Learn How To Belly Dance

at Hastings Dance Studio
828 E Hastings Street

Instructor: Venus

Tuesdays Jul 24 to Aug 21
NO CLASS AUG 14 as the studio is unavailable

Beginner 1
7:00 - 8:15pm
Price: 4 WEEKS $40 ($42 online)

Beginner 2 - technique & Repertory 1
8:30 - 9:45pm. Instructor: Venus
Price: 4 WEEKS $40 ($42 online)

Please register online or let me know ASAP if you plan to attend these classes.

Register online: http://www.venusbellydance.com/classreg_Sum_2007.htm#beg


#############################################
Venus
http://www.venusbellydance.com
info@venusbellydance.com
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Vancouver Artists' Collective Association

Marketing’s next wave: How technology can bring change

Came across this interesting article in the latest Village Vibes, from Charity Village.


By Elisa Birnbaum
June 18, 2007

If someone had told you a few years ago that they produced a video showcasing their organization’s cause and were uploading it on the same site that houses Saturday Night Live sketches, political campaign speeches and amateur musicians, you would have thought they were joking. Yet, that’s exactly what Christian Children’s Fund of Canada did recently when they placed a clip with their moniker on YouTube, a popular video sharing website where users can upload, view and share video clips. No longer considered unusual, nonprofits are becoming increasingly innovative to get their word out in a competitive charitable marketplace. And technology, in all its incarnations, is playing a key role.

Read the full story here...

Children's Poetry Workshop

World Poetry proudly presents

Children’s Poetry Workshop

For ages 8-13
multilingual participants welcome.

Within every child there is a creative poetic adventurer waiting to explore ...

This workshop features readings from children’s poetry and others, introduction of several poetic forms and interactive, fun exercises with the objective of helping each participant to create poems and present them.

Workshop Program

The workshop consists of three sessions.

Session 1

Introduction to poetry with readers from various countries.

§ An overview of simple poetic forms.

§ The brain and creativity.

§ Inspiration for writing using such tools as the treasure box, coloured pens and large pieces of paper.

§ Finding expression and creating poems.

§ Sharing the poems with the group.

Session 2

Additional poetry readings and review.

§ How to deal with critics, both external and internal.

§ Creating additional poems, sharing them with the poetic group.

§ Simple editing of poems.

§ Selection of performance poems to be read at the World Poetry Children’s Show § Performance skills for reading.

Session 3: The World Poetry Children’s Show .

§ This show will showcase the participants from the World Poetry Children’s Workshop along with a featured musician.

§ A World Poetry Certificate of Completion will be given to each participating poet.

§ Friends, parents and other family members as well as the general public will be invited.

In addition:

§ Selected poems from the workshop will be read on the World Poetry Café Radio Show on 102.7 FM and published in the World Poetry Electronic Newsletter.

§ Selected poets are invited to read at the World Poets’ Night Out Venue and at the World Poetry Reading Series at the Vancouver Public Library (Central Branch) as time permits.

The Workshop will be held over three sessions.
The first two sessions will be 2 hours long (10 minute break in between) New Westminster Arts Council, Queen’s Park, New Westminster.

Dates: August 2, 9, from 1-3 pm.

Performance: The Orange Room, 620 6^th Street, 3-5 pm.

Fee: $ 35.00 per participant for three sessions.

For more information call 604) 526 - 4729

Workshop Presenter

Ariadne Sawyer, M.A. (C. P) is a Peak Performance Plus Trainer and the CEO of Peak Performance Plus Training.

She is a former teacher and has had two private schools. Ariadne specializes in creativity and enhancing performance. She has worked with writers and performers of all ages from Canada, the US and Europe.

In her work with children and youth, she has helped them to create and present in various venues at different festivals.

Ariadne is the co-founder and co-host of The World Poetry Reading Series, Radio Show, The World Poetry Electronic Newsletter (with over 2,000 readers in 20 countries and includes a children’s section) and World Poets’ Night Out , a new venue which trains women co-hosts. World Poetry in Vancouver consists of over 300 poets, writers and musicians originally from 60 countries, including a strong Canadian and First Nations component.

