Percussion Axiom TV: Episode #61 "The modern American regional orchestra..."

[rahmalec]

I don't know about orchestral but from the little experience I have with organising percussion concerts (all have been successful though) I have a few ideas for making sure the audience go away wanting more.

The main thing I think is to have a good programme with enough variety to keep the audience interested and entertained. Some humour is always good (and is rarely seen in music) since it warms the audience up and they'll be more relaxed and ready for a more serious piece.

[rahmalec]

@rahmalec

I suppose something like Heads Up by Mark Ford is good (but is more of a "fun" only piece I suppose). One of the best pieces I've come across is Musique de Table since there's something there for both the trained musician and the average joe.

Another thing is to have the "whole package" and what I mean by that is that the concert should be an experience from beginning to end. So by that, making sure all the movements between pieces are quick.

[rahmalec]

@rahmalec

Lighting, stage setup, etc, should be thought of in order to make the whole concert as good as possible.

If you can get a good crowd on the first concert, and if everyone leaves wanting more then word should spread. If a number of concerts are good then it should start getting a reputation.

[tburritt1971]

@rahmalec Thanks so much for the comments. Please tell others about the show!

[TheDigitalMonk]

I'm not saying that it's about changing the venue so much as going out and reaching the younger audiences through good advertising. If you think about it, just about every product us younglings buy nowadays are plastered in our faces begging for us to buy every which direction. It's easy to let something unadvertised slip from our minds, even if it's something we might like.

[TheDigitalMonk]

Oops, I should clarify, I didn't mean IN the high schools, I don't really think that would work. I mean that they should every once in a while have free tickets or have the high school directors put up ad posters.

[TheDigitalMonk]

Also, orchestras should do promotional campaigns in high school orchestra/band programs. Most kids these days are not going to actively seek to go to the symphony, but those who are in music programs would at least be intrigued, and if an opportunity arose that interested them, I think a good size number of people would go.

[tburritt1971]

Thanks for the comment! Austin Symphony does high school programs each year, they go over pretty well, but it isn't always the best venue (high school gym/auditorium etc..) Maybe the venue is the key issue... is the concert hall to "snooty"?

[TheDigitalMonk]

I know this isn't representative, but it's a fun story. Everytime I went to my local symphony my senior year of high school (graduated calss of 09), I saw someone from my high school there (I went maybe 4 times that school year). I think that there is a legitimate crowd that could potentially be reached, but I don't think programming contemporary music will necessarily be the answer. Programs like the planets, when mixed with actual satellite footage on a screen is more the way to go.

[CaseyCangelosi]

We (classical musicians) want to be elitists, yet we're frustrated with the lack of attention we receive. Isn't that what elite means? To be exclusive? I'm frustrated too, even a little hungry, but not confused.

[CaseyCangelosi]

it's tricky; art-music takes some commitment, other-wise it's not art-music. If a concert piece doesn't have room for discussion and re-interpretation, then it's just pop-music played on concert instruments.  Of course the opposite is true too, many classical musicians write off pop-music because of the instrumentation, when really much of it is quite classical.

[tburritt1971]

Hey John! Nice to see you here.. (but looking forward to running into you in Leander!

I think your comment involves the idea that we are not training our students in the public schools to be interested in art music.. just band music, right? Public school seems like the right opportunity to introduce students to the orchestral rep.. but the model just isn't set up that way. So much time playing in band...