[Rick Robinson in recent CutTime performance]
CutTime News
July 20, 2012
Greetings!
It
has been 6.5 months since I began traveling with CutTime® by van thru
15 states to introduce our landmark work and insights for turning on new
audiences with symphonic music. My ambitious business plans
for the CutTime brand continue to develop because like most great
for-profit ideas, they must never stop adapting. While the summer tends
to be a slow period, we are yet building momentum with a number of
requests for introductory visits, single concerts and weeklong
residencies.
One very positive development is securing our first corporate sponsorship with Broadsword Solutions Corporation,
an industry leader in IT process innovations lead by fellow bassist
Jeff Dalton, who recognizes the ability of classical music to empower
younger generations where they are comfortable. Here is a press release.
Last month, CutTime's residency with the Hot Springs Music Festival
in Arkansas was especially fruitful. This was our first week-long
residency leading a number of varied events, ensembles and an
open discussion. I led 21 services in 2 weeks rehearsing, performing and
reading CutTime publications with their apprentices and mentors. Some
of these were Classical Revolution-style events in restaurants, bars and
hotel lobbies, while others were part of official festival concerts. We
also played amplified in a gazebo and at a public school for summer
students.
The biggest event of the festival was the Progressive Concert down Bathhouse Row for its Centennial Celebration. The CutTime Quartet played Brahms and Pork 'n Beans near
the start, then an hour later CutTime Players played a full set
followed by a big band! (See rehearsal picture at top.) We were
amplified out to the street as 500 people progressed to each bathhouse
for festival music and THOUSANDS of passersby on the main drag slowed to
take in the spectacle and the music! The festival was allowed to keep
roughly HALF of the CutTime publications we performed as part of our
contract.
I had a solo breakthrough at one Classical Revolution event in the beautiful lobby concert shell of the Arlington Hotel. The
string players we were expecting didn't show up until very late.
Fortunately, the trombone choir came early (pictured below) and built an
audience of about 20 persons, including 3 families. After they played
about 1.5 hours with no one else to play, I had to relieve them with an
impromptu solo double bass recital. Amplified, I demonstrated
and demystyfied a variety of classical styles such as instrumental song,
dance, Beethoven orchestral excerpts, my Paganini Variations and
atonality.
The next test for CutTime is with the new Lake George Music Festival
in upstate New York mid-August. The festival asked CutTime to
voluntarily lead a series of outreach services before the festival
begins in order to draw attention and audiences to the festival. CutTime
Simfonica will play amplified in restaurants and on a lake cruiser.
These adventures prove that we CAN engage a broader variety of audiences in classical WHEN we're willing to take it off the pedestal for awhile and set a personal context. Please
lend us your encouragement and speak well of our mission to those with
the power to engage it! CutTime intends to bring a MILLION people to
enjoy classical music as they do other music! Join our corporate sponsor
and generous donors who make this adventure possible thru our
non-profit fiscal sponsor, the Arts League of Michigan!
We are in the INSPIRATION business!
We are in the INSPIRATION business!
Peace,
- Rick
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