Mask Up NOLA: Our Culture Depends on It!

|Covid19:| Dear New Orleans, I am Dr. Brice Miller, an internationally performing jazz trumpeter/vocalist. As a cultural entrepreneur, my company @TheNewOrleansMusicCompany provides entertainment for some of the biggest events/festivals in the city and beyond. Are you missing the culture and sounds of New Orleans?

Mask up, New Orleans: It’s a matter of life, death and those of us in the cultural economy are yearning to return to our livelihoods. We’ve been silent since March 14th. Coronavirus is not a hoax. Enough is enough. We’ve lost enough people. All of festivals and cultural events have been canceled. Sunday second-lines are silent. Our cultural economy is dead. Our tours canceled. Let’s do it for all of us… MASK UP NOLA!

#maskup #coronavirus #covid19 #pandemic #culturaleconomy #maskupnola #cityofculture #theneworleansmusiccompany #jazzparty #uptownjazzorchestra #jazzman 📸by Brice Miller, Jr aka @bamcapture (age15)

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 Posted on June 27, 2020 by

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During these unprecedented times: What’s next?

|Keep Your Eyes on Your Prize:| Don’t let today’s darkness and chaos make you lose focus… Remember Your Purpose. Remember Your Goals. Keep Shining!

#iambricemiller #livingmybestlife #culturalentrepreneur #cityofculture #reallife #jazzman #engagetheculture #onetimeinnola #fullyfocused http://www.thenomc.com

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 Posted on June 3, 2020 by

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It’s Memorial Day!

|Celebrating Memorialization Day:| Different things have different meanings for different people…

This day has ALWAYS been about family. This is the day the entire family and friends would gather at our house for barbecue, fried fish and plenty drinking. This is the day we would have the first family pool party of the summer. This is the day my dad and his brothers would always get drunk, together. This is the day my dad bought me a brand new sports car, off the showroom floor, for my high school graduation present.

Since being married, this is the day my parents would start calling me at the break of dawn to come clean the pool, straighten the yard, assemble furniture they’d Somehow bought the night before, clean the grill, cook the food, and try to learn my secret barbecue sauce! Sadly, the reality is this is the first Memorial Day without my dad. Today, I’m swinging on my front porch shedding on the trumpet my friend @scottfrock just cop’d me. My dad’s not here and Covid19 won’t let us gather as a family, but at least I have a trumpet in my hand. He’d be proud. No, he is proud!

#today #memorialday #thinkingaboutmydad #billywhiteshoes #wearethemillers #familyfirstalways #dwightmiller #jazzmen #soneworleans

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 Posted on May 25, 2020 by

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Coping with Covid19 This Summer: The New Orleans Music Company

From Camping To Dining Out: Here’s How Experts Rate The Risks Of 14 Summer Activities (borrowed from NPR News with our pics inserted!)

Dr. Brice Miller practicing the tuba in his front yard during Covid19 pandemic 2020

It has been around two months of quarantine for many of us. The urge to get out and enjoy the summer is real. But what’s safe? We asked a panel of infectious disease and public health experts to rate the risk of summer activities, from backyard gatherings to a day at the pool to sharing a vacation house with another household.

One big warning: Your personal risk depends on your age and health, the prevalence of the virus in your area and the precautions you take during any of these activities. Also, many areas continue to restrict the activities described here, so check your local laws.

And there’s no such thing as a zero-risk outing right now. As states begin allowing businesses and public areas to reopen, decisions about what’s safe will be up to individuals. It can help to think through the risks the way the experts do.

“We can think of transmission risk with a simple phrase: time, space, people, place,” explains Dr. William Miller, an epidemiologist at Ohio State University.

Dr. Brice Miller at New Orleans,May 24, 2020 #maskup

Here’s his rule of thumb: The more time you spend and the closer in space you are to any infected people, the higher your risk. Interacting with more people raises your risk, and indoor places are riskier than outdoors.