Ariadne is the host and producer of Creativity Rocks! heard every Tuesday at 9:00 PM on CFRO. 102.7 FM

She is the winning recipient of the MacLean Hunter Award for Programs of Excellence for her tape: Discover Your Creative Worlds which has been played on radio stations across Canada and has had poems and writings published in anthologies and magazines.

Her new book is called: Creativity Rocks! Answers to your Creative Questions.

Artist of the Year Award 2007 by Project Cultural South.

For more information about Ariadne you can contact her at ariadnes@uniserve.com

Volunteer specialists asking "Who Cares?"

Linda Graff and Paul Reed, two leading experts on volunteerism in Canada, have put out a compelling new call over the internet. They want all Canadians to become more aware of the threat to our communities that is posed by the declining number of volunteers across the country.

In Canada, 67% of all volunteer work is done by just 5% of people, and those numbers are continuing to become even more lopsided. The Reed-Graff Conversations explore the data and ask the important question: "Who Cares?"

The website includes a terrific series of audio conversations and supporting text documents that highlight the issue and offer suggestions for how communities can begin to tackle it together.

Take part in the conversation yourself, and share it with leaders in your community. The website is at: www.canadawhocares.ca

Z95.3 Fades Into History

Once dominant rock station rebranded with a 'new name and new direction.'

Michael Kane, Vancouver Sun

Published: Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Z is dead. Z95.3, Vancouver's dominant rock and pop radio station in the '90s -- and source of the decade's most popular bumper sticker -- is off the air, a victim of declining ratings.

The station signed off at midnight Sunday and will relaunch "with a new name and new direction" at 7 a.m. today, said general manager Gary Russell. He declined to reveal details except that the new format will be pitched to an older audience.

Read the full story here

What To Do With All That Art You Have Lying Around

Robert Genn is a great artist with a great, no nonsense approach to the business of art. His website, The Painter's Keys is full of useful, practical information. This article was the most recent piece from his "Twice Weekly Newsletter". Well worth the read.

Yesterday Juliana McDonald of Ottawa, Canada wrote, "I have
been a prolific painter over the last 7-8 years and my older
work, large and small, is piling up without much hope of
display or sale. I would like to invite people to buy them from
my studio at a discounted price (say half of the value, taking
off what a gallery would take) so that they can be moved on to
a new home, and I could recoup some of my investment of time
and energy. My concern is I don't want people who bought work
previously to feel that the work is devalued through such
action. Any suggestions?"

Thanks, Juliana. In professional circles the only person you
sell to at half price is your mom. All others pay at or near
the established prices. That's what keeps you professional and
dealers coming back for more. Sometimes painters find it hard
to realize that all paintings can't be sold, nor need to be.
This may be because they are substandard, but not always.
Perhaps they number too many for the market to bear. Apart from
destroying them, consider making the odd discreet gift. Life is
a gift, why then not art? Charities make noble recipients.
Giving the gift of art is a chance to show your love.

Having said all that, a possible route is to auction the work.
People understand that auctions often do not realize
"realistic" prices. Auctions generally operate outside the
gallery network. It's important not to flood this market--you
must still keep your work rare. Auctions are full of
bottom-feeders these days, as well as folks with vested
interests who want to push prices higher. Participating in the
auction world, particularly with outstanding rather than
marginal work, can actually have a beneficial effect on your
career.

Another route is to assemble a retrospective of top quality
pieces, perhaps thematic, and offer them to public galleries.
This manoeuvre opens new friendships and adds legitimacy. If
that fails, offering them on permanent or semi-permanent loan
to any number of worthy institutions is also good business.
Hospitals, clinics, tax offices, as well as the foyers of
public buildings often have a need for art. While it can be
expensive to frame and display such a project, the exercise can
be worthwhile. Finally, if you don't feel like lending, you
might consider leasing to some office or other private space.
Lessees often see art as an opportunity to deduct the cost of
looking good.

