This Wednesday, 5:00-6:30, C-113
SUPER OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS SUMMER:
ARTICLES OF THE WEEK:
• New Rules for Innovation. What does it mean to be “on the cusp of a post-industrial revolution”?
ENTREPRENEURIAL THOUGHT OF THE WEEK:
Astrid Baumgardner & Lessons from Four Musician-Entrepreneurs: Part IV
Astrid Baumgardner is a consultant and career coach who has become interested in the specific field of the arts and artist-entrepreneurs. If you’re not familiar with her Blog, you should check it out (http://astridbaumgardner.com/). She conducted a panel discussion with four musician entrepreneurs, and I’m going to highlight each question (and occasionally expand on the commentary) for the next few weeks. Come along and follow the paths of these artists as they share their wisdom!
The panel included:
Timo Andres: freelance pianist/composer; Tina Hadari (a CU ALUM): violinist and founder of Music Haven; Paul Murphy: free-lance trumpeter and teaching artist with the NY Philharmonic; and
Sam Quintal: violist and member of the Jasper String Quartet.
Next Steps in Career Evolution
At some point, you will realize that you do not have to do everything! Have the courage to say no to things that do not fit your vision. It helps to have a list of criteria that you use before saying yes to an opportunity. Here are some things to consider:
• What is the quality of the venue, the audience, and the other performers?
• Does it pay and how well does it pay? On this note, it is important to negotiate the right fees. If you don’t like doing this, hire someone who can do it for you! [<< learn now anyway! -JN]
• Does it fit my mission?
• What can it lead to?
• What relationships are at stake?
Allow yourself to grow and evolve. Your interests and goals may change and be flexible enough to recognize the shift.
Take Risks
One of the panelists felt that musicians tend to gravitate to the “safe” whereas other artists seemed to be more willing to take creative risks. In this day where the supply of musicians exceeds the demand for traditional musician services, it is doubly important to be creative about creating opportunities. It helps to be clear about what you want to do and to have the courage to say so. Often, musicians are afraid to do that for fear of foreclosing their options. The advice from the panelists was to follow your convictions and not to be afraid about not pursuing things that did not make sense for you.
= = = = =
This can be a difficult thing to balance. On the one hand, artists at the emerging stages of their career need to be open to a wide range of opportunities, even those that might not be very interesting or don’t pay well. Exposure, experience, and the opportunity to build relationships can be valuable in any situation, even those that don’t look very promising on the surface. And as long as you go into those situations with that entrepreneurial mindset operating you can benefit from almost any experience.
That said, you will soon need to begin making choices, and the questions they suggest you pose above are useful ones for understanding how to make your choices good ones. And when all else fails, trusting your gut will rarely steer you wrong!
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The Video of the Week!
How do you think you train a dog to do this?? Thanks to Margaret Romero for sending!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/14/dogs-play-the-piano-video_n_134...
Okay guys, KEEP ‘EM COMING! J
The Entrepreneurship Center for Music • Jeffrey Nytch, DMA, Director
Email: jeff.nytch@colorado.edu • Office Hours: T/Th: 9-11 a.m. W: 2-4 p.m. – or by appointment
Entrepreneurship Wednesdays: 5-6:30 p.m., C-113 • Follow us on Facebook
THE COLLEGE OF MUSIC announces the Fellowships for study at the Aspen Institute, 2012:
Application Criteria:
Fellowships have ranged from $500 to $1,500.
Deadline for applications: April 13, 2012 to Graduate Office C109
COLUMBINE UNITY CHURCH seeks a part-time Sound Engineer for selected Sundays and guest events. Must be familiar with set-up, mixing, monitoring, and recording. Contact Jay Swartz at 303.646.7588 orjaywswartz@gmail.com
RINN UMC (Frederick, CO) seeks a Choir Director for Easter 2012. Professional training required. Rehearsals leading to sing on April 8, 2012 Easter Sunday which may lead to a part time position for a choir director/music coordinator for the whole year. Choir Director is needed who enjoys singing, directing a church choir, and enjoys working with church singers in 4 parts. Needs to begin immediately to meet the 20+ choir members, select three or four anthems appropriate for Easter, conduct rehearsals following church services beginning March 11 thru April 1 and Saturday morning, April 7, to sing on Easter Sunday April 8 at 9:30 a.m. Worship Service. Will sing three/four pieces to be sung at one portion of the Easter service. $350, with possibility of extending to a part-time position with the church. Interested parties should contact Rev. Barbara Johns-Schleicher at artsoul7@gmail.com.
ROAD OF CREATIVITY announces its first Summer Retreat on becoming a musician entrepreneur June 3-9. The retreat is a five-day immersion into the fundamentals of music entrepreneurship. Participants will engage in innovative training sessions with groups such as Alarm Will Sound, and will expose skills and attitudes imperative for success in today’s music world. Early Bird Discount for the first 20 registrants!
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY to participate in a benefit concert for “Teach for America” in April. Organizers are looking for a few different musical groups to volunteer their talents. The benefit will be on campus in Flemming 155 on either Friday, April 13th or Saturday, April 20th in the evening (the date will be finalized shortly). Although this event does not pay, participants are invited to eat at the meal. There is no piano available, but there is sound equipment. This is a great opportunity for chamber groups and soloists to get some performance experience while helping out a very worthy cause. Anyone who is interested should contact Andrew Marshall at Andrew.Marshall-1@colorado.edu.
C4C GIGS AVAILABLE! The C4C is continuing their special “Food Weeks” that feature different cuisines from around the world. They’re interested in having CU musicians play for the dinner hour on selected nights, in return for a modest honorarium and free dinner for all involved. A fun and tasty opportunity to perform in a relaxed setting, for solo performers up to a group of 4 players. World music performers and works featuring Latin, Asian, or Middle Eastern influence encouraged! Contact CU GIGS Coordinator Nathan Hall for more information:musicref@colorado.edu.
