Drew McManus on the Orchestra business | est. 2003

Sometimes Silver Linings Are Cathartic

Thu, Apr 4, 2020
At this point, I am happy to take whatever silver linings I can find and when it comes to coronavirus shutdown silver linings, we’re all starting to see how much employees can accomplish through working remotely. We touched on this topic several weeks ago just as shutdowns were starting to roll out. Ready Or Not,

The Last Round Of PPP Funding Is Approved

Wed, Apr 4, 2020
If you applied for Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) and Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans but ended up with nothing more than a notice that funds have run out, you’re in good company. Fortunately, Congress passed what will likely be the final round of additional funding yesterday so if you have an application in the pipeline,

#TubaFTW

Tue, Apr 4, 2020
We are awash in a sea of self-produced content, and that’s a good thing. At the same time, there’s no denying that musicians who aren’t accustomed to this format are discovering that getting a quality audio track takes more than having a good microphone. And I certainly shouldn’t say this is a lesson only musicians

State Of Employment Poll April 20 – 26

Mon, Apr 4, 2020
Since the onset of coronavirus related shutdowns, orchestras have been laying off and reducing hours for administrators and musicians alike. This weekly poll is designed to help provide a snapshot of stakeholder employment status. As we approach the end of the month, I’m curious to see if results begin to change based on what I’ve

State of Employment Review, Week 2

Fri, Apr 4, 2020
After tracking two weeks of responses from orchestra managers and musicians about their employment status during coronavirus shutdowns, one thing is clear: per-service musicians are bearing the brunt of economic pain. Based on responses, none of the individuals identifying as per-service musicians indicated they haven’t lost any income to cancelled services. Instead, the majority, 60