We need more donors, a plan to sustain ourselves, get more people involved, brand ourselves, win people over and yadayadayada….When arts groups get together to discuss their ills, lack of support, the community paying no attention to them etc… the argument comes around to forming a plan to turn things around and focusing on what we are not receiving, rather than what we are not giving. A plan for sustainability should start with creating something that is worth sustaining……
Challenge=Opp
Reality, and other misconceptions
There’s a new reality show in the UK. Usually this would be an excuse to hit the Trader Vic’s (4th edition) and work on a new cocktail, but this one is different. Or worse. The name says it all – Maestro. This naturally has got me thinking about how far this could be taken (insert suitable dream music here………………………………..)
On and on about Oregon
One thing about being busy – sometimes someone has the same idea as you but gets it out there faster. Poor old Elisha Grey is known as the also ran of the telephone because he was a couple hours late to the patent office. It happened to me this weekend. I had this great “Chicken Little” comment that was going to be my lead-in to my thoughts on the recent Oregon Symphony article, but then someone beat me to it. None-the-less, I’m betting that the blog from the Oregonian is a lot closer to the truth. But even that blogger doesn’t dwell on the symphony’s secret weapon.
Got Arts?…..
The NPAC conference received mixed reviews, I didn’t attend and as with any large conference there was bound to be both accolades and criticisms. I was disturbed to read about the last town hall meeting, and in my mind it brought up a question that the arts must face in the future:
Which is more important: That the Arts matters to people or that the Arts cares about people?…….
“Not one man will the State of Missouri furnish to carry on any unholy crusade”
So said Claiborne Fox Jackson as governor of Missouri in 1861 in response to Abraham Lincoln’s order for Jackson to provide Missouri troops to help fight the Civil War. As history goes Missouri’s attempt at neutrality did not work out so well! Especially for Governor Jackson. Two of Missouri’s orchestras yesterday with the help of the League loaded their muskets to help in the fight for relevance and the battle against apathy, with an audience connection….
New at the Columbus Dispatch: First Date Announcements!
Every paper announces births, deaths, anniversaries, engagements, marriages, but first dates? In this case the Dispatch was reporting the announcement of the formation of a 2nd arts panel, this one to examine the sustainability of the arts in Columbus in the wake of the looming catastrophe at the Symphony. My question: What’s the point of announcing this? Bad move in my view…..
Revolution for an Evolution part 2 – Breaking Hands
Pianists from past centuries, particularly those who were composers would use the printed notes as a guide or a jumping off point to improvise, as well as engage in “Breaking Hands”, meaning their hands would not rhythmically synchronize with one another. In contemporary musical forms such as Jazz and Pop, these practices are the norm and continue to help keep them current. It brought back a memory of when a great Jazz musician did this in a Classical piece right in front of me, and where schools could take this to help make Classical music current by reaching way back into the past…..
Columbus: Chicken Soup for the Symphony (and it’s not a gimmick!)
Something is simmering in Columbus, but it’s not the usual recipe! I wrote here and here about the initial reactions to what essentially amounts to a gutting of an orchestra. Sure there is anger, but there is also bravery and dignity. The audience from the beginning were empowered and now they are speaking out officially with a web-site that doesn’t sit on the fence…..it is the fence!