We asked our Volunteer Ushers what they’d like for the holidays… and they said, “More volunteers, of course!” This Mid-Week Intermission celebrates the unsung heroes of the Long Center who greet every patron, know every seat, and answer every question. Read on to learn what they love about volunteering at the Long Center and why you should throw your hat in the ring.
What's Volunteering All About?
You’ve seen them in the lobbies, you’ve been greeted by a smile… who knows, maybe you’ve even needed help finding your seat! Long Center experiences start and end with our Volunteer Ushers, and boy, do they have a job to do. With events ranging from 20 to 2500 people, plus countless outdoor shows, festivals, movies, and community events for thousands more… we’re always recruiting! So, what’s it all about?
It can take as many as 50 volunteers to staff a full-house performance in Dell Hall, and sometimes even more for an outdoor event. By helping you find your seat, engaging with guests, answering any and every question you may have, and providing excellent customer service, our volunteer team sets the Austin standard for an excellent experience. But whether they’ve been with us for six months or since we opened in 2008, each of our ushers would say it’s about giving back to the Austin community they love. And who wouldn’t want to see a show while they do that?
We asked:
How long have you been volunteering at the Long Center?
13 years
— Michelle
Over 10 years. Came to the public grand opening and was impressed!
— Carol
7 years. My wife said I needed something to do as I had retired. Love being a volunteer!
— Gary
6 months. I love giving back and socializing, especially in the arts.
— Rusty
Peek Behind the Curtain... Literally
There’s one perk of joining the team that beats them all, though… the shows! While our volunteer ushers keep our events seamless, safe, and enjoyable for everyone, they also get to see some great shows for free. From opera to ballet, Hasan Minhaj to Ina Garten, and The Avett Brothers to Gina Chavez, this is the best way to discover your next creative obsession. (And maybe even get a picture with them!)
Plus, you’ll also get a peek behind the curtain at how the events you attend every day are constructed, produced, and executed — a new perspective on the arts and music on which Austin runs. And with a calendar as full and varied as ours, you’ll never get bored.
We asked:
What’s your favorite thing about volunteer ushering?
Networking and learning about event production.
—Rusty
Engaging with the attendees, especially ones who have never been to the Long Center before.
— Katrina
Being around other people who enjoy and appreciate the arts as I do.
— Lesvia
I love the variety of shows and performances I get to experience.
— Pam
We asked:
What’s your most memorable ushering experience?
Singing along with Frankie Valle! (quietly)
— Gary
Watching a family open bags of Doritos at the ballet.
— Rusty
My most memorable ushering experience? Well that’s like picking a favorite child. Between Austin Opera, Ballet Austin’s Nutcracker, Whoopie Goldberg, comedians like Billy Crystal, banjo players like Steve Martin, etc., I just cannot do it.
— Lisa
So, what are you waiting for?? We’re inviting anyone 18 or older to join the team. If you love events, people, and live performances, you’re exactly who we’re looking for. Apply today, and we’ll let you know when the next official training takes place!
We asked:
Why should other Austinites volunteer with us?
Reasons include sharing a spectacular space where you can witness and experience the magic of phenomenal talent and creativity unfolding life; in front of your very eyes!
— Lesvia
Experience camaraderie, see great shows, greet great people.
— Maria
Whether you live in Austin, Buda, Kyle, Round Rock, Pflugerville, San Marcos, etc., you should volunteer at the Long Center because it’s like automatically joining a fraternity or sorority. You will gain lifetime friendships with some awesome people.
— Lisa
It’s a wonderful opportunity to see great shows.
— Pam
Well, there you have it — we can’t wait for you to join the team. And to all of our volunteers… thank you!
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
This Friday, we welcome the Latin GRAMMY-winning sounds of Flor de Toloache to our H-E-B Terrace for lookOUT! We caught up with this all-female mariachi ensemble before the show to hear how they’ve stayed curious, connected, and creative over the past year. Read on and join us Friday with Las Cafeteras and Austin locals The Los Sundowns.
GET CURIOUS WITH FLOR DE TOLOACHE
Long Center: Tell us a little bit about how Flor de Toloache has handled the chaos of the last year. How did you stay creative? What was rehearsal like How did you stay connected to each other?
