2021 Artists' Retreat - in REVIEW

The 2021 Artists' Retreat was much-delayed due to the 2020 Pandemic, but we gathered our resources, and use all internal talent and the expertise of IGMA membership. With 15 different training sessions, this Retreat probably covered more relevant material than any previous IGMA event, as well as including a pizza party, a sing-a-long, three meals on Saturday, and finished with a Saturday night "Parade of Artists" concert.

Artists learned: songwriting skills; microphone options with an opportunity to try them out; set/song development; where to find fresh material; computer programs/apps that play and modify tracks; use of all the performing area; stage presence; performing attire; the need to identify your ministry's motive, manner, commitment, team, & audience; how to communicate emotions; marketing through the internet and booking agents; speaking between songs; use of personal testimonies: a special presentation on the urgency and method of sharing your faith during the culture war; recording options; and optional ways permitted by the IRS to organize the finances of your ministry. Whew! There was a lot to learn and ideas to explore!  

Selected Photos from the Retreat

* Photos courtesy of Michael Hale.

Dave Pellegrini led an "early bird" session on Songwriting.

Howard Cottengim challenged all artists to examine their motivations for their ministries.

Mike Hoyt was involved in sessions on marketing and recording.

Jeannette Pederson's session enlightened us on IRS options for managing ministry finances.

Ron Pence and Beth Sinclair led a session on personal testimonies.

Special speaker John King talked about sharing one's faith in the culture war.

"Parade of Artists" Concert on Saturday Evening

Eric Shaw led off the Concert!

Blessed Truth Quartet

Dave Pellegrini

Conne Wright

Leigh Murray sang, plus he did an awesome job on piano!

Victorious Trio closed the Concert!

Michael Plaster

The Sinclairs

. . . and Ray Lawrence put the program together and acted as Emcee!

Scott Mauldin

Mike Hale (photo by Richard Luke)

​Schedule and Faculty for the Retreat!

Friday, August 6:
3:30 - 5:30        Early-bird class - Dave Pelegrini on Songwriting
3:30 - 5:30        Early-bird class - Eric Shaw on Affordable Microphones
5:30 - 6:00        Registration open and available for check-in
6:00 - 6:45        Pizza Party
6:45 - 7:15        Eric Shaw on Song/Set Development
7:15 - 7:35        Cheryl Anderson on Finding Fresh Material
7:35 - 7:40        Break
​7:40 - 8:10        Rich Treptow on Computer Programs and Apps to Play/Modify Tracks
8:10 - 8:35        Eric Shaw on Use of the Stage
8:35 - 9:15        Sing-a-long with Howard Cottengim accompanying on the keyboard
9:15                  Prayer of Dismissal - Chaplain Rick Clayton
 
Saturday, August 7:
  9:00 - 9:30       Coffee, rolls and juice, and late registration for Saturday arrivals
  9:30 - 10:25     Rich Treptow and Ron Pence on Stage Presence
10:25 - 10:45     Howard Cottengim on Identifying the Full Scope of your Gospel Ministry 
10:45 - 11:15     Eric Shaw and Ron Pence on Communicating Emotions
11:15 - 12:00.    Mike Hoyt on Marketing Your Ministry - Internet and Booking Agent
12:00 - 1:00       Lunch on site - Chick-fil-A   
  1:00 - 1:45       Eric Shaw on Speaking Between Songs
  1:45 - 2:30       Beth Sinclair and Ron Pence on Using Personal Testimonies
  2:15 - 2:45       Break
  2:45 - 3:40       John King (special speaker) on Sharing Your Faith During a Culture War
  3:40 - 4:15       Mike Hoyt and Ron Pence on Recording Options
  4:15 - 4:40       Jeannette Pederson on Available IRS Organizations for Gospel Ministries
  4:40 - 5;00.      Joint prayer session for all IGMA concerns  
  5:00 - 6:15       Fellowship Buffet Dinner on site - Qdoba
  6:30 - 8:30       Parade of Artists in 2-song sets - with anonymous written feedback from audience
  8:30                 Prayer of Dismissal - Scott Mauldin

​People who made the Artists' Retreat happen!

Many thanks to these IGMA members who stepped up to give back!​

• The Faculty Members for their time, expertise, and willingness to share with their fellow IGMA members!
• Eric Shaw and Mark Anderson for tech support and managing sound for the Parade of Artists Concert!
• Howard Cottengim for playing piano for the amazing Friday night Sing-a-long, plus all the soloists!
• Amos Plaster for providing dinner music throughout the weekend!
• Michael Hale, for photographing the event.
• Cheryl Anderson, Janet Cottengim and Linda Sue Treptow for managing meal preparation, making coffee, and cleanup duties.
• Ray Seaman and Northside's Pastor John Reeder for making Northside Baptist Church available for the Retreat.
• Rich Treptow for organizing the event.
• All those who attended and contributed to the Retreat!