About the Presentations:
We would love to come and do a presentation of "Singing in Baghdad and Beyond" for you and your group or congregation.
After July of 2005, however, we will be able to accomplish this only if:
1) You can fly us in to your location OR
2) Your location is close to our home base in Boulder, Colorado.
The ongoing demand for our presentation continues.
After 40,000 miles on the highways in our travel trailer we have completed the grass-roots approach to getting our messages out and must take to the airways!
This makes our previously planned highway-based itinerary obsolete. This opens us up to becoming available at times more convenient for you! Fly us in to coincide with your related events.
Please read thru below info... not everything will apply to your situation but it's our best effort to answer everyone's questions...
Thanks, Cameron and Kristina
Suggestions for bringing Cameron and Kristina to your gathering if you are not close to Colorado:
The presentation, "Singing in Baghdad and Beyond," is generally 2 hours of music, slides projected from our laptop through an LCD projector with stories about the Arab world... the audience is continually invited to ask questions or make comments... How can it be that we are so very comfortable in these parts of the world?
The presentation can be reduced to 50-60 minutes if necessary for inclusion into a Sunday morning service.
Audiences respond very favorably as they get the power of the presentation. It reveals the beautiful reality of a highly civilized and generous and sensitive world of people which has not been adequately covered by the mainstream media. Even for audiences who have known for a long time now that a more complete picture has not been getting out, this presentation brings the whole situation to life and people find it very uplifting. Our presentation addresses the roles played by women in the Arab-speaking world and other topics around which common misconceptions prevail. And, of course, we show how by doing something as simple as learning a few popular Arab-world love songs, avenues of deep and easy communication can be opened.
Press Package:
Our "press package" is contained on our website, http://www.musicalmissions.com
The images available are very high resolution and can be used for printing.
If you click on the "promoting and hosting us" link, you will find links to two more pages:
"Promoting our Presentations with WORDS -- click here for ideas" and
"Promoting our Presentations with IMAGES -- click here for ideas"
On those two pages you will find text and images so that you can assemble flyers and other promotional materials.
By right-clicking on an image you will be able to save it to your own computer.
Permission is, of course, granted to copy anything you like from anywhere on our website.
We hope this gives you what you need.
Financial Aspects:
Support for our presentations, workshops and concerts typically comes from these three sources:
1) budgeted honoraria from groups or congregations
2) ticket sales or suggested collection contributions
3) sales of our CD's, Books, Egyptian Scarves, etc
We would recommend that you consider having us not only do our presentation, but workshops as well...
Communities also frequently arrange local TV and Radio interviews…
A guarantee of a $350 fee for a presentation is what most congregations or groups offer. If that's not possible, we can still try to negotiate something mutually workable.
If you can plan an event to which you expect 40 or more people to show up willing to pay a $10 min suggested donation each, and provide us with a place to display our cd's, books, Egyptian scarves, flutes etc which we sell, then that makes a good start for a presentation.
You or someone you know should be in charge of collecting the suggested donations at the door at the beginning of the event.
Scheduling one of our workshops for the following day is a good idea. Again, those who attend should expect to pay a $10 min suggested donation each. We find that, with convenient scheduling, about 20% of the people who attend the presentation will attend the workshops.
The support and presence of the minister or leader is usually a guarantee that the congregation will participate. All support can be tax-deductible through "Musical Missions of Peace", a 501c3 Non-Profit Corporation. We provide receipts as requested.
Sometimes we have audiences of hundreds and sometimes of ten to twenty. In Egypt we had an audience of 60,000 plus we have had TV audiences of millions. Maybe that will happen someday here in America.
If you can promote us and attract a large group of several hundred or more, please know that the increased income we receive helps offset times when we make very little.
All income which we receive helps, of course, enable us to continue this work.
Accommodations:
We are happy to stay in a hotel or motel which you recommend or in a private home.
Equipment Required:
Without our van and trailer we must now travel with a minimum of equipment.
This means that it is now up to you to find and provide the following equipment:
1) An LCD projector capable of displaying a 768x1024 resolution image from our Dell laptop computer screen. A minimum of 2000 lumens of brightness for this projector is highly recommended.
2) A screen on which to display the images.
3) A sound system with at least 4 separate channels for 2 vocal mics and 2 instrument mics. All 4 must be on mic-stands.
