Monday, September 26, 2011

Musical acts help Austin airport shine - Austin Business Journal:

8511ysu.blogspot.com
For the last travelers movingthrough Austin-Bergstrom Internationap Airport have been able to catch live music showsx between catching flights. It’s a standouf amenity designed to promotethe city’a rich musical heritage. “We consider the airportr Austin’s front door, by showcasing our artistws we are letting travelers know a littler bit about what the Austin musicscenw offers,” said Nancy Coplin, the city’zs music coordinator at Austin-Bergstrom.
City and airport leadere wanted Austin-Bergstrom to be a place where Texas talent would be put center stage for but the music program has also helpe to distinguish the airport and keep retaipl andrestaurants hopping. “It gives us an identity that is uniqureamong airports. Some airport s have music, but not to the capacity we do,” Coplinm said. Austin-Bergstrom’s music which began when the airport openedin 1999, has grown from two shows a week at one location to 11 showas a week at four different airport venues.
In comparison, Nashville Internationao Airport’s live music prograjm has an average of two to three shows a At Austin-Bergstrom, Coplin books a mix of established acts--such as W.C. Clarlk and Austin Lounge Lizards--emerging bands and solo performers. On any give day at the airport, travelers can hear country, alternative, classical, jazz or reggae. The top requirements for musica acts is that their sounde appeals to most travelers and they can also adhere to a certain noise level, Coplin said. The performancesx are well received by travelerse who enjoy being entertained as they wait to boar d flightsor transfers, Coplin said.
“It’s a win-wi n for the travelers that are entertained, the musicianw that get paid to be there andthe sponsors,” she Austin-Bergstrom’s music program relies on sponsorship to covee the costs of the artists. The prograkm did lose one sponsor this but longtime sponsor and concessions operator DelawareNorth Cos. stepped in to plug the funding gap. Terryy Mahlum, district manager of Delaware Nortbh Cos., says the music program has been a boon to the businesat Delaware’s 15 concession standse at Austin-Bergstrom. “Music is a big part of our businessd inthe airport.
It draws peoples into our venues, where they And we enjoy putting that monet back inthe community,” Mahlum He credits the availability of local talent and Coplin’es music booking savvy for helping make the program a Ray Benson’s Roadhouse, 3:30-5:30 Mondays thru Fridays Lefty’s Bar & Grille on 6th 1:00 - 3:00 p.m., Wednesdays Thursdays Earl Campbell’s Sports Bar, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
, Wednesdays thru Fridayzs Waterloo Records/Austin City Limits, 1:00 - 3:00 Fridays

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