Best regards,

Robert

PS: "Love has always been the most important business in my
life." (Stendhal)

Esoterica: Many countries in the western world are currently
enjoying buoyant economic times. Art prices follow general
liquidity, and abundant cash is being thrown at substandard as
well as quality work. This is no time to lose your head. Good
times offer the opportunity to raise personal creative
standards and to learn to handle the market in a responsible
manner. Markets fluctuate, but an artist should never forget
that art is for all time. Day-to-day as well as long-term
personal integrity is all-important--and that goes for moving
your stuff too.

Current clickback: If you would like to see selected,
illustrated responses to the last letter, "Good question,"
please go to: http://clicks.robertgenn.com/good-question.php

If you would like to comment or add your own opinion,
information or observations to this or other letters, please do
so. Just click 'reply' on this letter or write
rgenn@saraphina.com

Give the gift of the twice-weekly letters. We are currently
snail-mailing a free copy of The Painter's Keys (the book) to
current subscribers who go to the URL below and send us the
names and email addresses of five or more of their
creatively-minded friends. No strings, just a thank-you. We
make it easy. We even send your friends a personal letter to
let them know the twice-weekly connection is from you.
http://www.painterskeys.com/clickbacks/giftscribe.php

It's a big world! A Premium Listing in the Painter's Keys
Directory is the most effective thing an artist can do to be
tastefully and respectably noticed. This listing--really a mini
web page--costs $100 per year--and we do all the set-up. You
can find out how well it might work for you at
http://www.painterskeys.com/art-directory.asp

Yes, please go ahead and forward this letter to a friend.

If you think a friend or fellow artist may find value in this
material, please feel free to forward it. This does not mean
that they will automatically be subscribed to the Twice-Weekly
Letter. They have to do it voluntarily and can find out about
it by going to http://www.painterskeys.com


(c) Copyright 2007 Robert Genn. If you wish to copy this
material to other publications or mail lists, please ask for
permission by writing rgenn@saraphina.com Thanks for your
friendship.

Free Workshop: Basic Chapbook Design and Marketing

Free

Workshop Date: June 12, 2007

Time: 2:30pm - 4:30pm

Place: The Gathering Place -609 Helmcken Street

ATTENTION ALL WRITERS, PERFORMANCE ARTISTS AND SMALL PRESS ENTHUSIASTS:

Basic Chapbook Design and Marketing

Be your own publisher. Join the ranks of literary giants like Hunter S. Thompson and Ray Bradbury and learn how to create a “chapbook” (your very own professional-looking published booklet) step-by-step, from editing through basic graphic design, right through to distribution. This unique, hands-on workshop starts by getting each participant to assemble their own text book!

We go on to:

Þ look at the benefits and pitfalls of self-publishing!

Þ offer various modern and rare examples of this ancient type of publication!

Þ give you tips for marketing and publicizing your book on a shoestring budget!

A basic knowledge of computers and word processing programs like Microsoft Word is required.

Reference material provided.

Facilitated by poet, performer, and long-time graphic designer, S.R. Duncan.

To register contact Irene Brooks at 604-257-3847 or email her at irene.brooks@vancouver.ca
Space is limited.

Literary: Calls For Submissions

New Calls for Submissions

Celebrating UNESCO's Rumi's 800th Anniversary year, the Arabesques Review is now accepting submissions for two special issues on themes:

Vol 03, Issue 04 Peace & Humanity

>>> Submissions Deadline: August 15, 2007

Vol 04, Issue 01 Rumi in Love (a special issue dedicated to love in poetry and

english literature)

>>> Submissions Deadline: September 30, 2007

We would be very honored to read and consider your contribution for these upcoming anthologies

To SUBMIT TO THE ARABESQUES REVIEW <http://www.arabesquespress.org/journal/>

Click here <http://www.arabesquespress.org/journal/guidelines.asp>
to check out our submission guidelines.

