Panel 3: Integrating Media into a Successful Canadian Tour

Participants

• Roger Admiral (freelance pianist)
• DB Boyko (Western Front, artist-run centre 30 years old)
• Paul Cram (Halifax, Upstream Music Association)
• Walter Boudreau (SMCQ)
• Shirley Elias (Manitoba Conservatory, Debut Atlantic)

Three main themes emerged, common to all speakers:

1. When performers come from outside a community there is a need to make a connection to the local context.
2. People need to be told about the opportunity to hear a new musical experience in inviting language.
3. There is a need to encourage curiosity in introducing music to people who have never heard it before.

Some solutions offered by panelists

Roger Admiral

• "Short interviews on local morning show or afternoon drive show, university and community radio"
• "Create a poster with all the dates listed to ensure artistic control and consistency, can be designed by an art student who is eager to experiment"
• "Have written information ready to provide quotes or a quick explanation, something that can be printed verbatim."
• "Emmulate examples of writing from other art forms, such as painting. Check a book on new sculpture or architecture to find out how they discuss new ideas."

DB Boyko

• "Work with other presenters in the area. Develop partnerships to coordinate events within a specific period of time to share some touring artists, and get more media attention."
• "Approach all arts communities, to try to break down the silo mentality of audiences tending to go to only specific genres of events in order to attract new audience. Try to re-link with performance art, media art, visual art, the interdisciplinary artists network of 30 years ago"
• "Adopt the Artist Statement, an idea from the visual world where an exhibition has a text on display where the artist talks about intentions, etc. This provides affirmation about the person, the work, and the ideas behind it."

Paul Cram

• "Bring in ensembles and composers to collaborate with local musicians, to perform together with local players."
• "To make the synergy happen at the local level is what really matters"
• "Describe what you do as if you are talking to a film director or a guy in the bar"

Walter Boudreau

• "To get media attention, present visiting artist as a star - performers are more known than composers and easier to present as stars."
• "Bring back the principle of curiosity for the new - avant-garde dance is more popular than classical dance, because it s cool for that audience to be curious"
• "Lobby government to establish a comprehensive cultural policy that includes innovative music. They took charge of language issues in Bill 101; they need to take charge of cultural issues as well."

Shirley Elias

• "Composers-in-residence can build community interest, as part of the musician tours, to create the relationship with listeners"
• "Develop a uniform vision, a sequence of events that have a connection, and come back repeatedly to each small community, gradually building a reputation."
• "Tell a story with each event, and each composition"

Group discussion

• "Come up with a metaphorical way of describing what happens in the music"
• "Give the reader a dynamic process to relate to, create momentum and buzz"
• "Build an electronic press kit (everything on disc, photos, sound, etc.)."
• "Put a video on u-tube or on your own site and send out the link."