Flor de Toloache: As a band we were as physically distant as we could possibly be, with Mireya in New Zealand, Shae in New Jersey, etc. for 17 months. We connected via Facetime and other streaming platforms to make music together, writing and performing solo with each other on the other side.
Lots of Instagram and Facebook Lives started off the pandemic and from there we began the whole performing-from-home thing by recording ourselves, each doing our own audio and video, sharing files, and stitching together “live” performances. We kept in touch with other artists and continued writing, collaborating, and releasing music! We definitely gained new skills as sound engineers and videographers LOL, but we are so relieved and happy to be performing live again.
Long Center: We’re incredibly excited to be launching our lookOUT series this fall with such a broad lineup, including your performance with Las Cafeteras on November 12th.
What’s it been like to tour again? Has it been exciting, nerve-wracking, or freeing to play for crowds once again?
Flor de Toloache: Playing live music, TOGETHER, actually physically together, in front of a physical audience is both amazing and, at first, was strange. The overwhelming feeling, however, is that everyone on stage and in the audience is clearly THRILLED and overjoyed to be partaking in the unparalleled experience of live music. It is a blessing and we are so excited to be a part of the Long Center’s lookOUT series performing with our very close friends, Las Cafeteras.
Long Center: Any new projects or albums in the works that you can share with us?
Flor de Toloache: We are working on releasing a rock covers album that we started recording over the pandemic as well as new music for our fourth album. In addition, we just released a new song with superstar Ximena Sariñana, “El Amor Más Grande.”
Long Center: What can our lookOUT concertgoers expect from your show on November 12th?
Flor de Toloache: LookOUT concertgoers can expect a music journey, an exploration of our traditional mariachi instruments through our original songs that span many genres, powerful vocal performances, rich with harmonies, and lots of smiles and gritos!
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
Our weekly dose of curiosity comes from Las Cafeteras, whose community-building, Afro-Mexican beats are not only magnetic, but also headed your way soon. Hear from the band in today’s Mid-Week Intermission, and don’t miss out on their November 12th lookOUT performance with Flor de Toloache and Austin locals The Los Sundowns. And now, let’s see how Las Cafeteras stayed creative, curious, and connected.
GET CURIOUS WITH LAS CAFETERAS
Long Center: Tell us a little bit about how Las Cafeteras has handled the chaos of the last year. How did you stay creative? What was rehearsal like How did you stay connected to each other?
Las Cafeteras: In retrospect, the band needed a break. We have been going strong for 10 years and when the Quarantine happened, the step back was much needed. The break allowed for each individual to be creative in their own space and to create art that was more reflective of the individual, rather than the collective.
When it came to recording, work was done remotely and through online sharing. We would book studio dates, get tested 2X and then record ideas. Creatively speaking, we were on FIRE! We put out more content this last year than we did in the last 3 years.
Long Center: We’re incredibly excited to be launching our lookOUT series this fall with such a broad lineup, including your performance with Flor de Toloache on November 12th.
What’s it been like to tour again? Has it been exciting, nerve-wracking, or freeing to play for crowds once again?
Las Cafeteras: We’re not the same band that we were before Quarantine… I don’t think anybody is, and I don’t mean that as a bad thing. The band was already at a crossroads with our sound and performance. With the release of songs like “Long Time Coming” and “La Sirena,” it is clear that we have matured sonically and have had to grow our performance as well.
But you can’t really hone in on your performance without performing. IF there was an emotion for high anxiety and excitement that’s where we’re at.
Long Center: Any new projects or albums in the works that you can share with us?
Las Cafeteras: We just released our latest single, “Oaxaca Love Song No2,” a rockin’ sonic homage to Oaxaca culture, comida, and Indigenous resilience. The music video is a hot black and white throwback to the Mexican Rock ‘n’ Roll era of the late ’50s. The song will be part of an upcoming EP.
Long Center: As we get back out into the open, we’re encouraging all of our readers to give into their curiosity and discover new artists, hobbies, art, or community organizations, or even revisit the activity that’s already around them.