For more details, see our web site at: http://www.arabesquespress.org/

or email us at: submissions@arabesquespress.org

Call For Submissions: Fearless Festival Needs Talent

The 1^st Annual Vancouver Fearless Festival is looking for live entertainment to perform at one of our venues in and around Pigeon Park and up Hastings to Carnegie Centre on Canada Day (July 1) from 3-9pm.

We will be celebrating the people, the history, the music and art of the extraordinary people of the Downtown Eastside.

We want musical groups, theatre, dance, spoken word, children’s performers and entertainers of all types to help us turn the Downtown Eastside into a fun party for people of all ages.

Please send any promotional material to Steve Duncan, Event Coordinator either by email at srduncan@shaw.ca, or by dropping of attention of Steve Duncan at the 3^rd floor administration office,

Carnegie Community Centre
401 Main Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6A 2T7

We will be offering a limited number of small honorariums (yet to be determined) for acts used on our stages, but we also are encouraging talent come out and try busking along Hastings street and join us in the day’s festivities.

For more info call 604-788-8340, email srduncan@shaw.ca or check out the Fearless Festival blog at http://fearlessfest.blogspot.com.

Audition: Singer/Actors Needed

Carnegie Opera
Condemned - a work in progress
will be holding auditions to replace two of the original actor/singers in our production at the Firehall Arts Centre in June. Rehearsals for individual singers will begin immediately with Musical Director Earle Peach. Group rehearsals with Earle and Stage Director John Cooper will begin May 28th. The performance dates are June 21 - 24.

The two roles available are: "Joe" and the "Fire Chief".
We are also seeking a tenor saxophone player.

Auditions will be held on May 18th,
3 - 5 PM, in the Carnegie Theatre.
Please come out to lend your voice to singing this story.

Job Posting

SHORT-TERM JOB AVAILABLE
Volunteer Coordinator
Fearless Festival / Downtown Eastside

Interested persons are invited to submit resumes to Steve Duncan, Fearless Festival Event Coordinator, NO LATER THAN NOON MONDAY MAY 14.

The Fearless Festival is a Downtown Eastside celebration of art and theatre, music and diversity,
history and hope.

It will be held from 3 to 9pm on Canada Day, July 1, 2007.

It will involve community art and performers on stage at Pigeon Park, and in nearby venues. It will involve professionals and volunteers at every level. It will be led by an Event Coordinator.

The Volunteer Coordinator we seek will:

1. find, train, and support volunteers at every level of the Festival;

2. assist the Event Coordinator in fundraising and publicity; and,

3. generally advise and assist in the overall design of the Festival.


The Volunteer Coordinator will be paid an honorarium of $750, and start work on Wednesday May 16, 2007.

INTERESTED IN THE JOB?

Please submit a ‘Letter of Interest and Experience’ and resume to Steve Duncan,

c/o

Carnegie Centre,
401 Main Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6A 2T7
Fax (604) 606-2736
srduncan@shaw.ca

NO LATER THAN noon Monday, May 14.

Be advised that only winning candidates will be notified.

My List of Top Internet Marketing Sites

Podcasting

Rules for YouTube: Make Art, Not Bore - washingtonpost.com

YouTube turns two this month, which presents a fitting opportunity to decry it. The video-sharing Web site -- whose name has come to stand for every other such site on the Web -- has clearly emerged as the great new media drain catch, an uncurated museum of everything from dumb home movies to slick...

http://web.mac.com/johnchavens/iWeb/Site%2025/InstaCast%20Tutorial.html

Blogging Info

Web Logs - Blog Blogs Weblog Weblogs - A Comprehensive Resource on Web Logs

Web Logs (or blog / blogs / weblog / weblogs) site here at About.com is your entry page to learning all about blogging and bloggers. You can find the meaning of the term 'blog' and other web log related words. There are web log tutorials, blog articles, blog reviews, web logs glossary and more on blog software, weblog tools, RSS, RSS feeds, and other blog-related topics.

