How to fill up seats & VIP rows in a Carnatic concert?

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 25 Apr 2015, 09:26

Dear knowledgeable movers and shakers amongst rasikas, I want to branch off this thread to collect ideas and inspirations from you, based on your experience and wisdom, to give ideas to organisers on HOW TO FILL UP THE SEATS IN A CARNATIC CONCERT. There is an even more difficult challenge.

"It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for the VIP rows to be filled in a seriously classical concert".

To kick off the discussion, I give below my ten suggestions. Pardon if I go here and there, I am thinking as I type, listening to some lovely Jinjhuti on 100.1FM ( Swara Samsara new series):

1. Give gift hampers
2. Serve a sumptuous meal at the end of the concert
3. Write up advertorials about how the singer just turned down an offer to sing for AR Rahman... Steven Spielberg....lend voice to Amitabh Bachchan or say that the singer/s teach music to Rajnikanth, Kamal Haasan or Deepika Padukone.
4. Offer top 100 NRI bridegroom/bride prospect list (each >Google/Microsoft/Apple/Intel job,income 200K USD pa, Ivy League graduate, father/mother worked for World Bank or NASA)
5. Offer a lucky dip Honda Brio and display it prominently on the stage.
6. Get a godman = Ravi Shankar, Jaggi Vasudev, Baba Ramdev, Mata Amritanandamayi to come and sit in the front row.
7. Announce that the concert is broadcast live to 100 million global audience abroad by Narendra Modi as a cultural promo for Make in India.
8. Have a large ensemble on stage (up to 14 artistes = three violins, six percussions, two tamburas, and add three main performers) and publish a picture ahead
9. Say the singer is a born genius who sang the pancha ratna krithis when crying for milk.
10. Announce that this rare 800 year-old instrument studded with nine rare gems was played by Sarngadeva himself and later stolen and taken away by Muslim marauders who later sold it to the English King. It has been reclaimed and given to this gifted musician who is playing it for the first time in public.

ganesh_mourthy · Post by **ganesh_mourthy** » 25 Apr 2015, 12:51

Rsachi wrote:3. Write up advertorials about how the singer just turned down an offer to sing for AR Rahman... Steven Spielberg....lend voice to Amitabh Bachchan or say that the singer/s teach music to Rajnikanth, Kamal Haasan or Deepika Padukone.

I liked it. And to attract the corporate bigwigs , there has to be mention that the artist goes to white house where Obama's love has grown from Hanuman to Carnatic and and the singer is promised with anything he wishes to have including the Durbar of whitehouse.

And to the Bollywood and Kollywood VIPs , " Angelina Jolie is under the spell of this Charming Bellied Superfit musician, and goes on an escapade to Miami beach house during the US tour" . And the techies can do a great photoshop.

Jokes apart, I think the VIP seats can be removed.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 25 Apr 2015, 13:13

ganesh_mourthy wrote:
Jokes apart, I think the VIP seats can be removed.

Spot on!

VIPs who are not there for music, rather than self-importance, are the most useless things in a concert audience. They are not interested in the music, and spend time chatting, walking around, greeting each other and getting fawned over by others.

And... in an all-are-welcome concert, why do we feel this compulsion to leave those front seats empty? Especially when they are being reserved for those who don't turn up anyway! Has anyone noticed how foreign visitors head straight for a front seat? Perhaps it might be thought that they do it because they have some arrogant idea that being foreign makes them a VIP. No, it is because the concept is just not there abroad: you buy a ticket for a seat and sit in it. If you are lucky you get as close to the front as possible.

I remember, in some other context, some guru or teacher advising: forget about VIPs, and start thinking that we are all Very Important People!

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 25 Apr 2015, 21:00

IN CLEVELAND the answer that seems to work is: ANY ONE CAN SIT ANYWHERE. ONLY if an ESCORTED VIP or an ARTIST SHOWS UP any one (including VKV) has to vacate the seat in the first TWO ROWS. This seems to make the rows fill & makes the artistS on stage happy. VKV

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 25 Apr 2015, 22:35

Sir,
Cleveland seems to be a best practice. Well done.

