Berklee College of Music's Music Business/Management Department, currently the largest major at the college, presented its biggest event on touring ever last Wednesday, a panel discussion titled Keep It Live! Successful Tours and Concerts, moderated by Jeffrey Dorenfeld, Berklee Associate Professor and former manager of the band Boston.
Panelists included Gerry Barad, Senior
Vice President, The Next Adventure, the global touring division of
Clear Channel Music Group, whose recent tours include the Rolling
Stones, U2, and Paul McCartney; Dave Marsden, Senior Vice
President/Director of Concerts, Live Nation, Boston, booking and
overseeing concerts at the Tweeter Center, Bank of America Pavilion,
and TD Banknorth Garden; Marsha Vlasic, President, MVO Ltd., booking
agent for Neil Young, The Strokes, Lou Reed, Ozzy Osbourne, Moby and
others; John Czajkowski, Tour Accountant, whose recent tours include Bruce Springsteen, Oasis, and The Strokes;
and Bert Holman, Manager and Tour Manager, The Allman Brothers Band.
The panelists discussed a range of topics with the overflowing
audience, including the challenges of ticket pricing and on-sale dates,
developing new acts that can take the place of retiring touring acts
and fill larger venues, issues surrounding corporate sponsorship, the
high production costs associated with going on the road, and the fate
of touring festivals.
l-r Gerry Barad, Marsha Vlasic, John Czajkowski, Dave Marsden, Bert
Holman, and Jeffrey Dorenfeld (pointing). Photo by Margot Edwards.
l-r Bert Holman, John Czajkowski, Marsha Vlasic, Jeffrey Dorenfeld,
Gerry Barad, Dave Marsden. Photo by Margot Edwards.
Berklee College of Music was founded on the revolutionary principle
that the best way to prepare students for careers in music was through
the study and practice of contemporary music. For 60 years, the college
has evolved constantly to reflect the state of the art of music and the
music business. With over a dozen performance and nonperformance
majors, a diverse and talented student body representing over 70
countries, and a music industry "who's who" of alumni, Berklee is the
world's premier learning lab for the music of today — and tomorrow.
