Cleveland Orchestra at Happy Dog

Cleveland Orchestra Musicians are stepping out of Severance Hall and bringing music to the people. The venue? A bar called Happy Dog located in the city’s Gordon Square Arts District. The musicians are calling their act Orchestral Manouvres at the Dog, and they encourage Happy Dog patrons to continue eating, drinking, and chatting during their set. While the environment is relaxed, the music remains in the formal, classical tradition. The public can munch on bar food and sip their cocktails and beers while listening to Mozart and Britten.

So far the partnership has been very successful. All parties involved, including the bar goers, are excited for future performances. Happy Dog co-owner Sean Watterson jumped at the chance to have the musicians perform in his bar. He said, “We wanted people in the neighborhood who might not otherwise go to Severance Hall to get access, and vice-versa. The more we can do to connect these institutions, the better.”

Bingo.

While the project was initiated by the musicians themselves and not the larger institution, other orchestras and performing arts organizations should take note and consider the positive results such a project could achieve for their own organization. It is great publicity and has the potential to gain an organization new audience members. Orchestral Manouvres has started to receive invitations from other bars to host similar events. The public is taking notice.

http://www.cleveland.com/musicdance/index.ssf/2010/10/classical_musicians_bring_thei.html

–Siobhan