No, this isn’t about any of the current labor disputes. Instead, this is about an online feud between Greg Sandow and Heather Mac Donald. If you aren’t aware of what’s going on here’s the 10 second synopsis: Mac Donald wrote an article titled Classical Music’s New Golden Age (meaning now) but Sandow didn’t like what she had to say so he wrote 5,413 words (most of which were entirely unflattering) over five articles to explain why. Shortly thereafter, Mac Donald fired back with a scathing retort…
Social Media
Two Google Items You Should Know About
Undoubtedly, Google products and services are a wonderful asset to any nonprofit performing arts professional. Each year, they seem to add some new app that makes us wonder how we ever got along without it. Likewise, upgrades and enhancements to current offerings make good apps even better but there are two Google related items that should be on every arts manager’s radar…
How NOT To Use New Media
If you’re looking for a good example of how to use a new media platform in the worst possible way, American Federation of Musicians (AFM) International President Thomas F. Lee provides the best example I’ve come across to date with a series of videos the AFM released on YouTube. Everything in this video from the complete absence of production qualities, patronizing tone of his voice, ill-fitting suit, and circa 1962 copy (that’s only cool in Mad Men) is a gruesome train wreck of a product. But wait, there’s more…
Tasty Transparency Treats
The 2010 Orchestra Compensation Reports are only two weeks away but that doesn’t mean you can’t get in on some of the data goodies ahead of time. Following in the successful footsteps of the 2009 Orchestra Website Report pre-publication tweets, I’ll be tweeting an ongoing string of compensation review tidbits along with a number of miscellaneous facts that rarely make it into the regular reports due to lack of space. Thankfully, Twitter serves as an ideal medium to dish out these tasty treats, the only thing you need to do is follow @Adaptistration…
Uncovering Hidden Value
In last week’s article, The Three Keys To Social Media Marketing For Orchestras, I asked readers what else of value, besides the actual music, do orchestras have that is interesting enough to potential ticket buyers and donors that it can be given away as a free gift. The responses were thought provoking and I want to use those suggestions as a starting point for continuing the discussion…