ArtsBeat Radio/TV 3/27/20: WAM Theatre

ArtsBeat Radio/TV 3/27/20. Mark G. Auerbach interviews Talya Kingston from WAM Theatre about the company's 11th season. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAf1nTN158c

Westfield News ArtsBeat 3/26/20

Westfield News ArtsBeat 3/26/20. Resources for area artists and arts groups during the COVID19 crisis; Goodspeed's upcoming "South Pacific" (postponed to fall) and arts news for WMass and No.CT. https://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-311/

My 3rd Succeeding in Small Business Article for March

My Succeeding in Small Business Article on resources for those in the creative economy during the COVID19 crisis. https://www.succeedinginsmallbusiness.com/resources-for-the-creative-economy-during-the-covid19-crisis/#.XnitwdNKhQJ

Resources for those in the Creative Economy Dealing with COVID19

Creative Economy Resources for those dealing with COVID19

If you’re a performer, an artist, a filmmaker, a gallery, an arts organization of a member of what’s frequently referred to as “the creative economy”, Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd lyric comes to mind. “Times is hard, sir...times is hard”. In the last couple of weeks, most of the region’s arts organizations and creative industry businesses have shut down. Lost revenues from performances, scheduled galas and fundraisers have crippled organizations, many of whom have laid off staff, Hartford Stage has reduced its workforce by 70%. The spin-off impact is horrifying, as restaurants, bars, shops, and parking, all who depend upon people activity from theatres visiting their sites, see empty streets.

If you’re part of the creative economy, especially if you’ve been laid off, file for unemployment benefits immediately. Then, secure your health benefits.

The UFCW Local 328 offers tips at: How to File For Unemployment: http://ufcw328.org/filing-for-unemployment-due-to-covid-19-a-step-by-step-resource-for-workers-in-massachusetts-rhode-island-connecticut-links-included/?fbclid=IwAR2CV9c0HRVYXB8yguyrditFNMNaJER0OHOq3rV_iTGuYu6AOztw7cAu5kAI

For Massachusetts residents in need of healthcare: MassHealth: https://www.mass.gov/topics/masshealth

If you’re a union member, check your union’s website for details which may be applicable.

Actor’s Equity Association. https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Equity-Advises-Members-on-Filing-for-Unemployment-20200318?fbclid=IwAR3QcX-CDOOhqerkskG7uEveJVaaaWtxo0KGs4lXUg19lUFfJkoV_g4e2Tg

American Federation of Musicians. https://www.afm.org/covid-19/

American Guild of Musical Artists Relief Fund:. https://www.musicalartists.org/membership/agma-relief-fund/?fbclid=IwAR2lnPGiuHrDaS-HNHuFDiXb2NEOoOW4--P2PLjZ7rV0f8x99JraMbF-wFM

Resources for Individual Artists include:

Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) https://massculturalcouncil.org/covid-19-resources

Assets for artists relief fund information https://www.assetsforartists.org/blog/coronavirus

COVID-19 and Freelance Artists https://covid19freelanceartistresource.wordpress.com/

Massachusetts Grants Watch: https://massachusetts.grantwatch.com/grant/188509/grants-to-massachusetts-artists-to-mitigate-financial-losses-incurred-due-to-the-coronavirus-pandemic.html

Massachusetts Production Coalition (for those associated with the film and video industry) . https://massprodcoalition.org/news/covid19-resources?fbclid=IwAR15WuKaEE1QLf-Ez42MFVJE1MAKAzddiNTs6Xk09ngLpSril6QnXn0pzGs

Arts Organizations large and small can reach out to the following for assistance:

Arts Extension Service at UMASS: https://www.umass.edu/aes/

Chronicle of Philanthropy. Resources to Help Non-Profits https://www.philanthropy.com/article/Responding-to-the-Coronavirus/248231/#.XnGnZ47DYcs.linkedin

Connecticut Small Business Developmewnt Center (you or your business must be in CT). https://ctsbdc.com/

MA Capital Growth Corporation. https://www.empoweringsmallbusiness.org/what-we-offer/emergency-loan-funds/covid-19-loan-fund

Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (you or your business must be in MA). https://www.msbdc.org/

Rhode Island State Council oin The Arts. https://risca.online/coronavirus-and-the-arts-resources-and-updates/

Thanks to Burns Maxey (formerly at New England Public Radio) at the UMASS Arts Extension Service and Todd Trebour at the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (and formerly at Chester Theatre and UMASS Arts Extension Service) for their assistance.

