Reality Bites

It is always a healthy thing to have a reality check once in a while, and recently the Indianapolis Children's Choir experienced a good one. We made the decision to participate in Indianapolis Downtown Inc.'s Circle of Lights program this year. I thought of the audition as a mere formality.

Last week, a nicely worded letter from the Indy Downtown folks informed me otherwise. Lo and behold, we did NOT make the cut.

A qualifier is needed: I was told it was best to audition in person, but they would certainly accept a CD in lieu of our choir being present. Our reputation spoke volumes, and the organizers understood the logistical issues we routinely face in gathering a choir together. So we selected some holiday songs and sent a CD on its way.

Our rejection letter spoke about the record number of acts that auditioned this year, as well as the concerns of staging an outdoor event. I'm sure the thought of herding an entire choir on and off a small stage quickly gave the organizers thoughts of how many things could go wrong on live TV!)

As busy as our singers are during the holidays, this decision, although it stings a little, is probably for the best. My brief interaction with the Circle of Lights process brought a new appreciation for the organizers of this event.

To all the performers who DID make the cut - break a leg! The Indianapolis Children's Choir wishes you all the best! Without a single ounce of jealousy.

Truly Moving Evening

Last night, I was lucky enough to be in the audience of the Heartland Film Festival's opening night feature: "Hachi: A Dog's Tale". The packed house at the Murat was bound by the shared experience of being engulfed in this simple story of a man and his dog. The fact that this was a true story made made the warm fuzzy feeling even more poignant.

Heartland Film Festival President & CEO Jeff Sparks spoke from the stage about how in this rough economy, his film festival is growing. I think folks are looking for something to feel good about these days, and movies like Hachi do the trick.

There is a lot of negativity to go around today - so when you see your chance, escape from it. Whether its a wonderful movie, a lazy Sunday morning, a new challenge met - or hearing the Indianapolis Children's Choir sing........seek out those things that bring a smile.

Anatomy of a Video Shoot

Like many arts organizations, the Indianapolis Children's Choir has an annual fundraising gala, and planning is already underway. Aptly titled The Big Fun Event, ours is a night that people really do have fun at!

If, as they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then the Indianapolis Museum of Art should be flattered! They sent around a great little video promoting their own fundraiser, and as in everything they do, it was a class act. It left me feeling like I wanted to support them, and communicated a concise yet meaningful message.

I thought, "We can do that!" Harnessing the impact of email and video may just be the best way to promote the Big Fun Event. In the capable hands of SceneStream Digital Video Marketing, the shoot went well. Stay tuned for the final product!

(Check out the ICC fan page on Facebook for more pics from the shoot!)