When you work in this field long enough, you come across opportunities to snag some rare items that document some of the more remarkable occurrences. For example, my wife has a copy of the Richmond (VA) Symphony memo sent to musicians reminding them that firearms are not permitted at services. She keeps a framed copy in the dining room for posterity and it never fails to serve as a great conversation piece.
In addition to the check your gun at the door memo, I have a copy of Canton Symphony’s infamous “More Than You Expect from an Orchestra” calendar; a 2005 fundraiser in the style of Calendar Girls that featured risque photos of orchestra musicians, administrators, board members, and volunteers. As an aside, the orchestra’s president and CEO at that time was a very good sport and gave an interview about the calendar, which was subsequently published here on 4/7/2005; it remains a very good read.
I’ve seen similar treasures in the homes and offices of colleagues over the years but let’s open the floor so you can share; what do you have stashed away for posterity?
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Classic!
This isn’t in the “funny” category, but just this Christmas my grandma gave me a color illustration by Daniel Nierman of a cross-section of the 1995-97 remodeling plans for Symphony Center in Chicago. I plan to have it framed and loan it to the college where I work for public display.
In April 2010, the Red Deer Symphony was scheduled to perform Strauss’ Four Last Songs, but our guest soloist was unable to travel to Canada due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland. I was asked to play the Mozart Bassoon Concerto in its place, and the local newspaper did a story on the last minute switch. The article turned out to be a fantastic souvenir – my picture was displayed prominently next to the headline “Symphony’s Plans Reduced to Ashes”!