07
Feb
2005
Lon Bozarth, the River Music Experience's new director, has worked in just about every aspect of the music business - outside of a museum.
In the 1970s and '80s, he was vice president of operations for Sound Warehouse, overseeing 150 large record stores. In 1983, he took a consulting job with the Antone's Records blues label in Austin, Texas, eventually becoming its general manager.
In recent years, he founded and managed the audio- and video-production company Outcasters; founded and helped run the SoundBoard collaboration among musicians, fans, and performance venues; served on the Austin Music Commission; and even managed the band featuring his twin sons.
Bozarth, who was named president and CEO of the River Music Experience (RME) late last month, will start his new job on February 14. In an interview with the River Cities' Reader, Bozarth said that when he saw the Request for Qualifications for the RME job, he saw himself. "That's me there," Bozarth said. "That's my job."
For instance, with SoundBoard Bozarth has managed a large group of volunteers, something he'll also be asked to do at the RME. SoundBoard is a "street-level" initiative in which bands, their fans, and music venues work together to promote shows. Bozarth said that more than 60 bands, 2,000 fans, and roughly 30 venues participate in the organization. The effort has expanded to Dallas and Houston in Texas, and even as far north as Des Moines.
"We're going to take the structure of SoundBoard and move it up there," he said.
The new director is generally being tight-lipped about the specifics of his agenda. He said that he has yet to meet the full board of directors and wants to offer his ideas to it first. But he did suggest that the things he has in mind might affect plans that are already on the table; that's why he asked the board "to put the brakes on everything until I get there. ... Let's stop what we're doing for a minute."
While Bozarth has been in the RME facility, he said it was a whirlwind tour. "I didn't even get a chance to push the buttons," he said.
He has addressed some general goals. In a posting on the SoundBoard Web site, he wrote: "My mission is to broaden that scope considerably. Plans are already in place to create a live music venue in the basement of the historic Redstone Building headquarters and I will begin work on a significant outdoor music festival. I'm sure you will see many of the concepts that have been so successful with SoundBoard start to take root there in Davenport."
He echoed those sentiments in his interview, and seemed to understand that the River Music Experience is now a different animal than the one that opened in June, more focused on entertainment than education. (See "Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes," River Cities' Reader Issue 513, January 26-February 1, 2005.)
Overall, he said, his biggest challenge at the RME will be "to broaden the scope" and help the facility become "a more prevalent name in the music community nationwide. ... A significant amount of income needs to be derived from the tourist business." He added that making those inroads will involve branding, advertising, and content initiatives.
While the RME has proved its ability to raise funds, he said, the income is lacking.
"They obviously saw a need to get away from the moniker of a museum," Bozarth said. "I'm not a museum person. ... However, I have a lot of friends who are."
Bozarth said that the museum's second-floor exhibits will remain intact but also that "there is a plan in place for that floor."
The incoming CEO praised the RME board, noting that it's a diverse group that can be a resource in virtually any situation. "I don't think I've ever seen such a carefully put-together board," he said. "It's like having more staff. There are experts there."
Furthermore, he said, he has been given general goals and an incentive package based on reaching them.
And Bozarth said that he's not entering the situation blindly, particularly in terms of a recently altered mission statement and the departure of Director Connie Gibbons after the RME was open only four months. Bozarth said he didn't try to contact Gibbons, but he knows what he's getting into. "I did my research," he said. "I feel very strongly about my own abilities."
For more information on SoundBoard, visit (http://www.austinsoundboard.org).
In recent years, he founded and managed the audio- and video-production company Outcasters; founded and helped run the SoundBoard collaboration among musicians, fans, and performance venues; served on the Austin Music Commission; and even managed the band featuring his twin sons.
Bozarth, who was named president and CEO of the River Music Experience (RME) late last month, will start his new job on February 14. In an interview with the River Cities' Reader, Bozarth said that when he saw the Request for Qualifications for the RME job, he saw himself. "That's me there," Bozarth said. "That's my job."
For instance, with SoundBoard Bozarth has managed a large group of volunteers, something he'll also be asked to do at the RME. SoundBoard is a "street-level" initiative in which bands, their fans, and music venues work together to promote shows. Bozarth said that more than 60 bands, 2,000 fans, and roughly 30 venues participate in the organization. The effort has expanded to Dallas and Houston in Texas, and even as far north as Des Moines.
"We're going to take the structure of SoundBoard and move it up there," he said.
The new director is generally being tight-lipped about the specifics of his agenda. He said that he has yet to meet the full board of directors and wants to offer his ideas to it first. But he did suggest that the things he has in mind might affect plans that are already on the table; that's why he asked the board "to put the brakes on everything until I get there. ... Let's stop what we're doing for a minute."
While Bozarth has been in the RME facility, he said it was a whirlwind tour. "I didn't even get a chance to push the buttons," he said.
He has addressed some general goals. In a posting on the SoundBoard Web site, he wrote: "My mission is to broaden that scope considerably. Plans are already in place to create a live music venue in the basement of the historic Redstone Building headquarters and I will begin work on a significant outdoor music festival. I'm sure you will see many of the concepts that have been so successful with SoundBoard start to take root there in Davenport."
He echoed those sentiments in his interview, and seemed to understand that the River Music Experience is now a different animal than the one that opened in June, more focused on entertainment than education. (See "Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes," River Cities' Reader Issue 513, January 26-February 1, 2005.)
Overall, he said, his biggest challenge at the RME will be "to broaden the scope" and help the facility become "a more prevalent name in the music community nationwide. ... A significant amount of income needs to be derived from the tourist business." He added that making those inroads will involve branding, advertising, and content initiatives.
While the RME has proved its ability to raise funds, he said, the income is lacking.
"They obviously saw a need to get away from the moniker of a museum," Bozarth said. "I'm not a museum person. ... However, I have a lot of friends who are."
Bozarth said that the museum's second-floor exhibits will remain intact but also that "there is a plan in place for that floor."
The incoming CEO praised the RME board, noting that it's a diverse group that can be a resource in virtually any situation. "I don't think I've ever seen such a carefully put-together board," he said. "It's like having more staff. There are experts there."
Furthermore, he said, he has been given general goals and an incentive package based on reaching them.
And Bozarth said that he's not entering the situation blindly, particularly in terms of a recently altered mission statement and the departure of Director Connie Gibbons after the RME was open only four months. Bozarth said he didn't try to contact Gibbons, but he knows what he's getting into. "I did my research," he said. "I feel very strongly about my own abilities."
For more information on SoundBoard, visit (http://www.austinsoundboard.org).