Dr. Emily Landon, a hospital epidemiologist and infectious diseases specialist at University of Chicago Medicine, has her own shorthand: “Always choose outdoors over indoor, always choose masking over or not masking and always choose more space for fewer people over a smaller space.”

Our experts shared their thoughts via phone and email interviews. 

Dr. Brice Miller family dog, Beignet enjoying Memorial Day beverage snack!

1. A BYOB backyard gathering with one other household: low to medium risk

Meeting in a spacious outdoor area with only a small group isn’t too risky. But our experts say that safety here depends on whom you invite and what their behaviors have been. “If you have a gathering with one other household that [has] followed social distancing, this would be a low-risk activity,” says Dr. Judith Guzman-Cottrill, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Oregon Health & Science University. 

What alters risk? To lower risk, avoid sharing food, drinks or utensils — make it a BYO-everything party. Dr. Andrew Janowski, a pediatric infectious diseases expert at Washington University in St. Louis, notes that the food itself isn’t the risk but touching shared dishes or utensils could be.

Watch out for drinking, says Dr. Abraar Karan, a physician and public health researcher at Harvard Medical School, as it can make people sloppy about social distancing. It also increases the odds that people will want to use your bathroom. “Once you move into the house with others, the risk profile goes up,” he says.

Some experts suggest wearing a face covering, but Landon points out that you can’t realistically stay masked while eating and drinking. She suggests an alternative to a meal would be a backyard lawn tournament: That way, “the kids can play together but still with their masks on.” It could be fun for the grown-ups too.

2. Eating indoors at a restaurant: medium to high risk

Indoor dining “is still amongst the riskier things you can do,” Landon warns. The trouble is, says Miller, “people tend to linger in restaurants. So even if spacing is OK, the duration of exposure is longer.” Also, he says, talking “appears to lead to some release of the virus.” 

Karan notes that one outbreak in Guangzhou, China, took place in a restaurant with no windows and poor ventilation, and the air conditioning appears to have blown droplets between tables.

Galatoire’s Restaurant, photo from nola.com

What alters risk? Janowski says the risk level depends on how well the restaurant has adapted for the pandemic. Eateries should reduce and space out seating, require servers to wear masks and offer easy access to hand-washing stations.

They should also provide single-use options for condiments so you don’t have to touch shared ones, says Janowski. And they should close all self-serve areas like soda fountains or buffet tables.

If you do go to a restaurant, look for outdoor seating. Landon says she would go with only members of her household, because “I don’t want to have to take my mask off in the close proximity of a bunch of other people.”

3. Attending a religious service indoors: high risk

Worship services involve people from different households coming together indoors for an extended time. “All of the ingredients are there for the potential for a lot of people becoming infected in the short amount of time,” says Kimberly Powers, an epidemiologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She points to outbreaks linked to churches: In one, 35 out of 92 people who attended a service at a rural Arkansas church developed COVID-19. 

Singing — whether from the pews or the choir — is high risk, several experts noted, citing a study of a choir practice in Washington state where over half of attendees became infected.

What alters risk: If people are appropriately socially distanced, wear masks and avoid singing, it may reduce the risk, Karan says. Also, avoid any shared worship items like hymnals, Janowski adds.

Risk goes down if places of worship adapt, Guzman-Cottrill says. “My parish began having in-person services last week,” she says. The church had advance sign-ups to limit attendance to 25 people. Attendees were required to be healthy, wear face coverings and sit at least 6 feet apart.

4. Spending the day at a popular beach or pool: low risk

As long as you can stay socially distanced, this could be a pretty safe activity, our experts say.

The water itself is not a risk. “The sheer volume of water will dilute out the virus, making the water a highly unlikely source of infection,” says Janowski. 

Dr. Brice Miller relaxing on the beach, summer 2019 at Destin, Florida

What alters risk? The key question is, how close are you to others? “Can you ensure that you can stay 6 feet [or more] from anyone outside of your designated family?” asks Rebecca Katz, director of the Center for Global Health Science and Security at Georgetown University Medical Center.

Watch out for crowds at entry points and bathrooms. Maintain social distance both on land and in the water.

