It’s a given: Most of us are “searching for new ways to reach audiences beyond the concert hall” — Those are the words of Madeleine Careau, CEO of the OSM (Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal), as quoted in the Montreal Gazette. “For the next three years, the team from SAT [Société des arts technologiques] will spend a week each year recording OSM rehearsals and concerts to create immersive acoustic projects,” reports Brendan Kelly. “The OSM already has opened a space just …

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The Indianapolis Colts announced that children 24 months and younger can now get into Lucas Oil Stadium for free, reports TicketNews. That’s a big bonus for fans — and it lets them know: “We’re thinking about our families and trying to make it as easy as possible for them to come,” Stephanie Pemberton, vice president of marketing for the Colts, said in a statement. Other family-friendly changes include “kids meals, which includes a hot dog, apple slices, string cheese, and …

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Are you a huge Taco Bell fan? Adweek reports that Taco Bell is opening a boutique, branded hotel in Palm Springs called The Bell, and rooms will be available for a limited time this summer. David Griner writes: “The brand’s announcement of the hotel says it ‘reimagines what a hotel stay can be, unveiling a destination inspired by tacos and fueled by fans. Everything from guest rooms to breakfast and poolside cocktails will be infused with a Taco Bell twist, …

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AV News reported on a cute story at the Boston Symphony Hall: “The Handel And Haydn Society orchestra was performing at the Boston Symphony Hall. Just after the final rest of Mozart’s ‘Masonic Funeral Music,’ an unseen kid yelled out ‘wow!’ in apparently unvarnished appreciation of what he’d just heard. Everyone laughed and applauded the moment.” While this is certainly a pleasant outburst, there are some behaviors that theatergoers do not appreciate. Goldstar surveyed more than 1,000 members as well …

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Pete Miller poses an interesting question on 2AMt blog: Do we need more theatre in which audiences take an active role? He starts the discussion by dividing theater into two categories. He explains that the first category is “Sit-down-and-shut-up” theatre, “meaning theatrical productions in which the audience is fundamentally expected to watch attentively but take no action that might disrupt the flow of performances or distract other audience members.” The second is “Don’t-just-sit-there-do-something” theatre, “meaning theatrical productions in which the …

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According to new data, the arts and cultural sector contributed more than the agriculture, transportation, or warehousing sectors to the American economy in 2015 (the latest year for which data is available), reports Isaac Kaplan for Artsy. NEA chairman Jane Chu said in a statement: “The data confirm that the arts play a meaningful role in our daily lives, including through the jobs we have, the products we purchase, and the experiences we share.” These findings are important because as …

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Theater enriches our lives. Journalist Christine Aucoin adds her own reasons why theater is important, emphasizing its significance to teens in the age of YouTube. Her Boston Globe article specifically highlights how helpful theater was in allowing her to talk with her dad: “These dramatic outings prompted conversations unlikely to arise over the dinner table.” Aucoin writes: “The in-your-face immediacy of live theater and the staggering range of human experiences represented onstage bridged the communication chasm between me and my …

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Jim once wrote on this blog about the irrelevance of stores and how that affects live entertainment (Hint: It’s a good thing). He stated: “Where we’re going is very simple: We need fewer and fewer stores for retail goods, but we’ll either replace those with empty spaces, with residences or offices, or with experience-driven businesses.” Stores must continually reinvent themselves. One way retailers are upping their game is by using employee communication platforms to better assist customers. PSFK highlights how …

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Today, according to Pollstar, Pitchfork is launching the inaugural edition of Midwinter, a three-day music event, at the Art Institute of Chicago. The artists, including Deerhunter, Kamasi Washington, Laurie Anderson, Perfume Genius and Oneohtrix Point Never, will perform throughout the museum. Some of the artists have “designed ‘soundscapes,’ unique music inspired by specific pieces in the Art Institute’s collection,” reports Pollstar. For instance, classical composer Nico Muhly’s piece “takes inspiration from two Claude Monet paintings in the museum’s ‘iconic’ Impressionist gallery, …

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“People crave and seek out great stories almost as much as food and water,” writes Clifford Chi on HubSpot. Chi has compiled a list of 15 inspiring storytelling quotes from some of the world’s most insightful authors and filmmakers to help you channel your inner storyteller. We share four quotes below, then read the rest here: “The most amazing thing for me is that every single person who sees a movie, not necessarily one of my movies, brings a whole …

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