SrinathK · Post by **SrinathK** » 26 Apr 2015, 00:03

@Rsachi,

Let's see. So we effectively chase our artistes away, go bankrupt, turn the sabha into a matrimonial service, while we become bike salesmen and the auditorium becomes a museum for old instruments, while newspaper articles speculate on godmen using CM for "covert" and potentially "violent" motives, desparately trying to connect this to Modi, and finally finding a way to bash our PM for killing Carnatic Music and questioning along the way whether "Hindu" CM can finally do away with the God factor, with many offended souls in the comments section. The end result will ensure that Carnatic music will only be made in North America, and throughout the ordeal we must suffer from the horrors of slow internet ! Man that last one has to be the worst.

Nah, here's a better idea. Don't try to fill up the seats. Have a Youtube channel with everything from basic lessons to concerts. Use Facebook and plenty of word of mouth. CM will live on.

Oh and if you want to increase views in your channel, occasionally upload a very good cute kitten video.
You will be seen by millions.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 26 Apr 2015, 00:36

'Inter' in our childhood days were a class of travel in trains, and from our compartment we have watched fishermen cast their nets. Internet? That's something our age group discovered some years ago, and boy, are you right or what! It IS darned slow, isn't it?

How we take things (miracles?) for granted, the disgruntled grandmas and grandpas

Even before he could speak in sentences, our grandson would complain: your computer is so...slow....

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 26 Apr 2015, 03:07

Yes, Arasi,I do remember the so-called Inter Class of South Indian Railways etc., before they were nationalized. I guess they were continued even after Independence. The only time I traveled by the 'Inter Class' was when I went for a job Interview from Tiruchi to New Delhi and was reimbursed the train fare by the Govt.of India. Those were the days when one could make reservations by First Class only. Thus the Inter Class was no better than the Third Class, in fact worse because most traveling by that were doing so at Govt. expense., over crowding the compartment ! As soon as my Grand Trunk Express reached its first stop at Bezwazda ( that was the name for Vijayawada, then ), I got down and transferred to a more comfortable Third Class compartment! I am used to my slow internet, because I could do no faster with my 'hunt and peg' typing !

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 26 Apr 2015, 04:53

I remember my first day in front of a computer idiotbox sometime 1984, being a good stenographer, I wrote I am an idiot and I do not know what jam doing.

thanjavooran · Post by **thanjavooran** » 26 Apr 2015, 06:01

Cleveland method is good. As regards to Point 2 of Rschi's suggestion , serving sumptuous food at the beginning itself and positioning them in a more comfortable reclining chair will be ideal IMO.
Thanjavooran
26 04 2015

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 26 Apr 2015, 06:45

Ladies and gentlemen, when will the CM organisers begin to appreciate the level of forthcoming helpfulness in this wonderful, knowledgeable, good-humoured community called rasikas, and begin to take us more seriously!?
I also remember travelling once from Bangalore to Guntakal in Inter class through the night, and I could espie from the luggage rack where I was tucked away a fat dark woman sitting next to the window smoking a Beedi! Like our hon'ble Health Minister, she firmly believed beedis were made in heaven and had no deleterious effects unlike the man-made nasties called cigarettes. She was a true VIP if you ask me. She even paid for her cup of chai with a copper coin with a hole in the middle.

kssr · Post by **kssr** » 26 Apr 2015, 10:24

1. How to fill up seats ?
Have less seats and put larger jamakkaLams. The few who have come can sit comfortably stretching their legs.
2. How to fill VIP seats?
Let them be empty. When, as per case1 non VIP seats are themselves empty what is the hurry and eagerness to fill VIP seats?
3. All non- VIP seats are occupied. How to fill VIP seats?
Do not worry. Our audience will automatically start occupying VIP seats. If an actual VIP (read donor ) arrives late, he has to sit on the lap of another mama. Also the mama will render a moralistic lecture on the evils of late arrival to the actual VIP.

The above do not apply to prestigious Sabhas where they have hundreds of volunteers, security men and support staff. I had an experience in One such sabha in chennai. Two of the evening concerts are clubbed , normally one popular and the other not. As I could not enter the first, I went for the second. The entire hall was almost empty (the concert was actually very good). After purchasing a heavy valued ticket, I approached the empty ground floor. I was directed to the first floor and from there to the second. 100% empty. I took a seat in one of the first few rows, on the second floor. There came running two security chaps, asking me to move to the farthest row, as that is what my ticket mentions. Looked up at him and smiled. Nowadays I do not have energy to fight stupidity. Enjoyed the concert, with the blissful thought that the sky was just a few inches away

SrinathK · Post by **SrinathK** » 26 Apr 2015, 10:44

@kssr, You must be talking about that one where you go more vertically than horizontally to the point of risking vertigo.