ArtsBeat Radio/TV 3/20/20: The Sondheim Show

ArtsBeat Radio/TV 3/20/20. The Sondheim Show with Hartt School musical theatre teacher and Goodspeed alum John Pike; actor/director Evan Pappas who appeared in the London production of Follies; Washington DC actor and Capitol Steps member Evan Casey. Mark G. Auerbach hosts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfzC2OariOw

Media Release: Gaslight Entertainment Cancels Remainder of 2019-20 Season

DATELINE: March 19, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:

Patrick Berry, Gaslight Entertainment 413-579-8540 or patrick@westfieldconcerts.com

Jay Pagluica, Gaslight Entertainment jay@westfieldconcerts.com

Mark G Auerbach Public Relations 413-427-7352 or mgauerbach@gmail.com

GASLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT CANCELS APRIL AND MAY WESTFIELD CONCERT EVENTS

Westfield, MA—Gaslight Entertainment, which presents the Westfield Concert Series, has cancelled their April and May concerts at the Westfield Woman’s Club. These concerts include Roomful of Blues (April 24); Adam Wakefield (April 25); Closet Carpenters (April 26); Invincible—Tribute to Pat Benetar (May 8); and Personal Touch (May 10).

“We regret having to make this choice,” says Jay Pagluica, co-producer of the new music series, which has been producing monthly music weekends since Fall, 2019. “To protect our artists, our audiences, and our crew, we will try to reschedule the performers being cancelled to our concert series for 2020-21 that begins in Fall, 2020. We apologize to our growing audiences, who made our premier season so rewarding.”

At this time, Roomful of Blues has tentatively been rescheduled for Friday September 18, 2020 and ticket holders for the cancelled April show will receive updated tickets. As other shows get rescheduled, or for more information, please visit westfieldconcerts.com.

Patrons with tickets purchased through EventBrite will be automatically refunded over the course of the next few weeks.

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Westfield News ArtsBeat 3/18/20

Westfield News ArtsBeat 3/18/20. An update of who's performing and who's not. News from Goodspeed, Hartford Symphony, and the arts in WMass and No.CT.
 https://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-310/

A Message from Mark G Auerbach Public Relations

March 17, 2020

A Message from Mark G Auerbach Public Relations

It’s definitely a time of uncertainty and a radical change in “business as usual”. As our world somersaults, my top priority has been to protect my team. Thankfully, we have no events scheduled until later in the Spring, so my valued people, who work remotely, anyway, are not being put in harm’s way with meetings and travel and events with crowds. I am doing my best to make sure I don’t have to proceed with lay-offs at this time.

My other priority is our clients, all of whom have obstacles ahead. Most of my clients are non-profits or individual musicians, artists, and authors who are extremely vulnerable. Others are producers of performances, who are experiencing cancellations and postponements.

My first piece of advice: remain in touch with your audience. Let them know that you’re concerned for them; assure them that you will do your best to provide service to them through this time. Be pro-active. Social media is a great means to do this, as are e-blasts. One client, The Capitol Steps, has a new banner on their website, linking people to their performance schedule. It lists which shows are cancelled, which are postponed, etc and gives folks information on new performance dates, where to get refunds, etc. Their social media presence provides similar information, as well as posts linking people to their YouTube channel and some “oldies”

.

Utilize technology like Skype or FaceTime for videoconferencing, Google Suite’s hangouts or a host of free teleconferencing platforms to stay in touch.

