Random Thoughts on Random Acts of Culture

Earlier this week, I posted a video to our Facebook profile page featuring the Opera Company of Philadelphia and over 650 area choristers.   The video featured a “Random Act of Culture” in the downtown Macy’s department store – most people would describe the “Random Act” as a flash mob.  “Random Act of Culture” refers to the program initiated by the Knight Foundation (www.knightarts.org). 

According to their website,”The program [Random Acts of Culture] is in its first year, and emerging areas of interest include digitization of museum collections, development of arts incubator spaces, arts contests in which all community members are eligible for funding and a Random Acts of Culture program that brings fine art to the population and breaks down barriers that prevent consistent engagement in the arts.”  It’s centered in eight different regions: Akron, OH; Charlotte, NC; Detroit, MI; Macon, GA; Miami, FL; Philadelphia, PA; San Jose, CA; and St. Paul, MN.  Lucky for us to be so near one of the cities!  I’m off to the Panthers game this weekend and I’m really hoping a “Random Act” is performed somewhere in the tailgating parking lots!  If you haven’t seen the videos of Opera Carolina performing some “Random Acts,” there’s one embedded below.  I’ve also embedded the Philadelphia event, because you just really can’t get enough.

I just learned of this great new program the Greensboro Grasshoppers have started for their 2011 season.  It’s called “Guarantee to Give – the Hoppers Playoff Pledge” and it’s a great way to support your favorite charity in Greensboro while supporting our MiLB team!  How it works is this: when an individual or business purchase season tickets to the Grasshoppers, they pick a charity/nonprofit of their choice.  At the end of the season, names of season ticket holders and sponsors will be drawn at random.  If the Grasshoppers make it to the playoffs in 2011, $100,000 will be donated to charity, meaning that 20 names are drawn at random and the 20 charitable groups listed will receive $5,000 each.  If the Hoppers don’t make the playoffs, then $50,000 will be donated to charity; 10 charities would receive $5,000 each.  How great of an idea is this!  Of course I want everyone to suggest EMF as their nonprofit of choice, but there’s no denying that this is a win-win for the entire Greensboro community.  I love seeing the community support one another! But, if you or your friends/family/business are going to be purchasing season tickets, please specify Eastern Music Festival as your nonprofit of choice!

One more plug…Gift Certificates!  Thanksgiving is upon us which means that so is Black Friday.  Here’s my suggestion…instead of fighting those crazy crowds, give the gift of Music to your friends and family this year.  You can purchase EMF Gift Certificates for any amount you wish, and when its Festival time the recipient can apply the gift certificate to any performance they wish.  Sounds like a perfect gift to me!

Here’s the form for gift certificates…or just call down to the office 336.333.7450 ext 32.

2010: A Technology Odyssey

Today is a great day at EMF…if you’re the Marketing Director, that is!  Thanks to UPS, our new Flip Video has arrived just in time for Eric Robertson’s Listening Room performance tomorrow night.  (At the UpStage Cabaret at Triad Stage, Tix: $10.  Call down there now and get your tickets!)

I have big plans for the Flip...recording audience feedback, student interviews, Q&A's with guest artists and conductors, faculty interviews and clips from our various performances.  I played around with it and uploaded a video of my office to my personal YouTube page and was shocked at how easy it was!  I literally plugged the Flip into the computer and clicked three buttons and ta da!  Video on YouTube.  For a 27 year old I'm slow with technology, but man even I can't mess that process up.  This is going to help you guys get closer connected to EMF throughout the season(s) - and hopefully you'll be able to learn more about our students and artists.

Tomorrow at Triad Stage don't be surprised to see me running around with this thing...despite being a practical marketing tool it's a really awesome gadget and I think it's going to be a fun one for the entire office.  When you see me with it, stop by and share with me what EMF means to you!

Autumn Has Arrived @ EMF

Hey everyone - sorry for the delay in posting since September.  We're working hard over here in the beginning stages of the 2011 festival and I keep getting more and more excited.  I started with EMF three days before the 2010 festival opened, so this has been a giant learning experience - seeing how much hard work and dedication goes into making the best five-weeks for you guys that we possibly can.  When I'm allowed to start sharing artist information with you guys, I will!  Until then, I'll try to leave hints and "bread crumbs" to get ya'll as excited as we are :)

How many of you guys have noticed the changes to the website?  I finally learned (Thanks to Melissa, our Director of Admissions) how to use our software and have been trying to update our press releases, news stories and schedule gradually over the past few days.  It's still a work in progress!  We've also updated our way of doing Constant Contact emails...each week (Thursday's to be exact) EMF will be sending out a "Musical News" email that  features upcoming events in the area - both EMF and non-EMF programs.  The Piedmont community features so many talented arts organizations that we believe it's just a important to support and promote them as it is Eastern Music Festival.  "Musical News from EMF" doesn't want to overload you with information, or bombard your inbox - rather, we want to keep you informed of all the wonderful activities, organizations and news going on during all year. 

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In EMF School news, we have condensed our Admissions pages - instead of having a separate "Admissions" twitter, Facebook, and blog accounts they will be incorporated into the main EMF accounts (listed at the bottom).  So that means this blog will also feature school information - which I think will be educational and entertaining to anyone interested in EMF. 

As the Marketing Director for EMF, I'm also responsible for getting advertisements from organizations (both local and national) for our playbill.  In case you've always wondered about advertising with EMF, check out the information here.  Is your business/organization looking to reach a new audience?  EMF's audience is one of the best...I'm always here to answer questions so feel free to contact me anytime!  carrie@EasternMusicFestival.org

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Enjoy the rest of your Tuesday...and especially enjoy the lovely autumn weather outside!  It's the perfect time for football, pumpkins and a little Listening Room music....