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| Adam Kubota, press and marketing coordinator for the Center for the Arts helps more than
275 shows a year get publicity at Wesleyan and with the local media. |
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| Posted 01.17.07 |
Press and Marking Coordinator Fills the Seats at CFA Performances
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Q: When did you first come to Wesleyan, and when were you officially
full-time for the Center for the Arts?
A: I started as interim CFA press and marketing coordinator at Wesleyan in
November of 2005, filling in for Lex Leifheit while she was the interim
assistant director of the Green Street Arts Center. Lex finished her
assignment in February, leaving me to look for a new job. Fortunately for
both of us, she was hired as the permanent assistant director of Green
Street in September of 2006 and I was able to apply for her previous
position.
Q: Explain your role as the press and marketing coordinator for the CFA.
A: At its most basic, my job is to fill the seats for the events that we put
on. It’s mostly about raising awareness and engaging people through a
variety of methods by pitching stories to the press, increasing distribution
of our brochure and email newsletter. As for promotion, we try to reach people
from all over Connecticut and the region, members of the Middletown
community including Wesleyan faculty and staff, but most importantly,
Wesleyan students.
Q: What are the biggest challenges you face in your job?
A: The biggest challenge is staying organized. The CFA has a hand in
producing over 275 events a year. It is my job to see that they are all, in
some way, brought to the attention of the public. Thankfully, I get a lot of
support from my co-workers in making sure it all happens smoothly.
Q: How did you familiarize yourself with the job?
A: Lex has been and continues to be a great resource to me in my job—she
definitely helped to show me the ropes. Since I am also responsible for
publicizing Green Street events, we are constantly in contact. And
obviously, my experience as interim marketing coordinator in 2005 has helped
me in being the permanent marketing coordinator.
Q: Who are the key people you interact with on a daily basis?
A: CFA Director Pam Tatge; Art Director John Elmore; Associate Director for
Programming and Events Barbara Ally; Events Coordinator Jeff Chen; Box
Office Manager Kristen Olson; Financial Analyst/Gallery Coordinator Camille
Parente; the Green Street Arts Center staff and the CFA student workers.
Q: What activities consume most of your time while in the office?
A: I spend a significant amount of time writing press releases, e-mails and
listings on the computer, as well as attending meetings. Truthfully, I wish
that I could get out more often and interact with the Wesleyan
Community—it’s something to shoot for as I settle into my job and streamline
things a bit more.
Q: What are your own interests in the arts and do you attend any
CFA-sponsored events?
A: As a bassist who performs in a variety of styles including, jazz,
classical and contemporary music, I am always performing or going to
concerts. Considering this fact, working at the CFA is a dream job. I try to
go to our events as much possible. It’s really gratifying to see the fruits
of our labor in a well-attended performance.
Q: Are there any exciting, worth-mentioning events coming up in the next
couple months we should be aware of?
A: Yes, the Joe Goode Performance group is coming Feb. 2-3. Like me, they
are from the San Francisco area and their company of virtuosic dancers
tackles such issues as gay marriage and the AIDS crisis.
Singer-songwriter Paul Brady, who has penned hit songs for the likes of
Bonnie Raitt and Joe Cocker, is appearing for the Crowell Concert Series
Feb. 16.
My pick-of-the-semester is jazz pianist Cedar Walton on April 27. Cedar is
a real living legend—his resume reads like the history of jazz!
Q: Where are you from initially and how did you end up in the area?
A: I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, in a small town on
the Peninsula called Belmont. I moved to Connecticut about four years ago to
study with double bassist Robert Black, who is known for his work with the
Bang On a Can All-Stars, and do graduate work at the Hartt School of
Performing Arts.
Q: Where were you working before Wesleyan?
A: My first job in arts marketing was at Real Art Ways, a great alternative
art space in Hartford. Over last summer, I worked for the International
Festival of Arts & Ideas in New Haven.
Q: Where are your degrees from and what were your majors?
A: I have a bachelor’s of arts in music from the University of California,
Santa Cruz, where our mascot is the Banana Slug! I also received my master’s
of music in double bass performance from the Hartt School at the University
of Hartford.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: Most nights and weekends, I am busy performing music. I do a lot of gigs
with my band in addition to working as freelancer. I play bass—both the
upright and the electric. As I mentioned before, I perform in many styles
but I am most at home with improvised music like jazz and contemporary
music.
As for hobbies, I like fishing, Frisbee golf, running, playing basketball
and seeing exhibitions of contemporary art. I am excited to say that I am
taking a vacation to Peru in March—the plan is to hike from Cuzco to see the
ruins of Macchu Picchu.
Q: Anything else you’d like to share?
A: At this point, I’ve been on the job for just a few months and I’d really
like to meet more people who work on campus. It helps me a great deal to
know what other people’s roles on campus are. So, if you are interested in
any of the things that I do, please send me a quick
e-mail.
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| By
Olivia Bartlett, The Wesleyan Connection
editor |
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