@thanjavooran, Don't serve free buffets! Have a canteen always. Otherwise you will burn a hole through your pocket all the way down to the earth's core!

Maybe one idea would be to ask Samsung to sponsor while setting up a stall where they sell smartphones w/free Carnatic apps loaded as an offer.

Maybe another offer is to give a non-album recording of an yesteryear musician to anyone who shows up for Rs. 10 for small ones and Rs. 20 for longer ones - forget high quality, no one's ears are that sensitive anyway. And it's cheap.

Or increase congestion charges for parking. Or for God's sake, please bring in pay and use toilets, but keep them clean!!

Or best, replace the VIP rows all together with senior citizen rows with reclining chairs offering good back support (slightly stiffer seats) for sitting through the ordeal, which will serve senior artistes too. But then again, in many sabhas, I fear that sitting in the front row next to ear-bleeding speakers could add to many hearing problems...

Ponbhairavi · Post by **Ponbhairavi** » 26 Apr 2015, 11:25

How to fill up VIP rows:

-1.Declare substantial income tax rebate according to the number of hours physically spent in full CM concert .
2-Promise incognito visa to switzerland, Italy or any other black money heaven once a stipulated minimum number of hour of CM attendance in a “recognized and reputed “ sabha is reached.
3-promise an incognito paid vacation in Honolulu or any such heaven on this earth with “accompaniments” for as many hours as the number of hours spent in a CM music concert.

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 26 Apr 2015, 13:31

Rama Rama! What suggestions! All Rahul Gandhi Sonia Gandhi type of ideas!

KSSR, you're talking of Chennai. I went to ISS for a so-called Bangalore Music Festival. There were more posters and banners than attendees. For my Rs 300 seat I was placed at almost the same longitude and latitude as TMK. Only one thing, I was seated far above this high flying musician.

kvchellappa · Post by **kvchellappa** » 26 Apr 2015, 15:50

An IAS guy (contempt intended), who used to occupy the front row, was dismayed to see the front row full and addressed one of the persons seated in the row, 'Who are you?' The person concerned repeated the question. IAS said, 'Don't you know me? This is meant for the likes of me, not for you.' The secretary of the mandali said later, 'This guy is of no use to us whereas the other person represented a donor of substantial sum.' Such is the world, Sachi sir.

hnbhagavan · Post by **hnbhagavan** » 26 Apr 2015, 17:21

In the Fort High School Ramotsava,the seats - Rs 1500/ and donor seats are vacant for most of the concerts except highly popular ones.Those possessing Rs 250/ seats could manage to occupy the seats.But some alert security would come and check the ticket.Either they were asked to buy daily tickets of corresponding seats or sent back to their rightful seats.This way our people exhibited openly that they are reluctant to part with money,but want premium seats.
While travelling by air,if the business class is not full,economy class cannot occupy the business class.Same thing is true in concerts also.I felt the management was justified in asking people to occupy seats as per the ticket class.

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 27 Apr 2015, 00:00

A notice You sit at your risk in front or next row; you may be asked to move out by organizers or make a donation of .......... to the organizers' fund.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 27 Apr 2015, 00:43

>9. Say the singer is a born genius who sang the pancha ratna krithis when crying for milk.
Sachi's post is quite funny like this number 9 above and in good taste. At the same time I sense a slow trend towards 'donor/VIP bashing'. ( not anyone in particular )

I know what you are all feeling, I am not immune to it, there is a certain measure of discomfort in VIPs whose musical tastes and interests are questionable being given a higher status in the CM concerts.

Reflecting on this gets me to speculate about psychological aspects. That is definitely above my pay grade, but remember a lot of us are on the other side of this divide in many matters in the society at large. (I am taking a guess and being presumptuous here)

I am not sure I have any major point to make but the so called VIPs as a group need not all behave badly (including IAS officers!) there is probably a distribution but it is hard for us to psychologically consider them to be like us. Is it our problem or theirs?

(There are many behaviors that affect the actual concert and they need to change ( the artist on stage bowing down to the VIP in the midst of a song, them entering in the middle of a song disturbing the concert etc ). But that is a different topic and we have discussed that many times in other contexts before.)

