Holly Mulcahy 
It seems to happening everywhere for symphony orchestras: low ticket sales to concerts. Unfortunately, this has become an all too familiar headline and the really surprising news is when an orchestra has a full house of paying patrons!
But if the New York Times article from December 28th has any merit the ticket sales decline could be connected, in part, to something in our human nature. The author of the article explains how humans tend to procrastinate pleasure.
A few months back I published an article that examined elements from Geoff Colvin’s book, Talent is Overrated. One of Colvin’s key points was how companies cultivate creativity and then use it to create better and more productive employees. Colvin used Google as one of his examples and wrote extensively about their philosophy behind fostering a very employee-friendly work environment and how it promotes and maintains productivity.
Colvin’s example made me want to learn even more about Google. They provide so much to workers, I was secretly hoping to find an in-house orchestra in which I could apply. Among the list of benefits Google offers employees is free organic cuisine, excellent health care benefits, the ability to bring dogs to the office, the list goes on. But one of my favorite benefits was their 20% of work time per week in which engineers are allowed to use for whatever projects they are passionate about. For Google, the 20% time has allowed for employees to come up with some of Google’s most popular added features as well as finding new ways of making Google’s service better, faster, and more fun.
One of the most popular shows on cable television lately is Mad Men, on the AMC channel. Now on its third season, the show has captivated imaginations, history buffs, and is even starting to have an effect on current fashion. But what has me most interested in the show is the style in which the 1960’s Madison Avenue advertising agency works with various challenging clients. From Hilton Hotels to Marlboro, and Playtex to Kodak; each client needing something special and different. Of course, I couldn’t help but fantasize what the star of … Continue Reading
The past few weeks have provided ample time for listening to audio books during longer commutes to rehearsals and concerts. For these extended times in car, books about business, stocks, investing, etc. are regular favorites so I can learn about various styles of investing and hopefully understand and streamline my own investing skills. The time feels like a guiltless way to spend hours learning that wouldn’t normally be devoted to these activities if I were home since practicing wins out more often than not.
It’s the beginning of another orchestra season and that means it’s time to scout out the season brochures and websites of the groups I’ll be playing in to see what’s in store. It’s hard not to notice that I look through season brochures as I would a restaurant menu. I narrow down the “main courses” that look most interesting or challenging to me and start planning my practicing accordingly.
Most of my concert-going friends analyze a season brochure like a menu as well and as I have Facebook discussions with them about programs, it seems many have already decided which concerts they want to attend. “I think we’ll pass on the Classic Series VI, we don’t care for a whole concert of Strauss, but I think we’ll take the Classic Series II and V.” And much like a restaurant, as one party orders the entrée, the other party prepares the dish.
