Drew McManus on the Orchestra business | est. 2003

A New Look For The Compensation Reports

Mon, Jun 6, 2011
paint brush and palette
Welcome to Adaptistration’s new look and layout. It marks the first significant step in a change toward moving form a single blog with a few ancillary outlets to a full-fledged online network that includes Adaptistration Jobs, Adaptistration Premium, Who’s Minding The Score?, and the Take a Friend To The Orchestra resource site. And the Adaptistration

You Don't Want To Be On This List

Fri, Jun 6, 2011
Earlier this month, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published a list of organizations that have had their federal tax-exempt status automatically revoked for failing to file an annual information return or notice for three consecutive years. If you read Butts In The Seats, you already know what this is all about and since Joe did

Have I Got A New Revenue Stream For You

Thu, Jun 6, 2011
Big or small, a new revenue stream is a new revenue stream. And if you can tap into it without investing any real time or treasure then all the better, right? What it you could have all of that and the new revenue stream would also improve operation efficiency? In short, I’ve got two words

A Little Irreverence Would Do Us Good

Wed, Jun 6, 2011
Hooray
In case you missed it, the 2011 Tony Awards offered up a fabulous opening number featuring Neil Patrick Harris that takes a “different approach” to dealing with the audience development and financial challenges that stalk performing arts orgs. But unlike the Debbie Downer style “straight talk” adopted by some service organizations, the theater field seems

Editorial Cartoon: The Philly Plan

Tue, Jun 6, 2011
It seems that the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Peter Dobrin struck another chord with Dixon, Adaptistration’s editorial cartoonist. On 6/12/2011, the Inquirer published a comprehensive article from Dobrin that examines the artistic elements of the Philadelphia Orchestra Association’s (POA) new strategic plan. With excerpts such as “Artistic leadership by committee is a path to mediocrity.” it isn’t

Get Money, Get Paid

Mon, Jun 6, 2011
Two articles worth looking into came out last week that touched on what will almost certainly become an increasing flashpoint of attention in coming months: executive compensation. First up is Peter Dobrin’s article in the 6/9/2011 edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer that takes a long look at recently released compensation figures for Philadelphia Orchestra Association

The League: Then And Now

Fri, Jun 6, 2011
I had the opportunity to watch the opening segment of the League’s Red Alert! plenary session which consisted of a speech from League CEO Jesse Rosen. He read a list of current orchestra bankruptcies (Philadelphia, Syracuse, Honolulu, New Mexico, & Louisville) and defined them as “critical situations” that have “erupted” since 2008. He said they

"Ending the Doctrine of Failure"

Thu, Jun 6, 2011
stop
Last Monday, I hinted at revealing more details related to the League of American Orchestra’s (League) decision to reject International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians (ICSOM) chairman and North Carolina Symphony bassist Bruce Ridge’s offer to participate as an elected musician representative in the League’s “Red Alert!” plenary session at this year’s conference. So

Editorial Cartoon Day: Sandow

Wed, Jun 6, 2011
Adaptistration Editorial Cartoon Sandow
It looks like Dixon, Adaptistration’s resident editorial cartoonist and the wit behind the humor at the hit orchestra biz comic strip Who’s Minding The Score?, has a bone to pick with Greg Sandow over some of his remarks to The Australian…

You Need To Do Three Things Today

Tue, Jun 6, 2011
I’m just coming out of a series of project deadlines so today’s post will get right to the point with three things you need to do…
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