Contact: Marcia Baron at 800-972-6694,
From outside of USA: 310-204-6111
Email: Marcia613@aol.com
Website: www.samglaser.com
Fax: 310-204-6222

Thanks for making your event with Sam Glaser happen! Now comes the fun stuff. As Sam’s Director of Marketing, I am here to assist you in anyway that I can. We have compiled this list of frequently asked questions regarding the preparation for smooth and successful event. With 50+ cities in his itinerary each year, my job is to make sure that Sam is as comfortable as possible and that your job as producer of the show is simplified. For publicity, advertising and other marketing suggestions, please see the Marketing a Concert/Shabbaton page.

PA/Keyboard Rental

Sam’s solo equipment rental needs are outlined on the Solo Sound System Requirements page and band needs are on the Band Sound System Requirements page. The demands are exceedingly simple and any rental company or even a local pro musician should have the equipment. If the total charge is more than $350-500 for the average sized venue, feel free to have the rental organization call us so that we can negotiate. Please do not deviate from the keyboards on the enclosed list—it’s not only a matter of their adequacy, it is also a matter of Sam’s knowledge of their operation. He requests a tall keyboard stand because he often stands when he plays. A well tuned, maintained grand piano is also acceptable as long as it is located optimally and can be amplified with condenser microphones.

It is ideal to have a skilled operator on hand to run the system during the show. Many rental packages will include an engineer at no additional price. That said, if any extra “engineer” charges are exorbitant, although it’s a bit unprofessional, Sam can run the PA if the mixing board is set up at the side of his keyboard and a soundman is present an hour before the show in order to acquaint him with the equipment. Make sure that the sound company has the system in place, wired up and plugged in an hour before the concert begins so that Sam can get his volume levels and make any last minute changes.

Sam’s band needs are more involved since a “backline” and more sophisticated PA are required. Still, it’s exactly what they need, without any fluff! A soundman is not optional for a band appearance. Let us know if there are any deviations from the list so that we can be prepared.

Kol Bamidbar musicals have their own Kol Bamidbar Sound System Requirements page. The KB Directors Notes that you should have already received have instructions to insure that the kids are heard and a skilled soundman will be kept very busy during these performances.

At the Concert

Before the show please arrange for a quiet dressing room at the venue where Sam can collect his thoughts, warm up, change, etc. Room temperature bottled water (16-20 oz. size is best) should be located both by his keyboard on stage and in his dressing room. And no, it doesn’t have to be Perrier!

When doing a longer show (over one hour), Sam prefers to take an intermission during which he can get off his feet and sign autographs at the sales table. In this case he typically plays a 50-minute first half, 15 minute intermission and a 40-minute second half. When he’s involving local choirs, he usually brings them up at the end of the set. In the case where you prefer a shorter “one act” show please let Sam know the approximate running time of the total set, including encores, so that he can plan the program accordingly.

It is helpful to give Sam an index card with a list of those persons/organizations that he should thank at the end of the show.

Time permitting, Sam will stay on hand to autograph CDs and shmooze, often until the last person remains. He very much enjoys getting to know people, answering questions, or playing Jewish geography wherever he goes. After concerts he is often “wired” for several hours and in the evenings might enjoy going out where it is not too loud or smoke filled.

Post-Concert CD Sales

Intermission and post-concert CD sales are a golden opportunities for you to encourage your community to “take home” the inspiration acquired during the concert. It is a fleeting chance to get them to listen to Jewish music, to internalize the messages in the music and to share the feeling with others. Please provide two capable volunteers and an eight-foot table at the location where people will most likely be exiting or shmoozing at intermission and after the show. At least one of the volunteers should be on hand a half hour prior to the show so Sam can brief him/her on his various CDs, T shirt sizing, giveaways and credit card acceptance. Please make an announcement at intermission and at the end of the concert that “Sam is autographing CD’s outside” in order to save Sam the awkwardness of having to say it himself. Receiving an autograph from Sam is strong incentive for them to take home a CD that night and from our experience, if they just take Sam’s brochure and wait to make an online purchase in the future, it usually never happens.

