IXTLAN ARTISTS GROUP

Ixtlan Artists Employment Page

This page will describe the current and past activities of this company. There are several areas of expertise needed within the company for which we are now hiring. After reading about the company, and reading the details of the types of competencies needed, please send a three-paragraph cover letter and full resumé to joyceixtlan@aol.com. All submissions must be electronic.

The Ixtlan Artists Group is a small performing artists management agency, which in 2005 will begin to experience rapid, but hopefully controlled, growth. The agency's name is new and we have gone to market with this name for only one year. However, the agency itself has almost 20 years experience, begun in the summer of 1986 as Joan Sherman Artist Management. Current management purchased the agency from the original owner in 2002, changing the name to Ixtlan Artists in the fall of 2003.

History
Originally, Joan Sherman Artist Management focused on tour bookings for artists the folk music market. Artists represented were traditional folk artists (as opposed to contemporary folk singer-songwriters) in the genres of bluegrass, Americana, blues, and children's performances. In 2000, JSAM began adding artists from two additional genres, traditional world music and traditional Celtic music. Most of the artists were still in the folk category, but there were now one or two artists beyond folk. In fact, JSAM branded itself with the tag line "Beyond Folk." The agency handled concert bookings for approximately seven performers, although the artist roster fluctuated from five to nine.

The agency changed management in the summer of 2002. Very few changes were made initially. The agency continued to be known as Joan Sherman Artists. Throughout 2003, the new name was slowly introduced, and now the agency is known fully as The Ixtlan Artists Group. We still remind people that we were formerly Joan Sherman Artists, in an attempt to maintain continuity while branding the new name.

The Ixtlan Artists Group currently represents about twenty artists in the traditional or ethnic arts genres. The focus of the agency is to include folk artists as the former agency had, and to expand into additional genres. Ixtlan Artists will add artists in the genres of traditional world music and dance, avante-garde multimedia, and other performance forms that convey a message of value to audiences. Our performers are all considered virtuoso players of their respective instruments, and most have one or more programs that are designed to educate both children and adults in the culture the artist represents. Ixtlan Artists will brand itself with the tag line "Virtuoso Performers – A Commitment to Education and Cultural Diversity". Future plans for the agency call for a 30% increase per year in the number of artists represented. By 2010, the agency plans to represent over thirty artists.

Each of these artists must have their own marketing plans, branding strategy, brochures, concert tour booking strategy, financial management, invoicing and tour itinerary management. An artist management agency can perform several services for an artist: booking concerts in the US and Canada, managing tour itineraries, providing publicity and promotion for tours, working with the artist on issues of image and branding, financial management, creating strategies for recording sales, and international bookings. Ixtlan Artists has different relationships with each of our artists ranging from full service to simply booking concerts. Mostly we handle concert bookings, general marketing associated with tours, and financial management. Becoming a full-service agency is an area of growth for the company.

Our present need is to maximize the number of tours for each artist, the number of concert bookings per tour, and the audience turnout for each concert. To provide these three functions for our current artist roster of ten performers, and to subsequently add artists to the roster, we need creative individuals within our small agency to handle the activities listed below. These are not necessarily separate job descriptions. As with most small companies, those involved must sometimes wear several hats.