What has Las Cafeteras become curious about? What will you explore next?
Las Cafeteras: In Quarantine, we explored a lot of collaborations. We worked with rappers in swing states, a Hip Hop producer in Seattle, artists in the Southwest (Arizona and El Paso), and worked with several different dance companies.
We want to continue to work with different artists, within and outside of our genre.
Long Center: What can our lookOUT concertgoers expect from your show on November 12th?
Las Cafeteras: We’re gonna take the audience on a journey. From Jarocho to Hip Hop, from Folk to Funk, from Afro-Mexican to Americana. We’re gonna dance, groove, and move together.
We can’t wait.
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
Travel the world with Jordan Price, Long Center’s Membership Manager! In today’s Mid-Week Intermission, he shares what curiosity and a love for community building has sparked in his own life, plus how the Long Center’s Membership program can help you find that spark of curiosity, too.
MEET OUR NEW MEMBERSHIP MANAGER
Pleased to meet you!
I’m Jordan.
I have a thing for stringed instruments born of circumstance; music evoking a deep sense of place. I express curiosity through relentless questioning and intermittent travel. It brought me to Nkhatabay for Gasper Nali’s babatoni, Cheikh Ahmàdu Bamba’s Sufi Islam Brotherhood for kora, and Thabana Ntlenyana’s lesiba.
Twenty years ago, I studied history and art history — two subjects which rarely translate to gainful employment outside of academia. When a professor mentioned her groundbreaking research in Hellenistic Tarquinia handled mirror iconography, I smiled, nodded, and silently acknowledged it was time I find a new career path. Through frequent travel and extended trips in Greece, Lesotho, and Malawi, I discovered a love for building communities curious about humanity and an insatiable desire to move beyond the habitual.
Prior to arriving at the Long Center, I held membership-building roles on Galveston Island and with Austin’s Audubon chapter. Birders have “spark birds,” the gateway critter which tickles your heart, providing the perfect introduction to avifauna.
Is there a corresponding term for music? Robert Johnson was my “spark artist,” igniting a lifelong passion for Delta blues. I need a better term for this, though — please send me your recommendations.
FIND YOUR "SPARK ART" AT THE LONG CENTER
We’ve developed the Long Center’s Membership program to intentionally create community; by always providing priority access to our fantastic lineup, and occasional free tickets — complemented by our book club, Member’s Lounge, and thought-provoking experiences to reflect a diversity of perspectives.
Become a Member by Friday at noon, and I’ll enter you in a giveaway for 4 FREE Box Seats to Neil deGrasse Tyson’s “Delusions of Space Enthusiasts” on January 18, 2022. Thanks for reading!
— Jordan
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
Are you ready for a choose-your-own mixtape adventure? Good, because that’s exactly what Bobby Garza, our VP of Programs and Community Outreach — and Resident Playlist Maker — has put together for you in today’s Mid-Week Intermission. So find your best headphones and prepare to get a little curious as Bobby takes us on a tour of the past year through music.
THIS MIXTAPE ADVENTURE STARTS HERE
Why, hello there.
I’m Bobby.
I have a confession to make: I was NOT one of those people who learned how to make sourdough over the lockdown. I’m not saying I don’t appreciate that sort of gumption, it just requires more energy than I feel like I can muster at any given moment.
Actually… hold on, friend. I can call you that, yes? Before we go any further, there’s something missing. Let’s start here. Did you click that link? If that one doesn’t work, try this one. Without exception, good conversations have good soundtracks — this should be no exception.
Because we’re friends now, give the song a minute while you read on. I’ll wait.
I grew up when mixtapes were a language of love and friendship, a vehicle for culture and discovery. I consider myself a High Fidelity-level practitioner of this language — likely the only other one in which I’m fluent. I’d spend hours finding the right time on the radio to record something when the right song finally came on or strategically stealing moments using my sister’s dual cassette component stereo after a painstaking list was worked out with pen and paper, chock full of arrows, strikethroughs, and underlines. In my heart and my brain it feels like this when I’m working on a mix.