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 27 Apr 2015, 05:33

VKM,
I think VIPs are nature's excrescence ence as far as culture or art is concerned. By my definition, VIP rows are cushioned ugly front-row Wedding Hall type of seats with VIP/Reserved stickers and out of bounds for ANY class of tickets. VIPs' birthright is deferential genuflecting by the expectant beneficiaries as well as a healthy bashing by the rest of mankind.

RK Narayan wrote about 70 years ago stories showing the uncouth behaviour of VIPs in the front row of a concert.

If a VIP is not toting a mobile, not putting wrong tala, not chatting with neighbours, not walking in and out at will, then he is a disgrace to VIPs. Imagine being a disgrace to an excrescence!

I request anyone around who is actually a VIP in flesh and blood not to take anything personally. We mean every word we say here but for that entire tribe and not pointed at anyone.

Pratyaksham Bala · Post by **Pratyaksham Bala** » 27 Apr 2015, 05:56

RK Narayan wrote about 70 years ago ...

https://books.google.co.in/books?id=TnT ... ic&f=false

Pratyaksham Bala · Post by **Pratyaksham Bala** » 27 Apr 2015, 06:02

.
"... the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group is offering some serious VIP ticket packages ...

"For $950, fans get a front-row reserved seat ticket on the floor and an invite to the official "History of the Eagles" Tour preshow VIP party, where the perks include a dinner buffet, beer, wine, a display of Eagles photos, crowd-free merchandise shopping and a raffle of exclusive Eagles tour items. The package also includes a zip-up hoodie, a gift bag and a commemorative VIP laminate, lanyard and ticket. There's also on-site VIP staff to answer any questions. ..."

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 27 Apr 2015, 06:13

Bala, what clarity of promise! Great pick.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 27 Apr 2015, 07:26

Sachi, you are on a roll.. deferential genuflecting of the excrescence.. wow

( I had to look them up )

I do cede opinion supremacy to RKN any day, it is a privilege to be satirized by him. Him and Art Buchwald.

I was going to repeat the point that you are probably a VIP for someone else but then you will be that disgrace to that excrescence

All in good fun.

That uncouth behavior itself is not an exclusive excrescence of VIPs but that stereotypes of VIPs gives us some psychological comfort. So there is something good that comes out of it. We also hold a similar stereotype that conspicuous consumption is not compatible with refined musical tastes or knowledge. That CC reveals itself in expensive sarees, jewelry or designer kurtas. These people have a role model problem I think.

, they need to cultivate people who are CCs but given to good taste, knowledgeable in arts and who is well behaved while sitting in the first row!!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 28 Apr 2015, 02:51

Once, when I was forced to sit in the front row in a concert,
My neck ached, having to look up all evening at the stage--
The VIP label on the seat bothered me when I moved--
An up turned face didn't suit me well--not a VIP, me...

I would rather sit in the balcony, my knees permitting--
So that I can look down on those with up turned noses
In their up turned faces in the very first row, looking around

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 28 Apr 2015, 07:17

Arasi,
Beware the balcony seat
you tend to look down on all performers
and behold all baldies and dodders from behind!