Assistant to the Director: The Ixtlan Artists Group is a small arts management business located in Squirrel Hill. We are a concert booking agency for traditional world and ethnic musicians who tour the U.S. and are seeking an Assistant to the Director. The successful candidate will perform general office duties for both the Director of Marketing and the Finance Manager. Computer and internet skills are a must and knowledge of the database program FileMaker Pro is helpful. He/she must be articulate, have excellent communication skills, be organized, be a self-starter and be able to multi-task. An interest in music, the music industry, and/or performing arts management is required. Position is available immediately. Full-time or part-time, minimum 20 hours per week. Respond via e-mail to Joyce at joyceixtlan@aol.com.
Requirements: Must have experience with small business, as well as computer skills (including an understanding of Macintosh OS X and database programs), organized, and interested in music.
Booking Agent for Education-in-the-Arts Program: The Ixtlan Artists Group is a concert booking agency representing traditional world and ethnic musicians who tour the U.S. both as concert performers and school assembly performers. The agency is seeking an Artist/Booking Agent to make phone calls and correspond via e-mail with elementary, middle and high schools, as well as universities, arts councils, and other music and dance presenters. The primary purpose of the phone calls and e-mail contact is to present our Native American, Eastern European, South American, and Irish performers who conduct educational programs in both schools and as part of university outreach programs. Many calls will be first-time contacts, and some prospecting will be part of this position. Applicants must be highly organized to handle the workload. They should possess excellent communication skills. Also, applicants should be familiar with Macintosh operating system and database programs. An interest in music, arts-in-education, the music industry, and/or performing arts management is an absolute must. Please review the Ixtlan Artists web site at www.IxtlanArtists.com. Contact Joyce to apply at joyceixtlan@aol.com or 412.521.2954.
Requirements: Knowledge of tour management helpful; proficiency on Macintosh computers and database programs, specifically FileMaker Pro; communication skills; organizational and time management skills; interest in music and world musicians, especially klezmer and New Jewish Music.
Booking Agent for Klezmer/Jewish Musicians: The Ixtlan Artists Group is a concert booking agency representing traditional world and ethnic musicians who tour the U.S. The agency is seeking an Artist/Booking Agent to make phone calls and correspond via e-mail with universities, concert halls, arts councils, and other music and dance presenters. The primary purpose of the phone calls and e-mail contact is to present our Jewish musicians and klezmer music programs, as well as schedule tours throughout North America. Many calls will be first-time contacts, and some prospecting will be part of this position. Applicants must be highly organized to handle the workload. They should possess excellent communication skills. Also, applicants should be familiar with Macintosh operating system and database programs. An interest in music, the music industry, and/or performing arts management is an absolute must. Please review the Ixtlan Artists web site at www.IxtlanArtists.com. To apply, contact Joyce at joyceixtlan@aol.com or 412.521.2954.
Requirements: Knowledge of tour management helpful; proficiency on Macintosh computers and database programs, specifically FileMaker Pro; communication skills; organizational and time management skills; interest in music and world musicians, especially klezmer and New Jewish Music.
Booking Agent for American Indian Artist: The Ixtlan Artists Group is a concert booking agency representing traditional world and ethnic musicians who tour the U.S. The agency is seeking an Artist/Booking Agent to make phone calls and correspond via e-mail with universities, concert halls, arts councils, and other music and dance presenters. The primary purpose of the phone calls and e-mail contact is to present our American Indian flute music and ritual dance ensembles, as well as schedule tours throughout North America. Many calls will be first-time contacts, and some prospecting will be part of this position. Applicants must be highly organized to handle the workload. They should possess excellent communication skills. Also, applicants should be familiar with Macintosh operating system and database programs. An interest in music, the music industry, and/or performing arts management is an absolute must. Please review the Ixtlan Artists web site at www.IxtlanArtists.com before applying. Contact Joyce joyceixtlan@aol.com or 412.521.2954 to apply.
Requirements: Knowledge of tour management is helpful; proficiency on Macintosh computers and database programs, specifically FileMaker Pro; communication skills; organizational and time management skills; interest in music and world musicians, especially traditional Native American song, dance, and storytelling.
Telemarketing Representative / Prospecting Agent: The Ixtlan Artists Group, a concert booking company for traditional world and ethnic musicians who tour the U.S., seeks a phone sales representative. The company is committed to education and diversity through music and performance, so applicants must have an interest in music. The position entails speaking with concert presenters about music tours (both in the area of concert performances and educational cultural diversity programs) and promoting the artists by communicating with presenters. Contact Joyce, joyceixtlan@aol.com, 412.521.2954
Requirements: An interest in music, the music industry, and/or performing arts management. Excellent communication skills. Knowledge of tour management is helpful; proficiency on Macintosh computers and database programs, specifically FileMaker Pro; communication skills; organizational and time management skills.
Assistant to the Director (part time or full time):
This person works directly with the Director of Operations. The focus of the work is keeping the office and the booking activity organized and moving forward. Activities include planning and booking flights for artist's tours, getting the contracts printed and mailed, keeping invoices current, keeping payments current, working with the agency's FileMaker Pro database, sending monthly statements to the artists, calling schools for updates on programs, researching state agencies for grant money, researching Internet for new performance venues, and just about anything else involved in supporting the management of the company. This work requires a very high level of organizational abilities, and good communications skills. You would be on the phone a lot with this work.
Research Interns (hours flexible):
We will coordinate with your school advisor to design work that helps the agency while giving the student experience in arts management and marketing. Much of the intern's activities are centered around increasing the visibility of the artist, the visibility of the agency, and finding new funding resources and performance venues. Much of this is done through Internet research.
Small Business Management Interns (hours flexible):
We will coordinate with the Small Business Management department at your university to create a position allowing the student to be involved in important aspects of running a small business.

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