Seven Blogging Tools Reviewed

Choosing a good blogging tool can be confusing. In this report, we’ll take a detailed look at the top blogging tools and outline key considerations for selecting a platform.

Technorati: Member Sign Up

How Do I? | Google Groups

corporate blogging - The E-mediator blog - The boomerang effect of corporate executive blogging - CEO blogging as an organisational change mechanism

About Corporate blogging, New PR and Social Media

Beta Blogger For Dummies

Beta Blogger for Dummies

Ping-o-Matic!

Technorati: Ping Form

RSS (file format) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

RSS Submissions
Submit RSS files to the following sites and location to expedite content syndication.

How Can I Do That?

I post blogging tutorials for Google, Blogger/Blogspot, Picasa, and monetizing blogs

Dummies Guide to Google Blogger Beta: How to Customize your Header?

Complete help for the New Blogger, blogger Hacks, Blog design, Blog Template, SEO, Adsense, Blogging Tips and Tricks, Making money through blogs, PPC, Contextual Advertising, Social Media Optimization, Web design

Diva Marketing Blog - Marketing blogs and corporate social media strategies for innovative companies

Autoresponder info

FreeAutoBot Free Autoresponders that follow-up leads automatically

FreebieList.com: Free Autoresponder Services

FreebieList.com has the best free auto resonders on the Internet plus a huge collection of freebies and freeware.

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

FeedBlitz provides RSS and blog email subscription services. Offering RSS by email provides greater reach for feed publishers, and gives easy RSS subscription services to blog readers and RSS consumers. Better than Bloglet, FeedBlitz takes all the headache out of converting RSS feeds and blog posts into customizable email digests.

Marketing examples

Get death date and go to "delay your death"

The Death Clock - When Am I Going To Die?

Death Clock: The Internet's friendly reminder that life is slipping away...

ArtsJournal: Daily Arts News - AJBlogs

The Dos And Don’ts For Driving Traffic To A New Website » Connected Internet

OneTipADay.com

What will you learn today?

Calendar Net Setup Instructions

Create a Free Calendar but first you really should print and read this page, which is revised weekly.

MARKETING CULTURE AND THE ARTS

CaFÉ System Overview

Butts In The Seats

A blog of theatre and arts management techniques and other musings

http://www.artsmarketing.org/marketingresources/links-view.cfm?category=Marketing%20Blogs&subcategory=Welcome%20to%20Blog%20Land

Arts Marketing

White House Anti-Drug Ads Trigger "Boomerang Effect," Study Says - NORML

Google Alerts

Josh - Origins of Marketing 24-1-07 : theideafeed.com

The Publicity Hound’s Blog » Flower magazine to debut March 15

Free publicity and public relations tips, tools and strategies

SurveyMonkey.com - Powerful tool for creating web surveys. Online survey software made easy!

SurveyMonkey.com is a revolutionary new tool to create and publish custom surveys in minutes, and then view results graphically and in real time.

Search Engine Optimization -- FREE!

Webmonkey's insider guide to getting and keeping the most traffic from search engines.

Brand history

Playwriting Contest Annouced

Oh Writers, Playwrights, Actors and Directors!

Theatre In the Raw is pleased to announce

It’s fifth biennial 2007 Play Writing Contest

Entry Rules and Fee

The Play must be:

• An original one-act play (comedy, tragedy, drama or radio-play), unpublished and unproduced.

• No longer than 25 double-spaced typed pages equal to 30 minutes, with no more than 6 characters, presented in proper stage-play format, and scripts MUST have page numbers. (Please include a SASE for return of script. Send copies only of script. NO original manuscripts.)

