2012 A N N UA L CO N F E R E N C E
SEPTEMBER 4-8, DENVER
Every roster, routing, production, season, and project has one‌ that breakthrough moment when you cross the threshold–when all the hard work pays off and process turns to performance. Western Arts Alliance helps you get there. WAA brings together peers, performances, professional development, guest speakers, and exhibits to inform, inspire, and advance your work.
at the 2012 Western Arts Alliance Annual Conference. COVER Denver skyline at sunset, photo courtesy of VISIT DENVER LEFT Cass King of The Wet Spots; photo by Frank Roberts, Helianthus Photography, courtesy of Elsie Management
The best in live music, dance, theatre, and more. WAA takes your work to new heights. Check out more than 180 exhibitors and 80 performances during the conference.
PICTURED Joe Goode Performance Group, Humansville; photo by RJ Muna, courtesy of David Lieberman Artists’ Representatives
Build connections, discover new approaches, and enhance your knowledge of touring, artist management, and presenting. Find out how keynote speaker Alan Pierson, Artistic Director of the Brooklyn Philharmonic, is reinventing the orchestra–and making magic in the process. PICTURED Alan Pierson, photo by Michael Rubenstein, courtesy of Brooklyn Philharmonic
Tap the collective experience, gain insight, hone intuition, and seek the muse of performance, friends, and colleagues. WAA’s workshops, panels, roundtables, and peer networking sessions keep you up to date in a rapidly changing world.
PICTURED Hugh Masekela; photo by Elijah Star, courtesy of Opus 3 Artists
LEFT PAGE (clockwise from top left) Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center and the landmark Blue Bear, photo courtesy of VISIT DENVER; Karen Jantsch, Long Center for the Performing Arts, meets up with Nicole Olson and David Starry from Scorpius Dance Theatre; Aeros, photo by Trella Mendl Design Group Inc., Luca Missioni, courtesy of Columbia Artists Management Inc.; Matias Tarnopolsky, Cal Performances, speaking with Jenny Bilfield and Ruth Mikusko, Stanford Lively Arts; Finnders and Youngberg, Quicksilver Productions; Cindy Ornstein and Mandy Buscas from Mesa Arts Center chat with an agent; Derrick McBride, Opus 3 Artists, meets with Kelly Kuper, Parker Arts, Culture & Events; Sybarite5 performing at the 2011 Juried Showcase; Gates Concert Hall (inset), Newman Center for the Performing Arts, site of the 2012 Juried Showcase.
RIGHT PAGE (clockwise from top center) Mary M. Matthews, New Frontier Touring, Michael Wolke, Yulunga Arts, and Paul McGill, Circus Oz share a moment at WAA’s 40th Anniversary Conference in Los Angeles, photo by Chyna Chuan; Calo Flamenco performing in the 2009 Juried Showcase; Beth Macmillan, Artown Festival, and Margaret Lawrence, Hopkins Center, Dartmouth College; Son de Madera performed at Performance West 2010, photo courtesy of Eye for Talent; Ken Waldman, Nomadic Productions, pitches Robin Pomerance, Cal Performances, and Lindy Sisson, The ACT Arts Centre and Theatre; Mike Garson performing at the 2011 Juried Showcase; The 2012 Annual Luncheon features two amazing bands: The Dunwells, photo by Ami Barwell, courtesy of Playing In Traffic Records, and Denver’s own Andy Hackbarth Band, photo courtesy of AH Entertainment; David Fischer (inset), Broadway Center for the Performing Arts and Past-President of Western Arts Alliance.
Unless credited, all photography by The Photo Group, San Francisco, CA.
High, Wide, & Handsome Denver is a city of extraordinary space–gorgeous parks, a downtown pedestrian mall, the second largest performing arts center in the United States, and a vibrant urban center. The Mile-High City also boasts a cultural community with a breadth that defies expectation. Nearly a third of Denver is Latino or Hispanic, its burgeoning indie music scene is making waves coast to coast, and the Science and Cultural Facilities District annually distributes more than $40 million dollars to 300 organizations. This ain’t no cowtown.
PICTURED (clockwise from left to right) Live Concert in Civic Center Park, photo by Steve Credelius, courtesy of VISIT DENVER; Delegates registering at the 2011 Conference; Stephanie Bettman, Bettman & Halpin Band; Thinking Outside the Box, a 2010 panel with (left to right) Chris Douridas, KCRW Los Angeles, Liz Garo, Spaceland / The Echo and The Autry Center, Lynn Hasty, Green Galactic PR, Damon Aaron, artist, and Megan Jacobs, The Roxy.