munirao2001 · Post by **munirao2001** » 28 Apr 2015, 13:57

RSachi Sir,
You have the gift and knack of starting new threads, with serious point of view spiked with good sense of humor.
Being myself, I am posting my insights and observations, with due apology for a long post…once more. My observations are not based on the expertise or deep study/research.
1. Majority: Senior Citizens, Hindu Brahmins, religious, age 55 & above and vegans. Requirements are:
1.1. Artist must be very popular.
1.2. Middle Aged.
1.3. Attractive stage presence, mannerism and personality.
1.4. Belongs to popular school of music or Guru.
1.5. Better visual profile, Media-Print and Visual.
1.6. Imaginative in selection and presentation.
1.7. Concert time 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
1.8. Mini Bus, shared taxi and auto with pick up and drop facility.
1.9. Arrangements for coffee/tea/beverages, snacks, dinner/lunch-minimeal.
1.10. Artists announcements of items of presentation, randomly, few in the beginning, middle and in the end.
1.11. Randomly, listener’s choice acceptance and renditions.
1.12. Comfortable chairs.
1.13. Slightly above optimum audio levels
1.14. Ticketed events only for immensely popular artists who attract full house and for others, complimentary passes and arati plate collections.
1.15. Suggestions and Feedback forms.
1.16. Currently, trendy and popular religious guru as chief guest.
1.17. Interested in devotional items content.
1.18. Deeper interest in culture and tradition.
1.19. Listening experience of-excitement; surprice; traditional; unique presentation skills.
2. Y Generation: Brahminical in belief& cosmopolitan in outlook; age 15 to 25. Requirements are:
2.1. Artists with very high profile & visibility.
2.2. Very attractive.
2.3. Variety in program and content
2.4. Thematic events.
2.5. Media publicity-social and print.
2.6. Ticketed events, with complimentary meal
2.7. Events in interesting locations.
2.8. High tech audio & visual systems and facilities.
2.9. Food court & coffee shop.
2.10. Lunch or Dinner-buffet, together with artists
2.11. Group photo opportunities with artists.
2.12. Artists direct invitations-phone in-using the data base of rasikas
2.13. Contents/program for target groups, e.g.IT/ITES, Elite School/College students.
2.14. Current youth icons presence as chief guests.
2.15. Artists-Rasikas connect, at select intervals communication/conversation
2.16. Packaged tours-select holiday resorts with performances.
2.17. Audio-video recording – points & facilities for donor pass holders.
2.18. Concert time- 12 noon to 2 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m.
2.19. Listening experience-pulsating, exciting and wow factor.
2.20. Friendly, permissive ambience & environment.
3. General: Majority Hindu Brahmin, minority of others; mixed age group, with higher percentage in 35-60 age group; DINCG
3.1. Popular, in appeal.
3.2. Relative & Friends endorsement.
3.3. A religious guru following and patronage.
3.4. Leaning of religious thoughts and ideals.
3.5. Interest in culture.
3.6. Listening experience-pleasant; exciting and skilful presentation; riveting in attention.
3.7. Ambience and comfort.
3.8. Environment-homely and in the neighborhood.
3.9. Concert time-6.30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
3.10. Event manager’s charisma; reputation of the event management/institution.
3.11. Time management-occupation and engagement.
3.12. Member of devotional/bhajan group.
3.13. Casual and curious engagement
3.14. Favor & obligation.
3.15. Meeting & chat corners space.
3.16. Tolerance for karaoke indulgence.
Please ignore points of observation, overlapping with your observations.

munirao2001

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 28 Apr 2015, 14:03

Sir your writing contains excellent tips for a sabha secretary!
I intend to map everything into a Venn diagram and see. Of course I don't know when lazy me will do it.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 28 Apr 2015, 14:58

a Zen diagram, even?

munirao2001 · Post by **munirao2001** » 28 Apr 2015, 17:00

Nick.H.,

In Sanskrit, one of the meaning (based on the rootology of linguistics ) for 'Madhva' ( my full name is Madhva Muni Rao) is 'fool'. If any modicum of doubt, read my posts without the upfront mirage- image of 'Zen', I am 'saarthaka naamadheya'-true to my christened name !

Yes, MADHVA not MUNI

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 28 Apr 2015, 18:15

SrI Muni Rao,
A tongue-in-cheek question: Hindu Brahmin to distinguish from the Boston Brahmins?

munirao2001 · Post by **munirao2001** » 28 Apr 2015, 18:45

rshankar Sir,

NOT Boasting Brahmin, DON'T KNOW Boston Brahmin YES Hindu Brahmin.

munirao2001

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 28 Apr 2015, 18:59

Munirao,
Vegan brahmins? I haven't heard of any. From morning coffee to thayir sAdam--hAlu, mosaru , tuppavilladE (without milk, yogurt and ghee?)

No, I'm only thinking of the audience here, not the ones who live in the forest subsisting on a vegan diet.

Ravi,
As for Boston brahmins (or the cows), I'm not thinking of handbags which the VIP row dames might carry (or 'wear', as the new expression goes

).

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 28 Apr 2015, 19:25

Veganism, ie eschewing all dairy=cow milk products, is strictly contrarian in Hinduism. The cow is considered the embodiment of all gods and born to bless man with its milk. There are several core beliefs in Hinduism that extol cow milk products:
1. Vishnu lies on the Adishesha in the ocean of milk
2. Kamadhenu, Nandini, and such divine cows play a key role in Hindu mythology
3. Krishna is a gopala and loves milk, curd and butter
4. Abhisheka is performed with all milk products on Shiva and Vishnu and Devi
5. In homa, oblations are offered with ghee and other milk products.
6. Hurting a cow or killing a cow is the ultimate sin. Offering milk to a guest is the highest hospitality.

