Comments on: Wanted: Alive or…

By: Christina Stewart

Christina Stewart — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 10:24:41 +0000

It’s great to hear SEALL continues to go from strength to strength! PAN members have always been champions of quality live performances and the Highlands and Islands have benefitted enormously because of it.

By: Duncan MacInnes

Duncan MacInnes — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 09:40:13 +0000

Good comments, Robert and Sam. So lets move a little west from Achiltibuie onto Skye and do a bit of boasting and enthusing. Funding cut-backs and economic depression seem not to have dented the enthusiasm for events for SEALL in Sleat. SEALL is on a roll, with around 40 touring events each year and an average audience of 80. For the first time in our history we are advertising for some paid administration. I know of several small town venues that could not match that. For example last week’s wet, cold November night brought out 130+ people to a 100 seat venue for Fred Morrison, with people traveling from Applecross and the northern tip of Skye.
The point is not to boast, but to flag up that audiences like LIVE shows and are prepared to travel regularly and a distance to get it. They like local shows in comfortable local venues. Rural promoters should not be concerned about the potential of dropping audiences (which we have been worrying about for well over 30 years!) but realise that good touring events bring out good audiences – maybe spending their money locally instead of that three weeks in Tenerife they have abandonded this year. http://www.seall.co.uk Duncan MacInnes.

By: Promoters Arts Network

Promoters Arts Network — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 23:10:07 +0000

Robert – thanks for your references to PAN, who are very much about bringing LIVE theatre, dance and music to the communities with which we work – and judging by our growing membership of over 80 promoters, we are not alone in our desire to see close-up and personal, high quality performances, like those given by Stella Quines.

We share your desire for live and exciting digital performances, but are very keen to ensure that this does not take place of live events that are key to the rural touring experience.

We feel very gifted at the moment, to be at the centre of the current wave that suggests a resurgance in rural touring – so do watch this space as we are particularly thrilled to be having the opportunity to under-write some of the promoters risk in terms of purchasing high quality product, thanks to generous investment from Creative Scotland. I hope that this will ensure that what was started in the 70’s will only be strengthened in 2013 and beyond.

We will be talking more about this at our AGM this Saturday 8th December, at Moray Arts Centre from 12 noon – as well as 4 other very exciting projects that aim to support and sustain communities, promoters and the performing arts scene throughout the Highlands. Should you, or readers wish to attend and find out more – you can do so by clicking on this link http://pan2012agm.eventbrite.com.