Landon says her biggest worry about pools and beaches is kids. At pools, “they make friends with everyone,” she says. “If you want to be able to see grandma for Sunday lunch, because that’s what’s really important to your family, then you don’t want your kids running around with other people’s kids.”

She says a beach is better than a pool in terms of space. Go early in the morning or late afternoon, when crowds are lower, and look for beaches that mark off spots for people to set up their areas. 

5. An outdoor celebration such as a wedding with more than 10 guests: medium to high risk

Dr. Brice Miller’s Mahogany Brass Band wedding secondline on March 14,2020

Family-oriented celebrations are usually a summer tradition, but they come with a lot of risk right now. Many weddings have been postponed, with good reason.

“Outdoors reduces the risk, but as people are celebrating and drinking, it seems like they may not social distance as readily,” says Karan, the Harvard physician. “These types of events end up being large crowds where people are having extended face-to-face conversations.”

The larger the guest list, the greater the potential that one of them is infected, says Powers, the UNC epidemiologist.

What alters risk? The danger varies greatly depending on the size of the gathering and how closely people gather.

If you are considering hosting a celebration, make it a small one with mostly local guests. “Bringing people from other communities” is high risk, says Landon, of the University of Chicago. “If people have to travel by car, by plane, from other places, you’re really asking for it.”

And really think twice about inviting your relatives, particularly older family members or those with underlying conditions. People may feel pressure to attend, even though it’s hazardous to their health — and even more so if you emphasize that you’re going to try to make it safe, says Landon. One of the largest clusters of deaths from the virus in Chicago occurred after a funeral in which one of the attendees spread it to many of his family members.

6. Using a public restroom: low to medium risk

Restrooms have been designed to prevent disease transmission, says Landon: “There are all sorts of things that you can catch from other people’s poop, and you almost never do, because they’re set up with all hard surfaces that can be cleaned.”

The risk depends on the number of local COVID-19 cases and how clean the bathroom is, says Janowski of Washington University, noting that a bathroom involves multiple high-touch surfaces. 

There isn’t yet sufficient data to know if there’s risk from toilet flushes aerosolizing the virus. Landon says that other viruses, such as norovirus, can be aerosolized by flushing, but norovirus doesn’t often spread that way as long as bathrooms are cleaned. The CDC says it’s “unclear whether the virus found in feces may be capable of causing COVID-19.”

What alters risk: Miller says the main risk comes from restrooms that are small, busy and poorly ventilated — like “those restrooms in a gas station off the highway where the restroom is outside.” 

Choose a bathroom that looks clean and is well stocked with supplies such as paper towels, soap and toilet paper. Avoid bunching up in a line to use the toilet or staying there long, if you’re within 6 feet of others. Wash your hands after you go, and sanitize them if you need to touch any surfaces after that.

7. Letting a friend use your bathroom: low risk

Landon doesn’t think it’s a big risk: “What happens in the bathroom is going to be sucked out of the bathroom ventilation, and you can clean all the hard surfaces really easily.” 

Miller agrees: “You can run the fan, leave the door open after (so air flows) and clean the bathroom later. And if you use the bathroom after they do, just wash your hands.”

Sample of Dr. Brice Miller’s freshly planted pandemic gardening; let your friends pee in the garden!

What alters risk? It’s possible that your friend is infected but asymptomatic, says Janowski. “It would be reasonable to decontaminate the bathroom after a friend uses it, including cleaning the high-touch surfaces of the door, toilet and sink.”

8. Going to a vacation house with another family: low risk

Experts said that if both families have been quarantining and limiting their exposure to others, this is pretty safe. “If one family is very active or parents have higher-exposure jobs, then the risk increases,” Miller says.

Landon thinks this arrangement could be a good idea, especially if the house is “in the woods where you’re not going to have a lot of contact with other people,” she says.

