost all perspective on who's "famous" and who's "classical music famous". Hilary is clearly classical music-famous, but … [Read more...]

I saw [title of show] on Saturday, and it exceeded all expectations by combining my two great loves: musical theatre and viral marketing. SPOILER ALERT After finding out that their show is moving to Broad-way, writers/stars Hunter and Jeff are faced with the Sophie's Choice of changing their show to appease Broadway audiences, or sticking to the original, scrappy plan. There's a number, "Nine People's Favorite Thing", just before the finale that contains the lyrics, I'd rather be nine people's favorite thing Than a hundred people's ninth … [Read more...]

I have to go to work tomorrow for the first time in over a year. If you think I'm not picking out my outfit tonight and making sure I have push-pencils and a calculator, you are mistaken.So I'm going to work to begin my limited engagement as director of publicity for a record label (cue obligatory "boo's" and "hisses") while the current director is on maternity leave, which means I have to sneak in a post about classical music album art today. What I Hate About You, Classical Album Coversby Amanda Ameer1. Instruments. If an album says "Hilary … [Read more...]

Each week, I'll post an interview with someone far more knowledgeable than myself on specific marketing and publicity subjects. This week, publicist Marisa Handren on trends in viral marketing, music sites to read, and why the indie rock world is obsessed with felines. Marisa Handren runs Four Paws Media, an arts and music pr company in Jersey City, NJ. Before starting Four Paws, Marisa spent three years at Blue Ghost Publicity working with inspiring and accomplished artists such as Deerhoof, The Locust, Xiu Xiu and Grammy nominees Yeah Yeah … [Read more...]

More good marketing stuff via In the News! Is this a challenge for Life's a Pitch? It is so on, "Ian VanderMeulen".In an article in today's (7/31) Atlanta Journal-Constitution about Alliance Theatre's upcoming experiments with audience text-messaging, Kirsten Tagami writes, "This summer, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra has used audience text messaging at its new venue in Alpharetta, the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park. Concert-goers are encouraged to text questions before intermission, ASO spokeswoman Melissa Sanders said. Selected … [Read more...]