“Music making is a never-ceasing process of change and progress.” –Jacqueline du Pré, cellist The Musician’s Way, p. 205 If you aspire to perform as an independent musician, whether solo or in small groups, this article will help you stay ahead of change and be...
“For musicians and arts organizations to achieve financial sustainability, it’s vital that they develop new audiences and build communities of supporters.” -Gerald Klickstein* If we aim to increase attendance at our concerts and, in the process, attract loyal...
“Programs are a bit like prix-fixe menus in a restaurant: We can’t serve music à la carte . . . so our menu has to be quite diverse and – tasty.” -Eckart Preu, conductor The Musician’s Way, p. 212 Data from the U.S. National Endowment for the Arts show that two of the...
Audience development should be a top priority of every musician and arts organization. For musicians and arts organizations to achieve financial sustainability, it’s vital that they develop new audiences and build communities of supporters. Attracting and...
“If your programming ideas aren’t working, don’t blame your audiences.” The Musician’s Way, p. 212 For aspiring musicians, career sustainability depends on audience growth. Problem is, a standard conservatory education doesn’t equip graduates with...
“Among adults who participated – as creators or performers – in performing arts activities, the majority (62 percent) did so to spend time with family and friends.” –National Endowment for the Arts “U.S. Patterns of Arts Participation,” p. 3...
“The spontaneity and collective energy catch fire to a degree that some performances leave indelible memories.”–The Musician’s Way, p. 154 During much of the twentieth century, before the advent of high-tech home entertainment, large numbers of people attended...
“Let your community feed your creativity.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 313 If you aspire to present innovative or community-focused performances, there’s plenty of funding available to support those sorts of projects. In fact, many funding organizations are keen to...
“Some of your most gratifying musical experiences will be those that serve the greater good.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 299 Musicians and arts leaders who understand how to commission high-quality music can build new audiences, increase their revenues, engage...
