Thank you for the love and outpouring of support during these difficult times… we have been getting a lot of requests and inquiries for event reservations, but with a heavy heart we will temporarily remain closed until June 22, 2020.
The safety of our musicians, performers, clients, audiences and event staff is our top priority. While many are following the data, we are following the directives of the doctors, medical experts, and science. Stay safe, we love each and every one of you and can’t wait to see your smiling faces again.
We will get through this, together.
The New Orleans Music Company will remain the Soul and Sounds of the city when all this is over!
When we reopen next month (and will keep everyone informed on social media), social distancing and safety will remain our priority. The following is our planned reopening performance approach:
No public performances, large or small (live bands).
No outdoor stationary events (live bands).
No music club events with public attendance.
Wedding/Engagement Parades, band leading wedding party only.
DJ Truck available for DJ or live band.
Private events, case by case
With that said, are currently accepting reservations and date-holds. Many of our clients are rescheduling spring and summer events for fall and winter, so the sooner you can reserve your date, the better.
We look forward to providing the groove for your event(s) soon!
In the music together,
Dr. Brice Miller, founder @ The New Orleans Music Company
|From a Drone’s Lens View:| I’m starting to fall in love with view vantages of drone photography. Here’s the French Quarter, from Armstrong Park. These streets ain’t been this quiet, this long, in a long long time. And thinking about Armstrong…
Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans
And miss her each night and day
I know I’m not wrong because the feeling’s
Getting stronger the longer I stay away
Miss the moss-covered vines, tall sugar pines
Where mockingbirds used to sing
I’d love to see that old lazy Mississippi
Running in the spring
Moonlight on the bayous
Creole tunes fill the air
I dream about magnolias in June
And I’m wishin’ I was there
Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans
When that’s where you left your heart
And there’s one thing more, I miss the one I care for
More than I miss New Orleans!
NOTE: Looking for creative and innovative photography, video or droning services? @TheNewOrleansMusicCompany provides much more than music! http://www.thenomc.com
Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Monday that Louisiana will move intoPhase 1 reopening on May 15. Phase 1 is hoped to last 21 days until June 5, when the state could move into Phase 2. The order when issued later this week will also lift the 10-person gathering restriction but require all employees working with the public to wear masks.
Edwards encouraged those vulnerable individuals to stay home as much as possible.
Aquariums: open to the public at 25% of their capacity, with no organized tours and no tactile exhibits.
Barbers: open at 25% capacity with social distancing.
Bars: that hold state food service certificate will be able to do or take-out and delivery of food and alcohol and dine-in seating indoor services at 25% of their capacity; outside not crowd size limitations if social distancing practiced. No on-site consumption will be allowed if not seated at State Fire Marshal approved seating.
All non-essential business and all non-closed businesses: open to the public at 25% of capacity.
Casinos and video poker: open at no more than 25% of their capacity and gaming positions; guidance coming from Gaming Control Board.
Children’s museums: Remain closed.
Churches: indoor services at 25% of their capacity; outside not crowd size limitations if social distancing practiced.
Funerals: indoor services at 25% of their capacity; outside not crowd size limitations if social distancing practiced.
Gyms and fitness centers: open at 25% of their capacity; guidance coming on social distancing and sanitization.
Hair salons: open at 25% capacity with social distancing.
Malls: Anchor stores of shopping malls with exterior doors accessible by the public will be allowed to be open to the public at 25% capacity.
Malls: Interior mall stores can continue to offer their goods for sale to the public for curbside delivery only.
Massage parlors: Remain closed
Movie theaters: open to the public at 25% capacity; guidance coming on social distancing and sanitization.
Museums: open to the public at 25% of their capacity, with no organized tours and no tactile exhibits.
Nail salons: open at 25% capacity with social distancing.
Public Amusement locations: Remain closed
Racetracks: open for races without spectators only if approved by the Louisiana Racing Commission.
Restaurants, coffee shops, and cafes: open for indoor table service at 25% of their capacity; outdoor seating if social distancing practiced.
