Harvest, Build, And Destroy – Part 3

Part 2 of this series included examining the goals for developing a system whereby the musicians in any given orchestra can maintain an ongoing active participation in organizational affairs without that work overloading their artistic responsibilities.  One astute reader wrote in with a wonderfully concise summary of the goals: “The ultimate goal seems to be to give the musicians and their negotiating committees better information in real time, so they don’t …

Read more

What’s up With Destroying Things

For those of you stopping by today to read the final installment in the Harvest, Build, and Destroy series, I have to offer my apologies.  Due to some last minute preparations for meeting with my accountant (taxes!), I wasn’t able to put the finishing touches on the article; however, it will be published on Monday Nevertheless, allow me take this time to further explain some of the concepts from Part1 and …

Read more

Harvest, Build, And Destroy – Part 2

Part 1 of this series concluded by asking if it’s possible for musicians to pay more attention to administrative activities without also having to sacrifice their artistic duties.  Is it possible to harvest resources, build procedures, and destroy a competitor’s opportunity to act in bad faith? It is possible to accomplish those goals without also overloading the musician representatives elected to function as the liaison between managers and the players.  Although …

Read more

Harvest, Build, And Destroy – Part 1

There’s little doubt that the recent events surrounding the breakdown of negotiations at the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra will be examined in minute detail over the coming months; who did what, 20/20 hindsight, etc.  These examinations will more than likely result in some improved tactics for both managers and musicians for future contract negotiations.

Read more

Stealing From Terry Teachout

After reading Terry’s weblog article yesterday I decided it was a great idea and promptly decided to “borrow” it (after all, he openly admits he got the idea from Eve Tushnet). Ten Things I’ve Done That You Probably Haven’t (and perhaps wouldn’t want to): While in college, I accidentally signed to my sign language teacher, and her 14 year old daughter standing behind her, that it was a “fu*king hot summer that year” …

Read more