Be sure to visit Robert at Booth #418 from September 26-30 at the Performing Arts Exchange (PAE) in Louisville, KY. Find out about Ebony & Ivory and their "Rhythm and Ragtime" Tour, and, as always, partake of some fine chocolate!

On October 22nd of this year, Ebony & Ivory will be performing once again in Americus, GA (just a few miles from the birthplace of former President Jimmy Carter) for the Georgia Southwestern State University Chamber Concert Series. The concert will take place at 8:00 p.m. in the new Jackson Recital Hall. Thanks to Julie Megginson for making Ebony & Ivory part of her performing arts family.

Robert Baird, of BAM! Baird Artists Management and Manager for Ebony & Ivory, attended the 40th Anniversary of WAA at the Biltmore Millennium Hotel in Los Angeles from August 28-31. The BAM! Booth in the Emerald Room featured Ebony & Ivory and the "Rhythm and Ragtime" Tour, in addition to Robert’s other fine artists. In addition to promoting Ebony & Ivory, Robert was a Mentor for Natalie Ackers of Green Thumb Theatre and assisted with the CA Presenters/Canadian Government Reception at the Grand Performances venue.

In addition to attending at the booth, Robert recited a poem (to enthusiastic applause) at the Discovery Session: Artists under $5000, and chaired the second annual Roundtable on Doing Business with Canada.

Presenter response to "Rhythm and Ragtime" was extremely positive and plans are underway for another Ebony & Ivory western tour in 2008-2009. See the list of visitors and friends at WAA below.

The Arts Midwest Conference in Columbus, Ohio from September 5-8 found Robert Baird participating in a quasi-speed-dating session with a multitude of Presenters, as well as providing much-appreciated volunteer assistance. Robert led a Roundtable entitled "The Curator's Role: A Primer for Presenters Who Want to Explore and Support New Artists and Initiatives" and assisted at three workshops: "Artists Managers/Agents 101", "The Law Unplugged", and "Welcoming Artists to Your Community". Every year at Arts Midwest the Canadian Government hosts a Reception and Robert was there, too, to help out. And he even found time to man his booth as well! Again, the news of the new Ebony & Ivory Tour for 2008-2009, "Rhythm and Ragtime", was greeted enthusiastically by Presenters and Robert is now busy following up on contacts made during the conference. See the list of visitors and friends at Arts Midwest below.

Joanna Maratta (Executive Director, BC Touring Council), Ruth Rosenberg (Administrative Coordinator, CA Presenters), Patti Milich (California Arts Council), Pamela Johnson (LA Representative, Canadian Consulate General), Andrew Thompson (N. CA Representative, Canadian Consulate General), Justine Côté (Quebec Government Office in L.A.), Yanick Godbout (Quebec Government Office in L.A.), Denis Turcotte (Quebec Government Representative), Mario Garcia Durham (National Endowment for the Arts), Tim Wilson (Executive Director, WAA), Karen Hanan (Executive Director, Arts Northwest), Matina Johnson and Elin Glenn (The Library Theatre, AL), Michael Cade (Executive Director, Vernon and District PAC, BC), William Menezes (Redfern Arts Center, NH), Robert Shea (Dana Center, NH), Kittredge Marcy (Artesia Arts Council, NM), Mickey Quase (Province of Nova Scotia Culture Division), Brian Goldstein (VA), Brenda Heatherington (Arden Theatre, AB), Kurt Bagnell (Banff Centre, AB), Jason Hodges (Executive Director, Fairbanks Concert Assoc., AK), Rhonda Gilbertson (Operations Mgr., Fairbanks Concert Assoc., AK), Nancy Kemp (Executive Director, Kodiak Arts Council, AK), Stefani Dochtermann (Kodiak Arts Council, AK), Michael Reed (ASU Public Events, AZ), Dorothy Young (Heritage Festivals, AZ), Joyce Hinton (Chan Centre, BC), Terry Yagura (Arts for the Schools, CA), Bob and Gay Smith (Bakersfield CCA, CA), Leon and Renee Bloom (Bernardo Concerts Association, CA), Bill and Jane Tindall (Bishop CCA, CA), Christian Wolff (California Center for the Arts, CA), Floyd Moos (College of the Canyons, CA), Dan DeWayne (Chico Performances, CA), Peter Lesnik (Carpenter PAC, CA), Bruce Spain (El Camino College, CA), Lenore Naxon (Friend Center for the Arts, CA), Dave Pier (Gallo Center for the Arts, CA), Peter Frisch (The Granada, CA), Michael Alexander (Grand Performances, CA), Greg Morrow (Indian Wells Valley Concert Assoc., CA), Mary Tanner (Lancaster PAC, CA), Aaron Egigian (Orange County PAC, CA), Dea McAllister (Palmdale Playhouse, CA), Kathi Heimann (City of San Ramon, CA), David Palmer (Whittier College, CA), Ronna Kalish (New Mexico Tech, NM), Faye McCalmont (Mimbres Region Arts Council, NM), Karen Schmidt Hanner (Manager, City of Las Vegas Arts & Community Events, NV), Diane Dragone (Silver Star Productions, NV), Myron Martin (Smith Center, NV), CJ Walters (UNR Performing Arts Series, NV), Debbie Slade (Centre for the Arts, Brock University, ON), Carol Philips (Hult Center, OR), Ronda Billerbeck (City of Kent, WA), Tom Iovanne (Washington Center for the Performing Arts, WA), Natalie Ackers (Green Thumb Theatre, BC).

