#TBT What Topics Would You Like To See On A Sacred Cow Barbeque Agenda?

Since the concert experience has been the focus of several recent posts, it made sense to highlight some of the more popular articles on that topic over the years for today’s #TBT.

But perhaps more importantly, I’m curious to know what topics you think should be at the top of the sacred cow barbeque discussion list.

Credit for that idea goes out to composer and educator David MacDonald and a comment he left to the 6/7/2013 article Join The Sacred Cow Barbecue (unless you live in NYC).

Reading your headline, Drew, I was really hoping that you were announcing some kind of informal conference-like gathering at which participants would be invited to eat barbecue and have a frank discussion about the entrenched dogmas of classical music.

I thought that was a great idea in 2013 and it’s perhaps even more relevant today. And unlike 2013, I now know a guy that makes his own show stealing barbeque sauce (I know, that’s a bold claim among barbeque aficionados), so perhaps there is room for bringing David’s idea to life. Swing back in Spring 2019 for an update.

There are no shortage of topics to include on the list but I’m curious to know which ones stand out most to you.

In the meantime, here are some of the more popular posts on the topic throughout the years.

Join The Sacred Cow Barbecue (unless you live in NYC)

Hey Get That Violin Case Out Of This Concert Hall! What Do You Think This Is, A Concer…oh wait

Time To Slaughter A Sacred Cow

And We Would Have Gotten Away With It Too, If It Weren’t For You Meddling Patrons

The Thinking Person’s Approach To Dealing With Sacred Cows

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.

Related Posts