The New Live offers spectacular visual and theatrical narratives to ensembles and presenters of all kinds. Our unique projects focus on meaningful interpretation and sophisticated presentation, with multimedia elements conceived with a deep respect for music and the tradition of concert-going. Audiences come away with a deeper feeling of connection with music they know and love, and a fresh perspective on what live performances can be. Learn more and book our experiences: http://thenew.live
Our inspiring visual and dramatic approaches are deeply rooted in each piece of music’s period, locale, and intellectual underpinnings, yet still offer surprising new perspectives.
Over the past decade, ensembles and musicians of all stripes have embraced the use of screens in their performances. We love this trend – and are putting our own eggs into this basket! – believing as we do that a successful future for live concerts lies in creativity and a heightened attention to stagecraft and production value.
What has been projected onto many of these new above-stage screens, however, often relegates performances themselves to second place in the attention of audiences or, worse, introduces elements that are wholly foreign to the spirit and content of the music. In other cases, technical elements of screen placement and lighting have presented challenges for ensembles and presenters.
That’s why we created The New Live. Our projects are designed to bring the focus back to the music and its meaning and to do so in an informed, contemporary way. Our elegant, meaningful multimedia approach helps performing artists distinguish their work from the array of entertainment options available to audiences today.
Aesthetically, all of our content is designed to deepen listeners’ understanding of the history and milieu of classic works while unearthing new threads of connection between those works and the culture around them and us. Our carefully study of the combination of music with visuals, lighting, and other theatrical elements has led us to a sophisticated sense of pacing and stagecraft which underscores and elevates music rather than overwhelms it.
Technically, we have crafted an approach in which performers and their interpretations are at the center of the cueing system. Our expertise in both front of house and back of house enables us to flow our presentations seamlessly into processes at organizations of all sizes. We love to work in all kinds of venues, and several of our productions are even designed specifically for non-traditional spaces. All of our projects also come standard with a basic marketing package that includes vivid artistic imagery and custom font faces.
Technology
We have developed our own proprietary cueing system, designed to allow visual and other theatrical elements to follow the music rather than the other way around.
Who likes click tracks, anyway? Our productions free musicians from having to follow markers and yoke their performances to on-screen action. Instead, our unique cueing system makes use of industry-leading QLab software to control video and lighting elements from a booth or hall position. Even hard cues can be delivered with precision while artists onstage focus on giving their best, most personal performances.
This synchronicity with each ensemble’s interpretations is made possible by the presence of our technical director Jacob Meade at all New Live presentations. In addition to handling video playback and cueing, Jacob also works directly with venue staff on lighting and screen setup for every show we book.
On the back of house side, our technology allows a true plug-and-play experience for presenters. A single HDMI capable projector is all we need in order to present a project. We have extensive experience working with technical staff and communicate our protocol clearly and efficiently with back of house well before we arrive on-site.
Extra Services
In addition to sophisticated aesthetics and tech, The New Live offers a special blend of expertise including conducting, screen set-up and lighting, and stage management.
All of our productions are designed to work seamlessly with your organization’s performers and technical and administrative staff. However, we recognize that not all institutions have expertise in the gamut of production options available for live performances today. Extra assistance can help transform a standard live concert into a magical experience for performers and audiences alike.
Our founder Jason Weinberger is available as either guest conductor or on-site producer. Jason is a passionate performer who also believes that ensembles of all kinds should strive to enliven their presentations with various elements of stage design and concert management. Given the stylistic range of our projects, Jason’s deep knowledge of this repertoire and his expertise across a wide array of musical genres makes him a perfect guest conductor for any New Live production. His experience as an orchestra CEO has also given him critical experience in marshaling all the forces behind concert presentation and production, and allows him to help organization staff tool for a higher degree of stage management.
We are also able to consult with orchestras and presenters who do not have projection or lighting experience, or who lack screen and/or projector equipment. Our technical director Jacob Meade is able to oversee a number of technical elements beyond video playback, and we are more than happy to source equipment on behalf of organizations who require that service. Our designer Noah Henscheid can also work seamlessly with your administrative staff on marketing materials and social media plans that go beyond the basics included in all standard bookings.
Finally, let us help you connect meaningfully with your audiences or partners in your community by hosting our artists for special presentations, pre- and post-concert activities, and gallery showings. Gary Kelley is available for in-person activities and has extensive experience sharing his expertise and point of view with everyone from students to symphony audiences. All extra services and related fees are established at the time of booking based on direct consultation with your organization.
Press
Critics and audiences have been wowed by our productions, noting their “explosion of creativity” and hailing them as “original,” “brilliant,” and “riveting.”
Nachtmusik: “Kelley based his drawings on the original novel, Dracula, by Bram Stoker, and on the first Dracula film, Nosferatu. [His film] used written words on the screen for explanations and what dialogue was needed, thus giving the event somewhat of a silent film feel (though with a very good pit orchestra!). Kelley’s skill was in full display here, transfixing audiences in a riveting display of artistry. I was particularly drawn to his expert depiction of architecture and the period costuming, and to his stunningly evocative echoing of the unsettling Nosferatu images. The combination of Kelley and Mahler worked for me, and for others with whom I talked.”
A New Nutcracker: “Kelley did a series of illustrations of the Ellington Nutcracker that tell a story, as does Tchaikovsky’s, of a little girl who receives a nutcracker for Christmas. Kelley’s little girl lives in Harlem and the evolving series of illustrations have a distinctly African-American take. These images weren’t static – they moved across the screen, were of differing sizes, and included a completed-in-front-of-your-eyes line drawing. The audience was greatly enthusiastic for this new mixed-media creation. The work, with Kelley’s unmistakable artistry, has every chance of becoming a Christmas fixture across the country. Called up on stage for bows were Kelley and Jacob Meade, the technical wizard who put Kelley’s creations successfully and artistically onscreen.”
Immerse yourself in what we have to offer and be inspired!
Learn more and book our experiences: http://thenew.live
