FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Timothy Eric Dickson
Aural Artists
3830 Wichita St.
Houston, TX 77004
Phone: 713-807-9622
http://curtaincallshow.com
http://spot1show.com

Local actor Timothy Eric Dickson launches podcasts to strengthen arts, music community

Houston, TX – January 31st, 2006 – It is true when they say “conversation rules the nation” and Tim Dickson is carving out yet another example of the truism. Using the hot, new technology of podcasting, the actor and singer/songwriter has launched two new talk shows that he hopes will “connect and strengthen the creative community by addressing issues and concerns that are pertinent to its viability.”

“Often, when you speak of the power of talk-radio, for example, the first thing mentioned is its power to make the listener feel less alone,” Dickson says. “I think artists, actors, and arts organizations tend to operate, at times, as if they are alone in their plight. While that is sometimes true, more often than not, others have faced, or are facing similar circumstances and making the same choices. These forums will help.”

Timothy has performed in the international tours of Thomas Meloncon’s Diary of Blackmen and Whatever Happened To Black Love and Celeste Bedford-Walker’s critically acclaimed Camp Logan. He has also had numerous successes on Houston stages, performing in the Alley Theatre’s productions of Of Mice And Men and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Main Street Theatre’s The Laws Of Storms, Stages Repertory’s Speaking In Tongues and Orange Flower Water, and the Ensemble Theatre’s productions of August Wilson’s Two Trains Running and The Piano Lesson. A stage technician for twelve years, the native Houstonian has always taken pride in working on both sides of the stage; designing lights for various arts groups and being a technical consultant for smaller arts organizations. “I get a rush knowing that I can serve not only the arts patron, in the way of performing, but also be an important part of the infrastructure that serves the artists and I want to go farther in that aspect.”

When describing the focus of Curtain Call, the Fine Arts podcast, The Texas Southern University graduate says there are arts funding issues, union affiliation, and education problems that weigh heavy on the future of Fine Arts in Houston and nationally. “It is not that I fear the demise of the industry altogether, but I do think that we as artists would be wise to obtain specific knowledge about those issues so that, collectively, we will make informed decisions about our future. Houston is not New York, but New York isn’t Houston either and Houston has specific challenges that only we can address; not taking cues from the other Arts centers.” As for Spot One, that highlights the Houston music scene, Tim acknowledges different issues facing independent artists and independent labels with respect to piracy, deregulation in media, and the ever-changing way in which people experience music. “We have to stay current. Podcasting and the digital distribution houses are just a couple of examples of effective, inexpensive ways that artists can get their content to their public. As it, and other forms of media evolve, artists have to be right there on the edge; shaping and coaxing them to work for them and not against them” In the realm of piracy, he has concerns about the definition of “fair use” as it relates to copyright infringement; feeling at times that the one least heard from on these issues are the artists themselves.

Tim tapped the shoulders of longtime artists and colleagues Anthony “Ant Boogie” Frazier and Manning Mpinduzi-Mott to host Spot One and Curtain Call, respectively. “More than their time-tested passion for their craft, which is great, I wanted them for the shows because they are approachable. I want the artists with fewer resources to feel comfortable contacting us for the purpose of exposure. Assets are one thing, but access is an entirely new concept and the Internet is proving the best tool for attaining access.”

“Curtain Call is a terrific and potentially intrinsic part of Houston’s art scene,” says Rob Bundy of Stages Repertory Theatre. “(Curtain Call) is helping to further the Houston arts community’s sense of unity and strength. Bravo!”

For information contact: auralartists@sbcglobal.net