• There is an entry fee of $25.00cdn for each one-act submitted to Theatre In the Raw. (For two plays $40.00cdn) (FEES ARE IN CANADIAN FUNDS, FOR U.S. & FOREIGN ENTRIES, CONVERT AT CURRENT EXCHANGE RATES)

• Please make cheques payable to Theatre In the Raw, bearing the submission date and name of play entry and author on cheque memo line.

(Note: Plays w/o the entry fee check or funds will be returned unread.)

Contest Deadline

• December 31, 2007

• Winners will be announced on March 31, 2008

The Winners Will Receive

First Prize: A $150.00cdn cash prize. At least one dramatic reading or staging of the play at a Theatre In the Raw cafe/venue or as part of a mini-tour program for the One-Act Play Series Nights.

Second Prize: A $ 75.00cdn cash prize.

Third Prize: A $50.00cdn cash prize.

Honorable Mentions: No cash prize, but constructive critique returned with note of appreciation.

Social Issue Plays Recognition: No cash prize, but constructive critique returned with note of appreciation.

*Theatre In the Raw must reserve the right to workshop and to play-edit scripts, in consultation with the playwright, before production or presentation.

Please forward submissions to:

Theatre In the Raw

Artistic Director/One Act Play Contest

3521 Marshall Street

Vancouver, BC Canada

V5N 4S2

office phone: 604-708-5448

website: www.theatreintheraw.ca / e-mail: theatreintheraw@telus.net

Editors' Association of Canada—BC Branch Meeting

Editors' Association of Canada—BC Branch Meeting
Wednesday, April 18, 7:30 pm
Welch Room, 4th Floor, YWCA Health & Wellness Centre
535 Hornby Street, Vancouver

Book Exchange – Free Admission

At our April 18th meeting, we will be holding a Book Exchange for EAC
members and guests. So, start weeding out your home library now and bring
any unwanted books to the exchange, whether they pertain to editing or are
of a literary nature. You know the adage—“One editor’s cast-off is another
editor’s treasure.”

We will also be selling off the remaining reference books from our EAC
book-table sales inventory, including some hard-to-find titles. Rumour has
it that prices will be good.

This will be an informal meeting with lots of time for mingling and
networking over complimentary light refreshments. Do come out for what
promises to be an enjoyable evening of browsing and socializing with
like-minded people. You might even go home with a few treasures in hand.

Please join us! Admission is free to all.

Shelly Windover, Programs Chair
Editors’ Association of Canada—BC Branch
bcprograms@editors.ca http://editors.ca/branches/bc

Is Your Music Ready for Hollywood?

As part of the Career Development Series, Music BC is presenting its Music & Film seminar, providing a unique opportunity for the British Columbia music industry professionals to learn about how to get their music featured on TV or film from industry experts.

L.A.-based Music Supervisor & Soundtrack Producer PJ Bloom will open the panel as the keynote speaker. TV and Film music industry experts, Natasha Duprey, Jane Ashworth and Matt Safran, will give a presentation on how musicians can get their music on TV or film. With years of experience finding, listening, composing and placing songs in TV and film, they will share their knowledge about the industry. Three lucky draw attendees of the seminar will receive professional feedback from panelists on the suitability of their music for TV or film.

PJ Bloom is a Music Consultant for HBO Films since 1998, overseeing major successes like ?Angels In America?. He has been involved with film & TV music and soundtracks since the early 90's, including stints at Columbia Records and Arista Records, creating and producing soundtracks for major studio features, independent films, network and cable television, video games and commercials. Having worked with filmmakers and television producers such as Michael Mann, John Frankenheimer, and Ridley Scott, among others, his recent projects include Sony Pictures? ?Running With Scissors? and Golden Globe award-winning television series ?Nip/Tuck?. PJ also consults for Disneyland Theme Parks for music driven rides and attractions.

