Four Bluegrass Stagecraft 101 videos were posted on the IBMA Foundation YouTube channel December 1, and many on the local, state, national and college level are enjoying them already.
Free to the public, the videos focus on behind-the-scenes roles in the bluegrass music industry. Produced by Stephen Ide and filmed at the 2022 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, the first four videos include: “Emceeing a Bluegrass Event,” “Stage Management for Bluegrass Events,” “Emceeing a Bluegrass Band,” and “Working with a Sound Crew.”
To view the videos, go to the IBMA Foundation YouTube channel at this link.
In addition to the four videos, the program offers mentor grants for individuals wishing to be paired with a professional in one of the four areas for a weekend of observation, shadowing, and advice. Two mentorship grants will be awarded in 2023, helping to cover the applicant’s travel to a concert or festival and also a stipend for the mentor. Those interested in applying for a Bluegrass Stagecraft 101 Mentor Grant may email info@bluegrassfoundation.org or call Nancy Cardwell at (615) 260-4807.
Bluegrass Stagecraft 101 is funded by the Eppes-Jefferson Foundation, a New Hampshire-based organization which seeks to build life skills through the arts. William D. Eppes (1918-2009), an Alabama-born librarian who lived most of his life in New York City, established the Eppes-Jefferson Foundation, Inc. as a private charitable foundation in 2008, adding “Jefferson” to the name in honor of Thomas Jefferson, a distant relative of the family.
The IBMA Foundation thanks the following experts for sharing their advice and examples in the videos: event emcees Katy Daley, Barbara Heller, and Brad Kolodner; band emcees Joe Newberry and Ron Thomason; stage managers Shelley Howard and Chris Keenan; and sound engineers Pete Nabut and Howard Rose.
Background music for the videos was provided by Richard Brown, Bill Evans, Chris Henry, the Hillbenders, the Persimmon Sisters, Tim Stafford, and Alan Tompkins.
Click here to view the “Emceeing a Bluegrass Festival” video.
Return to the January 2023 issue of The Cornerstone.
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