The Bluegrass Stagecraft 101 program created by the IBMA Foundation offers Mentor Grants for individuals wishing to be paired with a professional in one of the following four areas for a weekend of observation, shadowing, and advice: Stage management, Emceeing a bluegrass event, Emceeing a bluegrass band, or Sound engineering for a bluegrass event. Two mentorship grants will be awarded, 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.

Applications for the Bluegrass Stagecraft 101 Mentor Grants are accepted year-round. The IBMA Foundation will recruit mentors based on where applicants live and/or what bluegrass events they are planning to attend in the coming months.

The mentorships will pay $500 per applicant (for two recipients) with $300 going to the person traveling to the festival or concert location to be mentored, and $200 payment to the veteran emcee, band emcee, sound engineer, or stage manager doing the mentoring. The $300 for the mentorship recipient is intended to help fund travel and ticket expenses to the event where the mentorship will take place.

Bluegrass Stagecraft 101 is presented by the IBMA Foundation and sponsored by the Eppes-Jefferson Foundation.  

View the IBMA Foundation Bluegrass Stagecraft 101 educational videos HERE.