Natasha Duprey is the Music Supervisor at MX Solutions, a local company that provides music editing, tracking and composition for film and television. She has over a decade of experience in the music industry ranging from artist manager to video producer. Natasha has recently worked on the Showtime lesbian drama 'The L Word', the hit USA Network series 'The Dead Zone', Canadian series 'Godiva's 'and many others. Natasha has also recently completed the feature films 'Fierce People', Bruce MacDonald's latest 'The Love Crimes Of Gillian Guess' and the documentary 'Small Town Gay Bar? which just premiered at Sundance.

Matthew Safran started working in the music industry as an indy music publisher. Pitching music for film and TV, and the administration of these licenses, were the aspects of publishing that Matt liked best, so becoming a music supervisor was a natural progression. As the owner/operator of Filmusic Services, Matthew is currently working on the Insight Productions science fiction series ?Painkiller Jane?, an on-line animated series called ?The Seeker?. He has just completed a second season of ?Robson Arms?, CTV?s sophisticated set-in-Vancouver comedy.

Jane Ashworth is part of Music Supervision Services team at S.L. Feldman & Associates, which has rapidly become a leader in its field, supervising countless hours of film and television projects working with a broad and diversified range of genres, budgets, and production companies. This division, which includes Sarah Webster (VP-Film Music), Stacey Horricks and Jane Muckle, also represents a select roster of talented score composers in Vancouver, Toronto, and Los Angeles.

The Music BC Career Development Series is just one of many Music BC program initiatives and benefits that it offers to Music BC members and members of the British Columbia music industry.

"BC music professionals who want to know how their music can be featured in TV or film, will have a chance to hear it from the experts," says Bob D'Eith, Executive Director of Music BC. ?Getting your music placed into film and television projects can be a huge boost for an artist?s career. Not only can it be a great source of revenue, it is some of the best exposure an artist can get for their music ? just look at BC artist Daniel Powter and his song ?Bad Day? on American Idol. The song has become a huge hit worldwide and has propelled Daniel?s career. Music BC?s Music in Film seminar is a must see for any aspiring artist "

Representing the BC music industry, Music BC is a non-profit society, providing information, education, funding, advocacy, awareness & networking opportunities to nurture, develop and promote the spirit, growth and sustainability of the BC music community. Please visit www.musicbc.org for more information.

Music BC?s Career Development Series: Music & Film
Date: Saturday, May 19, 2007
Time: 1-4pm (with half an hour of question and answer after the panel)
Place: Tom Lee Music Hall (3rd Floor, 929 Granville St, Vancouver)

Pre-register at info@musicbc.org or 604.873.1914.
Music BC Paid Members - Free
Music BC Basic Members - $15
Non-members - $25 (See www.musicbc.org)

Call for Submissions: Pivot Launches Housing Solutions Contest

Vancouver - Pivot Legal Society announced today it will award $2,000 for the winning essay in a contest to find the best and most practical solutions to the housing crisis in Vancouver .

The top six papers, judged by a panel of professional developers, government planners, and academics, will be published by Pivot in a Special Report on Housing Solutions for the Downtown Eastside. The report will be presented at a public meeting to discuss solutions to the housing crisis in Vancouver in the Fall of 2007.

Winning 4,000-word research essays focusing on progressive international best practices on issues facing the Downtown Eastside, and policy proposals based on that research, will receive an Award for Policy Innovation.

"Homelessness is one of the most challenging issues facing today's Vancouver ," says SFU Professor, Nick Blomley, one of the panel judges. "These essays will hopefully allow us to think outside the box a little, and offer practical as well as innovative ideas and solutions."

Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside provides low-income housing and a network of social services to more than 5,000 of the Vancouver’s poorest residents. However, the neighbourhood is facing rapid erosion of that housing as a result of development and gentrification pressures.

The housing solutions contest is looking specifically for policy proposals that:
- have been implemented and are successful in other jurisdictions;
- involve partnerships between government and developers; and,
- respect the needs of the existing low-income community in the area and do not displace, either directly or indirectly, that community.

The essay contest deadline is Monday April 30, 2007. For more information about the contest, visit http://www.pivotlegal.org/pdfs/PolicyInnovationAward.pdf

For more information call Pivot Legal Society on (604) 255-9700 or e-mail policy@pivotlegal.org.