I spent the first part of lockdown like many workers in our industry: out of work. It’s terrifying, and we’ve lost so many in our field in the last 18 months for myriad and tragic reasons. The shows, productions, and events happening right now — bringing people some semblances of normalcy — are fueled by gig workers on double shifts and salaried employees still not back to 100% staffing. I spent a lot of time talking to my friend Steve Knopper about this for months as part of Billboard’s amazing interview series, “In a Pandemic.”
Luckily, like a lot of parents during this time, my days were filled as the worst stand-in for a teacher’s aide/cafeteria worker/janitor. My nights, however, still had the same soundtrack much like the songs I’m hoping you’ve still got playing.
Let’s switch up the song for a minute.
In that time, I was amazed to see really incredible efforts of community arise, like “A Night for Austin,” produced by our pals at Luck, and Red River Cultural District’s Banding Together. I was also particularly moved by the campaign from the Hi, How Are You Project that had a singular challenge to check in with your loved ones and simply ask each other, “Hi, How Are You?” Mental health during this ridiculously hard last year and a half is something that has resonated with me, and if you get through this far in this intermission, I’d encourage everyone to send a text/email, or make a call or a surprise visit to a loved one. You never know how much they might need it right now.
And just like that, we need to change mood… If you’ve got the time, I’d say wait until :51 when the drums break and the vocals start…
…because I was hired by the Long Center and the world felt like it was spinning on its axis a little more true. I, for one, could not be more thankful for the opportunity to be here listening to good music and talking to you about the Long Center’s accomplishments and plans.
If you want to let that song play out, I’ll wait here because we need a different tone for this next bit, and I promise I’m wrapping up. If you’re still here, I appreciate you.
In the last year, this team has done so much in so little time. We’ve created new content from whole cloth, like:
LONG LIVE MUSIC
Incredible moments of socially-distanced performances with touring artists and local favorites.
GOOD VIBES ONLY
Professionally-produced virtual series featuring the best of Austin’s music scene.
THE DROP-IN
16 weeks of free, local music on our H-E-B Terrace.
Honestly, this feels like a good place to change the music. We’ve also played host to community events from some of my favorite organizations doing critical work in our community, like Six Square, Black Fret, and Musician Treatment Foundation.
When asked how I would characterize what we’ve been up to, I wrote the following: As the world navigates through the uncertainty and trepidation surrounding the pandemic, the Long Center concentrated on finding singular, authentic voices; creating new partnerships with trailblazing organizations hosting memorable performances; and highlighting local artists and creativity.
I think that sill holds true… and a good music segue. We’ve been on a mission to find authentic, inspiring voices, and we hope that you’ll take the leap and come along on this journey.
The part about which I’m most excited is the new content we have in store for you… starting with Long Center’s lookOUT. LookOUT is a celebration of diversity and creativity, an exercise in discovery rooted in extraordinary music. If you’ve been with us at all over the last year through one of our programs, gone to a socially-distant show or tuned into a virtual performance, I’d encourage you to be curious and check out something new with us. For the price of dinner and a movie, you can get hours of fodder for the soundtracks to your next conversations.
And just like that, I’ve taken up too much of your time for this to be an intermission. If you stuck around, thank you for indulging me and I hope to see you soon. You can play this one on the way out…
— Bobby
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
With the start of Hispanic Heritage Month just behind us, we caught up with second-generation Austinite Christine Martinez-Escobar, President / General Manager and Director of Sales at Univision Austin, for a look at her Austin experience and the work of the Univision community. Plus, we got a little behind-the-scenes peek at the filming of Univision’s 2021 “El Grito” celebration event. Check it out here if you haven’t yet!
GET TO KNOW CHRISTINE
Greetings, all, and happy Last Day of Summer! I don’t know about each of you, but I’m eager to say hello to my favorite season of the year — FALL! Although I love hanging out poolside with my family and pup in the summer months, we all look forward to the start of fall music and art festivals, football, and the holiday season.
Allow me to officially introduce myself before I get too carried away with the awesomeness of Autumn! My name is Christine Martinez-Escobar and I’m a proud second generation Austinite — AKA, a unicorn these days. As a lover of all things Austin, I’m a proud graduate of the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Science in Advertising and have made Austin my home for the last 42.5 years.