Spas: Remain closed
Tattoo parlors: Remain closed
Weddings: indoor services at 25% of their capacity; outside not crowd size limitations if social distancing practiced.
Youth baseball camps: not prohibited in previous orders, allowed with social distancing.
Youth summer camps: not prohibited in previous orders, allowed with social distancing.
Youth sleepover camps: Remain closed
Zoos: open to the public at 25% of their capacity, with no organized tours and no tactile exhibits.
How this will positively impact our company and the live entertainment industry is yet to be known, as we are not included, and have not been included in any conversations.
We are however looking forward to presenting music and entertainment services as soon as it is safe to do so.
|We Are So New Orleans:| It’s been a weird 9 weeks for us all, but I’m excited about some really cool projects I’ve been working on behind-the-scenes with some of the city’s acclaimed performers and @Hosts New Orleans!
Our music and culture is the heartbeat 💓 of New Orleans. As the city prepares to “reopen” and the tourism industry slowly returns, the music and culture will excitedly be waiting! Stay tuned for some really cool announcements this week…
We’re looking forward to celebrating culture with our visitors, guest and clients again!
🤷🏾♂️ I’m confused… somebody help me out here. It’s articles like this that disturb my chill.
Title says: New Orleans in the age of coronavirus is quiet and strange. But like after Katrina, musicians and artists are planning a revival
Article says: Trombone Shorty wants to drone from his roof (I can help you with that Lil’ Homie)… another dude been working on Bourbon Street since he was 8 years old (speaks volumes if you’re really interested)…
Article ask: “Is it like Katrina in New Orleans?” is the question that keeps recurring. It’s the event by which all disasters are measured.”
Article concludes with: “New Orleans survived Katrina and that makes its people feel like it can defeat anything. That’s New Orleans. Stay strong, stay firm and be for real and come back and do what you been doing.”
My problem with the article: WHAT IS THE REVIVAL MUSICIANS AND ARTIST ARE PLANNING and WHO ARE THE ARTIST AND MUSICIANS PLANNING IT?
My question: What is the revival plan? Who’s planning it? When will it be announced? How do New Orleans “musicians and artist” get involved?
My summary: These are the kind of articles that hurt the culture and cultural economy more than embracing the culture. It’s a feel good story with no resolve. Overall, it insinuates that the streets are quiet without our entertainment, but “the city” will return when this is over, because, you know, free music and dancing, that’s resiliency. But there’s no mention of economic support. No mention of PPE or small business support. No mention of millions of dollars being raised on “behalf of the culture” but never trickling down. No mention of financial or economic incentives.
Dear author, New Orleans musicians returned from Katrina broke, broken, battered, bruised, and with no plans or support mechanisms in place so we were forced to do what we do best, using our talents to pay the bills. Truthfully that’s resiliency. And that resiliency is no different from rebuilding your life after a house fire or tornado. But due to coronavirus, Ruth Chris’ received $20 million and Shake Shack received $10 million, and the New Orleans airport received $42 million. New Orleans musicians are still trying to receive $600 weekly unemployment benefits,
7 weeks into this pandemic!
—Dr. Brice Miller, founder @The New Orleans Music Company
|Today is PERFECT JazzFest’n Weather:| According to schedules and emails, I’m suppose to be heading from the trailer to backstage prep for my 2020 JazzFest performance…
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As per tradition, on today, the first Saturday of NOLA JazzFest, Dr. Brice Miller and the Mahogany Brass Band was scheduled to rock the Norman Dixon Jazz & Heritage Stage! We were looking forward to recording a live CD. I’d bought the freshest @colehaan shoes on the market; always fresh and sharp. I’d been working out too.
And to finally outdo @Trombone Shorty during our last song I’d planned to strip down to my purple pearled g-string underwear, pink polka dot socks and crowd surf! Well, I guess there’s always next year, hopefully…
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#iambricemiller #jazzfest #neworleansjazzfest #bam #jazzman #culturalentrepreneur #meetoo #trumpet #livingmybestlife #normandixon #mahoganybrassband #embracetheculture #cityofculture #theneworleansmusiccompany http://www.thenomc.com 📸by James Scott Cullen
Ah yes! This is our time of the year. Between the New Orleans French Quarter Festival (early April), JazzFest (last weekend of April and first weekend of May), through Essence Festival (July 4th weekend), The New Orleans Music Company is usually crazy busy, booking dozens of musicians at not only the festivals, but a host of weddings, parties, conventions, and more.
