The Sensual Nature of Tequila

JUST KIDDING. THIS POST IS ACTUALLY ENTITLED "PEER PATRONAGE PT II!"

HA. We gotcha! Now you HAVE to read this! Seriously, commit, you guys.

After a few $3 margs with my dear friend, colleague, and all-around badass Heidi Joosten, I have been [yet again] riled up by the concept of the struggle surrounding peer patronage, especially cross-genre or cross-medium or cross-interest peer patronage.

Musicians Who Brunch II is a perfect opportunity for all of us Chicago vocalists, instrumentalists, and composers to get together in a casual space and share what we've been working on. For those of you who attended the first MWB event, there is a common understanding around the [extremely high] skill level of those who were involved, and the aftermath of the event-- a true and excited (and I mean this in the best way possible) hunting grounds for future collaborations. However, I could only split the door evenly in increments of $25. 

From here, and from other programs that I have worked on, I can conclude that the best way to really define your aesthetic as either a creator or a commissioner [performer, admin, other-media artist] is to continue religiously attending events that help to define what you NEED. I'm not asking you to come to Musicians Who Brunch events because it makes me and Ian look good...not at all. In fact, we won't be taking a cut off of these events until the turnover makes it worth everyones' whiles. I'm asking you to come to my Musicians Who Brunch events, along with my series at The Awakenings Foundation, and every Student Composers Concert and every Opera Fest performance and every student recital and every bar show and every hole-in-the-wall event because I truly think that it will help us build a stronger and more supportive artistic community here in the city of Chicago.

If we plan to live and work here, we must continue to support one another, especially when it's a networking event handed out to every attendee on a silver platter. 

I cannot stress enough that the Art Scene here in Chicago is shifting--it must be redefined. We are lacking in the patronage system that once supported the CSO, the Lyric, etc... so the only thing that I can see as a true revolution in patronage is for us to support one another.

Old money is turning over, and new money is apathetic. Will you join us in building something meaningful?

If any of this doesn't make sense, email me at cassandrakaczormusic@gmail.com and I'll be more than happy to go into depth with you. 

But otherwise, this is my challenge to each and every one of you:

Put 7 music events on your calendar every month.

Delegate them as such:

-3 events that I want to attend

-2 events that I am obligated to attend 

-2 events that I am not sure about/don't feel welcome at/am not represented by [by medium, aesthetic, etc]

...and that, my friends, as a rule--if we all yield to it--will be seen in ticket sales. It will be seen in your own audiences as people understand the value of returning a favor.

We are screwed if we don't build this thing from the ground up. Will you join us?

Anyway. Didn't mean to get too heavy. *pours another glass of wine*

... FOR ART!