hnbhagavan · Post by **hnbhagavan** » 29 Apr 2015, 09:57

Dear Munirao,

Your long postings are interesting.Regarding aarthi collection,i want to share my observation.It is generally the aim of organisers to collect a few rupees to meet a small component of the expenditure.Many people want to just do namaskarams and not put any money in the aarti plate.Recently i found that most people who sit in front at Fort HS Ramaseva mandali are complimentary pass holders.Even these pass holders refuse to put any money and merely do pranams.

munirao2001 · Post by **munirao2001** » 29 Apr 2015, 12:44

Dear HNB,
I am aware. The success in collection will be through education, appreciation of the needs of the organization/event management and responsibility of rasikas to contribute for partaking the pleasure of Art form of Classical Music. Hundi collection is very much less than arati collection -the difference of unseen and seen in public. Pass holders may also be the patrons and Vidwans/Vidushees, who have contributed-directly or indirectly. Event Manager or VVIP/VIP should shed the pleasure of speech making, instead must make appeal for the contribution. Display placard(s) for support and distribute appeals in hand outs, with the profile of the performing artists and the details of expenditure, in brief. Discerning rasikas must contribute and motivate other rasikas for contribution. Arati contribution is recommended because it does not limit the contribution and is nonrestrictive in method and practice and is also part of ritual of worship and its symbol.

munirao2001

munirao2001 · Post by **munirao2001** » 29 Apr 2015, 12:55

Arasi,
Age and health factor compulsion resulting a person turning in to vegan, person who does not use or eat animal products. Senior Citizen rasikas, who constitute the majority in attendance are mostly in this state of health. This factor to be considered when or wherever food/facilities are arranged/offered. To highlight this need, I had mentioned the profile as vegan.

munirao 2001

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 29 Apr 2015, 17:38

Was not aware of that. It must be as difficult to find food at an event which does not have dairy-free items in what they offer--just as it was for vegetarians in countries outside of India, half a century ago.

hnbhagavan · Post by **hnbhagavan** » 30 Apr 2015, 06:11

Dear Sri Munirao Sir,

I have suggested to Ramasevamandali at Bangalore thru facebook page to start the main concerts at 06:00 hrs instead of 06:30 hrs.This would ease the pressure on senior citizens as well as those who depend on public transport to get back home.

munirao2001 · Post by **munirao2001** » 30 Apr 2015, 10:51

Dear HNB Sir,

I am happy. A direct communication with the event manager would be better for the acceptance of the suggestion.

munirao2001

kssr · Post by **kssr** » 01 May 2015, 11:14

hnbhagavan wrote:
I have suggested to Ramasevamandali at Bangalore thru facebook page to start the main concerts at 06:00 hrs instead of 06:30 hrs.This would ease the pressure on senior citizens as well as those who depend on public transport to get back home.

Working people will have difficulty if it starts early. Years back, there used to be a fleet of buses waiting outside to take people to various destinations like Majestic, Malleswaram, Jayanagar, etc., when the concert comes to an end. These are no longer there.

munirao2001 · Post by **munirao2001** » 02 May 2015, 10:49

KSSR Sir,

You will appreciate majority of rasikas for Karnataka Sangeetham concerts and program are attended by Senior Citizens and superannuated. Rasikas who are working and attending concerts and program are minority. Such rasikas have to plan the time for leave of absence.
Arrangement for the BMTC will be possible only if the minimum passenger load is assured. Only for the very popular artists this can be implemented. In all other days, private buses, taxis and autos-Ola can be arranged. Event manager has to plan and execute.

munirao2001

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 02 May 2015, 13:28

My typical experience of, say, Raga Sudha Hall concerts here in Chennai...

What I see is that concerts begin here in Chennai at 6.15pm with an audience of ten to fifteen people. This is true even for big names, and is only not the case for the programs where people know that, right from the beginning, it will be standing room only. By about 7pm the hall may be anything from 25% (in which case the open number might have only been five to ten) to 75% full. After 8pm the numbers diminish again.

If those same concerts were to start at, say, 5.00 or 5.30pm, I think the hall would be empty.

