This has been the summer of my discontent. Practically the only thing that hasn’t gone wrong is that my wife didn’t file for divorce and neither of my children ran away to the circus. We need to get away. Enter the Zulu nation…
Challenge=Opp
Dancing Maestros on the Jumbotron……
In a “review” by Lawrence Johnson, he ranted about the use of the Jumbotrons at the Ravinia festival. OK I can see that there might be some who want the “traditional” experience, but the setting is far from traditional in the concert going sense, accessibility is something that needs to be taken into consideration and he actually has a solution to his problem and doesn’t even realize it…….
Is it time for the Revolution?
Newsflash – Endowments are down the toilet; Arts orgs. are laying off people at record pace; donations are down; the NYCity Opera got sold a bag of rotten turnips; ponzi scheems are playing havoc with donors; orchestras/dnace companies/opera companies/etc. are folding ……… Folks, is it time for the next Revolution?
Cliburn: Striking Human Gold! – Defending the Jury part 1
There are so many things people are hoping for in the winner of the Cliburn. Every 4 years this veritable Piano Olympiad usually picks a winner who possesses pure virtuosity, stage presence and superb musicianship. Expectations are high for the Pianists and the pressure is intense to say the least. This year was different and also special as with both winners two myths were busted, and with one, the expectations were suddenly turned around on to us the audience……
In order to move forward, first you must “retreat”….plus handing the keys to the musicians!
We had Drew here this week for the purpose of beginning the process to re-structure our organization to be ready for the future. Being that we are in a strong position and not in crisis makes this the perfect time for that process. In other words, rather than waiting for the fires to start, we are attempting to make ourselves fire proof! There were two retreats and many meetings. I am going to let Drew extrapolate on his visit here and instead focus on his chat with myself and one of our musicians about a program that I hope will be repeated everywhere!…..
Plugging the Holes before Filling the Barrel (2009) – Put it in the Bank….
I’m 41 today yikes….On the theme of free tickets, when there are empty seats there is an opportunity for outreach. Subscribers have a choice of what to do with their tickets if they are not able to attend such as to give them to friends/family etc.. or to take a tax deduction. There is another choice that could be offered that would turn a subscriber into an active participant in a community outreach program…..
Plugging the Holes before Filling the Barrel (2009) – BOGO
Last year I published 5 posts under the Plugging the Holes category dealing with subscriber retention and audience recruitment utilizing the best advocates of all ….our subscribers and our orchestra! Two articles that I read this week have spurred me to continue the category…..
Putting the Unity in CommUnity! – Part 1: Arts in Action!
In August last year the Community Foundation of the Ozarks formed a committee of arts leaders (including yours truly) and gave us a challenge with funding attached:
Come up with a program that sustains the arts in Springfield. Part one went into effect on March 14….and it’s big!…