June 2018 – Neo Classical

Just Stop It With The “No, Because!”

Thu, Jun 28, 2018 by Holly Mulcahy

If you are in the arts business, especially orchestra business, chances are you have come across a moment or a meeting where you hear the words: “no, because.” There may have been a great idea, a creative way to do something, but the knee-jerk reaction to that idea was predictably: No. Usually the rejection to the idea was followed up with excuses and reasons why an idea couldn’t be implemented. All that energy spent explaining why something wouldn’t work only adds to the frustration! Over the next couple months, I want to … Continue Reading

Comp Tickets Are Not Cocaine

Tue, Jun 19, 2018Fri, Jun 15, 2018 by Holly Mulcahy

I’m not a huge fan of the complementary (comp) tickets in the classical music industry. Handing out comps tells an audience that the years of work I put into my craft is essentially value-less. Being a professional musician means fighting that stigma and protecting worth, constantly. Comp tickets are a bad habit! They are continually justified by people in the orchestra industry because: We want a full hall, no matter how. If people like this concert, surely they will pay for the next. Comps are basically like a musician’s privilege or benefit; … Continue Reading