GREAT ARTS. PERIOD.

A project led by Portland Baroque Orchestra

Portland Baroque Orchestra’s Board of Directors has approved a temporary mission change. For the duration of public gathering restrictions, PBO will anchor a city-wide livestreaming operation, offering single-camera livestreaming and outreach support to other Portland-area arts organizations.

This document encapsulates PBO’s current plan as of March 19, 2020. It will be updated regularly.

The goals:

  1. To keep as many artists and musicians employed as possible
  2. To provide great arts to a broad community

HOW CAN MY ORGANIZATION PARTICIPATE?

Currently, we are prioritizing arts organizations that:

  1. Pay their artists a professional fee for services
  2. Have a rehearsed product ready to go

PBO will provide the livestream technology, including video equipment, hardware to support streaming to YouTube, and a website portal for all content. PBO is currently working on securing access to performance spaces to host these video sessions.

Each organization will need to provide payment for our designated media consultants (to operate the camera and professional audio, if needed), proof that artists are being paid for their services, and– if the organization would like to provide their own performance space –high speed internet capable of handling the livestream. (If PBO arranges the performance space, internet will be provided.) Professional audio also makes an ENORMOUS difference to the quality of the final product, so we request that you either provide your own professional audio technician or hire one of our approved audio engineers to provide additional equipment.

PBO also requires that the livestream be offered free-of-charge to all, and we will require that you mention PBO and GREAT ARTS. PERIOD. during your livestream.

I AM AN INDIVIDUAL MUSICIAN/ARTIST/ENSEMBLE. WHAT ABOUT ME?

We are working to secure additional funding. At that time, we will broaden our reach to support individuals. One of the core principles of this project is that no artist will be asked to work for free; as such, we need to secure additional funding to pay people, and also subsume the additional costs that we’re asking organizations to cover. We are working on this as quickly as possible, and you are on our minds! We have not forgotten you; you matter to us! More on this as soon as possible.

WHY SHOULD I DO THIS?

Thus far, PBO has run three livestreams: one for our own performance, and two for other organizations. The ability to offer a livestream event dramatically reduced the number of patrons who requested refunds for their prior ticket purchases for all three organizations. With very little lead-time and no press coverage, those three streams have had over 100,000 views in less than a week. Each organization brought in donations over $2,000 during their livestream. Additionally, each stream reached new patrons from all over the world, broadening the organization’s reach.

CAN I REQUEST DONATIONS IN THE LIVESTREAM? DOES PBO EXPECT A CUT OF THOSE DONATIONS?

ABSOLUTELY request donations! PBO will also be requesting donations on the project portal, and we’ll be seeking separate funding for the project. We will not expect a cut of any donations you receive from your livestream.

Likewise, any and all donations that PBO receives will underwrite the project itself. If we are able to raise enough money, we will then use excess funds to hire artists and musicians to produce events to stream. No money will be sent back to participating organizations, unless we are faced with an abundance of resources beyond measure. (One can hope!)

WHAT KIND OF EXPENSE SHOULD WE ANTICIPATE FOR THE MEDIA CONSULTANTS?

Please remember: the point of this is to keep people employed, and media engineers are artists, too. We also want to ensure that our equipment is being used correctly, and that your livestream works.

We work with several engineers for video and audio. For an average event, each engineer charges between $500-900. They can often work with you on pricing. We will have you work with them directly after you are scheduled.

WHAT ABOUT SOCIAL DISTANCING?

Our team is working remotely, and only 2-3 team members will be at any recording session. Those team members will not be in close physical proximity with one another or the artists. We will ask that your organization only send necessary personnel to the recording (generally no more than one administrative person above and beyond artists). We will also require artists to observe the 6-foot physical distancing recommendations. This is going to be awkward! Let’s all just roll with it.

WHAT NEXT?

To submit a request for livestreaming services, please email livestream@pbo.org with the following information:

  1. Your contact information (name, email, and phone number)
  2. Your organization name
  3. Information about your organization, if that’s helpful. (As a Baroque orchestra, we always have to explain this. Maybe you do, too!)
  4. Your requested dates (please send us three options)
  5. Any venue information, if you have a space you prefer to use and have already secured. (We don’t have the ability to secure a custom space for you.)
  6. Acknowledgement that you understand the requirements of paying the media consultant, providing internet, if needed, and thanking PBO/Great Arts. Period. in all materials.