Well, thanks to this ol’ pesky COVID19, let’s just say the new normal ain’t no fun.
To being a little cheer during these dark times, our friends over at WWOZ (wwoz.org or 90.7FM in New Orleans) decided to dig into their archives and organize a sorta virtual JazzFest. They’ll be airing performances throughout the next two weekends. They’ve even created cool performance “cubes” that JazzFest is known for. So if you want some New Orleans in your life, tune-in!
Our new era of physical distancing forced the eight-day festival to cancel for the first time in its history, but WWOZ 90.7 FM is still celebrating the music with Jazz Festing in Place.
So, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays, April 23-26, and April 30-May 3, WWOZ will broadcast performances from Jazz Fests past, including sets by Ella Fitzgerald with Stevie Wonder (airing at noon Thursday), Fats Domino, Little Queenie, Dr. John, Alvin Batiste, Herbie Hancock, Widespread Panic, Allen Toussaint, Big Freedia, Pete Seeger and the Neville Brothers. There will also be second line broadcasts and the 1974 “Fire Benefit,” featuring Professor Longhair, the Wild Magnolias and Dr. John. That airs Friday, May 1.
The New Orleans Music Company is glad to have two of our performers featured: Dr. Brice Miller and the Mahogany Brass Band and Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra. We’d also encourage you to check out gospel superstar Raymond Miles (RIP). See the schedule (cubes) below:
To help make the experience as real-life as possible, we will be selling our artist CDs online for $17 (includes shipping) and $15 for download card. All we need is your email address and phone number. Visit the this link and tell us what you’d like —> https://thenomc.com/contact/
Dr. Brice Miller and his Mahogany Brass Band gets people grooving at the New Orleans Jazz Festival, 2018.
So, on today, April 14, 2020, New Orleans Mayor Cantrell recommends no festivals for 2020 due to coronavirus. The New Orleans Music Company ask: Is this the best approach? Were any additional options such as utilizing digital platforms and Pay Per View? Might this be a deathblow to an already fragile tourism-centric economy?
Mayor LaToya Cantrell put New Orleans on notice Tuesday that the festivals and major events postponed by the coronavirus outbreak may not be happening this year at all.
In a press conference at City Hall to update residents on the city’s coronavirus response, Cantrell said she was recommending that the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and other large events be put on hold for the rest of 2020, a move that would keep potential visitors from igniting a new COVID-19 outbreak even if it choked off the city’s tourism-focused economy for several more months.
Her staff later said it was too soon to discuss the possibility of an executive order to that effect, but said that Cantrell has been in touch with some festival organizers about her wishes.
“My opinion is all of that should be pushed back, period,” Cantrell said. “Absolutely no large events as it relates to the year of 2020.”
The recommendation, if enacted, would mean the cancellation of this year’s Jazz Fest, which was postponed until the fall, as well as the Essence Festival of Culture, the French Quarter Festival and a host of other events that together bring millions of tourists to the city and have either been postponed or were still planned for later this year.
When calling for the festival cancellations, Cantrell said she worried not just about New Orleans’ progress in “flattening the curve” and reducing the number of cases — and deaths — from the pandemic, but about the progress in slowing the spread of COVID-19 in other states that might have residents who travel to New Orleans for those events.
The mayor’s staff said her recommendation on events extends even to smaller gatherings on the city’s festival circuit, like the Oak Street Po-Boy Festival, which planned to finalize its date this month.
Festival organizers did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday. In a prepared statement, Mark Romig, Chief Marketing Officer of New Orleans & Co., which promotes tourism in the city, said that the city’s tourism industry would be guided by the advice of health experts and government officials.
“We all know how important our festivals are to our economy and, most importantly, we know that must follow the guidelines that federal, state and city health experts and leadership recommend to safeguard our health,” Romig said. “We will get back to hosting festivals just as soon as it is prudent to do so.”
