Coming soon to a theater near you…*what?!*
(Yup, I’m the chin on the right.)
Several people have seen advertisements or previews for a strange music concert thing in which I used to take part and have asked for my take on it.
First a few disclaimers:
- I have no business experience beyond a largely unsuccessful lemonade stand.
- I know very little about college alumni boards, networks, or affiliations.
- I rarely attend live concerts, and don’t pay much when I do.
But….did I read this right?
St. Olaf College, my dear alma mater, is pumping their annual Christmas Festival to hundreds of movie theaters around the nation…on live satellite feed…and charging $20 a ticket? What?!
From the site (drum roll please):
And now this year — for the first time ever — the St. Olaf Christmas Festival will be simulcast live via satellite to select movie theatres around the country on Sunday, Dec. 2, at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT from the St. Olaf College campus in Northfield, Minnesota.
I don’t wish ill of anything associated with St. Olaf–it is a top-notch college that offered me a fantastic broad-based education for which I’ll always be grateful–but do the powers-that-be really think enough people going to turn up in Hunstville, AL, Aventura, FL, or King of Prussia, PA to make the live feed cost-effective? (list of venues here. )
It was a privilege and joy to be part of past featured concerts broadcast on PBS, one recorded on an amazing three-week trip to Norway (buy the DVD here. ) But I’ve always suspected that most people unaffiliated with the college watch the PBS broadcast by accident, and certainly wouldn’t pay $20 to drive to the local theater.In the midst of fund-raising campaigns, a new science center being built, and rising tuition costs leading to record-setting student debts, I hope we don’t stand to lose big bucks if the crowds in Huntsville fail to impress. But if the Nordic voices don’t draw the church ladies, maybe we should give a discount on the movie theater popcorn.
More after the break below.
Random: Trying not to be too cynical, here’s a creative non-fiction essay on my experience in the St. Olaf Choir: Tradition in a Song
And here’s a Nike commercial with the choir singing:
Postscript: I wonder if it’s ok to use photos from St. Olaf’s website? Hmmm. Everybody does it, so that must make it ok, right?
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Erin and I were at a movie a week or so ago, and so that same advertisement…we were both looking intently at the screen trying to spot your face.
I agree though: it seems unlikely that people would come out in droves to watch that (or anything else put on by Fathom Events). An upside is that CD sales might increase off the extra exposure.
In other news, do you have pay the TV tax for your television use? My suite at St A’s came with a working television but we were warned not to turn it on without paying the tax for fear of being caught by the TV police who have special sensors to detect when it has been used illegally. I came to have a love/hate relationship with BBC and its iron grip.
good day.
Thanks for the word, John. We did fork over the money for the TV license–not a small amount if I remember correctly–and probably don’t use it enough to justify the expense. But are there really “TV police?” It sounds like a great tale to tell American students.
I shall post in due time about the feeling of always being watched–both by parishoners, and the ubiquitous government cameras that seem to be everywhere.
Perhaps a love/hate relationship with BBC, but I can’t say I miss the prone-to-sensationalizing CNN.
Cheers. AJC
Dear Adam- that’s your chin on the right? I was wondering if you were the gut with glasses a little further on the left- I see this simage on the St Olaf site- by the way- James is singing with Cantorei this year, and we’ll be going to Xmas Fest ourselves- no cinematic version for us. Drum Corps International has done similar live broadcasts (for about 20$ also) for people who can’t attend the competitions….don’t know if the get a good result, tho- hope you both are well- the Yao Family
Personally i thought they were a bit off their rockers asking $5 for the online xmas fest registration. This is my third year not being able to go. i am getting a little angry! Maybe it is because they know that my loyalties lie with the band…
I think there should be more of these festivals.
- Sue Orkin