Thanks, Commercial Appeal, for a great article about the IBC! In 2004, when Jay Sieleman supervised his first International Blues Challenge, the musical competition was still a relatively modest one: 60 or so acts, mostly from the U.S., appearing at a handful of clubs on Beale Street over a few nights. Eleven years later, Sieleman, the outgoing Blues Foundation president and CEO, will be overseeing his last IBC and the growth in that interim has been impressive. In 2015, the IBC is a five-day extravaganza featuring 250 acts, playing 20-plus venues, with a finale at the Orpheum. The programming also includes youth and international showcases, the Keeping the Blues Alive awards presentation, and is expected to draw an average of 4,000 attendees each night when it kicks off on Tuesday (the IBC runs through Saturday Jan. 24). The 61 year-old Sieleman is set to retire from his post later this year. When all is said and done, his 12-year tenure will have helped usher in a dramatic period of growth, visibility and profitability for the foundation. Sieleman dramatically expanded the Blues Music Awards, strengthened relations with various member blues chapters and societies throughout the U.S. and abroad, and oversaw the development of a permanent Blues Music Hall of Fame, which will open Downtown in May. But his most visible success has been the exponential growth of International Blues Challenge. “We didn’t sit down and say, ‘OK, here’s our growth plan.’ It was more organic than that,” says Sieleman. “We always felt that if you keep delivering, then the word gets out. As the reputation of the Blues Foundation for doing its job and doing it well spread, more people wanted to be part of the foundation, and our affiliate numbers grew from around 100 to 200 blues [societies]. That growth opened up the numbers coming to the IBC.” The IBC’s momentum actually began to build in 2002 when the competition was first split into solo/duo and band categories, which began a major influx of new acts. “Ever since then, every year we seem to break more and more records for participants,” said Blues Foundation COO and IBC event coordinator Joe Whitmer. “We found that there were a lot of people wanting to compete as solo or duo acts and the numbers really increased there.” “By the same token, that’s how we found there was a need to add the Youth Showcase. We saw the average age of the competitors start to go down. We saw there were kids in elementary and high school playing great blues. So we developed the showcase to encourage some of the younger blues artists making music.” Additionally, making the “international” part of the International Blues Challenge mean something also proved a crucial element in the event’s development. Sieleman — who had a background in international trade and worked abroad for many years before coming to the foundation — made global outreach part of his mission. “Back in 2003 or 2004, with IBC, there was maybe an act or two from Australia, or an act or two from Canada, and maybe one from somewhere in Europe — but that was it,” said Sieleman. This year the IBC will have more than 50 acts from 19 different countries participating in the competition as well as Tuesday’s International Showcase at the New Daisy. “That’s the most we’ve had,” says Sieleman. “We’ve maybe had 15 or 16 before, but every year we keep inching up.” Unlike other music festivals that have experienced similar growth, Sieleman and the Foundation have a unique bond with their base of blues-loving members and fans. “We look at it that we have a close relationship with our customers,” Sieleman says. “They’re not just nameless people who buy a ticket at Ticketmaster or whatever. Cultivating those relationships is a big part of why we’ve seen growth.” In addition to all the official IBC activities, the last few years have seen rise of numerous “unofficial” daytime showcases and concerts piggybacking on the event. “Now, on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays during IBC there’s music all day and night Downtown,” says Sieleman. “We’ve always felt that if other folks want to come here and do stuff when we’re not doing it that’s fine; the more the merrier.” But, Sieleman admits, the rise of these nonsanctioned events could be problematic if they start to conflict with the IBC programming (Austin’s South by Southwest music conference has experienced similar issues with “unofficial” events). “It’s a tricky issue,” he says. “But those are growing pains. You have to look at them and try and figure out what’s best for everybody.” Dealing with those growing pains will be left to Sieleman’s successor. The Blues Foundation board plans to meet during IBC week. After that, the organization is expected to officially post the opening for Sieleman’s job and begin interviewing candidates. As for Sieleman, 2016 will bring another development in the International Blues Challenge: It’ll mark the first time in a dozen years that he’ll be attending as a spectator. “Well, we’ll have to see about that. A lot of people volunteer to make IBC happen and I suspect that Joe Whitmer is gonna have a few ideas of how I can volunteer too,” says Sieleman, laughing. “So I might’ve made a really dumb move here — I may still have to do a whole lot of work; I just won’t get paid for it.” 2015 International Blues Challenge The event runs Tuesday through Jan. 24 at various venues on and around Beale Street. The Blues Foundation is selling a $100 pass that covers all events. To purchase, go to blues.org, or call 901-527-2583. For a full list of acts, venues and more information, go to blues.org. Here are some highlights: Tuesday: The International Showcase takes place at 6:30 p.m. at the New Daisy, 330 Beale. Cover is $10 at the door. Wednesday and Thursday: Quarterfinals in both band and solo/duo competitions will be held in Beale Street venues. Wristbands are $10. Friday, Jan. 23: Semifinals in both the band and solo/duo competitions will take place in Beale Street clubs. This also includes the Youth Showcase, which begins around 5 p.m. Wristbands are $15. Saturday, Jan. 24: Doors open for the finals of band and solo/duo competitions at noon at the Orpheum, 203 S. Main. Tickets are $42.50. They can be purchased at Orpheum-Memphis or at the door.
Posted on: Fri, 16 Jan 2015 18:30:23 +0000