Making a Cool Festival

Ok, just got through reading a bunch about festival planning. There was a great document published by L.A. that had a ton of great information. Not that Denver is L.A., the purpose of doing a festival was throughout the document. Most of the document translates well to the Denver festival we are planning. Admittedly, I want the pan festival we do to knock the socks off Denver. Make it memorable for everyone. While I think the initial reason for doing it was the musicians, the more I think about it, I want the audience to be as much the focal point of the festival as the performers. I want to make sure we go beyond what I have seen at other festivals. Booths, food, and an occasional performer. Sometimes these are good, but other times kind of boring. I'd like to see more interaction opportunities for all attendees and performers.

Today, we meet with the volunteer coordinator for Denver ComicCon. I'll be interested to see how they planned and coordinated what could be the largest use of manpower at a festival - its volunteers. How do you keep them motivated and interested? How do you know what you'll need help with? These are all questions that we'll get answered today.

Location, Location, and yes - location

There is a saying in real estate - it's all about location, location, location. This is also so true in planning a music festival - especially one for steel pans. There are a number of things we are contending with in Denver. First, there isn't a ton of exposure to the general population to the instrument. Sure, people have heard if they travel to the Caribbean or some other exotic place. But in Denver, highly unlikely. Second, what locale helps our image. As we drove today in the snow, we kept asking that question. In a way, it is very much about brand. We had a chance to look at other organization websites and they look very professional and traditional. Where they hold their events range from gyms to local parks. To some extent, we want to portray an image of being hip, edgy, and cool. That's how we see our town of Denver. Knowing this will help drive our decision of where to be. Where in town is the hip, edgy, and cool areas to be and be seen? I think we found it, but we have a few more on the list to go through. Stay tuned.

Mastering a piece of music

There is nothing more satisfying than finally having a music piece memorized. It takes an unusual amount of patience and perseverance. You have to put in the time. I'm sure it would be easier to just read the music and play from there. But then, you have to be one heck of a site reader. I'm not there yet. I think you sacrifice something when you are trying to figure out notes at the same time you are searching for spots in the pan. You have more of a chance of hitting a clinker note if not careful. Accuracy is key for me. I'm sure even the professional musician's still memorize their music even if they are reading in concert.

So how long does it take before I get a piece? Not sure. I guess it depends on the piece and the complexity.  I just finished a piece called Jouvert Morning which was huge. It took three - four weeks for me to finally feel comfortable that I knew it. It was a ton of listening to recordings, reading the sheet music, playing it over and over again. Then one day, I didn't open up the music and played it. Voila.

I read recently that it takes about 10 years or 10,000 hours to reach an expert level of performance. But how do you break that down by music piece? Who knows. It's funny. There are a ton of sites on the web on the topic of practicing. It is a struggle for musicians, athletes, etc. I get that. But I honestly feel I cannot improve or be anywhere close to performance level if I'm not deliberately practicing every day. So when I accomplish learning a piece, I definitely feel a sense of achievement. Totally worth it. I guess  for the stuff that is important, you put in the time.

Music in Schools

When I was younger, music was very much apart of the school curriculum. I didn't know all the politics  at the time like I do now. All I know is that we still had music. It was something to look forward to. I remember that on certain days of the week, the music teacher came to sing and teach us new songs. I continued that love of music throughout my education. I still remember many of the songs we learned - most of them very patriotic.

Music has always been a part of my life. I feel most at ease when there is music. I can't help but wonder about the kids today. While grownups fight over the cost of education (public and private), kids are the ones left behind. Arts programs seem to be the first ones cut. With no outlet to express themselves through the arts, they are stuck. And so are we in terms of not appreciating the whole child.

I guess there are those who feel that music doesn't lead to a good paying job or make your employable. I would argue it does. Music appreciation is at the core of who we are as a civilization. It is that appreciation for the creative that gets stuff invented and understood. Take me for example, I'm writing right this minute with music in the background. I couldn't imagine writing without music. For me, music is the difference between being creative/happy and struggling with expressing myself/being unhappy. Expression in some form is a big deal for us introverts.

So as I ponder a steel pan non-profit and festival, at the very core of it all is what am I doing for kids. I can't sit back and not let kids have the same opportunity I had to express themselves.  I was sitting with Elizabeth today trying to figure out the whole steel pan in the west deal. I realized that the thought of a school teaching steel pan and other forms of music is not only a public service but a public necessity. It is something that has to be done. Our kids need us to open this world up to them and most importantly keep it open.

Steel pan affords us that opportunity. The opportunity to form and strengthen community, to appreciate music, and to learn how to create. What more can you ask for? Found that cool saying at the top on the internet. Should be poster you know. Funny part is I never really considered myself a music teacher - more a music appreciator. Perhaps that is what I would help teach.

Kids and Steel Pans

What is about steel pans that draws people to it? Me included. I don't know and I'm not sure why I question it. As I scan through the web pages trying to figure out if I can do a steel pan festival in Denver, I can't help but notice all the bands/orchestras around the world. Admittedly the sound does get to you, but is that all there is to it? Is striking out on an oil drum a metaphor for us striking out as humans showing that we can make music out of anything - even the most industrial of product, an oil barrel. I think about that as I turn my attention to the possibility of starting a steel pan non-profit, one that helps kids by teaching them music, teamwork, and creativity. I notice many of the bands/orchestras have programs to teach the next generation. Not only does it help the bands with a pipeline of talent, but you are investing in the next generation. If you have seen any videos of kids playing, you can see they really enjoy it. What is most natural for a kid but to be banging on something. Most of us started doing that to metal pots and pans. Its feel like kids and steel pans are a natural fit. Maybe a non-profit where kids can take classes and learn about the music and history is not so far fetched.

