It's a good time to be a Philadelphian

Last night, as I swooped around a pole on the North side of city hall, and looked around at so many smiling, high-fiving, statue-climbing Philadelphian denizens, I felt very alive. Philadelphia is first at something.

The sentiment is usually the force that makes me lean away from sports-the inherent conquering motif. Last night, though, it was hard to abandon the feeling of distinct deservedness that came with the Phillies World Series win. Not to mention, baseball has a semantic quality more rich than proverbial apple pie.

Today, with little sleep, I feel unusually alive in tackling some of the problems that face my work in the arts world. Folk arts are underfunded, economic pundits claim that every arts association will be hit harder than other industry organizations, and music education is diminishing. But I won't be beaten by this.

We are the champions...

I am looking forward to this upcoming show, and the beginning to a partnership with Allen's Lane Art Center.

Music for every Philadelphia child!

I have been kept from sleep for many nights this week. Philadelphia schools, despite recent claims for change, continue to lose music and arts education programs by (give or take) 20% every year. At times of economic uncertainty, audiences attend less performances, arts organizations are hit hard, and undoubtedly, schools cut music and arts education.

Despite research and evidence that suggests that music and arts engage the spatial-temporal neurons of the brain, raise test scores, and help with important developments in the brain, it seems like many seem to buy in to the idea that music and arts are subsidiary. I disagree. And I would love to see the Philadelphia Folksong Society lead a charge to help make music and arts available to every single child in Philadelphia.

It is a lofty endeavor. It will require a coalition involvement of arts organizations; families; churches, synagogues, and mosques; school administrators; foundations; corporations; artists; and others. Uniting such groups can prove especially daunting, but the alternative is devastating. By partnering, Philadelphia could send a clear message that arts are too important to be swept aside.

A coalition plan could see individuals and organizations 1) building awareness about our concerns and 2) implementing programs to change the contextual framework of music and arts education. The coalition would build awareness at arts and cultural events. What is more, an implementation plan would involve schools and principals as well as community artists offering free or affordable music and arts classes outside of schools.

The connection for the Philadelphia Folksong Society is obvious. Not only is education a focal point of our mission, but folk arts call on the person-to-person interaction that such a coalition effort would require. My entire world-view and thought processes have been altered and shaped by my understanding of music. Now it is time to come together and build a cultural landscape that can carry into every facet of Philadelphia life.

It's more than cheesesteaks and cream cheese here.

More about October's Monthly Concert

Click here to check out the press release for the show!

It is getting picked up by a good deal of press.
For the basic info:


Philadelphia Folksong Society presents
Michael Chapman (UK)
w. Jack Rose

U.S. Opening Date
Sunday October 5, 8pm

Commodore Barry Club
6815 Emlen Street (R8 train)
Philadelphia, PA 19119

Free for members, $5 for non-members
email LLandis@Pfs.org for more details

First Monthly Concert of 2008

I'm pumped that Michael Chapman and Jack Rose are touring together in the East coast. Chapman has been making great folk music since the 60's and Rose graced the Philadelphia Folk Festival stage this year, and really expanded a few minds. It's always interesting to shake up the UK and American accents as well.

All this to say I am glad that the Philadelphia Folksong Society is hosting these two as the kick-off to the 2008-09 monthly concert series. We have a date set: Sunday, October 5, 2008 at 8pm. Venue is TBD...just too torn about where to place this show in and around the city. Monthly concerts are always free to members, and it will be $5 for anyone else.

If you haven't heard Jack Rose, it will be worth your while, (read: personal recommendation).

The thinking for the new season is that it may be interesting to get what is sometimes seen as the fringe of PFS mission (folklore, crafts, international music, participation, culinary arts) and bring it in the fold in a multi-dimensional way. Rather that just have a showcase or concert, I think it would be wild to have crafts all through the room, a storyteller kick off the night, showcase the artist/s, and then end with a jam or sing....

Thoughts?

Proliferation of Ideas

I started my graduate classes at Villanova University yesterday. I am extremely excited by a few things, namely, being in a context where there is a proliferation of ideas and learning. What's more, it seems that my program (Master's in Public Administration) will be able to give practical studies for the organizations with which each student is working. This will hopefully mean that PFS will benefit from much of the course that I am working through. One of the first projects in my Structure and Theory of Organizations class is to develop a formal SWOT analysis and theory of change for the organization. I believe this is serendipity, as PFS is in the heart of strategic shifting and transition.

