Charleston, Virginia, Winston Salem, St Louis, Orlando Ballet, San Francisco Opera, plus many more organizations we don’t know about have financial issues! Millions of dollars have been wiped off endowment balance sheets. These are not rainy day funds, we all tap our endowment interest every year to help defray operating costs and shortfalls. So now what? I want to throw something out there…..
Challenge=Opp
Future Shock…
This is the first in a series of postings about one musician’s desire to bring Classical Music back to the People, by whatever means necessary…
Are you depressed yet? It seems like every time you turn around there is another article about this orchestra cutting costs, that orchestra cutting concerts, the other orchestra in the red, etc. It’s pretty depressing, not least of which because there are a lot of musicians out there who are trying to make a living, and their main source of income is threatened. Let us hope that these institutions make it through these trying times. But here’s the question: how is the classical music business like the economy in general, and what can we do for the future?
Waving the Magic Wand
A pop survey –
- What is the most common gripe among orchestra players?
In my experience it’s “Boy, this conductor sucks!” I have heard it from several angles, including from inside the orchestra (I spent many years playing Orchestral Keyboards, probably the performance opportunity I miss most with having a conducting career) and from when I’m on the podium (word of advice to young conductors – just because you hear something that doesn’t mean you have to listen to it; you are out there to do job and you have to have a thick skin). And speaking of young conductors –
The Landing
An emotional night to say the least! There has been so much written said as to the significance of Obama’s win, and the usual “ponderings” of what now and where he stands on the arts. It’s very clear where he stands and the comparison I heard to his win and the 1969 landing on the moon does not even come close to the significance his victory represents…..
Columbus sails again…watch out for the headwinds!
It’s hard to be anything but pleased to hear of the Columbus Symphony returning after a prolonged and bitter battle. Sticking to their principals the orchestra was not downsized in personnel but there were many concessions that the musicians had to make, and one decision I hope is reversed, and what about Junichi?…..
Apathetique – The class challenges me!
On Wednesday we discussed the strikes at Shreveport and Wisconsin. My students read the articles and my post and it seems that there is a divide amongst them. There is nothing like lively debate especially amongst future arts administrators who might have to deal with big issues in difficult time such as these! The clips are below….
Arts Funding – Why?…..
In Audience Connection on Wednesday the big question of the week was:
How can you argue for Arts funding in front of someone that might be more interested in Health, Poverty or Education issues?
Big questions need big answers, but when you have 5 minutes in front of a donor to make the case, they can’t be long answers. I liked what Amanda said, the clip is below……
Shhhhpeak up!
I am always fascinated by the dynamics of an audience and perceptions when certain behaviors are noticed. It’s all to easy to jump to a negative assumption as to why someone would get up and walk out, or talk, or be disruptive.