But Cantrell stopped short of saying whether her recommendation would apply to New Orleans Saints games and the 76,000-odd fans that pack into the Mercedes-Benz Superdome for every home game.
Cantrell said that the NFL as a whole is struggling with those decisions.
“Those who are in the right position to have those types of conversations, they are having them. And I believe they will end up in the right place,” Cantrell said. “But at the end of the day, we have to be realistic. And I think the data should drive what we’re able to do.”
The information above is from today’s local newspaper.
In a separate interview, the founder of The New Orleans Music Company shared a few thoughts on today’s announcement:
Considering all, Dr. Brice Miller, former Director of Cultural Economy for the City of New Orleans isn’t sure Cantrell’s announcement was timely nor supported by industry experts and festival organizers. “Yes, this is a public health crisis we are dealing with globally. However, this is also 2020, not 1920. Technology is both our friend and our primary communication during these unprecedented times,” Miller said.
“This seems like another knee-jerk reaction from the Mayor. There are multiple ways each of these festivals and event could be hosted using cyber presentations and viewing, including Pay-Per-View, which still supports the economic impact of these massive events. People all over the world love New Orleans. Imagine folk from every corner of the planet paying to watch New Orleans musicians and cultural performers bring some happiness to this current dim world? Unfortunately, Cantrell dampened the possibilities by not having those who’re most informed on her team.”
“Remember how after Katrina we touted how resilient New Orleans was? Hosting these festivals, in innovative ways would be the best way to highlight resilience isn’t just a political feel good term,” Miller stated.
As one of the premiere musician-owned entertainment providers, today’s notice from the Mayor is like striking up the funeral dirge. To now think, March 14th through the remainder of the year, no gigs, no performances, no cultural economy…
What are your thoughts on the Mayor’s announcement? What options do you think should be considered?
UPDATE: The following statement was issued by the New Orleans Saints football team following Cantrell’s comments:
“We are preparing to play and we are being very proactive in working with health care professionals, our medical staff and both the NBA and NFL. In addition, we are in constant contact with local and state government,” said Greg Bensel, senior vice president of communications and broadcast for the Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans.
Bensel added that when the Saints return in the fall, “our highest priority will be the health and safety of our fans, staff, players and coaches. It is what we need to do and are doing relative to planning to play and we will be ready.”
“And considering the economic and cultural significance of the Saints, we are working to do everything in our power to make it work. It’s too important for our city,” Bensel said.
How quickly our lives have changed. From packed clubs on Frenchmen Street to outdoor weddings, performing for big and small events, private and public, touring the world to suddenly having ALL events canceled, clubs closed, and mandated “Stay At Home” orders from state and local leaders. But today, we celebrate LIFE!
Dear Friends,
If you could join The New Orleans Music Company in saying Happy Birthday to New Orleans’ own –– Dr. Brice Miller!
There is so much we can celebrate. His many accomplishments. His representation of the city and culture he loves so much. The ways in which he brings about positivity and happiness through both his music and his spirit. His love for his family. Maybe the simple fact that he has invested so much in celebrating New Orleans. But considering everything, we’d like to celebrate that on today, we can celebrate life.
Thanks to coronavirus, there won’t be a party, a parade, a crawfish boil, a barbecue, nor a gathering with friends and family. We cyber-celebrating!
Let’s sing, for my dad… Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy birthday Dr. Brice Miller aka super cool dad, loving husband, and awesome trumpeter. Happy birthday to you!
In the groove together,
Milan Miller, Operations Manager
Dr. Brice Miller is SO NEW ORLEANS!
Have you heard Dr. Miller’s newest New Orleans theme song? If not, take a listen below!
May 11, 2020–New Orleans
Ah yes! This is our time of the year. Between the New Orleans French Quarter Festival (early April), JazzFest (last weekend of April and first weekend of May), through Essence Festival (July 4th weekend), The New Orleans Music Company is usually crazy busy, booking dozens of musicians at not only the festivals, but a host of weddings, parties, conventions, and more.