Betty Allan (Chester Fritz Auditorium, ND), Stephen Alter (League of American Orchestras, NY), Laura Anderson (Live on Stage, TN), Sheila Atchley (Fairfield Arts & Convention Center, IA), Judy Beaumier (Ohio Arts Presenters Network, OH), James Bingham (Crighton Theatre Foundation, TX), Ken Bohannon (David-Waldorf Performing Arts, OK), Alexis Booher (Dallas Brass, CA), Larry Brandstetter (Performing Arts & Education Association of Southwest Iowa, IA), Stacy Braun (Aberdeen Area Arts Council, SD), Carolyn Brode (Gorton Center, IL), Gwethanlyn Bronner (College of Lake County, IL), Ashley Brown (Western Illinois University, IL), Michael Burgraff (Fairmont Opera House, MN), Doug Cameron (Doug Cameron Music, CA), Laurel Canan (Janesville Presents!, WI), Ken Carlson (Arts Midwest, MN), Eileen Carr (University of Dayton, OH), Ann Christensen (Arts Midwest), Karen Christilles (Lied Center of Kansas, KS), Kimberley Cunningham (Young Auditorium, WI), Bethany Costello (Young Auditorium), Tina deVaron (deVaron Enterprises, NY), Christy Dickinson (Arts Midwest) Burton Dikelsky (The Center for Performing Arts, IL), Shantel M. Dow (Dow Artists, IA), Susie Dowler (Gardner Arts Network, NY), Colleen Duke (Consulate General of Canada in Chicago, IL), Mario Garcia Durham (National Endowment for the Arts, DC), Diane Ernst (The Lange Trust, OH), Joseph Ferlo (Oshkosh Opera House, WI), David Fraher (Arts Midwest), Herschel C. Freeman (Herschel Freeman Agency, TN), Mary Frey (Beloit College, WI), Audrey Fultz (Jackson Concert Series, IA), Jeannette Gardner (Gardner Arts Network), Gary Gaydos (Florissant Civic Center Theatre, MO), Tanya Gertz (Luther College, IA), Sandra Gibson (APAP, NY), Brian Taylor Goldstein (Fettmann, Tolchin & Majors, VA), Ruth Gordon (Live on Stage), Judy Harquail (CAPACOA, ON), Katherine Haugen (Arts Midwest), Michael Holden (Holden & Arts Associates, TX), Buster & Carol Irvin, Cumberland County Playhouse, TN), Roby Irvin (Thrasher Opera House, WI), Eugene Jenneman (Dennos Museum Center, MI), Tim Jennings (Roseneath Theatre, ON), Ashley Johnson (Consulate of Canada - Houston, TX), Dan Kamin (PA), Terry Kippenberger (Center Stage Artists, MI), Robin Klinger (Robin Klinger Entertainment, NY), Kerby Lovallo (New World Classics, CT), Jason Makiaris (Doug Cameron Music), Amy McBeth (Canadian Consulate General - Minneapolis, MN), Jonna Michelson (Missoula Children's Theatre, MT), Katherine & David Miller (Kamstar Artist Management, CA), Richard Mills (S.L. Feldman, ON), H. Perry Mixter (Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg, SC), Mister MOJO (MOJO & the Bayou Gypsies, IL), Dennis Moore (Consulate General of Canada - Detroit, MI), Anne Olsen (Jackson Concert Series), Sabrina Olson (Dow Artists, IA), Bob Perry (Corpus Christi Live!, TX), David Powell (Puppetmongers, ON), Treva Reimer (Central College, IA), Linda Reznik (River City Artists Mgmt., PA), Kyle Ridout (Indiana University Southeast, IN), Charles Rogers (Arts Place, KS), Timothy Rogus (Québec Delegation Chicago), Michael Rose (Annenberg Center, PA), Keith Rowlings (Darke County Center for the Arts, OH), Eric Runestad (Concordia College, MN), Patrice Saint-Pierre (DynamO Théâtre, QC), Janey Sarther (The Carlsen Center), Stuart Secttor (Clark State Performing Arts Center, OH), Stephen Stone (Illinois Central College, IL), Karen Stuenkel (The Center for Performing Arts), Marty Taylor (Montgomery County Performing Arts, TX), Art Waber (Artsource Management, NC), Cindy Walgren (Chadron State College, NE), Lana White (Performing Arts & Education Association of Southwest Iowa, IA), Pegi Wilkes (Southern Ohio Museum, OH), Randy & Vicki Wright (George Daily Auditorium, IA).

October 22, 2007 - Americus, GA

Georgia Southwestern State University Chamber Concert Series

December 1, 2007 - Charleston, WV

Charleston Community Music Association

January 10, 2008 - Orofino, ID

Clearwater Community Concert Association

January 13, 2008 - Redmond, OR

Redmond Community Concert Association

January 15, 2008 - Escondido, CA

Hidden Valley Community Concert Association

January 19, 2008 - Conroe, TX

Montgomery County Performing Arts Series

January 24, 2008 - Hillsboro, TX

Hill College

March 1, 2008 - Morden, MB

Southern Manitoba Concerts

May 2, 2008 - Stirling, ON

Stirling Festival Theatre

June 20, 2008 - Crossville, TN

Cumberland County Playhouse