4) A guitar.
5) Display table.
Traveling by air with more than one musical instrument is difficult. We will bring the oud (the ancient Middle Eastern lute) with us, and a dumbek (Middle-Eastern drum).
We will be able to bring some of the items we usually sell after our presentations: cd's, books, etc, and so will need a good sized table on which to display these things.
Setup Time:
We will need to have access to the presentation area two hours in advance so that we can set up the sound and projection systems, tune our instruments and arrange the table of items for sale.
After the presentation another hour is needed for re-packing and loading out.
Our Items for Sale:
Our music CD's and books and imported items must be displayed on a tabletop before, during and after the presentation and we must be able to sell these items to attendees at the gathering. We need at least a table which is 6' x 2 1/2' and it works better to have two such tables or the equivalent. We must also be free to accept additional donations that might be offered.
Economy Option -- Cameron OR Kristina:
Saving costs on airfare by electing to bring only one of us is an option. Let us know if that is something you wish to consider.
Suggestions for bringing Cameron and Kristina to your gathering for those close enough to our Colorado homebase for us to drive to your location:
The presentation, "Singing in Baghdad and Beyond," is generally 2 hours of music, slides projected from our laptop through our LCD projector with stories about the Arab world... the audience is continually invited to ask questions or make comments... How can it be that we are so very comfortable in these parts of the world?
The presentation can be reduced to 50-60 minutes if necessary for inclusion into a Sunday morning service.
Audiences respond very favorably as they get the power of the presentation. It reveals the beautiful reality of a highly civilized and generous and sensitive world of people which has not been adequately covered by the mainstream media. Even for audiences who have known for a long time now that a more complete picture has not been getting out, this presentation brings the whole situation to life and people find it very uplifting. Our presentation addresses the roles played by women in the Arab-speaking world and other topics around which common misconceptions prevail. And, of course, we show how by doing something as simple as learning a few popular Arab-world love songs, avenues of deep and easy communication can be opened.
Press Package:
Our "press package" is contained on our website, http://www.musicalmissions.com
The images available are very high resolution and can be used for printing.
If you click on the "promoting and hosting us" link, you will find links to two more pages:
"Promoting our Presentations with WORDS -- click here for ideas" and
"Promoting our Presentations with IMAGES -- click here for ideas"
On those two pages you will find text and images so that you can assemble flyers and other promotional materials.
By right-clicking on an image you will be able to save it to your own computer.
Permission is, of course, granted to copy anything you like from anywhere on our website.
We hope this gives you what you need.
Financial Aspects:
Support for our presentations, workshops and concerts typically comes from these three sources:
1) budgeted honoraria from groups or congregations
2) ticket sales or suggested collection contributions
3) sales of our CD's, Books, Egyptian Scarves, etc
A guarantee of a $250 fee for a presentation is what most congregations or groups offer. If that's not possible, we can still try to negotiate something mutually workable.
If you can plan an event to which you expect 40 or more people to show up willing to pay a $10 min suggested donation each, and provide us with a place to display our cd's, books, Egyptian scarves, flutes etc which we sell, then that makes a good start for a presentation.
You or someone you know should be in charge of collecting the suggested donations at the door at the beginning of the event. Variations on this can also work.
Scheduling one of our workshops for the following day is sometimes a good idea. Again, those who attend should expect to pay a $10 min suggested donation each. We find that, with convenient scheduling, about 20% of the people who attend the presentation will attend the workshops.
The support and presence of the minister is usually a guarantee that the congregation will participate, although occasionally we are asked to fill in for out-of-town ministers and this, with good promotion, can also work, but then it is more important for us to have a guaranteed fee.
All support can be tax deductable through "Musical Missions of Peace", a 501c3 Non-Profit Corporation. We provide receipts as requested.
Sometimes we have audiences of hundreds and sometimes of ten to twenty. In Egypt we had an audience of 60,000 plus we have had TV audiences of millions. Maybe that will happen someday here in America.
If you can promote us and attract a large group of several hundred or more, please know that the increased income we receive helps offset times when we make very little.
All income which we receive helps, of course, enable us to continue this work.
Accomodations:
We travel with our Van and a cargo trailer.
We have all the equipment we need with us.
If we are to stay overnight then it is helpful to have an option to sleep in a house or motel.
