College struggles to find an audience for its cultural events in Verde Valley
The Wills’ administration, under enormous pressure from the Verde Valley, has been experimenting with bringing a handful of cultural events to the area. It has a huge cultural program on the West side of the County.
On Saturday, September 22, 2016 it put on a program that featured a three-person jazz concert at the Camp Verde Philp England Center. This was the first such program in Camp Verde sponsored by the College.
Kudos go to Craig Ralston, Director of the Yavapai College Performing Arts Center, for his patience and effort in trying to find effective ways in which to bring these events to the community. Despite problems.
This program ran into problems. As with several other events, the College advertised ticket price for the concert was $32. The problem was that only 24 tickets had been sold shortly before the Saturday concert.
Dean Ralston said that the small number of tickets were sold despite “extensive marketing and promotion (postcards, flyers, posters, ads in paper, Kudos, radio, social media).” Given the sparse sales, Ralston felt the best approach was to make the concert “free.” He traveled personally to Camp Verde, Sedona and Cottonwood/Clarkdale handing out complimentary tickets to key business and organizations.
In the end and thanks to Raltson’s personal commitment, over 130 residents turned up for an excellent concert by the trio.
You may read a letter to the editor regarding this concert in the October 25, 2016 Verde Independent by clicking here.