Q: Can I be listed on the bostonmusicresources.com webpage?
A: If you are a music major at Boston Conservatory, Boston University, New England Conservatory or the Longy School of Music you may be listed. Additionally, recent alum's (within the last three years) are eligible.
Q: Okay, I'm eligible. What do I do next?
A: Just send a friendly email to obumlist@yahoo.com with the following information: your name, your instrument, your school, your degree status and the contact info you wish to have listed.
Q: Are there any costs associated with being listed?
A: No. However, if you'd like to support the project, your contributions are welcome. Cash is accepted but food goods are preferable. I've always had a weakness for gummy bears.
Q: I want to update my contact information, what do I do?
A: Just send an email to obumlist@yahoo.com. I'm usually pretty fast about processing these requests, but sometimes it might take me a week or so.
Q: Why do some of the email addresses look funny?
A: Some people prefer to list their email in the format myemail (at) gmail (dot) com instead of myemail@gmail.com. This is an attempt to prevent bots from harvesting email addresses. If you'd like your email to be listed in this way, let me know. There's always the risk that people that you don't want to contact you will when your contact information is on a public webpage.
Q: I can't do a gig, and want to recommend another player to the contractor. But I'm worried that if I suggest somebody better than me, they'll steal future opportunities from me. What should I do?
A: It is always to your advantage to recommend players who you believe are solid performers and who will act professionally. The contractor will appreciate your recommendation and will call you again. The colleague whom you recommended will appreciate it and will return the favor down the road. If this person is a better performer than you, then it is to your advantage to be in his/her good graces. Additionally, you should follow these guidelines (which I'm sure you know already)...
1. Don't ask to be listed unless you're really interested in being contacted for gigs. Students are often in a position where they really want to focus on practicing and improving rather than gigging. Nothing wrong with that.
2. If somebody does contact your for a gig via email or phone and you are unavailable, please call them back anyway. This keeps the door open for future employment opportunities, and gives you a chance to recommend colleagues for performances.
3. The goal of the listings is to provide the Boston community with an easily reachable source of musicians. If you're leaving town for any reason, please let me know so I can remove you from the list.