An unfortunate thing happened to me over social media over the last 24 hours. It was, of course, related to the Minnesota Orchestra, and it rather accurately distills the raw and unfettered emotions surrounding this controversy. Somehow this got me thinking about what we, the community, have lost.
Bill Eddins
The Difference Between Simple and Easy
In the wreckage that is the Minnesota Orchestra a lot of us have been throwing around ideas on what the next move should be. Many of these ideas are intriguing, some are debatable. A large part of these discussion have rotated around very simple ideas which on the surface seem no-brainers. Unfortunately, many of these are a trap.
Setting the Record Straight: A Clarification and an Apology
In my last post I made some very pointed jabs concerning the situation at the Minnesota Orchestra. I have heard through the grapevine that these may have been misinterpreted by some involved in the lockout. I want to clarify my intent and apologize if anyone has been offended.
Well…
18 months ago Sticks&Drones first broke the news about the labor strife at the Minnesota Orchestra in a blog entitled The Sinking of the Minnesota. Reaction to that post was, to put it mildly, somewhat negative. I was excoriated in the press as being “unhelpful,” for “throwing unnecessary fuel on the fire,” and other things, some of which I would have thought unprintable in this day and age. In that post I made the following statements: Many musicians appear convinced that during this round of contract negotiations the M.O. is intent on … Continue Reading
Dear M.O. Patron: Screw You.
Dear Patron of the Minnesota Orchestra: We have a very important message to send to you at the beginning of the second (yes, that’s right, the 2nd!) lockout year, brought to you by sheer intransigence, uncommon arrogance, and a total disregard for ethics, morals, or anything else: screw you.
The Cheap Seats
A couple of weeks ago my wife and I found ourselves down the street at the house of our neighbors, Richard and Ross. This is one of my favorite places to be since it usually involves good food, good wine, and a lot of laughter. This time, though, there was something else there – a good lawyer.
Get Ready for Labor Day Madness
I start writing this blog on the anniversary of the March on Washington. I have a direct connection to this historic moment because my father, along with 250,000 of his closest friends, was on the National Mall 50 years ago. It was a seminal moment in his life, something he always spoke about with pride and reverence.
Dear Governor Dayton
Dear Governor,
I know that the demands of your office make you one of the busiest people in Minnesota but the musical flagship of your state needs your help. Right now. And I need to tell you a story –