Unleash Your Inner Maven

It’s April and that means it is officially Take A Friend To Orchestra month! Take A Friend To Orchestra, or TAFTO, features more than a dozen critics, bloggers, musicians, classical music enthusiasts, and administrators writing about how patrons throughout the country can invite friends who don’t regularly participate in live music events to a performance in their area. Essentially, TAFTO is an opportunity for the people who care the most about classical music to proactively participate and no, you won’t have to suffer through any fundraising pitches. This is much more fun…

TAFTO contributions are scheduled to be published each weekday from April 20 through May 1 (I know, that last date isn’t April, but there’s a reason why which I could tell you about, but then I’d have to kill you) and this year’s contributors are already turning in some of the most entertaining, unique contributions I’ve ever seen. I’m the first to admit my personality is that of a jaded, eye-balls-deep-in-the-details industry type but after reading just a few of 2009’s contributions made me want to round up a bunch of orchestra newbie friends and get them to a concert.

In addition to the essays typically associated with TAFTO you’ve come to know and love, the 2009 initiative features a wide variety of, shall we say, “alternative delivery methods.” Even those of you with Adult ADD will be riveted to this material.

Excited? Can’t wait for April 20? Me too, but at least this gives you plenty of time to start thinking about which friends you want to invite and perhaps even plan a party around the idea. Go nuts; after all, we all deserve to do something special.

In the meantime, you can prime your maven pump by visiting TAFTO contributions from 2005 through 2008 and you can learn all about the 2009 contributors here. If you have your own blog or website, you can help spread the word about TAFTO with a promotional banner. Available in a variety of standard sizes and featuring general and author specific TAFTO branding, they are free for the taking. So what are you waiting for? Share, enjoy, and get empowered!

Postscript: Others are already blogging about TAFTO, like Joe Patti over at Butts In The Seats so if you want to write something about TAFTO, make sure to let me know and I’ll include a shout-out for you here at TAFTO central.