Artists, a Business Plan, and a Response
Yesterday was loaded with the past, present, and future. All of which is exciting. A quick conversation with Pomegranate Music's first recording artist, Gor Mkhitarian was a nice exchange as I caught up on his current music plans and we reflected that it was almost 5 years ago to the day that we met in Yerevan and decided to make an album. It launched his career and my record label. A mutual benefit for both of us. This trip to Armenia five years ago was also the first time I met Raffi Kojian and began a series of blog postings as a guest artist on this very blog. I was asked to become a regular shortly thereafter and share my thoughts.
A quick check of our Lilit Pipoyan recording in Yerevan via a phone call confirmed that the recording is finished, except for the mixing and mastering. We are now trying to figure out the best time to release the album as it now looks like a Fall 2006 release with some concerts here and there. The big news is that I have booked her at a major Armenian event that happens in January every year where her exposure will be maximized. Can't say what it is yet officially. But, people will be pleasantly surprised.
YerazArt continues to be interesting and quite rewarding. Now that our concerts are done here in the East Coast and the kids went back to Armenia, my job is to formuate a long range plan in helping similar talented children in Armenia achieve mutual goals of continueing their musical education in Armenia and giving them exposure here in the US and in Europe through these concerts we help develop. As such, I am ready to present a business plan to my bosses and the co- founder of YerazArt either this week or next. In it, there is a multi-tiered plan to emphasize the direct link between our Diaspora and the kids in Armenia. When I am in Yerevan next month for the business part of my trip, I will be solidifying our presense there with our Armenian counterparts and look to film promotional material for a DVD we are looking into producing to market our young and talented kids.
Finally, I would like to respond to some recent comments regarding my blog. As a general unspoken rule of blogging etiquette here on cilicia.com, it is customary not to personally attack other fellow bloggers out of respect for their freedom to express opinons. We all have different opinions based on our life experiences and the spectrum is interesting to read. If non-bloggers want to comment and go for the jugular, be my guest. I have done it myself on other blogs, so, it isn't a big deal to me. Each one of us bloggers has the option to turn off the comments section and allow for our posts to go unchallenged. However, I do not believe in that path most of the time since if a writer is going to say something controversial, he or she should stand behind it and let the dialogue flow freely. I have decided for the latter since it is better to have a discussion of issue rather than mute them.
A quick check of our Lilit Pipoyan recording in Yerevan via a phone call confirmed that the recording is finished, except for the mixing and mastering. We are now trying to figure out the best time to release the album as it now looks like a Fall 2006 release with some concerts here and there. The big news is that I have booked her at a major Armenian event that happens in January every year where her exposure will be maximized. Can't say what it is yet officially. But, people will be pleasantly surprised.
YerazArt continues to be interesting and quite rewarding. Now that our concerts are done here in the East Coast and the kids went back to Armenia, my job is to formuate a long range plan in helping similar talented children in Armenia achieve mutual goals of continueing their musical education in Armenia and giving them exposure here in the US and in Europe through these concerts we help develop. As such, I am ready to present a business plan to my bosses and the co- founder of YerazArt either this week or next. In it, there is a multi-tiered plan to emphasize the direct link between our Diaspora and the kids in Armenia. When I am in Yerevan next month for the business part of my trip, I will be solidifying our presense there with our Armenian counterparts and look to film promotional material for a DVD we are looking into producing to market our young and talented kids.
Finally, I would like to respond to some recent comments regarding my blog. As a general unspoken rule of blogging etiquette here on cilicia.com, it is customary not to personally attack other fellow bloggers out of respect for their freedom to express opinons. We all have different opinions based on our life experiences and the spectrum is interesting to read. If non-bloggers want to comment and go for the jugular, be my guest. I have done it myself on other blogs, so, it isn't a big deal to me. Each one of us bloggers has the option to turn off the comments section and allow for our posts to go unchallenged. However, I do not believe in that path most of the time since if a writer is going to say something controversial, he or she should stand behind it and let the dialogue flow freely. I have decided for the latter since it is better to have a discussion of issue rather than mute them.
posted by Raffi at 5:24 PM
3 Comments:
I just want to state how immensely impressed I am with the magnanimity of Raffi! I happened to see the first version of his May 18 post, where he took up the issues with his critics, and this, final version (at 5:24 p.m.) where he invites the criticism - just urging people to use the proper language - and does not dignify responding to personal attacks in any way. Really takes a MAN to do that!!
(And by the way, the moderator, Raffi K., is doing his job perfectly: is really MODERATING the passions.)
Hey, think of it, some good came out of it! When I was opening this site right now, I had a fear of discovering the Armenians slinging mud on each other and spitting on each other's faces. Instead, I saw the collectively displayed elements of wisdom! Cool!
[On the substance of the topic, I think BOTH Raffi and Rupen are fundamentally, cardinally and unequivocally wrong, but then who cares about my opinion? :):)]
Well, opinions can always be debated rather passionfull or passionless, but it must be debated, and accepted as a debate for advancing, not fighting....
And as for this debate, sure there is many things to be said, because it is THE VERY DELICATE question when we are armenian on this planet. This is why there's so much reaction. As long as this debate still live, I prefer to take it as an eternal light of hope than only be worried about it when i don't agree.
VIVA Armenian Identity in all its shapes (armenian AND non armenian), Originality of everyone who can only enrich it, and... take care you all ! :o))
ciao batch
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