Current Events

A Glimpse Into Alt Performance Activity During The Pandemic

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There’s a thought-provoking article by Jim Farber in the 7/14/2020 edition of sfcv.org of his review of the Mainly Mozart festivals performance via drive in movie facility. The location checks off all the boxes needed to satisfy patron health and safety concerns while simultaneously providing its own set of unique logistical challenges. What’s particularly interesting is in addition to utilizing the drive-in’s native radio frequency Mainly Mozart opted to use sound …

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Time To Think About Loss Aversion

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There’s a superb article by David Maggs in the 7/20/2020 edition of The Philanthropist that takes an unvarnished look at finding opportunity in an environment of uncertainty and anxiety. By that, I don’t mean using a crisis to consolidate power, rather, letting go of sacred cows long enough to see what they’ve been keeping you from enjoying. Titled Art, After Virus: Seven Questions for a Sector on the Edge, the one …

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Shop Talk Is (Finally) Coming Back

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Only 16 months after the first (and only) episode, the Shop Talk video podcast series is finally coming back. Compared to the time between Game Of Thrones seasons, it’s not really all that bad of a wait. I have guests and topics compiled but now that we’re neck deep in the era of COVID, I’m curious to know what you would like to see insiders talk about. In the meantime, checkout …

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A Scientist Turned Musician On The Need For Expertise In The COVID-Era

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Over the weekend, Jason Haaheim, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Principal Timpanist, published a thought-provoking piece at his blog about the necessity of expertise in the age of COVID. The post covers a lot of ground and weaves in and out of direct connectivity to the nonprofit performing arts field but, on this topic, it’s decidedly a strength. Rest assured, there’s still plenty of connectivity: I believe we’re living through the most teachable …

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Top-Tier Musician Compensation For 2020 Is Skipping A Season

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Each year, we take some time to examine base musician compensation levels at the top eight highest paying orchestras. But thanks to the impact COVID-19 is having on orchestra collective bargaining agreements (CBA), we’ll need to postpone this installment a year. Unlike executive, music director, and concertmaster figures examined in the annual compensation reports, these wages are determined years in advance by way of collective bargaining agreements. As a result, instead …

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