Commentary

Why Non-Artistic Duties And Responsibilities Are More Important Now Than Ever

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Even before coronavirus shutdowns, music director compensation was a hot topic, but the current environment introduces a new layer when the issue of shared sacrifice enters the picture. And while there’s plenty of good material to examine regarding releasing enough details for patrons to decide just how evenly sacrifices are shared, that’s not what this post is about. Instead, it’s about a music director’s ability to earn their keep, so to …

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Good Governance In The Age Of Teleconference Meetings

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Scheduling board and committee meetings is a chore under normal operating conditions. Add the pressures of shelter-in-place orders along with the sorts of heavy agenda topics most boards are facing, and you have ideal conditions for making shortsighted decisions based more on frustration and fear than stewardship. Having said that, there are a few pointers to help keep your board and committees on track and above reproach: Record Every Teleconference Meeting …

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It’s Time For Hero Donors To Give Like It’s 1984

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If there were ever a time for foundations and large donors to step up, it’s now. It’s striking to see how little we’re hearing about these funders amidst public statements of planned health care benefits cancellations during expected peak times of the coronavirus outbreak. An article in the 3/31/2020 edition of the Washington Post examines how tough things are right now for New York City arts organizations. And while there’s reference …

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Why The “If You Aren’t Playing, We Aren’t Paying” Rationale Just Doesn’t Work

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As coronavirus shutdowns continue, we’re seeing some genuinely positive interaction between employers and musician employees working toward mutually agreeable solutions to the sensitive issue of payroll. Outside of those scenarios, I’m seeing one of the most derogatory old-school stereotypes emerge as justification for cancelling musician pay entirely: musicians only work 20 hours per week. This twisted notion assumes that musicians are only paid for the time they are on stage rehearsing …

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Choose Your Modifiers Carefully

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During times of crisis it is not unusual to see formal communication include more than its fair share of adjectives and adverbs to help set a narrative. While the need for transparency and expedient communication is strong, it’s worth a few extra moments to perform a formal modifier check. Case in point, I’m seeing a spike in the use of the word “indefinitely” to describe cancellations. Example: “We regret to inform …

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