Social media makes sense. With more people sequestered at home, they’ll be spending more time online. Rethink your media strategies. Vermont Public Radio offered its underwriters an opportunity to recraft their on-air messages on short notice—to note change in hours, and times, and they’ve provided bonus mentions to current and new underwriters to help them get the word out. Other media sources might do likewise.

In the meantime, my ArtsBeat column in Westfield News may be leaner, because so many events are cancelled/postponed, but ArtsBeat Radio/TV goes on as scheduled. We’d pre-taped several programs, and with upcoming programs, we’ll switch to phone interviews. Studio 120 is being cleaned and sanitized regularly, and with no guests and crowds in-studio, should be safe.

If anyone needs to brainstorm, we’re ready to help.

Stay safe.

March Succeeding in Small Business Column Part 2

My second March Succeeding in Small Business Article. Turning Business as Unusual Into Business As Usual. https://www.succeedinginsmallbusiness.com/turning-business-as-unusual-into-business-as-usual-a-postcard-from-social-distancing-western-new-england/#.XnDDc5NKhQJ

My March Succeeding in Small Business Column: Working at Home

My March Succeeding in Small Business column, inspired by social distancing. How to work from home and love it. https://www.succeedinginsmallbusiness.com/working-from-home-tips-for-the-newbies-and-the-experienced/#.Xm9yKJNKhQJ

ArtsBeat Radio/TV 3/13/20: Charlie Siedenburg and Barrington Stage

ArtsBeat Radio/TV 3/13/20. Charlie Siedenburg previews Barrington Stage's 2020 Season. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC6ZsdMUTiI

Pioneer Valley Radio Special Report: 3/13/20: Corona and Arts

Pioneer Valley Radio special report on the impact of the Coronavirus on the arts in WMass and No.CT. Note: After this was recorded, Hartford Stage, The Bushnell, and Hartford Symphony cancelled performances and events. http://pioneervalleyradio.com/2020/03/13/special-report-the-impact-of-coronavirus-on-western-mass-live-entertainment-with-mark-auerbach/

Westfield News ArtsBeat 3/11/20

Westfield News ArtsBeat 3/11/20. Kristin Chenioweth heads to UConn/Storrs, Hartford Stage's Melia Bensussen to direct premiere at Boston's Huntington Theatrew, and other arts news for WMass and No.CT. https://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-309/

Pioneer Valley Radio: ArtsBeat 3/10/20

Pioneer Valley Radio's "Brad Shepard Today" features Mark G. Auerbach reporting on Kristin Chenoweth at Jorgensen,, "The King's Speech" at Hartford Stage, and the Springfield Symphony's Percussion Trio in Longmeadow. segment starts at 1:50 http://pioneervalleyradio.com/category/programs/brad-shepard-today/?fbclid=IwAR0HcWb26CZR3duKcmnNxqYsWV2cgV4mHK9UVWc7rfttNR6tQZ1Cwk7feSs

ArtsBeat Radio/TV 3/6/20

ArtsBeat Radio/TV 3/6/20. Eric Ort, director, and Chad Jennings, star, chat about TheaterWorks' Hartford's "Every Brilliant Thing". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qifov44QPsg

Westfield News ArtsBeat 3/4/20

Westfield News ArtsBeat 3/4/20. Bryan Batt stars in Hartford Stage's "The King's Speech"; TheaterWorks' presents "Every Brilliant Thing" with Chad Jennings, and arts news for WMass and No.CT. https://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-308/

Pioneer Valley Radio Review: The Putch

Pioneer Valley Radio review of Stan Freeman's "The Pitch", having its premiere at West Springfield's Majestic Theatre. A veteran sports reporter and a cub reporter tell the story of a one-pitch baseball player. Segment begins at 1:40 http://pioneervalleyradio.com/2020/03/03/brad-shepard-today-tuesday-march-3-2020/