{"id":44266,"date":"2017-04-01T11:27:15","date_gmt":"2017-04-01T15:27:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/?p=44266"},"modified":"2017-04-01T15:50:02","modified_gmt":"2017-04-01T19:50:02","slug":"the-scoop-tafelmusik-announces-groundbreaking-innovation-with-new-mascot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2017\/04\/01\/the-scoop-tafelmusik-announces-groundbreaking-innovation-with-new-mascot\/","title":{"rendered":"THE SCOOP | Tafelmusik Announces Groundbreaking Innovation With New Mascot"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Tafelmusik
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra poses with their\u00a0new mascot, Hubert the Stradivarius.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In a bid to take advantage of street traffic outside their home at Trinity-St. Paul’s on Bloor Street, Tafelmusik<\/a> has hired a mascot \u2014 a man-sized foam-stuffed violin named Hubert the Stradivarius<\/em> that will wave and will hold a sign reading \u201cTafelmusik is strat… strat\u2026 stratifying!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe idea that Tafelmusik is boring needs to change,\u201d said Tafelmusik’s marketing manager, Goran Bologovitch. \u201cAnd we think the mascot is a great way to attract attention and have a bit of fun. It works for car washes, so why not classical music?\u201d<\/p>\n

The idea came to Tafelmusik’s marketing team after they saw how effective fan engagement was with the Toronto Blue Jays’ mascot, BK Birdy. \u201cIt puts a friendly face on something that otherwise has no personality,\u201d they said. \u201cWe are in a war against blandness, and for us, the violin-themed mascot is the way to go. We chose the Stradivarius because it represents the best. And that, as well as the music we play, is what we represent.\u201d<\/p>\n

The mascot will also build on the growing trend of having organization CEOs speak before concerts and announce corporate sponsors. Tafelmusik said they noticed a reluctance by audience members to applaud for pre-concert sponsor announcements and are betting that an appearance by Hubert the Stradivarius will soften the delivery. Starting next season, the mascot will announce all Tafelmusik concerts as well as pass a bucket around for donations. \u201cWe realize the donation bucket can make people feel uncomfortable, but coming from a giant smiling foam violin, we think it will be much easier to take.\u201d<\/p>\n

Musical Toronto managed to get exclusive access to video footage of an early prototype of Tafelmusik’s\u00a0Hubert the Stradivarius mascot <\/em>filmed\u00a0at\u00a0Toronto’s High Park last summer (2016).\u00a0The video (shown below) shows the mascot dancing around to the first movement of Beethoven’s 6th Symphony.<\/p>\n