What We Need Is Another Abraham Lincoln

Back in 2005, I published a post titled What We Need Is Another Henry Ford that suggested stagnant management techniques and outdated operating models were pushing the orchestra field toward trouble. Although a popular post for its time, reader email was dismissive and in some cases, outright hostile in response to what might as well have been heresy (remember, 2005 predates comment functionality). Fast forward seven years and the field is …

Read more

Not Pulling Any Punches In Denver

Make no bones about it, the Denver Post’s Fine Arts Critic, Kyle MacMillan, has some strong opinions about the current state of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra (CSO), its value to the community, and what stakeholders need to start doing in order to make things better. In an article published on 10/1/2011, he lays out a straightforward account that doesn’t require any reading between the lines to understand.

Read more

Now Is The Spring Of Our Discontent

It seems that a number of folks throughout the culture blogging community are taking issue with what could perhaps best be described as the Chicken Little Think Tank, or the group of voices within the field that seem determined to convince all of us that resistance is futile. Apparently, these efforts have pushed some over the edge of discontent to the point where they are not just resisting, but pulling some …

Read more

What Is Your Reputation In The Business?

One of the byproducts of a business that has grown considerably over the past few decades is a sharp increase in the quantity and quality of administrative positions. To that end, there are more and more professionals who spend their entire careers inside the field. So let’s have a little fun with that concept; assuming you spend the bulk of your career in the business, what sort of reputation are you known for…

Read more