Believe it or not, I married a unicorn, too, as I met my husband at a UT tailgate — in the fall — following our love for UT football. Granted, we opted to get married in the summer so that our anniversary didn’t conflict with Longhorn Football — ha! Call us crazy Orangebloods, but funnily enough, our two loving boys Christian (10) and Austin (7 1/2), were born in June and December so we don’t have to worry about hosting our kiddos birthday parties on a Texas Football weekend, either. (Side note: our Goldendoodle, Bolt (1), does have a September birthday, but he’s happy with a belly-rub and a game of fetch.)
HISPANIC HEARTBEAT OF AMERICA
While football, family, music events, and our boys’ extracurricular activities keep us busy on the weekends, this #BoyMom certainly has a full plate of duties as the President / General Manager and Director of Sales at Univision Austin Local Media. I’m blessed to say that I’ve had the privilege of being a part of a company that serves as the Hispanic Heartbeat of America for over 18.5 years, connecting with families via all paltforms: Univision 62, UniMás 31, 104.3 La Que Buena, 107.7 Amor & 104.3 HD2 TUDN Radio and UnivisionAustin.com.
Since joining Univision Austin in 2003, I’ve seen tremendous growth and significant change in the Austin Hispanic market. As the leading Spanish-Language media and content company in the U.S., it is our responsibility to educate, empower, inform, and entertain the growing Hispanic audience in Central Texas and beyond. Whether it’s through our News, Radio, Community Empowerment, Marketing, Promotions, Production, Ad Sales, or Engineering Departments, I take great pleasure in working alongside a passionate group of 50+ team members who are eager to serve the loyal Hispanic Community.
Providing opportunities for Hispanics in Health, Education, Civic Engagement, Financial Stability, and Culture and Arts is what makes my work life so rewarding. Through these empowerment platforms, Univision Austin works to establish meaningful relationships and lasting partnerships with key organizations and contacts, such as the Long Center. We most recently hosted a performance for our annual “El Grito” event from the H-E-B Terrace showcasing a cultural celebration centered around Diez y Seis de Septiembre, Mexico’s Independence Day. Dancers from Ray Lozano’s Ballet Folklorico were featured with the Austin skyline as a backdrop as we produced and recorded a portion of our “El Grito” telecast — airing on our Univision 62 television property.
The partnership that Univision and the Long Center have established spans the last 10 years, when we first hosted our state-wide music award show, “Premios Texas,” from the Michael and Susan Dell Hall. Various Spanish musical acts encompassing all genres and categories performed in front of a full house, complete with awards and memorable moments — broadcast on Univision properties across Texas.
In addition to the excitement within the workplace, I enjoy representing Univision as an active member of the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (@GAHCC) as well as holding a board position on the Texas Association of Broadcasters (@txbroadcasters) and the 4ATX Foundation (@4ATXFoundation). My involvement in media has also included serving as President and Vice President for the Alliance for Women in Media (@AWMAustin) where I was most recently awarded with the Trailblazer of Excellence Award for my service and involvement in the local media community.
FAMILY TIMES AT THE LONG CENTER
Before I wrap up to allow you to get your first pumpkin spice latte of the 2021 fall season, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the amazing memories that the Long Center has helped me create with my fun-loving hubby and wonderful kiddos. As I can’t pick just one, I’ll share a few with you in case it takes you down your own memory lane while you sip on your version of cozy pumpkin in a cup!
I’m humbled and grateful to represent the ever-changing Hispanic Community in the great city of Austin alongside so many esteemed leaders, professionals, and organizations. My love for the capital of Texas is accentuated by the vast number of iconic landmarks and venues that serve music and the arts, just like the Long Center. It is through partnerships and connections we all make that elevate the status and bond that is alive and strong in Austin. Thank you to my family and villages for allowing me to serve, and welcome fall!
— Christine
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
This week’s Mid-Week Intermission features The Deer’s own Grace Rowland. Read along and find out how Grace has gotten back to art, back to writing, and back to amplified sound. Catch The Deer’s mix of folk, psych, and dream-pop on tonight’s Good Vibes Only, streaming at 7pm.