Fundraising Tips

If your event is a fundraiser, the following ideas can help benefit the bottom line:
a. Print a program with ad sales and page sponsorships. Sam’s bio and CD titles and other information can be downloaded from his website. He usually customizes his choice of songs on the spot so he prefers not to provide the exact order in advance; simply indicate that “selections will be announced from the stage.”
b. Sell “Sponsor/Patron” tickets. Consider pricing select rows of seats for “Angels” who are helping with the fundraising. Sam is happy to attend VIP dessert receptions or the like as soon as he is finished autographing CD’s, schedule permitting.
c. Consider honoring a worthy teacher, benefactor or volunteer with a short presentation before the show. This can help with program book sponsorships as well as getting the honoree’s entire chevra out for the event.
d. Raffle of donated door prizes at the conclusion of the event.
e. Sell food/drinks at intermission (perhaps donated home baked goods).
f. Establish an annual concert series: Initiate the sponsorship of the arts by acquiring a benefactor or an ad hoc Board of Directors to make a visible and redeeming annual gift to their community, perhaps in honor or in memory of someone.
g. Pursue education oriented grants that might be available both in the Jewish and community at large for edu-tainment-oriented programming.

Create a mini tour

Yes, you! If Sam’s schedule allows, you might consider using your contacts to line up additional singing/speaking engagements while Sam is in the region. We offer significant discounts for additional appearances and the various institutions involved can share Sam’s airfare/expenses. We also offer a 10% booking fee which can be used to offset the cost to your own institution. Think of any other synagogues, day and afternoon schools, retirement communities, teen groups, teachers, singles, etc. that might like their own chance to say Hineni! The busier Sam is on the road, the less time he has to think about missing his kids.

Shabbat and Kashrut

Regarding dietary needs, Sam keeps kosher and prefers to eat in kosher households and restaurants. When these aren’t available, although he’s quite carnivorous, he becomes a vegetarian on the road and is satisfied with bagels, salads, fruit plates, tuna and the like. Regular supermarkets are jammed with kosher items. In other words, please don’t go to too much trouble. For breakfast he’s fine with cereal (most have kosher certification) and fruit. He doesn’t like eggs or coffee.

Sam avoids things like microphones, musical instruments, cars, elevators, etc. during Shabbat. He’ll sing a capella, he’ll dance, he’ll daven like crazy and eat like a champion, but won’t get near a piano. He will be very curious when candle lighting occurs in your neck of the woods (18 minutes before sundown) and cannot start a concert until there are three stars in the sky on Saturday night.

Sam prefers to stay in hotels whenever possible, but will graciously accept home hospitality if it is the only alternative. He prefers quiet, private room with a firm bed, preferably a double or queen (he’s 6’3”!). No fold out couches, please. It’s great if there’s a computer where he can check his emails each day. When he travels with his band it is fine to double them up in hotel rooms that have separate beds.

For home hospitality over Shabbat, Sam has a few small requests…please insure that Kleenex and liquid soap are available in bathrooms and that the bathroom light is left on. (Tape over the switch is a good idea.) If possible, please remove or disable barriers to Shabbat observance such as automatic outdoor lighting or lights in refrigerators.

Extra Credit

When there is extra time while Sam is in town, he loves to see the sights, take hikes, workout, shop, etc. Feel free to give him the “grand tour.” Since his back is sensitive he also loves massages, jacuzzis, and happily will accept an adjustment if there is a chiropractor in the community.

When Sam travels solo and your budget allows, he loves to bring along one of his kids or his wife. For the price of one extra airfare you can make him deliriously happy; rather than “abandoning” them for yet another weekend it becomes a “quality time” investment.

Thank You!

It’s people like you that make Sam’s world go around. Thank you for all your effort and love. Don’t hesitate to let me know about any concerns. Email is the best way to get our attention.

Looking forward to an awesome event!

Sincerely,

Marcia Baron, Director of Marketing, Glaser Musicworks
Marcia613@aol.com
800-972-6694