RSS
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
First off, LONG time since I’ve posted in this forum. Walker – nice job keeping this thing rockin’ for so long.
My question to the group is – “Is there any way to make the Columbus Symphony a ‘cool’ or ‘destination’ event for our younger demographic?” (younger means anyone less than 40)
I know it’s a tall order, so please be constructive here.
I met with the Board of the Symphony this week to talk about how to get their product marketed to a younger generation. I argued that any slide in ticket sales is NOT due to less people going downtown, it’s due to less people that have an interest in attending the symphony.
I’m curious to hear if anyone can think of a way that would make the going to the Symphony more appealing, if nothing else than to try it once.
That’s a fantastic idea – I love the combination of featured artists and I think the featured artists welcome the chance to create something new.
Anyone know of any local artists that have blended some music with the symphony? I would guess the orchestra musicians would know. I’ll ask around.
Yeah, this is a good one. Could be something similar to Picnic with the Pops. I’d suggest just moving Picnic with the Pops there, but I don’t know how easy that would be. Would make a great way to freshen up that event though. North Bank Park downtown would make a much better venue for that event than the Chemical Abstracts lawn.
Would North Bank Park be big enough?
I agree it would be cooler, but that Chem. lawn is a huge area and it looks like it always gets really well attended. Plus they have parking right there…
I like the idea of having the symphony or part of.. maybe just feature different sections every so often.. be part of an event at North Bank Park. It is a really pretty area.
I agree that if the music somehow related more with contemporary music it would do well. Wether it is integrating it with existing music or doing covers. Kinda like the opposite of what William Orbit did on “Pieces in a Modern Style”
I would love to see CSO do all of these comments!
Symphonies in other cities have done a lot of interesting promotions and programs – name it and you will find one!
Holloween Costume party
Single night out
Valentine
bar hop
Wine Tasting
etc
They also offered an interesting programs. Play-symphony is not the only one that ‘s been done in other markets and had a great success. you can pretty much put any artists with Symphony Orchestra- Vanessa Williams, Guster, Ian Anderson (great show by the way! ), Winnie the pooh, LOTR, etc
To bring a young people / new audience, it ought to be done in the sense where it tie in with an appropriate program, that way they don’t get turn off with the stiffness at the first time!
Peace
“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”
-Benjamin Franklin-
I think the Chem Abstracts lawn is a part of some sponsorship but I don’t know for sure. Certainly there are lots of great options.
What I liked about the latest Picnic was Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. I’m a big fan and I thought they resonated real well with the audience. Too bad it was 100 degrees that day!
These are all fantastic ideas by the way. I’ve pointed some of the directors of the Symphony and the Board members to this thread so they can see the response first hand.
I agree it would be cooler, but that Chem. lawn is a huge area and it looks like it always gets really well attended. Plus they have parking right there…
I like the idea of having the symphony or part of.. maybe just feature different sections every so often.. be part of an event at North Bank Park. It is a really pretty area.
Yeah, i guess you’re right. I wasn’t really thinking about the scale.
If Picnic at the Pops is still doing well then perhaps this could just be a new event at North Bank? I’d go check it out there. Could possibly be well attended by all the new residents moving into that area.
I like the idea of doing some events that are custom-tailored to a smaller audience. I would like to do one that has maybe 100 people in attendance and is “full” versus one that has 200 people and is “empty”.
I love Due Amici as a venue but I’m not sure if it would fit well since it’s broken up by the large walls. I know there is the new section available but I think the dimensions would be identical. Barcelona would be a nice fit. Any other ideas?
Someone else has already mentioned being a movie score fan and I’d like to reinforce that suggestion. Im a big fan of the genre myself and I’d go performances of this material regularly. People travel far and wide, and pay top dollar, for these kinds of shows.
I dont know much about classical music. Im not really into it. Obviously, younger generations are not into it either. The hard part for the symphony is that its too strongly associated with the classical genre.
Experimental performances like the Metallica suggestion, Queen, Oasis, or other interpretations of more contemporary music would draw the younger people. London Symphony does this sort of thing from time to time and it’s a real treat.
Get in the local scene papers and advertise something cool like, “CSO plays the music from The Sixth Sense.” Now THAT will fill some seats.
For demographics sake, I’m 30. Gotta adapt to the times. Nothing is gonna get me to go to some classical performance of music I’m not interested in. Even if you gave me tickets for free.
Give people like me something to listen to, and we’ll come.
Roland – I’m in the same boat you are – I’ve never attended a symphony in my life. But I would like to get more engaged with the genre, and I have a huge affinity for live music and accomplished talent.
When I’m in NYC I get to take in a show and it always reminds me how much I love performance events. I’d like to see us do some progressive stuff to make the performance events more engaging and accessible.