Dear Readers,
Grace here, from The Deer! We had the pleasure of filming our Good Vibes Only session at the Long Center back in November — it was the first amplified show we had played in many months and it felt like a dream. Playing music is our lifeblood, something we do 300 days out of most years. Having it taken away was a feeling not many can sympathize with, but the folks a the Long Center knew exactly what we were going through and made the experience feel so smooth and so safe.
So, what’s Grace been up to?
In lieu of musical performances, I’ve devoted much of my time to my second passion: art. Before the pandemic, my graphic design “day job” consisted mostly of show flyers and other promotional material, and band merch like stickers and tee shirts.
Since there’s not a lot of that going on either, I have been able to work more on my stained glass and cut paper gallery work. My partner and I have also begun building out a tour van, for the day when we can finally get on the road again. The bonus is that we have plenty of time to make it just right.
Pictured is my favorite spot to write and practice — on my great aunt Lucy’s upright piano, in my living room in South Austin. My quarantine puppy and co-writer Pippin is ready to help me create.
I just want to close with my deepest sympathies for all whose lives have been upended this year. You are not alone; don’t be afraid to reach out. We who thrive on the warmth of the stage lights and the roar of the crowd will have our day in the sun again. We need only bide our time until our culture blossoms once again, for after the great plague came the Renaissance.
Blessings to you and to your homes.
Grace
Tune In — You can catch Grace tonight on Good Vibes Only featuring The Deer. Click here at 7pm to see the show streaming free on Luck.Stream from our friends at Luck Reunion. See you there!
Rounding out our year is a Mid-Week Intermission from A.J. Bingham, Long Center Board Chair, with more about his work with the Long Center, what we see for the new year, and love & support for Austin’s creative community.
Hi, I’m A.J. Bingham, Chair of the Long Center Board of Trustees. I’m going on my sixth year on the board, having served in various committee capacities before I accepted the role of Chair this year.
Professionally I’m an entrepreneur and lobbyist, founding my firm, Bingham Group, nearly four years ago after seven years of municipal and state lobbying. I grew up in Austin by way of my father, an Air Force officer, who brought us back to the states (from Germany) when he got stationed at the then Bergstrom Air Force Base, now the airport.
2020 has been one of the most challenging years for the Long Center and Austin’s creative economy as a whole. But seeing firsthand the development of our staff and board over the last several years and understanding our organization’s dedication to the Austin creative community, there was zero hesitancy in assuming my new leadership role for the Long Center.
I’ve always been inspired by the Long Center’s earnest prioritization of community engagement in the arts. While we will always be the permanent performance home of Ballet Austin, Austin Opera, and Austin Symphony Orchestra, our staff and board understand the future is in making the Long Center a hub and home for Austin’s diverse creative community.
That’s why I am so excited that the Long Center is partnering with the City of Austin’s SAVES initiative to administer the Austin Live Music Venue Preservation Fund, distributing $5M in city-funded relief grants to music venues facing imminent closure.
Austin can’t be the “Live Music Capital of the World” without our live music venues. They are the foundation of our growing economy, cultural hubs and incubators for the creative industry, not to mention the thousands of jobs they provide for Austinites.
Our partnership with the City’s SAVES initiative is allowing the Long Center to extend our mission and serve Austin’s arts community beyond our own walls.
But this is just the start of the future we are building for Austin’s artists and performers. This grant program is the first of our long-term strategy to support the sector and create a stable foundation for our artistic community.
This COVID crisis has revealed the true fragility of Austin’s creative economy and this next year will continue to present challenges for our industry.
As we enter 2021, we hope you’ll join us on this journey and support the work we are doing for Austin’s creative community with a donation to the Long Center.
A.J.’s Top 5 Favorites — Catch up with these Austin Venues & Artists
Check in with these Austin taplesa dn be the first to know what they’re up to in 2021.
TOP 5 FAVORITE AUSTIN VENUES
Stubbs
The Belmont
Elephant Room
Historic Scoot Inn
The Skylark Lounge
TOP 5 FAVORITE AUSTIN BANDS & ARTISTS
