About Claire Armbruster:
Claire Armbruster has lived in Nashville for the past seven years, working at one of the country’s premier talent agencies, KCA Artists, http://www.kcaartists.com. She served as the company’s General Manager and was Artist Manager for Sierra Hull and Guy Clark. Prior to her tenure with KCA, Claire was Artistic Director for renowned North Carolina music festival MerleFest.
Her career in music started with MerleFest in 1991 where she managed Artist Relations for the festival, becoming Artistic Director in 2000. Originally from Hickory, North Carolina, Claire founded a not-for-profit music organization, Acoustic Stage. She served as Director of the organization from 1992 until 2001. Acoustic Stage presented folk, bluegrass and Americana music performances through ticketed events and complimentary outreach programs for area schoolchildren. Claire’s professional affiliations include membership in the Americana Music Association, serving on its board from 2002-2006; the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences; International Bluegrass Music Association; Folk Alliance International, and she is an alumnus of Leadership Bluegrass Class of 2000, and Leadership Music Class of 2011. Claire has also served as Stage Manager and Co-producer of Americana Music Association’s Honors & Awards Show at the Ryman Auditorium from 2005 through 2009 and as Co-producer of the 2011 and 2012 International Bluegrass Music Awards at the Ryman Auditorium. Planning Stages; what we do:
Our services are listed below. They can be provided through a contractual arrangement for the list in its entirety, or in any combination of:
1. Consulting: Will provide written evaluation for event by working with principals, citing creative ways to present, save, improve, and succeed.
2. Contracting artists for performances for one event or for an entire season and assuring contractual obligations of artists are fulfilled.
3. Reviewing contracts and contacting band representatives to coordinate all advancing, which includes production information, travel information, band members, guest lists, backline, and organizing artists’ riders and credentials.
4. On-site management of artist relations activities on performance dates. This would include pre- and post-event preparations: project management, advancing shows, working stage details with production staff, booking hotels, arranging backstage craft service, setting up rehearsal times and schedules, and programming stages.
5. Rent a facility for the client and put together the entire production keeping within desired goals and budget.
6. Coordinate with clients who are setting up events at conference centers, hotels, private homes, and other non-traditional venues.
7. Provide support in various capacities for larger events that would include management and operational positions including artist relations coordinator, vendor coordinator, hospitality manager, stage manager, credentials coordinator, festival administrator, transportation coordinator, and volunteer coordinator.
8. During an event Planning Stages would execute such responsibilities as Artist check-in management, completing artist packets, inventory control for hospitality, set up for dressing rooms, scheduling artist ground transportation and flights, along with a runner schedule, and making hotel reservations.
9. Work on special projects—songwriting contest; workshops; showcases; children’s workshops/classes; learning panels; and special performances including those based on history of folk, bluegrass, Americana music.