Setup:
We will need to have access to the presentation area two hours in advance so that we can set up the sound and projection systems, tune our instruments and arrange the table of items for sale.
After the presentation another hour is needed for re-packing and loading out into our van.
Our Items for Sale:
Our music CD's and books and imported items must be displayed on a tabletop before, during and after their presentation and we must be able to sell these items to attendees at the gathering. We need at least a table which is 6' x 2 1/2' and it works better to have two such tables or the equivalent. We must also be free to accept additional donations that might be offered.
Workshops: (four to choose from)
Usually 10% to 20% of the people who see our presentation choose to sign up for a workshop when they are offered.
These can be scheduled for later the same day or for the following day.
The workshops generally last for 2 hours.
Minimum Charge: $100 (eg 10 people with a suggested minimun donation of $10 each)
"Spiritual Traveler: Journeys Beyond Fear"
(Formerly called "From the American Dream to the Global Dream")
"Basic rhythms used in Arab Music"
"Free Form Vocal Fun"
"Basic Arabic Music Scales"
More Info on Workshops:
"Spiritual Traveler: Journeys Beyond Fear"
(Formerly called "From the American Dream to the Global Dream")
This workshop can extend thru a weekend, a series of weeknights or, minimally, one 2-hour session. This workshops is not about forms of government. It is about personal growth through actually learning from the ancient and wise civilizations on the planet.
The following themes are some of those addressed:
Do we speak language or does language speak us?
How is the Arab mind different from the American mind?
Overcoming Fear: Discover the amazing truth about how to travel safely!
Sensuality and Music -- you have to feel good inside...
Musical Enlightenment and Ecstasy
Working against our own Arrogance -- sorry, it's not so easy...
'Civilization' -- whose?
Why even working for Peace is not enough -- Whose Peace is it anyway?
Gain a New Soul by Entering a New Culture
Enlightenment and Inner Peace -- in these times?
No Humor at the Expense of Others
Becoming the Prayer
Worshipping the Feminine in the Middle East and in America -- How does it work?
Study of Exotic Music: Middle Eastern Music as an example
Becoming a Musical Ambassador
Learning to Become Responsible Global Citizens before it's too late!
Do we really want to waste this precious lifetime?
We are all "right" from our own points of view
Everyone in the whole world is "right", in every language!
"Basic Rhythms used in Arab Music"
Bring a hand drum or a tamborine and learn from Kristina's expertise.
"Free Form Vocal Fun"
Loosen up your vocal chords and play with Kristina.
"Basic Arabic Music Scales"
We also conduct workshops on basic scales used in Arab music. These scales have quartertone notes in them so they cannot be played on instruments which are locked into well-tempered tunings. Cameron has studied these scales for many decades and has published introductory materials for musicians. Fretless string instruments such as violin, cello, fretless bass, oud can be used. Also the Arabic/Turkish flute, or nay, can be used. The qanun, a traditional Arabic/Turkish plucked zither, can also be used. Otherwise, bring your voice and practice singing quartertones!
References:
Here is a list of some of the many Churches and Organizations for whom we have already done our presentations and/or workshops.
