Diversify your (music) portfolio

In my business, I see many performing art centers, theaters, and other a sundry of music presenting organizations from throughout the country.  Many venues emphasize a particular genre of performing arts.  Some offer dance, some classical music, some pop music, some world music, some musical theater, and on and on.  When it comes, particularly to music, the offerings and classifications are as numerous as the individual tastes of patrons themselves.  This can present quite a challenge to those researching and booking artists.

I tend to see college and universities trend toward the highly cultural and world genres.  I believe their mission must be to educate the public, more so than necessarily entertain.  Making a profit must not be a major concern, nor is attracting large audiences a major concern.  Major corporations and underwriters who share that same mission tend to make up the difference, I would assume.  Government grants usually play a big part in their mission also. I also tend to see this most often in larger cities and metropolises.

In Van Wert, Ohio, we face a different type of challenge that helps develop our mission.  The mission statement of the Van Wert Area Performing Arts Foundation states that we are to inspire, educate and entertain.  This causes us to diversify our offerings to the public as well as our underwriters and sponsors.

One of the most frequent comments we hear about our programming is that there is always something for nearly everyone.  If you don’t like this week’s offering, just wait and soon there will be an event you will enjoy.  I take this as a compliment.

Just as most economic advisors recommend that it smart to diversify your economic portfolio, I believe it is smart to diversify your performing arts portfolio.  This is where your educational and cultural boundaries expand.  If you think you only enjoy a certain type of music or genre of performing arts, I encourage you to expand your horizons a bit and take a chance by attending something you think you won’t enjoy.

The upcoming season at the Niswonger is filled with such variety.  I have often thought about grouping our events into certain categories, but I resist because I feel you, the patron should make up your own mind as to what you want to attend.  By grouping events together, it becomes too easy to close your mind to certain events you might discover you actually enjoy.  In other words, for every pop or country act you recognize, you might just as much enjoy a ballet, a hand bell ensemble, a speaker or a symphony orchestra … or vice versa!

By diversifying your musical portfolio, you might discover a whole new genre of entertainment you never knew.  Furthermore, who would have ever thought seven or eight years ago that you would ever have those choices right here in Van Wert, Ohio?

Hey! Catch us at the Van Wert County Fair in the Commercial Building this week.  In addition to our regular NPAC box office hours, we will be on location at the fair with plenty of information, performance video of coming attractions, and even those “cool” kiwi green NPAC t-shirts for sale.  Let’s paint the fair kiwi green this week!

Don’t forget to check out James Otto, a young and popular country artist who will be performing at the fair this Saturday night.  Tickets can be purchased at the fair’s grandstand box office.  Same thing for the band show which will be Monday night this year.  There are many other exciting musical happenings and events throughout the week.  See you at the fair!

FINÉ.