The show must go on. But first, it has to actually start.

It’s 8:04 pm. The audience is just about ready, as the late comers rushing to their seats.

The lights dim. The hall is practically silent.

The Concert Master comes out on stage, bows, and turns around to start the tuning process.

Tuned, the orchestra and audience await the entrance of the conductor.

But wait…that’s not the conductor heading to the center of the stage.

Who…what the…It’s the person who normally gives the preconcert talks.

“Welcome everyone...thank you for joining us tonight for this concert by the QR Code Orchestra.”

What follows? A thank you to the patron(s) whose financial support has made it possible to present this concert.

Then the sponsors get their mention, followed by soft sell reminder of how audience contributions also provide necessary funding for concerts like these.

Then, special announcements and promotion of future concerts.

It’s about 8:09 pm, and now the concert is finally ready to begin.

But wait…what?

The same spokesperson is still on the stage, delivering what we normally call the “Preconcert Talk.” That can run from 6 to 10 minutes — or maybe it just feels like 10 minutes.

On some rare occasions, the speaker can deliver a riveting and entertaining 10 minute talk that feels like only 4 - 5 minutes. I’ve also heard charismatic and compelling talks that are only 3 - 4 minutes long.

Most often, we hear a flat, rambling talk — something that would be better read than said. Isn’t that what program notes are for?

The preconcert talker leaves the stage. (Sometimes the orchestra tunes again, but often they don’t.)

Then, finally, the conductor finally enters and starts the program.

It’s 8:19 pm.

*************

Remember the audience of late comers rushing to their seats at 8:04? Had they known the concert would start at 8:19, the stress of traffic, parking, the baby sitter showing up late, and that quick bite and drink before the concert probably wouldn’t have been so stressful.

Composer Jennifer Higdon once told me about a concert series where all of the donor information, news and mentions of upcoming concerts are presented on a recuring loop on a large screen behind the orchestra. It starts about 30 minutes before the concert begins, so everyone has multiple opportunities to see the messages.

And obviously the concert sponsors love the recuring loop because their message might be seen 4 - 6 times on the screen behind the orchestra or chamber ensemble.

Next time, a word about this thing that saves paper and printing costs, but does so at a price for the presenting ensemble.