My Savannah: Ryan McMaken

MY SAVANNAH

Ryan McMaken

How the Savannah Music Festival artistic director (and accomplished musician) fi nds harmony in the everyday

7 a.m.: I start with reading local and national news, along with performing arts news, and making a cup of coff ee. My wife, Pfeff er, and I usually take our two hounds for a walk in Daffi n Park. Our favorite weekday breakfast follows: a toasted slice of Auspicious Baking Co.’s country white bread with avocado.

9 a.m.: I’ve been with Savannah Music Festival since 2007, but unlike back then, these days, most work days begin with a Zoom check-in with senior staff or other team members. For the past year, I’ve been doing a lot of scheduling and rescheduling, working with our team and colleagues in the fi eld to plan for the re-emergence of live music. If I’m at our downtown offi ce, hopefully I’ve arrived by bike.

12 p.m.: At lunch, I’m always looking to get outside. If I didn’t pack it, I’ll pick up to-go from Flying Monk Noodle Bar, Kayak Kafé or Naan on Broughton. And I often fall prey to that fast sub place (it’s a chain, I know!).

3:30 p.m.: Most work days wind down with a check-in with SMF team members, along with an assessment of priorities for the following day. Ideally, I’ve also bookmarked a few new-to-me music releases and music news to check out in the evening.

5 p.m.: If it’s later in the week, a stop to meet friends at Crystal Beer Parlor, Two Tides Brewing Co. or Hop Atomica is pretty likely. I’ve been playing a sport called disc golf for 20 years, so if I don’t take discs out to Daffi n in the evening, I’ll try to get to the short course at Forrest Hills off of Skidaway Road (it’s a very beginner-friendly course, by the way) or even the Tybee Island course when the sun is out late. If the latter, it’s hard not to take a swim or stop by Sea Wolf Tybee.

7 p.m.: My wife and I love to cook. It’s a major aspect of our relationship, unwinding after the workday as one of us works on food and the other speculates about the effi ciency of various processes. Then food, wine and often Jeopardy. I also like to practice an instrument at this point in the day. I play the guitar, fi ddle and squareneck dobro, a type of resonator guitar that lies fl at when you play it instead of on its side.

10 p.m.: Hopefully there’s a good book in progress, or I’ll listen to some music or a podcast. Then, I’m thinking through the calendar for the next day, and eventually down for the count.