Whilst the preponderance of senior citizens is true, there are still many working people who come to concerts. Others may be otherwise occupied in the day ...or maybe they are not let out of the house until after the family meal!

munirao2001 · Post by **munirao2001** » 02 May 2015, 17:04

Raga Sudha hall, with the spirited work of SVK, the founder was able to attract full house, with few exceptions. Later, during the time of SVK itself the venue and their events did not attract the rasikas, due to event management-organizational problems and lack of connectivity with the rasikas. Not taking RS and other venues with similar predicament, Senior Citizens, the majority will be comfortable with the time of 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.- early coffee/snacks and travel in non peak hour traffic and reaching home for the early dinner and entertainment-TV or FM Radio. In appreciation and understanding, others have to manage their time.

thanjavooran · Post by **thanjavooran** » 02 May 2015, 17:49

As Shri Munirao correctly puts in " Senior Citizen rasikas, who constitute the majority in attendance are mostly in this state of health " why can not organizers arrange such programs in the morning session so that ' Super ' Senior Citizens will fully enjoy the concerts and safely reach back their shelter with out a hitch. This is my long time wish/request.
Thanjavooran
02 05 2015

munirao2001 · Post by **munirao2001** » 02 May 2015, 19:39

Thanjavooran

Except for very few venues like Music Academy, the morning sessions were not successful in attracting the rasikas, including the Senior Citizen rasikas for the Karnataka Sangeetham program.
But, Hindustani program meet with reasonable success with morning sessions program. This also establishes that mental attitude and acceptance of rasikas do play their roles.

hnbhagavan · Post by **hnbhagavan** » 02 May 2015, 21:38

Dear KSSR,Munirao,

The concert actually starts around 06:45 for majority of the concerts after pooja and mike settings.If the concert is scheduled at 06:00 Hrs,actually the same will start at 06:15 hrs.If working people join at 06 : 30 hrs,they would not miss much.If you compare this with the inconvenience faced at 09:30 Pm for transport,you will see the logic.

hnbhagavan · Post by **hnbhagavan** » 02 May 2015, 21:42

Compared to last few years,i observed that walk outs were less which is a great change.People sat for thani also.Concert ending at 09:15 Pm /09:00 pm hrs would be ideal given the transport conditions in Bangalore.
As regards holding separate concerts for senior citizens in the morning,i do not know whether this suggestion was made seriously.Knowing fully well the difficulties of arranging music programs,this is not a feasible one.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 02 May 2015, 22:00

Hindustani program meet with reasonable success with morning sessions program.

But Hindustani music is time bound. Want to hear a morning raga? You have to be there in the morning. No choice.

I have nothing to say about mornings: making an exception only for December, I avoid them wherever possible

Tonight I was literally, actually, moved to tears by the music and the paucity of of audience. Tadapally Lokanantha Sarma gave, what I feel, even in my innocence/ignorance, to have been a concert that was historic, epic, and truly wonderful. He sang in a suburban hall, quite large, to an audience of less than 30. All, I could think was that there should have been people crowding outside the windows, hanging off the fans, to hear such a concert. There were 30, and that included two small children. There was one devoted rasika (and organiser) from the Mylapore area (I could be wrong: I don't know all the Mylapore rasikas by sight).

So the question resounds: for such a concert, how does one fill any seats?

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 02 May 2015, 22:11

Munirao,

Two observations.
HM concerts are also held in Bengaluru in the mornings at weekends, yes. One reason is that rAgAs are ideally sung at specific times of the day in HM. So, it works very well. Even there, I realize that most people who work may be left out, because of their wanting to catch up with their sleep. For others, it's just perfect--day time, not much traffic to take into account...

About Ragasudha--specifically Naada Inbam (because when you mention SVK, it is naada Inbam, because the hall is used by many individuals and precious old sabhas like Nadopasana).

Connecting with rasikAs? They are tops in it! Every month, they send out the coming month's program. A phone call is answered.

As for organizational pointers, they don't need any. They are well organized because they keep things simple. Suits me--no hippopotamus rolling a pea there. Simple and efficient, all done with least fuss. The result is, anyone can walk in, sit and enjoy the music. If speeches and felicitations are there, they are there because outsiders rent Raga Sudha for their programs. In essence, Naada Inbam concerts are no nonsense.

The most valuable feature of the place? Nowhere else are veterans, known and unknown musicians which includes youngsters have been regularly featured at Naada Inbam. In a way, it has been a good influence in that we see more of such hoopla-free musical gatherings with newer musical sabhAs. Don't want to name them because I may omit a few names, which is not fair. Bless them too for what they are doing.

SVK was and continues in Naada Inbam in spirit, the inspiration for music to be simply that and not all that a mega organization features...