Even though It’s Dark Humor, You Still Laugh

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Sometimes, humor is the best tool to make a point and for those of you that enjoy watching The Colbert Report you probably caught the segment from the July 18, 2006 program where the show’s host, Stephen Colbert, uses the show’s singular form of satire to examine a current case before the NLRB that has the potential to impact the very nature of how orchestras govern themselves…


On Monday, we’ll examine the issue in much more detail but until then, The Colbert Report show clip is a good way to wade into the issue. Enjoy watching the video.

About Drew McManus

"I hear that every time you show up to work with an orchestra, people get fired." Those were the first words out of an executive's mouth after her board chair introduced us. That executive is now a dear colleague and friend but the day that consulting contract began with her orchestra, she was convinced I was a hatchet-man brought in by the board to clean house.

I understand where the trepidation comes from as a great deal of my consulting and technology provider work for arts organizations involves due diligence, separating fact from fiction, interpreting spin, as well as performance review and oversight. So yes, sometimes that work results in one or two individuals "aggressively embracing career change" but far more often than not, it reinforces and clarifies exactly what works and why.

In short, it doesn't matter if you know where all the bodies are buried if you can't keep your own clients out of the ground, and I'm fortunate enough to say that for more than 15 years, I've done exactly that for groups of all budget size from Qatar to Kathmandu.

For fun, I write a daily blog about the orchestra business, provide a platform for arts insiders to speak their mind, keep track of what people in this business get paid, help write a satirical cartoon about orchestra life, hack the arts, and love a good coffee drink.

View all posts by Drew McManus | Website

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