Making Sure the Audience Finds You!

At last, I finally get around to getting this post done!  And it's an important concept to deal with.  As musicians, we have to sell not only the music, but ourselves as performers, composers, nice people, whatever.  So here are some things that I've found that I like.  (In other words, things I might be able to do.)

Accessing the "Arts Journal" section of Alex Ross' website, I found this rather quirky item that made the NY Times.  It is about culture meeting culture and both working together.  Apparently, Chinatown in New York has expanded into the neighboring Italian neighborhood.  As the Chinese have bought up land, they've also bought businesses including the funeral homes.  And the Italian brass bands that have always played at the Italian funerals now play for the Chinese ones, too.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/14/nyregion/italian-brass-for-a-chinatown-goodbye.html

It seems to have increased the awareness of this musical form into another culture.

For years, one of my very favorite art songs is by William Bolcom as sung by his wife, Joan Morris.

The song is "Lime Jello Marshmallow Cottage Cheese Surprise".  I did find a probably illegal copy of this song on YouTube, so enjoy.  It's just too good not to share.  I just wish it had video.

(Don't you love the hair!)  Anyway, what is important here, aside from hearing the song a number of times on the radio (always a form of marketing!) is that William Bolcom has a website at williambolcom.com and the two of them have a combined website at bolcomandmorris.com.  Never underestimate the power of a very simple, straightforward URL.

Lastly, but not leastly, I like the flash mob thing and have to add in one of my personal favorites.  This is a flash mob from a couple of years ago in New York City at Christmas time.

This was the first one that I found.  It is the work of a group called Improv Everywhere and they have some very interesting videos on YouTube.  And then there is one more that I'd like to add just because I like it.  More flash mob and watch the guy with the cell phone.

Hey, it's almost Christmas, at least for church musicians!  

Signing off until my next brilliant foray into the wonderful world of 20th Century Music - it's ME!

Oh, if you can't stop reading this highly entertaining stuff, check out this video from Improv Everywhere.

I gotta quit.