Archives for February 2009

(Via You've Cott Mail)Anthony Tommasini, chief classical music critic for The New York Times, is answering your questions until Friday the 13th! E mail him at askthetimes@nytimes.com. There's a nice healthy bio before the Q&A; it would be great to have bios for all the critics in the arts section, I think, so readers (and publicists) can learn where the journalists are coming from in their reviews/features without having to comb through Wikipedia like I do obsessively. This bit from his bio is interesting in light of the earlier discussion … [Read more...]

I stand pleasantly surprised by the Grammy live pre-telecast. It worked without a hitch and looked lovely. Here's our girl:The presenter said he gets "1 minute" for the classical awards every year. He also said that this kind of music "is your friend when times are hard" (I....guess?)  and to "grab Hilary" if you have any questions at all about classical music. Thanks dude: I'm the one who's going to end up fielding those. … [Read more...]

Each week, I'll post an interview with someone far more knowledgeable than myself on specific marketing and publicity subjects. This week, Goldstar CEO and co-founder Jim McCarthy on sitting in half-full audiences, going genre-less and why you don't actually gotta having a gimmick. Jim McCarthy is the CEO and co-founder of Goldstar and the Editor of Live 2.0. He's a decade-long veteran of the Internet and e-commerce business, starting with GeoCities way back when "myspace" was something you told somebody you needed when you wanted to break up … [Read more...]

Further to my post about e-programs, look at this 09-10 e-season brochure from The London Philharmonic Orchestra! You can flip through it online, download as a PDF, and/or e mail it to a friend. Having spent 20 minutes playing around with it this morning, I can officially say it's the first orchestra season brochure I've read cover-to-cover -- or, perhaps more accurately, page 1/68 - 68/68 -- in years, if not ever. And it cost zero dollars ($0) for them to get it to me. Thanks to Ronen for the link. … [Read more...]

As someone who has been known to Photoshop a few images in her day, I have to brush-tool draw your attention to La Cieca's top-notch Aretha Franklin Inauguration Hat/George Man-of work: This is excellent, excellent Photoshopping. … [Read more...]

The (now not so) new Carnegie Hall programs are fantastic. I've been meaning to write this since seeing Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Orpheus there in October, but my scanner has been on the fritz. I was reminded how much I liked said programs, however, on Sunday night at the Kurtag recital (um...go Steelers?) and promptly repaired my scanner for this purpose. Such nice bright colors in the calendar section! Gives the hall the opportunity to highlight specific concerts in an aesthetically pleasing fashion without using wasteful and noisy program … [Read more...]

I was just (remortgaging the house I don't have and) buying flowers online, and this popped up: I'm always "chatting" with Verizon reps, too. Sometimes they suggest I call the 800-number with my question, but often they're quite useful online, and I don't have to listen to hold music. I'd love to see a presenter box office live chat option. "Need help picking the perfect concert? Let one of our experts help you. CHAT NOW." That way, venues could have trained box office representatives who work from home. Call them "experts", too - not … [Read more...]

A journalist friend forwarded me the following press release, and it is funny stuff:Pittsburgh, PA, January 29...The trash-talking has already begun. Pittsburgh Opera and Arizona Opera (with locations in Phoenix and Tucson) have embraced the mortal combat of the Super Bowl with a fervor befitting, well, opera."Everyone knows how passionate Pittsburghers are about the Steelers. It goes without saying that we had to find a way to show our true devotion to our team," said Christopher Hahn, Pittsburgh Opera General Director, who today threw down … [Read more...]