Surf and Turf with briskets, prepared by saxophonist Virgil Tiller for Dr. Brice Miller

What alters risk? Landon suggests talking with the other family beforehand to make sure you share the same expectations for the precautions everyone will take in the two weeks before arrival and while you’re there. Ensure that no one has signs of illness — if they do, they need to stay home. Miller recommends cleaning the major surfaces in the house on arrival. “And the more that people can reduce exposure in the days leading up to the trip, the better,” he adds.

9. Staying at a hotel: low to medium risk

Two of Dr. Brice Miller’s favorite beers!

The consensus is that staying at a hotel is relatively low risk, especially once you’re in your room. It’s best to limit your time in common areas such as the lobby, gym, restaurant and elevator, where the risk of exposure is higher.

What alters risk? Bring disinfecting wipes to wipe down the TV remote control and other common surfaces. You might also want to remove the bedspread since it may not be cleaned after every guest, suggests Miller. Ask about the hotel’s cleaning policies, as many have new COVID-19 protocols. “Beware of the elevators! Use the knuckle of your little or ring finger to press the buttons,” says Miller. 

Other suggestions: Order room service rather than eating at the restaurant, avoid the exercise room and wear a face covering in public spaces.

10. Getting a haircut: medium to high risk

A haircut involves “close contact and breathing that is extended for several minutes,” Karan notes. “This is the primary mode of transmission that we know happens. And cloth masks certainly are not perfect for this.”

Janowski says this is one of the highest-risk scenarios on this list, because there’s no way to keep 6 feet from someone cutting your hair. “All it takes is [having] one asymptomatic but infected worker, and suddenly many customers are at high risk of infection,” he says.

What alters risk? Landon believes the risk is not terribly high if both you and your haircutter wear masks and if COVID-19 is not very prevalent in your area. Look for a salon or barbershop that has (and enforces) policies to protect its employees, like wearing protective gear and sanitizing hands, she says: “By protecting their employees, they’re protecting you too.” 

And make sure that your barber or stylist is all business, says Karan: “Stopping to chat at close distance like this is something we all love doing with our barbers normally. This is not the time for it.”

11. Going shopping at a mall: risk varies

How risky this is depends on what kind of mall it is, how crowded it is and how much time you spend there, our panel agreed. “Crowds with high density lead to substantial increase in risk,” says Miller. “The major mitigating factor is that people don’t mingle in a single place for long.”

Random shoe photo by Dr. Brice Miller. Brice Jr., said “no” to the potential purchase!

What alters risk? Outdoor malls are preferable to indoor ones. And empty malls are better than crowded ones. Avoid the food court and go with purpose, not leisure, says Landon: “As much as you may like retail therapy, you should browse online before you go. Know what you’re going to pick up or try on. Wear your mask. Go in, look at it. Make your decision and get out.”

Be alert while you’re there to avoid close contact. “Maintain your space,” says Miller. “Try to go at off-peak hours.” Bring hand sanitizer, says Guzman-Cottrill, and use it frequently, especially if you touch any shared surfaces like handrails or elevator buttons.

12. Going to a nightclub: high risk

There is consensus among the experts that going to a nightclub is a very high-risk activity. Crowds, ultra-close contact, singing, sweating and inhibition-loosening alcohol are a potent cocktail of risk factors. When drinking, people become less compliant with rules, Miller says, and they may breathe heavier from the dancing — “which means more virus is being shed,” he says. If there’s an infected person in the mix, the virus can spread easily.

Dr. Brice Miller & bukuNOLA rocking the Spotted Cat on Frenchmen Street, Friday, March 13, 2020. Last performance before Covid19 pandemic

Dr. Brice Miller & bukuNOLA rocking the Spotted Cat on Frenchmen Street, Friday, March 13, 2020. Last performance before Covid19 pandemic

Dr. Brice Miller & bukuNOLA rocking the Spotted Cat on Frenchmen Street, Friday, March 13, 2020. Last performance before Covid19 pandemic. Pianist Ryan Hansller tickles the ivories!

“This is a very high-risk situation for an outbreak, as we saw in South Korea just recently,” says Karan, referring to an outbreak tied to several nightclubs and bars. “Don’t go to bars or clubs right now.”