Practice Makes Perfect - Or Does It?

Things are moving along so far on the steel pan festival front. We are busily connecting with people who have either put on concerts or festivals before. So far, we have three meetings set up. 

The information gathering has been fascinating. It speaks so much of how people's preparation. It got me thinking about the importance of practice. When I was doing writing for a living, I would be writing everyday. Sometimes for pay or a client. Sometimes for me. The act of constantly writing was a kin to practicing. 

Now that I've taken up an instrument - steel pans. I see it as a need to practice everyday in order to grow in my playing of that instrument. I did the same thing when I learned the flute and piano. Sometimes it was not fun, but I found a way to make it so. I am a strong believer that preparation / practice may not always make perfect, but it gets you pretty darn close. Growth as a musician, working professional, and person comes during those times between music classes. It is in the applying of what you learned in class that you grow the most. I recently read a book called the Musician's Way. Without the best book I've read on approaching music and getting the most out of practice. 

So, I'll keep practicing and prepping for the steel pan festival. I think both will result in success. 

I found the following image on the web, that sums up my thoughts. 

First Experience Listening to Pan

I remember the first time I heard steel pan. My family had the good fortune of going to Barbados years ago. On one of the evenings after dinner, there was a steel drum band playing on the beach. It was the Air Canada Steel Drum Band. This was back when steel drum bands sometimes took on the names of their sponsors. It was pretty cool. Here they were playing the instruments made out of old oil barrels. What a beautiful sound. It was nothing that I had heard before. The following year, a steel drum band came through my small town in New Jersey. Now, that was even cooler because I got to get up real close to them to see their technique and how they all move in unison. I hung out by one of the bass players. He was a real technician. Had two sticks in each hand and was playing the bass pans. I have yet to see anyone duplicate that feat. My parents took me up to see the bands in New York as well. My uncle was also a steel pan musician.  Each experience made a huge impression on me as a kid. Once you hear that sound, you'll either want to listen to more or learn to play. I always wanted to play and now I'm living that dream.

Things are moving along when it comes to the steel pan festival. We received several responses to our inquiries regarding how other festival/concern/events pull their programs together. We have about three meeting set up next week. Some events are actually non-profits, some coordinate with a non-profit, others I'm just not sure? Well, we'll just have to see. I think it is tremendous that folks will take the time to tell us what they do. I always liked that when I was writing articles profiling individuals. It is pretty cool. I got a real hair brain idea late last night. Why not have you final professional concert at the Botanical Gardens? I'll put it on my list as a possibility

In the meantime, I finished practicing a pretty long piece on the steel pan yesterday. I was very excited to finish the whole thing. Now, all I have to do is clean up the messy parts and just keep practicing and memorizing. I'll be one tenor player that will be ready for the upcoming 2013 summer season.

Where does pan sound best - indoors or out?

I had just two assignments today regarding pulling together a steel pan festival in Denver. One, follow up with those I had contacted previously for information interview. Two, start creating a list of potential venues. The nice thing about my hometown of Denver is they have the festival process established. From what I can tell, all you need to do is pick your location and come up with the money. All the forms and stuff are online. So my lists includes parks all over town. Several of the parks are downtown. Could you imagine listening to steel pan players and orchestras outside in Denver? That would be cool. Gives me goosebumps already. I have about ten locations so far. I'm trying to think of those that are close to indoor facilities for possible workshops etc. In my opinion, steel pan is best played outdoors. Hopefully, we can make that happen in 2014.

Pan in the Great Lakes region

My friend Elizabeth and I had a conference call with someone starting their first steel pan festival. His name is Matt Potts, the owner of the Steel Pan Store. He had attended the Virginia Beach event on the east coast. Matt and another steel pan player decided that they needed something in their part of the U.S. (Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana) to have a similar event.

Right away listenting to Matt on the call, we could sense his excitement. The event is the Great Lakes Steelpan Festival. We are so excited for him. His enthusiasm is certainly contagious. He was more than willing to share his lessons learned in this his first year of the event. This helped us tremendously. We will certainly keep in touch with him as we continue figuring out if we can do something of this scale in our area. In the meantime, check out his site. His event and store are top drawer stuff.

Ready Set Go

It was about a year ago that I was hoping to embark on a new journey in 2012. I even did a few blog posts hoping to see if anything came to mind as to what kind of journey that would be. Reading back on those blogs, I realized how bored I was and how boring I became.

Well my journey did commence in 2012. I'd like to think of it as getting my life back and seeing opportunities I would have ignored previously. I was laid off in August. No worries. Par for the course I figure. As a matter of fact, I think I've been downsized or had my position eliminated at least three times in my career. I think I finally got the message. First off, I'm not going to dwell on it. Better things await me I know.

Back in November 2011 I began learning steel pan (drums). It has been a kick. I really enjoy it. My extended family has always been a fan of this instrument. As a matter of fact, I had a relative who actually played in a steel pan orchestra. My parents (Mom and Dad) even took lessons. I currently play with Rocky Mountain Steel Bands in the Steel Works group. I like it and work hard at trying to be good at it.

Any how, who knows where it will take me. I decided to launch a steel pan festival in 2014 in the Rocky Mountain region. With the help of a very cool neighbor and some contacts in the music community, we just might pull it off. One day, I hope to corral all the steel pan players on the front range into one huge steel pan orchestra. Perhaps even have a non-profit where anyone who is interested can learn.

This blog will help get things rolling. Actually, it was my sister's idea to write about my experience. "YOU'RE A WRITER, AREN'T YOU? SO WRITE," she said. The writing will help me process and plan. And who knows, it may help someone else plan something in their area. Any way stay tuned. We have a phone call with someone tomorrow who actually was planning a steel pan festival in Illinois.