During the recent troubles, we’ve seen orchestras struggling with financial issues that have resulted in several lockouts and a great deal of negative publicity for the field. Many musicians attribute conflict to ideas propagated by the League of American Orchestra, others vigorously dispute this theory. In a lengthy article on the ICSOM, website, Bruce Ridge makes the case for a crisis in orchestra management. It strikes me that the conflicts in Atlanta, Indianapolis and Minneapolis point to orchestra boards that have given up on the orchestra field, disregarding or even eschewing professional orchestra managers and forcing major cuts to prepare their orchestras to deal with the “new normal.” Let’s step out of the trees and take a look at the forest. Where do orchestras stand in American society?
Month: October 2012
Spokane Symphony Proposing Cuts
Although you wouldn’t know it from local press, but if appears that the Spokane Symphony Orchestra (SSO) and its musicians are approaching a potential showdown. According to the SSO musicians, management offered a last, best, and final offer on Thursday 10/11/12. The two year proposal reportedly contains a 13 percent reduction in core orchestra salary, no guaranteed wages for the second year, and what the musicians characterize as an overly restrictive attendance policy that will make earning additional pay outside of the SSO more difficult.
Off To Lake George And The @OutdoorDrama Conference
I’m en route to Lake George, NY today for the Institute of Outdoor Drama conference where I’ll be giving a presentation on using social media as a customer service platform alongside co-presenter Lisa Middelton, Director of Marketing and Audience Development at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. I’ve put together some downloadable template goodies that I’ll share with everyone here once I return, such as an updated Twitter GUI Photoshop template (the new …
Sick Day
There’s a reason doctors tell you to get your rest. They aren’t kidding around and yes, a nice cup of tea and plenty of fluids really does help. So I’m taking a self-imposed sick day in order to prevent burnout; and for those unfamiliar with self-employed sick days, it just means you don’t work as much 😉 So in place of a regular post, I’m going to share some link love with my Inside The Arts blogging exchange colleagues; each one amazing in his or her own way.
Get On Board The Redline Express!
At the end of last month, I published an article that examined the value of comprehensive perspective when it comes to considering proposed changes in collective bargaining agreements. Since then, I have obtained a copy of the complete redline agreement the Minnesota Orchestra submitted to musicians as their last official offer (which was subsequently voted down on 9/29/12) and concluded it would be educational to begin examining the document here at Adaptistration.