When I’m in NYC I get to take in a show and it always reminds me how much I love performance events. I’d like to see us do some progressive stuff to make the performance events more engaging and accessible.
I’ve been to a few. The highlight being a performance of the Cleveland symphony conducted by John Williams.
I really glad that you came here asking for input! I’ll be watching what the CSO is up to. :wink:
G. Michaels? M? Figlio in Grandview would be a little tight, but that might be nice to have a few strings play in there. I think it would be cool to promote it as a “night out”. In other words, have the orchestra divide up and play at many different restaurants in the same night. Tickets could be sold ahead of time at something like $100 a couple.
On my North Bank Park thought. It would be nice for a summer day (i.e. Picnic with the Pops), but I think Waterfire at night would put it over the top. The way they set up the amphitheater is perfect. It puts the orchestra in front, the waterfire behind them, and the city skyline behind that. If any guy takes thier girl to a performance like that and doesn’t get a little afterwards, then he needs to drop her like a bad habit. 8)
I’ve always held that Waterfire is more of a backdrop to an event rather than an event in itself.
I’m talking to the Symphony about pulling together 10 musicians at a venue of about 100 people.
Regarding the price, I could probably find 100 people @ $100, but I’m going to try to get the price point lower (or as close to free as possible) so that we can take that off the table as a barrier to participation. I’m really not sure what the contract restrictions of the musicians are.
If we could come up with a cool theme for the event (style of music, et al) I think we could do something incredible.
Assuming we have a good reception, I would imagine it wouldn’t be that difficult to replicate at other venues. Boma might be a nice fit when/if it opens.
TRANSSIBERIAN ORCHESTRA – Classical songs with Rock ‘n Roll guitar solos and riffs!!
I am a *huge* fan of both of these as well, but keep in mind that TSO, for example, is its own “band” (orchestra) and not likely to license its content.
I’m sure there are some other rock bands out there that would be happy to do what Metallica did with the SanFran Symphony, however, and whose music might mix well with an orchestral background.
Final caveat: my tastes in music may not be all too typical; at any rate, I know a lot of friends who look at me oddly when I say that I liked the S&M album, and it’s true that the CD only did make it to #2 on the Billboard 200, which is definitely a good showing by most normal bands’ standards, but Metallica has done better.
When my girlfriend and I lived in Cincinnati, we subscribed to a young professionals program where for a yearly fee, you could purchase tickets to the symphony, plays, etc. for 1/2 off. And as a result, in three years we probably did half a dozen symphonies.
In three years in Columbus, we haven’t gone once… Part of that is busy-ness. I’m not even sure the discount was a deal maker/breaker. But when you buy into a discount program, you tend to make effort to win your money back, you know?
So, in short, a similar discount program for <40s has motivated me in the past. Also, I think there are multiple “columbus young professoinals” groups, who I understand have amassed large numbers. Getting in touch with the leaders of these groups could be a potentially lucrative contact.
True. I was thinking CSO could add a couple professional classical guitarists to their ranks and and do a show similar to TSO.
I’ve reached out to a few young professionals groups and the response has been very positive.
I think the ball is in my court at this point to organize a few events that are well-designed around our group.
Just so I take away the right points to the board, here is what I heard:
1. Keep it cheap (preferably sub-$20 to start)
2. Keep it relevant – manage the programming so that it’s something people can relate to at some level, from classical music we’ve heard to cooperative efforts with musicians we like.
3. Keep it social – create an environment that people feel comfortable in that gives them a more relaxed atmosphere.
… let me know if I’m on the right track.
Sounds great so far!
Once something is put together don’t forget to have some good advertising behind it aimed at the younger crowds. Gotta grab some attentions! 8)
Published by admin October 2nd, 2006
Finally, a night out that’s worthy of your wardrobe, and kind to your wallet. Get in on the ground level of C2, an all-new “Columbus
Symphony Young Professionals Club,†in collaboration with
C Magazine.
We’re kicking it all off on Friday, October 6th with your itinerary below:
6 – 7:45 pm
Free appetizers and $2 off drinks at Due Amici (67 E Gay St.)
8 – 9:45 pm
Concert at the Ohio Theatre (39 E State St.)
10 – Midnight (Private Party)
Sugar Bar (525 Park St.)
“C Magazine 100†(100 C2 Martinis by C Magazine)
C2 Martini till midnight.
Buy your tickets at http://www.ColumbusSymphony.com
READ MORE
Interesting…. :)
The Columbus Symphony Orchestra performs The Music of Led Zeppelin.
featuring guest conductor Brent Havens and Vocalist Randy Jackson
at the Palace Theatre, Friday November 17 at 8pm.
tickets at http://www.livenation.com and all ticketmaster locations
Tickets are: $56.50, $41.50 and $28.50