Inspired by potential greatness

Minneapolis, Minnesota


Every now and then I encounter a performing spectacle of such depth of talent, passion, and excitement that I am slapped awake and reminded why I got involved with the arts.


Such was the case last September when I attended the Performing Arts Exchange, a booking conference sponsored by the Southern Arts Federation, in Louisville. I encountered the Irish music group Celtic Crossroads; they occupied the exhibit booth next to mine.


They came to "own" the entire exhibit hall, especially after starting a round of showcase performances during most days and evenings of the conference and generating a huge amount of buzz.


Based in Galway, Ireland, the seven musicians of Celtic Crossroads play 22 instruments among them. Their musicianship dazzles and prompts one to think they should be called world class.


Their producer, Kevin Crosby, tells me that their U.S. tours in 2008-09 will have them performing all over the East Coast, in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Wisconsin. Their website will post the specific dates and locations. They also will showcase at the Arts Midwest booking conference in Kansas City, Sept. 17-20.


Whenever you have the chance, treat your heart to the youthful energy of this amazing team of engaging artists.

It cannot last ...

Louisville, Kentucky


Such the life my brother and I lead.


One week I am conferencing and partying in Columbus OH.


The next week, he phones me while scraping off gravestones at night in a Pineville MO cemetery.


The next Saturday night, we are eating steaks with a sister and cousins at the Plains Tavern in Plains KS.


The next Saturday, he is texting me from a gathering of cousins in Boulder CO, and I am texting him back from a party for a thousand people at Churchill Downs in Kentucky.


Two weeks later, I will be a week in New York City.


It cannot last...

"That's just crazy!"

Louisville, Kentucky


Ben Cameron delivered the keynote speech to the Performing Arts Exchange today. The PAE is the Eastern/Southern booking conference, and Ben is arts program director for the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.


Ben recounted the application received from a dance company seeking a grant to buy land on the internet's "Second Life" in order to construct a building in which to hold virtual performances. Second Life is an alternate, virtual universe in which $1.6 billion of real world money transactions occur daily.


At its Second Life facility, the dance company sells out its performances and has added performances in order to meet the demand for tickets.


All of us at our luncheon table said "That's just crazy!" -- at the same time we furiously took notes about this latest frontier.


In the culture wars for survival, organizations that wish to thrive must step up the pace and brainpower of their marketing and fundraising efforts.