International Ticketing ASSociation

I know these ticket people want attention, but they don't need to make asses of themselves in e-mails.

Rossini Rocks? Does he now.

I can't decide if I love or hate this image sent in an e-mail from Florida Grand Opera promoting their CINDERELLA production.

Tim Pace

Artist Tim Pace has a studio south of Jackson, Tennessee. He takes discarded metal and fashions it into critters and other things--you can see the grasshoppers made out of a hammer head, a long hex screw and an axe head. There is a big praying mantis with a book outside the main library in Jackson.

Elves are taking a break

Bravo Cliff Jackson, Pianist

Earlier today I got to see a concert given by a very famous opera singer. What was most remarkable about the concert was Cliff Jackson, the accompanist. Most of the program was spirituals and gospel arrangements of Christmas songs--not his normal repertoire. Plus, the very famous opera singer did her share of conducting and tapping the piano during the performance. Through it all Mr. Jackson remained unflappable and cheerful. Not only that, his playing in these styles was thoroughly convincing.

The very famous opera singer received nine and a half pages of bio in the program; Mr. Jackson, nothing. By not mentioning the very famous opera singer by name, I am doing what I can to make up for it.

Signs of the times

One of my freelance gigs out of town has cut three of its six performances. We are not looking at that in Memphis, but we are examining switching to smaller and cheaper venues next year for some performances.