Enough with the director speak.... I had an incredible Philadelphia Folk Festival, as aided by beautiful friends, volunteers, strangers, and jammers. Thanks to everyone who made it a huge success. I don't soon want to lose the feeling of engaging so intimately with other musicians, music-lovers, or artists. In short, I can't wait for Fall Fling! Check out FallFling.org if you are interested.

Also, I just created a "badge" for PFS through Six Degrees. What it is, basically, is a web-based application (a widget) that can let people know about or contribute to a non-profit organization. Check it out:

Excitement in everything...

When you are looking forward to the next few years of visioning and planning, you really can find joy in all the details of operations and management. I am doing some serious grantwriting and technical work, but it is within the stream of this creative process of helping develop art and artists in the area.

I am brainstorming with Justin, my program manager, to develop a networking system for artists in the area. We hope to make it a comprehensive web of craftspeople, musicians, and other folk artists. If we can better integrate with these artists and thusly help them co-mingle, I am sure we will more fully realize our mission. It could essentially be another level of membership, with its own set of benefits and perks. Working name: Philadelpha Folk Artists Network (PFAN).

More to come...

swwwwimming...

The last 17 days have as the ED at the Philadelphia Folksong Society have reignited that drive in me that has been lacking for quite some time. That push toward a mission that is larger than myself, larger than the (ever-crumbling) dollar. I love the mission here, the dedication to the "the encouragement, dissemination, enjoyment of folk music..." Music has crept into almost every powerful moment of my life. It's a context I can never seem to escape.

But the truth is that a mission statement only comes to life after the agents of the organization create a tangible plan for its execution. I don't that we've completely seen that here at PFS, but I can say that even this week, I have been utterly taken by how many invested individuals are hanging around, doing their best to bring make this thing breathe. Let's take the evenings for example:

Monday night: A Festival management meeting. New ideas, even in a 47-year old project. Old ideas, brought back to life and recontectualized. Humor. Memories. Complaints. Recalculations. A virtual mouth and hand gesture tour (which I need!) of the Old Pool Farm, noting any layout changes for 2008. Buses. Wild Bill. Hindsight. Foresight. Concern.

Wednesday night: A Board meeting. Reports, formalities, comparisons, budgets. At one point I thought we were going to have to hoola hoop at the August meeting to satisfy the bylaws. Kind words, frustrations. Comraderie. Concerned members, dedicated Directors.

And while this (Thursday) evening and weekend haven't come, I fully expect similar experiences as the chairpersons meet, and as my staff represents PFS at the Xponential Music Fest.

To me, it's been like being at a family holiday meal or reunion. People talking over each other. Old gruges, new dreams. Old dreams, new gruges. A familiarity with each other and the psychological analysis of one another. And just as being at the family table, I want in.

What has been great about this family is...they have let me in. And together we hope to join the greater cultural community and include music and arts lovers all across this area. And all the while, the music. Always the music.

on the subject of first things

And so starts my first week at the Philadelphia Folksong Society. In the reversed words of Eliot: "not with a whimper, but with a bang." I am virtually swimming in a decades worth of archived records, thoughts, emotions, hopes, and shared musical experiences. It is a peculiar experiment in thrusting someone like myself that cares so much about the future of folk music, and amongst a member base of folks that have been extrememly involved with the evolution folk music in the Greater Philadelphia area for the last 50 years.

I fear I must learn by fire the insane task of bringing structure (implementing policies, evaluating programs, developing funds) to the unstructurable (a campfire jam, the claw of 5 fingers across a banjo, a gypsy train hopper selling homemade soap). And yet I take heart as I sit in an office, where one would think that only sterile activities occur, and I am delving into the organic. At the moment, I am surrounded by music that will be at this years Philadelphia Folk Festival (currently, "Dying Breed" by Allison Moorer...so good), friends that share in the passion of forging this ship ahead (thank you Justin Nordell for coming on board as program manager, and to Matt for showing just where to hit the fax machine to make it work), and the encouragement of so many Society members, board members, and chairpersons that have called in the first week.

The "thank you"s are already too numberable to mention, but I must say that I am delighted that Lisa Schwartz is a working President, who gives days out of her week to make sure, one may say, that the songs don't stop being sung. I have had the experience to work in the non-profit world for the better part of the last decade, but I am truly anticipating the work that Philadelphia Folksong Society can accomplish in the near future.

I hope this blog will serve as a spot to pontificate my thoughts and musings, whether you are a festival attendee, Society member, volunteer, personal friend or family member. Please share your comments and hullabaloo!

Good vibes your way...