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Sooner or later we’ll all have to deal with a contract – either as an artist being contracted to perform, compose, or write, or as a presenter hiring artists for your venture. Come learn about how contracts are put together and important points to look for (or avoid) from two folks who know the contracts biz first-hand.

This Wednesday, 5:00-6:30, C-113

As always, free pizza and soda. And CONVO available this week!

ARTICLES OF THE WEEK:

•&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;Kickstarter Expects to give more money to the arts than the NEA. (Is that an awesome commentary on Kickstarter or a lame commentary on the level of funding from the NEA? Maybe both??)

•    A Far Cry rocks harder than your favorite rock band. (Caution for strong language)

Opus Zero, launched in 2009 by doctoral piano student Owen Zhou, provides on-location recording services for musicians in the greater Boulder area. With so many recitals and concerts happening in the Boulder area, Owen saw a need for recording services tailored to the needs of musicians and informed by his own knowledge and experience as a performer. Opus Zero also provides other audio services such as recording salvaging and vinyl-to-CD transfers. Owen is a great example of simply seeing a need and going for it; sometimes entrepreneurship really is as simple as that!

Thanks to Margaret Romero for assembling “Entrepreneurial Success Stories.” Have a story of your own? Contact the ECM and tell us about it!

ENTREPRENEURIAL THOUGHT OF THE WEEK:

Astrid Baumgardner & Lessons from Four Musician-Entrepreneurs

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: pianist/composer with a hit CD and an active freelance career as a pianist and composer;
Tina Hadari (a CU ALUM): violinist, member of the Haven String Quartet and founder of Music Haven a non-profit in New Haven that provides tuition-free string instruction to underprivileged youth;
Paul Murphy: free-lance trumpeter and teaching artist with the NYPhilharmonic; and
Sam Quintal: violist and member of the Jasper String Quartet.

This wonderful group of artists showed my students that it is indeed possible to make one’s way in the world as a musician and that there are many different paths to creating career success.  Here are some of the top lessons that I gleaned from their remarks which center on the themes of knowing your mission and purpose, proactively creating your own opportunities and making your luck happen, nurturing relationships, taking risks, maintaining high standards and working hard at your career development.

Know Your Purpose and Mission

All four of our panelists started off with an idea of what they wanted to do. In fact, one of them stressed the importance of giving yourself time to think about why you want to do this work.   Indeed, I spent the first two sessions of my class helping my students think about what entrepreneurship meant to them and [to] define their own vision of success, together with their values, strengths and passions, so that they were clearer on what was important to them about a music career.

Closely tied to this inquiry is feeling a sense of mission around your work as a musician.  For Tina, who founded a non-profit, music is the vehicle for a higher purpose of using the string quartet to build a vibrant urban community through performance and music education that empowers young people, their families, and professional musicians.

For Sam, it was doing what gives you joy and playing incredibly beautiful music with his fellow quartet members. Timo has carved out a niche as a new music composer and pianist because he felt that this was what he had to offer. Paul was engaged by drawing people into music and thus is passionate about his work as a teaching artist and performer. 

In short, these artists were able to combine their sense of mission with their passions and their affinities for doing what they were good at.

So how about you? Where are the intersections between your passions and your abilities? It’s in those intersections where opportunities await!

The Video of the Week!

Clearly The Piano Guys have some serious money behind them to produce the videos they produce…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgovv8jWETM&feature=related

Okay guys, I’m running low on videos again: 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

This just came in, but there’s still time if you act quickly:

COLORADO MUSIC FESTIVAL & ROCKY MOUNTAIN CENTER FOR MUSICAL ARTS seeks anOrchestra Personnel Manager for the Summer Festival. See the ECM Board for details or Email Dr. Nytch for a full job description & submission instructions. Deadline is Feb. 29.

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.  

ARS NOVA SINGERS is also seeking an Intern to assist with administrative and operational duties, flexible depending on the gifts and interests of the applicant. Contact Executive Director Chip Ross for more information:chip@arsnovasingers.com

Join CLASSICAL MUSIC CITY, the social network for classical musicians, and get a listing in their music teacher directory for free. Lots of other stuff to check out here, too: http://www.classicalmusiccity.com/

THE INTERACTIVE THEATRE PROJECT is seeking a graduate student to be an Assistant Director. ITP uses theater to address social justice issues on campus and in the community. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelors degree and enrollment in a graduate program (theater, sociology, education or related field). Background and understand of diversity/multiculturalism and/or social justice. Experience working with undergraduate students. Availability for ensemble rehearsals on Tuesdays from 5 to 7pm. To apply, send a resume and cover letter to: trenton.norman@colorado.edu or rebecca.brown@colorado.edu

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. 

LONGMONT YOUTH SYMPHONY seeks  candidates for a part-time Administrator to help  us sustain and grow our organization. The Administrator reports to the LYS Board of Directors and works closely with the board and volunteers.  Responsibilities include organizing and participating in all  aspects of the LYS operations, managing LYS resources, coordinating and communicating with key stakeholders (students, parents, volunteers and music directors).   The Administrator serves as the main contact for the LYS and as the “go-to” person for LYS parents. To apply, please e-mail cover letter, resume and references to:  info@longmontyouthsymphony.org

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.