Feel free to contact any of them for more info:
Unity of the Mountains, Avon, CO
Don Bissett <skirev@aol.com> 970-390-7377
Lee Rimel <lrimel@slifer.net> 970-390-4256
High Country UU Fellowship, Frisco, CO
Sue Robbins <hcuuf@earthlink.net> 970-262-1675
Unitarian Universalist Church, Lacombe, LA
David Ord <davidord@i-55.com> 985-882-0096
Pilgrim Congregational Church, Chattanooga, TN
Johnny Mingus <huntmingus@comcast.net>, 423-698-5682
First Presbyterian Church, Cookeville, TN
Katie Kumar <kjkumar@tntech.edu>, 931-528-7968
Religious Science Spiritual Center, Grand Junction, CO
revmichael <revmichael@godasyou.com>
Sherry Cole <hotepprod@godasyou.com> 970-261-7695
Patriots for Peace, Estes Park, CO
Mary Ellen Garrett <mellenmail@yahoo.com> 970-586-2552
New Horizons Church of Religious Science, Lafayette CO
Rev. Marsha Meghdadpour <Revmarsha1@aol.com> 303-664-5603
Unity Church of Denton, TX
Ellen Davis, Minister <unityofdenton@aol.com> 940-387-7788
Unitarian Church Laguna Beach, CA
Riva 949-830-5294 <markdimond@juno.com>
Daga Krackowizer <cookiedaga@yahoo.com> 949-715-3879
Jefferson Unitarian Church, Golden, CO
Marlys Brinkman <brinkman@frii.com> 303-238-4737
Living Water Unity Church in Westminster, CO
David Ridge <david.b.ridge@comcast.net> 720-935-4000
Nahalat Shalom Synogogue, Albuquerque, NM
Panina Ballen: 505-344-7810
Tikkun Event in Santa Fe, NM
Arlene Goldberg <palomagoldberg@hotmail.com> 505-438-9431
Unity Church of Fayetteville, AR
Rev. Cindy Stutting <Omcindy@aol.com> 479 442-0680
Unity Christ Church, Mobile, AL
Carolyn Crane <Unitymob@aol.com>, 251-602-5600
Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Durham, NC
Rob DeWoskin <rsdew@earthlink.net> 919-541-1089
Unitarian Universalist Church, Hillsboro, Portland, OR
Jim Kimball <jw.kimball@verizon.net> 503-645-5749
UU Fellowship, Klamath Falls, OR
Ben Kerns <rbkkf@fireserve.net> 541 884 3829
Unity Church of Corvallis, Corvallis, OR
Nancy Waldron <NAWWEW@aol.com> 541-758-2061
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Tuolumne County, Sonora, CA
Linda Johnson <yogurt80@hotmail.com> 209-532-6621
Unitarian Universalist Church of South County, Mission Viejo, CA
Scott Craig <enfp1@cox.net> 949-363-7626
Milwaukie Presbyterian Church, Milwaukie, OR
Woodley White <woodley@easystreet.com> 503-654-7782
Methodist Church, Basalt, CO
Marie Gasau 970 927-4098
St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Basalt, CO
Rev. Mary Kate Schroeder <mkspriest@sopris.net> 970-927-0140
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Idaho Falls, ID
Lee Greiner <Leedevoe@aol.com> 208/522-3202
UU Fellowship, Pocatello, ID
Irene Nautch <pokyuus@onewest.net> 208-237-8637
Mile Hi Church of Religious Science, Lakewood, CO
Rev. Cynthia James <CJames@milehichurch.org>
Mountain Vista Religious Science Community Church, Northglenn, CO
Rev. Rita Foster <RitaBobF@aol.com> (303) 988-7501
SpiritKeepers & Dances of Universal Peace, Boulder, CO
Rev. Timothy Dobson <tvdobson98@earthlink.net> (303) 440-5714
St. Marks United Methodist Church in Overland Park, KS
Larry Keller, Pastor <smumclarry@yahoo.com> (913-722-2310)
Unity Church of Peoria, Peoria, IL
Linda Foreman <unitypia@mtco.com>
Unity Church, Edinboro, PA
Joanne Rowden <rowdenjo@knownet.net> (814-450-6090)
Farmingdale United Methodist Church, Long Island, NY
Violet Simpson <shalomviolet@hotmail.com>
All Souls Church UU, West Brattleboro VT
Martha Nelson <mhnelson@sover.net> (802-254-9377)
Unitarian Universalist Church of Flint, Flint, MI
Judy Tipton <JILT2003@aol.com>
St. John's United Church of Christ, Jonestown, PA
Pastor Martha Boyer <uccstjohns@hotmail.com>
St. David's Episcopal Church, Bean Blossom, IN
Jonathan Hutchison <chesed2@msn.com>
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Rockford, IL
Dave Weissbard <uurockford@aol.com> (815-398-6322)
Boulder Mennonite Church in Boulder, CO
Steve Ruby <steveruby@earthlink.net> 303-499-2692
Columbine Unity Church in Boulder, CO
Pat or Tom Foss <tomfoss@worldnet.att.net> 303-444-0060
Community UU in New Orleans, LA
Jim Vanderweele <minister@communitychurchuu.org> 504-483-8269
Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge, LA
Steve Crump <scrump@mindspring.com> 225-751-3207
Unitarian/Universalist Fellowship of Santa Cruz County, Aptos. Ca.
Marylou Lamb <fauxlamb@sbcglobal.net> 831-465-9973
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