What alters risk? Nothing makes this a good idea right now. If you want to dance, have a dance party at home with the people in your intimate circle. If it’s a small outdoor gathering, dancing under the stars — 6 feet apart — would be much less risky too. 

13. Going camping: low risk

Just be careful, it’s real in these Covid19 streets!

“As far as summer activities go, this is least risky from a virus perspective,” says Katz, of Georgetown. You’re outdoors and isolated. Miller agrees — but he says that if you’re going with a group, be sure you can trust your fellow campers. Have they been social distancing and following the guidelines? If not, they could be asymptomatic spreaders of the virus. 

What alters risk? Of course, risks can creep in, depending on the particulars. “Are you camping in an isolated outdoor location with your family?” Katz asks — this is the lower-risk scenario. It’s more dangerous if you’re at a crowded campground with a shared restroom and communal picnic areas, she says. “Sleeping in tents together with others [not from your household] can certainly be a setup for transmission,” adds Karan. 

Bottom line: The activity itself is low risk, but the people whom you’ll be in close contact with during the trip could increase the hazard.

14. Exercising outdoors: low risk

Unless you’re playing group sports, exercising outdoors is a good way to burn off steam while staying socially distant. Our experts agree that sports such as golf and tennis are safer than contact sports such as basketball and football. “I would personally avoid contact sports until we have a better sense of transmission risk here,” Karan says.

And running? “If you’re not on a crowded path where people are brushing past each other, then I think that’s a great form of exercise right now,” says Powers.

What alters risk? The more people involved in the activity, the higher the risk. It’s possible to spread the virus when you’re in close proximity to others — even if you’re asymptomatic — so it’s best to wear a mask if you can’t stay socially distanced. 

The risk depends on the sport. A game like basketball is tricky, Landon says. “You’re touching the ball and you’re going to be breathing in each other’s faces,” so she suggests playing only with people in your household. Tennis carries a much lower risk: “You’re far apart on either side. That’s definite social distancing,” she says.

So Now Y’all Know!

The New Orleans Music Company is NOW BOOKING events that will take place anytime after June 22, 2020. Reserve your date today!

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 Posted on May 24, 2020 by

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Covid19 Update: The Music Will Return

Friends and Clients,

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

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 Posted on May 17, 2020 by

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Covid19 Emancipation in New Orleans is tomorrow!

No worries, we’re looking for a little normalcy too!

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 Posted on May 15, 2020 by

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Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?

|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

#onetimeinnola #neworleans #cityofculture #engagetheculture #mahoganybrassband #soneworleans #downtown #frenchquarter #dronephotography #mavicmini #iambricemiller #bricemillerfoto #quarantineandchill #coronavirus #pandemicphotography #armstrongpark

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 Posted on May 14, 2020 by

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Louisiana coronavirus reopening, Phase I: What’s open and what’s closed?

May 11, 2020–New Orleans

Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Monday that Louisiana will move into Phase 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.

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 Posted on May 11, 2020 by

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We’re So New Orleans: “Reopening” the City

|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!

#NTTW20 #onetimeinnola #soneworleans #embracethecultre #maskup #cityofculture #traveladvisor #cantwaittoseeyou #neworleansentertainment #meetingplanners #famtour #theneworleansmusiccompany #nationaltourismweek #iambricemiller #bam http://www.thenomc.com 📸@ #bamcaptures

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 Posted on May 11, 2020 by

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New Orleans (CNN): New Orleans in the age of coronavirus is quiet and strange. But like after Katrina, musicians and artists are planning a revival

🤷🏾‍♂️ 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

NOTE: Read the full article here: New Orleans Musicians and Artist Revival

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 Posted on April 26, 2020 by

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Happy JazzFest 2020: Today Was Our Day!

|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

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 Posted on April 25, 2020 by

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It’s New Orleans JazzFest Time! 2020 Virtual Celebrations

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/

Already y’all, let’s go JazzFest’n!

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 Posted on April 23, 2020 by

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