A W O R D F R O M O U R D I R E C T O R
Dear SFSC Performing Arts Friend,
One question I am most often asked about my role
as director of cultural programs is, “How do you pick the
shows?” In my opinion, I don’t “pick” shows; I curate or
select and organize performances. You, the audience, with
the performing arts staff, members of the Cultural Advisory
Committee, sponsors and SFSC Leadership all contribute
to the yearlong process of devising the Artist, Matinee,
Trending Now and Jazz Series.
Each year, I travel to booking conferences and I personally attend a
variety of showcases, which are 20-minute samples of a performance.
“Rhythm of the Night,” “From the Beatles to Bach with Doug Cameron and
Family” and “Alter Eagles” are a few examples of artists that I discovered at
a showcase and brought to Highlands County this season.
SFSC Performing Arts belongs to professional presenting organizations
and many of my colleagues will rave about an artist or production like Chita
Rivera or “Cirque Zuma Zuma,” and then I’ll check it out. If I can’t personally
attend a live performance, I rely on performance videos, box office records,
and reviews.
Audience members also make suggestions and that’s how I discovered
Terry Lower and Edye Evans Hyde, superb jazz artists from Michigan who
will travel to Avon Park in April. Sometimes an artist’s booking manager
contacts me because there is a Florida tour and that’s how we were able to
book Wayne Newton and “Legally Blonde: The Musical.”
The next step is to examine the costs (artist fee, hospitality, technical
production, etc.), availability of our dates in relation to the artist’s schedule,
box office reports, and technical and facility requirements.
Finally, there are instances when we try to book a performer, but he or
she doesn’t accept our offer. This might be the reason one of your favorite
artists hasn’t performed on our stage. Oftentimes a tour is re-routed from one
week to another and we lose a date with a particular production because of
a schedule conflict.
As you can discern, I don’t just pick up the phone and pick a show.
There’s a lot of juggling, analyzing and qualifying to put together a season
of performances and many people who assist in the process. But the mission
is to always bring a variety of world class performances to you.
At your service,
Cindy Garren, M.M
F.A.
Director, SFSC SFSC Cu
Cultural Arts Programs