AETHERPHON, global theremin family

For anyone reading, please don't misinterpret anything I say as criticism of
Moog Music, the Theremin event, or their intentions. I don't have enough
good things to say about the company, the festival, the people and the
instruments. (NB, if I lived within 4 or 5 hundred miles, I'd probably try
to make it regardless because it was a lot of fun.)

I can come up with an un-doable festival that no one could afford to put on
or attend -- but it's just throwing out ideas for fun and speculation, not
even as serious suggestions.

I'm just speculating, blowing smoke and blue skying here, which is cheap and
easy. 

> John Hoge wrote:
> 
> This festival is still a side line for them, they are not dedicated event
> producers and do not seem be able yet  to engage one affordably.  It
> reminded me of a local film festival I'm attending, they're a mess and I'm a
> bit less forgiving of them because they've been doing it for 18 years and
> despite *major* sponsors, massive audiences, and computer ticketing support
> they are still badly run.  But a lot of my buddies have films in it and I
> won't see those and several others at all if I don't catch them now so I
> endure.
> Moog hasn't been doing annual Theremin festivals for 18 years, and I
> understand it's frustrating for us.  But I'd rather have them focused on
> keeping alive making instruments and helping me with technical questions
> first and event, concert and party planning second.

I totally agree. It's difficult to do this kind of thing, and expensive,
especially with Moog being the sole sponsor and running the event.

What I'm musing is that to survive it will probably change and grow, simply
because of the small number of thereminists and theremin music lovers. I
don't think they can come back for pretty much the same things every year.
OR, it will have to be part of a larger festival, just in terms of the cost
and viability -- attracting more people.

Again, I'm just blowing smoke here -- I guess I'm kind of hoping someday it
will evolve into something like Moogfest with seminars. Of course, Moogfest
is in New York, which is a different situation than Asheville. But, I like
the idea of it being at the site of the factory.

> Out reach is tough, from what I've seen here, theremin players don't support
> each other's concerts much.  If we don't even show up for each other how
> could Moog entice a broader base?  Part of it is the therevangilism we all
> can do, no matter what style or level we work at, if we want bigger
> audiences we have to be in those audiences, if we want broader audiences we
> have to keep everyone we know frequently reminded of the theremin and it's
> diversity, if we want to see more theremin recordings we have to buy
> theremin recordings.  If every theremin player constantly shared pictures,
> tunes, concert fliers and their own passion with the uninitiated maybe that
> would help both players and festivals draw a broader base.  I think the push
> has to constant and come from both ends: corporate like Moog, grassroots
> like us.

You said it. AND, it's actually a struggle to get anyone to come out for
live music. Period. Challenging live music? Feh!

(However, play roots, Americana or bluegrass and they will come...don't get
me started...)

I try to do what JH is talking about. Every time I play a show with the
Inactivists, I introduce the instrument to the uninitiated because most of
them came for a rock band and not for theremin.  Theremin events are few and
far between in Denver, but I rallied everyone I knew for Barbez last year. I
attend shows -- not just theremin but ANY music that I care about. You have
to or it will go away.

I'm seeing a turn in the tide. More people than ever have seen a theremin at
some time. It's not a mystery as it was even a couple of years ago.

I played in a new (for me) setting for the first time last week, sitting in
with a local improvisational trio at a jazz club. It was a revelation for
the club goers, who are used to a horn player sitting in. I think about 50%
of them had seen a theremin -- pretty high percentage. I'm gratified that
just trotting the thing out for a few "woo woos" isn't enough to get their
attention. 

So, as Mr. Hoge says everyone get out there and show people what you are
doing with the theremin, and support other theremin players by attending
their shows and buying their work.
 

-- 
http://www.inactivists.com
http://www.myspace.com/theinactivists
victoria@...