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.

Size Matters Part 2

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Welcome back for part two in this study of how an orchestra accomplishes the monumental task of building a new concert hall.  In today’s installment we will learn how the Kansas City Symphony and the Nashville symphony plan to build their halls.  In part one we heard from Dayton Philharmonic and the Richmond (VA) Symphony.  You can find that installment here. Kansas City Symphony Annual Budget: $8.8 million Length of Season: …

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Size Matters

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Building a new concert hall seems to all the rage these days.  Recently Philadelphia, Detroit, and L.A. have moved into spectacular new digs.  Carnegie Hall opened up a new stage, and Miami is building a giant performing arts center for no one in particular (since both the symphonic and chamber orchestras have gone out of business).  For most orchestras, a new hall is another step toward artistic excellence and a long …

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Lost But NOT Forgotten Updates

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I recently updated information about the Colorado Springs Philharmonic and the Florida Philharmonic orchestras.  Happily, the musicians at Colorado Springs are making music again and the Florida players are trying to do just that.  Read about the details in the Lost But NOT Forgotten column.

Box Suites and Chicken Strips

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I remember attending a Three Tenors concert at the 20,000 seat MCI Center in Washington D.C. in 2001.  It was my first experience attending a “classical” style concert in that type of venue.  I recall walking into the arena and I was struck by the overpowering smell of chicken strips.  About half of the regular concession stands and merchandise kiosks were operating and doing good business.  The lines were as long …

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We All Need To Go See A Psychologist

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There is a great deal of talk in the industry about building a new audience, but all that I’ve read in newspapers and discussed with those in the industry tends to focus on "things" to help solve the problem.  But in a recent Reader Response letter from Emily in Toronto, she says "…orchestras haven’t meant to shut people out, but it would seem that some people have been alienated."  This is …

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