2010 Festival Wrap-Up, Guest Blogger Jessie Marino

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Jessie Marino is a cellist and performance artist based in NYC. She is an active member of Ensemble Pamplemousse, On Structure and the Wet Ink Ensemble. Most times she is seen wearing cowboy boots. Her work can be viewed at www.jessiemarino.com.::::: The thing that really struck me about the MATA Festival this year was the positive, supportive and relaxed vibe that was created by all who participated.It's probably a combination of things.The laid back atmosphere at LPR: beers being poured, waitresses making their rounds, snacking …the volcano shaking up concert programs, making us scramble to find last minute replacement players and extend hotel reservations….the bowl of cold Budweisers in the dressing room…. But mostly, it was the people.Audience members, players, composers, organizers, stage managers, even that dude who was always in the back painting, came out excited to experience something new and to put on a slamming show! At the end of the night, with beverage of choice in hand, everyone stayed to hang out, to awkwardly introduce themselves to one another, ask questions, share stories, do some shit talking, and even play [the video game] Rock Band!Festival concerts in New York often lack this feeling of camaraderie. We're all scrambling to make ends meet, and we're so focused on our own projects, that making time to meet new members of this crazy new music community is extremely difficult. But MATA, this year, put us all in the same room and created time for us to get to know one another. Like when you go to a festival far away in a remote town where there is nothing else to do after concerts but get drunk and make new friends.I know this makes me sound like a cynical drunk, but I mean it in the most positive way possible! Of course, the performances and new works presented, were absolutely top notch! This was not a surprise! - You guys at MATA do your research and have a history of finding seriously talented up-andcomers. But there is no telling how we're all going to get along!Basically, art is boring without interesting people.MATA 2010 was as much of a refreshing display of high quality people as it was a presentation of diverse and beautiful pieces of music.Well done everyone!