ENTREPRENEURIAL UPBEAT: Vol. 5, No. 10
This Wednesday, 5:00-6:30, C-113
SUPER OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS SUMMER:
ARTICLES OF THE WEEK:
• New York musicians finding work getting more and more scarce: http://www.crainsnewyork.com/
• Kim Boekbinder talks about the 1,000 True Fans theory and an innovative way she’s developed to support herself – and her art: http://thegrindstone.com/work-
This week’s “Articles of the Week” were chosen with a specific flow in mind: we start with more bad news about the state of the music business, this time from pit musicians and others in New York City, where the music union’s membership (one reasonable measure of the number of working musicians in a city) has seen a staggering decline in recent years: it would appear, in New York anyway, that many musicians have thrown in the towel and are doing something else. Bummer, yes?
Then we spend some time visiting with Kim Boekbinder, an indie rock musician who speaks frankly about the fears and challenges of being a freelance artist – but who also has forged fearlessly ahead and developed a new way to both engage her fans and support herself – and her art. Hmmm…
Lastly, we encounter a story that might seem like a non-sequitor: an article on how more states are looking for ways to bring creativity and creative expression back into a central role in public education.
What do these three stories have in common? They’re all about the state of not just the arts in our society today, but about the state of creative activity generally. And how we view the state of things in this area has a lot to do with which lens one chooses to look through. If you look through the lens of professional musicians operating under a long-established model of gigging in a major metropolitan area, the picture is pretty bleak. But if you look through the lens of one determined artist you might see a different picture, one where an inventive mind has come up with an innovative way to continue to flourish artistically and create at least a modicum of financial stability. And lastly, we see that educational institutions across the country are beginning to see the value of creative thought, and its importance far beyond just the arts: looking through this last lens, you might even decide there is reason for outright Hope!
No matter which lens you choose to look through, however, one thing is inescapably, unequivocally, clear: the idea that music students in 2012 can aspire to the same old career trajectory that has sustained generations of musicians before them, and ignore the realities of a changing marketplace, is no longer tenable. Living in the past and clinging to old models simply isn’t an option anymore – or at least, it’s not an option if you want to sustain yourself and your art over the long haul. Yes, there are still full-time orchestral positions and tenure-track teaching jobs out there, but they’re becoming increasingly scarce – and even those jobs are likely to require creative thinking and innovative approaches to be sustainable over time. And for everyone else, learning to think creatively about how to develop their careers – in other words, learning how to be entrepreneurial – is no longer an option. It’s an imperative.
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The Video of the Week!
Continuing our animal-themed videos of the week… (Thanks to Laima Haley for sending in!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
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
OPPORTUNITY UPBEAT April 3, 2012
CU CAREER SERVICES announces their latest round of Job Skills Workshops:
“Linkin’ in Up: marketing yourself through social media” Thurs, April 5, 5:30-7:00p, C4C Room S350
“Ace Your Interview” Tuesday, April 17, 7:00-8:00 PM, C4C Abrams Lounge
THE COLLEGE OF MUSIC announces the Fellowships for study at the Aspen Institute, 2012:
Application Criteria:
Ø Current full-time graduate or undergraduate student in good standing, who will be continuing studies at CU in Fall 2012
Ø Accepted for summer study at the Aspen Music School
Ø Recommendation of applied teacher
Fellowships have ranged from $500 to $1,500.
Deadline for applications: April 13, 2012 to Graduate Office C109
SHINING MOUNTAIN WALDORF SCHOOL seeks a three-quarters-time Choral Instructor. As a member of the faculty at Shining Mountain Waldorf School, the Choir Teacher is responsible for developing the vocal/choral education of elementary, middle and high school students. As singing and music are integral to the Waldorf curriculum, the choir director works to refine the basic skills that young students gain in lower grades. For a full job description and application instructions, email Dr. Nytch.
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 or jaywswartz@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! For more info, visit: http://roadofcreativity.com/
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.