When you work for UMS, you know Ken Fischer, because he is the nice, approachable who hugs you in the elevator on the way to class. When you are any one else in the arts presenting business, you know Ken Fischer, because he is Ken Fischer. None of us realized what simply knowing him meant for our experience here at the APAP conference.
It all started last night with a trip to the 42nd floor of the Hilton, where we met Ken in the Major Unitversity Presenters or MUP suite. He gave us a mission and a wad of cash and spent an hour getting the suite prepped for that night, when his friends, aka all the big shots of arts presenting, come up to the suite for an evening of reconnections, discussions and networking.
When we returned from our night on the town, the suite was just starting to get busy. One of the first people we met was Mike Ross from the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Illinois, who is, you know, only the Chairman of the APAP Board of Directors. No biggie, right?
Although the night continued in the same manner, meeting anyone and everyone, my personal highlight of the evening was getting the chance to meet and talk with Romana Jaroff, the Senior VP and Director of Sales at IMG Artists. Romana wanted to take the opportunity to discuss social media with us "kids" (I turned 20 that day, thus quotations are necessary). Her biggest question was, "Why? Why do I, as someone with 2 kids, a full time job, and an insane schedule, want to spend my free time tweeting and getting on facebook?" She didn't understand our obsession with social media and why she needed to take the time to get on board, which the great debate of the evening.
It started as a simple discussion of what is the purpose of facebook, which got the simple answer, to keep in touch with friends. Of course that is true, but many of us do not use facebook to "keep in touch" but more so to avoid real human contact with our "friends." Our talk quickly took a turn towards the psychology of our generation. Romana made that point that no one picks up the phone and calls anymore, rather we text or facebook each other, avoiding a conversation which has the potential to be awkward. What is the impact of the importance we place on impersonal communication in how we will conduct business? Especially in an industry like the performing arts, which is so centered on networking and personal relationships, as exemplified by Ken Fischer himself. In spite of our discussing, arguing and disagreeing throughout the night, the conversation ended much like it began, questioning the relationship between social media and the arts.
I personally don't know what the future holds for social media. I don't know how artists will evolve and adapt to changing media. I don't know how it will affect how I get a job when I graduate. I don't know how tweet seats will effect the performance experience. But I do know this: I just friend requested Ken Fischer on facebook.
By: Rachel Lum
UMS Intern
It started as a simple discussion of what is the purpose of facebook, which got the simple answer, to keep in touch with friends. Of course that is true, but many of us do not use facebook to "keep in touch" but more so to avoid real human contact with our "friends." Our talk quickly took a turn towards the psychology of our generation. Romana made that point that no one picks up the phone and calls anymore, rather we text or facebook each other, avoiding a conversation which has the potential to be awkward. What is the impact of the importance we place on impersonal communication in how we will conduct business? Especially in an industry like the performing arts, which is so centered on networking and personal relationships, as exemplified by Ken Fischer himself. In spite of our discussing, arguing and disagreeing throughout the night, the conversation ended much like it began, questioning the relationship between social media and the arts.
I personally don't know what the future holds for social media. I don't know how artists will evolve and adapt to changing media. I don't know how it will affect how I get a job when I graduate. I don't know how tweet seats will effect the performance experience. But I do know this: I just friend requested Ken Fischer on facebook.
By: Rachel Lum
UMS Intern
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