Job Posting: Green Thumb Theatre

Green Thumb Theatre is seeking a Production Manager.

This is a full time salaried position.

Green Thumb Theatre produces 3-6 school tours plus 1-2 mainstage productions per season. Producing mainly original scripts we develop work for elementary and high school performances, touring across BC, at least one tour per season also tours across Canada and into the USA.

We are seeking an individual with experience in production management/technical direction for a full time position. Working schedule in the off season is flexible and the position may be seasonal full-time if suitable for the right candidate. Hours during the season are somewhat flexible, again to meet the needs of a suitable candidate.

Qualifications:

• Post secondary training in theatre production
• Working experience in technical theatre for a professional company
• Knowledge of the CTA
• Experience as a Technical Director and/or Production Manager in a professional company a definite asset
• Experience in touring a definite asset

Responsibilities:

Reporting to both the General Manager & Artistic Director, the Production Manager is a key player in season planning and works closely with the AD in planning all creative aspects of our production.

Duties Include:

• Contracting of all production personnel &/or contracts
• including, design, scenic construction, properties, costumes and stage
• management.
• Production planning & scheduling for all productions
• Coordination and operation if required for all production
• elements for events, showcase presentations etc.
• Supervision of construction of all productions

In conjunction with the Company Manager, organization of

tour logistics including but not limited to:

• Van pack, technical riders and coordination with venues, ATA carnet, freight & transportation planning.
• Budgeting & expenses management for all production related costs, including capital equipment
• Upkeep & maintenance of all production equipment including ensuring all vehicles are maintained to highest standards and vehicle modifications conform to highway traffic act, and the company's own safety expectations
• Responsible for Health & Safety in the workplace.
• Other production related duties

Compensation is negotiable based on experience, starting minimum salary

$31,000. Green Thumb offers an extended health & disability benefit

plan.

Candidates should forward a resume and covering letter stating salary expectations to:

Production Manager Application or by e-mail in Word, Wordperfect or pdf formats only to:

Green Thumb Theatre

jobs@greenthumb.bc.ca

1885 Venables St.

Vancouver BC

V5L 2H6

Closes April 20, 2007 Start date negotiable.

More info at: www.greenthumb.bc.ca (who we are / employment)

The Importance of Visuals

Here's a great article about the use of visuals to promote your performance with some useful sites for uploading photos and videos:

http://junglewebs.blogspot.com/2007/01/arts-marketing-visuals.html

Stay tuned for my own take on the subject in an upcoming Creative Spin post.

Musings of Fire: The Tao of B.I.T.S. (Butts In The Seats)

Musings of Fire: The Tao of B.I.T.S. (Butts In The Seats)

This is a great article which I think really puts Performing Arts Marketing in perspective.

ARTS MARKETING of THEATRE
(or... the Internet - it's not just for porn anymore)
by Marcel Nunis (Theatre J'Nerique)

As a playwright, director and producer in the theatre I was plagued for years with these nightmare questions:

• How do I push the show without "selling out"?
• Will I compromise my "art" by marketing my show aggressively?
• How do I compete with big media for an audience on a budget?
  

Let us first admit to our own sins. Yes, there does exist a snotty "holier than thou" attitude in the world of the arts. We roll our eyes over a marketing budget and campaigns. We protest with excuses like... "That's going to cost too much!" or "This show is brilliant enough to sell itself!" Then we capitulate "within reason" insisting on "traditional arts marketing" (posters, flyers and press releases) and exercise care not to "go overboard and compromise our art" through "aggressive and crass" commercialization. Our show opens and performances are barely selling a third of the house with audience members made up mostly of family, friends and "supporters". Our show eventually closes and we are relieved that it broke even.
Read the whole article here..
http://theatreventoux.blogspot.com/2007/03/tao-of-bits-butts-in-seats.html