Denver’s vibe is tailor-made for WAA: casual, friendly, and laidback–but ambitious. The gorgeous Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center is without a doubt the finest convention hotel that’s ever housed the conference. Just outside the Hyatt, there’s convenient shopping and dining for every taste and budget. A short walk away is Larimer Square with some of Denver’s best boutiques and restaurants, and of course the hip-happening LoDo (Lower Downtown).
Professional Development The Commons WAA’s combination meeting, event, and exhibit space encourages discovery, conversation, and connection. For 2012, the Annual Conference features over 180 exhibits, breakouts, & many independent showcases–all under one roof!
We’ve got dozens of expert speakers, workshops, panels, and roundtables led by the best and brightest in the field. This year’s topics include taxation of foreign artists, innovating the field, social media, and managing the complex relationship between artist and agent.
an innovative and focused performing arts market The 2012 program includes two pre-conference workshops on Wednesday, September 5. Doing the Deal is an intermediate-level primer on deal structures, strategies, and terms. Using Social/Mobile Media to Promote your Artist/Band serves up the social media essentials for anyone involved in promoting an artist.
Performance West Performance West, WAA’s festival within the conference, features two exciting evening-length public shows on Friday, September 7, curated in partnership with Swallow Hill Music, Denver Botanic Gardens, and Arts & Venues Denver.
authentic, Performance & Discovery Whether you are an artist, exhibitor, or presenter, discovery is the engine that propels the conference. Juried Showcases, Performance West, Independent Showcases, sponsored performances, artist keynotes, and speed leads–WAA’s new pitch sessions–all reflect the breadth and depth of touring performance in the West. PICTURED (Clockwise from above) Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, one of seven companies and artists in the 2012 Juried Showcase, photo by Sharen Bradford, courtesy of Columbia Artists Management Inc.; Pat Metheny, photo courtesy of Ted Kurland Associates; Carry On, photo by Amanda Tipton, courtesy of Ballet Nouveau Colorado.
Pat Metheny Unity Band LEFT Presented by Denver Botanic Gardens & Swallow Hill Music
Pat Metheny’s versatility is nearly without peer on any instrument. This concert shows Pat with a brand-new band: sax great Chris Potter, renowned drummer Antonio Sanchez, and the phenomenal young bassist Ben Williams. New band, new ideas–it’s the genius of Pat Metheny.
handcrafted, heartfelt & beautiful Carry On
left
Presented by Arts & Venues Denver
Carry On, the collaborative project of Ballet Nouveau Colorado and Denver folk rockers Paper Bird, was one of Colorado’s unequivocal hits of 2011. The “Americana” ballet choreographed by Garrett Ammon, Artistic Director of BNC and a founding member of Trey McIntyre Project, features Paper Bird performing live. Carry On evokes a grange hall dance–authentic, handcrafted, heartfelt, and beautiful.
Connections & Networking If discovery is the engine that drives the conference, then surely networking is the fuel. Trusted relationships are essential to the success of every artist, agent, and presenter. And with a variety of hospitality events, dinearounds, showcases, plenary sessions and roundtable conversations, every conference event becomes a chance to expand and revitalize your network.
relax, revive, New Colleagues, Mentoring & NextGen Starting out can be overwhelming (hell, so is sustaining a career in these times), that’s why WAA goes the extra mile to help you connect and succeed. Our New Colleague Program welcomes first-time attendees. Conference Mentoring pairs performing arts professionals to build purposeful relationships. NextGen introduces you to future leaders of the field.
PICTURED (left to right) A rendezvous in Long Beach with Mary M. Matthews, New Frontier Touring, Cathy Weiss, Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts, Betse Grassby, Strings Music Festival and Gregory Little, New Frontier Touring; Michelle Witt, UW World Series, and Cindi Hubbard, independent consultant, engage with Bertha Cea Echenique, U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, at WAA’s Annual Luncheon.
reconnect and enjoy Hospitality WAA offers four hospitality events free with a full registration and two ticketed events you won’t want to miss! From the Opening Reception to the Annual Luncheon and Closing Event–an authentic Rocky Mountain WAAB’Que–WAA’s generous hospitality events are scheduled to give you time to relax, enjoy yourself with colleagues and clients, reconnect with old friends, and make new ones.
The Conference 411 2012 Western Arts Alliance Annual Conference, September 4-8 Early Registration (now through July 13) $425 members/$525 non-members Conference Hotel: Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center rate $155+ tax, (303) 436-1234
Want to Exhibit or Register? Full details plus registration information at westarts.org
& AMPHITHEATRE
Please join us in thanking our sponsors
Creating Futures in Music & Culture
PICTURED Red Rocks Amphitheater, part of Arts & Venues Denver; photo by Steve Credelius, courtesy of VISIT DENVER
explore. discover. connect. 2012 Annual Conference SEPTEMBER 4-8, DENVER
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