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Eric Ginsberg - Bringing People Together Through Music
01/09/2008
Eric Ginsberg - Bringing People Together Through Music
From the age of 14 — when he ran a 10-act concert at Asbury Park’s Stone Pony, funded by his Bar Mitzvah money — until today, more than 10 years later, Eric Ginsberg has been actively involving the public in learning about music, using its power to connect people. As founder and director of the Red Bank Music Community [www.redbankmusiccommunity.org], he has established a growing forum for aspiring and established musicians to exchange ideas, share experiences, become aware of new options, and, of course, listen, collaborate, and express themselves musically.
Eric has lived virtually his whole life in Marlboro. What he likes most “is really two things: …living so close to the Municipal Complex/Rec Center, Marlboro Elementary School, and the library, that I can walk to all of them with my son, George (7 years old). On any day that’s warm enough, we enjoy the walk to these great publicly funded destinations. The other thing I like…is how centrally located we are. While I enjoy living in Marlboro because it’s a great community, I also enjoy the fact that I can get to Red Bank, New Brunswick, Asbury Park, Freehold, every beach in Monmouth County, and so many other great destinations in just under half an hour. So on any given day, whether I’m staying in town or going out, living in Marlboro is really terrific.”
In addition to teaching SAT classes for multiple students at private centers (which he’s done for the past 8 years) and doing public relations work at the Middletown Public Library, Eric has been writing and performing his own music — “a sort of acoustic pop rock” — for years at various clubs in the area (e.g., the Internet Café, Echo, the Two River Theatre), colleges, and radio stations. In August of 2003 he started a songwriters’ workshop at the Internet Café in Red Bank, which gradually expanded into the Red Bank Music Community (RBMC) as he and other members realized its potential. Through experimentation and networking, the enterprise grew tremendously; now it is proud to include four weekly activities: the Open Mic [Sundays] — the longest-running such event in NJ; Movie Night (all music-related) [Mondays]; Songwriters’ Workshop [Tuesdays]; and NOW WHAT!? Music Career Planning [Wednesdays], monthly Guest Speaker and Drum Circle events, a bi-monthly Member Showcase, and Make-Tunes on selected Saturdays, where children build and play their own instruments. Most events are free, but some request donations or have a small minimum charge (check the website for details). Through such a wealth of activities Eric and the other members are able to promote their love of music while enabling aspiring musicians to participate, enhance their talent, and find their direction in the world of music. The informal, non-traditional setup offers an interactive, pressure-free environment, where people can share music and words, ideas and experiences, prepare themselves for being on stage, and learn what works and what doesn’t. Eric says participants and audience members range in age from 10–80, and he’s constantly receiving positive feedback from those who have benefited from the programs.
“We’re all talking about, ‘Where are we? Where do we want to be? What steps can we take to get there? What have we learned in the last week of pursuing ideas?’ Instead of all of us having to do everything, we can share the work; we can bring ideas together. ‘Hey, this has worked for me…’ or ‘Hey, I did this and it got me nothing.’ ‘You have this song, you have this album, you have this vision…NOW WHAT? It’s music career planning that is not designed for people to walk in and be given the answers, but for all of us to get help and help each other.”
Eric’s enthusiasm for his project has fueled his ability to initiate and expand the RBMC’s events. Everything is supported by donations, and there’s no overhead to limit the operation. On the other hand, he says, “There’s nothing wrong with trying to make money with what you love to do… If you can get paid for it and not have to work a day job to pay the bills, what better scenario is there?!” He also proclaims that, as a performing artist, he “doesn’t need a million, just enough to live on.” He is truly happy at not only doing what he loves, but using the forum he’s established to share with others. It’s a vital project and one that speaks well of its innovative founder. If you love music — and who doesn’t? — Eric invites you to come join the group in Red Bank. See you there!
–by Rich Fireman
Are you or someone you know in Marlboro a “Person on the Move”? If you’ve got a story to tell this could be you! Email a brief description to us at info@livinginmedia.com and let us know who you are.
STATS
Favorite restaurant: Eating at home! I’m an artist; I don’t have any money!
Favorite musician: The Beatles
Favorite movies: 12 Angry Men, Fiddler on the Roof, Fight Club, the South Park Movie, As Good as it Gets
Pet peeve: no call/no show — people who have appointments or scheduled performances and don’t call to say they can’t make it
Three people you would like to have dinner with: John Lennon, Jon Stewart, and a booking agent who believes they’ll make money on me!
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