Our last Centennial program notes[that  in honor of Harold Brown], representing biography,musicography,essays,program notes,analyses,translations performer bios, totaled- for 3 days events-40 pages, and cost approx - with mainly volunteer writing, edition & design= $4 ea.

 

 We just felt it was, for our events a projection of a legacy, so less a service than a duty to a teacher. Many of his students travelled from abroad to attend, so charging could be seen as petty. In our case we did sell donated reissues of his recordings.

 

 I guess one needs to define the usage.  In your case, the scholarship invested may be justly bought- unless you feel so strongly about the subject material, and the work represents corrective research that seems important to disseminate.

 

In our case we continued to offer hard copy for 2x postage, appropriate to libraries/musicologists, and also freely seen at our website.

 

Best Regards,

Sig Rosen

<www.renaissancechorus.org>

 

Hi, Sarah.  This is only one person's opinion, so take it for what it's worth.

 

I've certainly been to events where this was done, but they tended to be things like Ice Shows and Rock Concerts--in other words totally commercial projects!  They were sold specifically to create additional income for the performers, and usually split with the venue for permission to sell them (along with the T-shirts, sweatshirts, CDs, and so on).

 

My feeling is that if it's an audience service, the programs should be free and the cost should be factored into your ticket prices.  The fact that it's for scholarship support--and presumably clearly labeled as such--could of course make a difference.

 

With my university show ensemble, we did fancy programs only for our annual big Spring Homeshow, and my charge to my PR Staff was that the sale of program advertising must be sufficient to cover the cost of the design (which they did in-house) and printing (which was farmed out).  Our annual Summer Musical (a community organization, not associated with the university) does basically the same thing.  The programs are very nice but are free and budgeted for, with ads included.

 

Similarly, with my university ensemble my goal for our annual album, which was sold as a souvenir at performances, was to realize enough income to fund the next year's album costs.

 

From my limited experience, I'd suggest that any deluxe program had better be on slick paper and include not just program notes but a good selection of photos and additional information of general insterest beyond the scope of a "normal" program, but I'd still hesitate to try doing it.

 

All the best,

 

John

 

 

I've been one of the lucky ones who has attended concerts in Europe.  I have always resented paying for printed programs--especially when they were filled with advertisements.  More recently some concert halls there have been distributing barebones programs--and selling the commercial programs as well.

Adding $10 to your already not inexpensive ticket prices (yes, I know, you are a professional group) adds up to a hefty total.  What about $5 ?  You did not specify your budget for these programs--how much of the printing costs are paid for by ads,etc.

As a musicologist and choral conductor I am sympathetic to some aspects of your proposal as I frequently wrote extensive notes for the concert programs of the community chorus I directed.  But I considered it part of my job--as a conductor/educator--and I think some other conductors, who also write extensive notes, feel the same way.  

    Mimi S. Daitz

PS  The house programs for the American Symphony Orchestra have been free--and have been a valued part of the concerts for years.  No ads, several essays.  But I think they are now cutting back.  Budget problems.