Musician launches booking agency for local talent
After establishing herself at a young age in the New York City jazz arena, Erica von Kleist is out to make another big mark in the Flathead Valley’s cultural scene.
The 31-year-old flautist and saxophonist has started two major projects that will benefit Flathead Valley musicians of all genres.
About a week ago, she launched the Northwest Artist Syndicate, a booking agency and database of local professional artists and musicians. Von Kleist promises on the website that all of the artists are seasoned experts, with years of experience and extensive portfolios. Many of the names will be familiar to Flathead Valley music fans.
“I came here and saw that there’s a huge wealth of incredible talent, creative and musical, and I have been so embraced by this community that I just wanted to give back,” von Kleist said. “I wanted to be able to put a lot of the street smarts and knowledge I’ve learned to use here.
“It’s run by artists for artists,” von Kleist said of the new service.
Von Kleist believes that it’s not only necessary for artists to have an outlet for promotion, but that a database also smooths the way for businesses with the process of booking musicians.
“People can peruse the website and have me hire their bands for weddings, corporate events, parties — I’m also helping several local establishments streamline their music booking process. I’ve found it’s been kind of chaotic here, there can be double bookings or instances where a club forgets to compensate musicians on time. This tends to eliminate that.”
One of her first programs, for example, is setting up two to three nights of jazz a week at Tupelo Grille in Whitefish.
To see the roster of represented talent or for more information on Northwest Artist Syndicate, visit northwestartistsyndicate.com
Von Kleist’s second goal is the establishment of Groovetrail, a nonprofit organization that will bring the gift of live music to local community establishments, such as schools, veterans homes, retirement communities, and more.
She will be holding a kickoff concert for Groovetrail on March 23 at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center, featuring four-time Grammy nominee and renowned New York jazz pianist Gerald Clayton, as well as some local students.
“It will be kind of like a workshop on stage, to demonstrate the impact local musicians can have on a community,” she said.
Then she and Clayton are recording an album the next day at SnowGhost Studios in Whitefish, the proceeds from which she plans to give back to her nonprofit.