At bars and dance clubs, customers are bringing in their iPods, plugging in to the clubs’ sound systems and playing to the crowd. In one club, “on a typical night, about 10 people bring their iPods loaded with a special playlist for the occasion. They sign up, wait for their turn and then plug into the Tonic Room’s sound system. They have 15 minutes to wow other customers or simply soothe their own souls.”
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The People’s Choice Awards Of Books?
A new philanthropy called the Quills Literacy Foundation has announced the formation of the Quill Awards, a slate of 19 annual book awards, most of which will be voted on by the general public.
Life With Out Beverly Sills
Beverly Sills’ retirement as chairman of the Metropolitan Opera ends the career of an amazing cultural force in New York. First as a singer, then as an arts administrator and fund-raiser, she had a huge impact on the city’s cultural life. “There are plenty who are going to follow me. My time was always going to be limited, and so were my interests.”
Theatre Chain Slashes Movie Ticket Prices
Movie ticket sales have been down in the Canadian province of Ontario. So Famous Players, the largest movie chain, is lopping off $4 from the cost of tickets. “Starting tomorrow, cinephiles will shell out $9.95, rather than the usual $13.95 for general admission, as part of a marketing ploy to lure warm bodies out of their homes and into the stadium-style seats.”
Canada To Name Toronto Cultural Capital
The Canadian government plans to name Toronto the “cultural capital of Canada” and give the city $500,000 for that designation, effective this September through August, 2006.
So-So Sundance
So what’s the buzz on Sundance at the halfway point? Ho-hum. “This is not to say that the 21st incarnation of Robert Redford’s independent baby hasn’t had its moments — the biggest thus far being Craig Brewer’s gritty urban drama “Hustle & Flow” — but the first half of the festival has been marked more by tame audience reactions and subdued wheeling and dealing than buzz, with films drawing more shrugs than love.”
Tate Modern To Expand
The Tate Modern is only five years old, but already there are plans to expand it. “The gallery’s electricity sub-station is being upgraded freeing up more space behind the Turbine Hall. Tate Modern’s outside area will also be redesigned and a new learning and extra viewing space will be created inside. Plans will be submitted in the summer.”
UK Watchdog Warns Of Ticket Rip Offs
The UK’s Office of Fair Trading says that ticket resellers are often gouging customers with fees up to 600 percent of ticket face value. “Some reputable agents add 67 per cent to the face value of pop concert tickets bought on the internet while additional charges of 40 per cent are not uncommon, the report found. One in three people surveyed by the OFT during its seven-month investigation complained that booking fees for concerts, theatre and sports events had been higher than expected.”
Man Caught Trying To Steal Artifact In British Museum
A man was caught trying to pry open a display case in a Greek and Roman gallery at the British museum Wednesday. “He was foiled by a sharp-eyed attendant just before closing time yesterday afternoon, the museum said. The man ran off when he was approached by the attendant, but security guards later apprehended a suspect who was turned over to police.”
Elvis At The Opera
Elvis Costello on his opera about the life of Hans Christian Anderson: “The 50-year-old singer-songwriter has consistently expressed his unwillingness to be remembered for “a handful of songs I wrote 25 years ago. All the music comes out of the same head. It’s just using different methods to get at the solution to whatever motivated you to write it in the first place.”