TAFTO 2009 Contribution: Giancarlo Guerrero
Thu, Apr 4, 2009
by Drew McManus
Now that we have a good idea of what makes classical music special and the importance of non-musical elements on the overall concert experience along with taking an amusing look at concertgoing stereotypes, it is time to hear from an artistic leader at an organization that has been successfully putting all of this into practice.
TAFTO 2009 Contribution: Molly Sheridan
Wed, Apr 4, 2009
by Drew McManus
If we could see tomorrow’s audience today, I hope it looks like Molly Sheridan. The new cultural countess of cool is always charming, infinitely intriguing, and – most importantly – never dull. Being the new media maven she is, Molly wasn’t content with writing something for this year’s Take A Friend To Orchestra (TAFTO) event;
TAFTO 2009 Contribution: Janelle Gelfand
Tue, Apr 4, 2009
by Drew McManus
Now that we know what makes classical music so valuable, it is time to examine the other elements that can make or break a concert event. Fortunately for us, Cincinnati Enquirer music critic Janelle Gelfand has taken the time to create a contribution that does exactly that. What’s more, her contribution presents solid evidence pointing
TAFTO 2009 Contribution: Matthew Guerrieri
Mon, Apr 4, 2009
by Drew McManus
Just when you think Take A Friend To Orchestra (TAFTO) creativity has reached terminal velocity, a contributor comes along to remind us otherwise. Case in point, Soho The Dog’s Matthew Guerrieri whose contribution reminds us what makes classical music so valuable in the first place. What’s more, he sums up what would normally take hours
Things That Make you Go “Buh?” Brooklyn Phil
Fri, Apr 4, 2009
by Drew McManus
The 4/14/2009 edition of The Brooklyn Paper published an article by Mike McLaughlin that reports composer Nathan Currier is suing the Brooklyn Philharmonic for making him cut sections of his piece, Gaian Variations, during the 2004 world premiere. According to the article, then Brooklyn Phil Executive Director, Catherine Cahill, approached Currier during the concert-length performance’s
IMG Artists Chairman Guilty Of Securities Fraud
Thu, Apr 4, 2009
by Drew McManus
The 4/15/2009 edition of The Dallas Morning News published an article by Brendan Case that reports former Dallas hedge fund manager Barrett Wissman “pleaded guilty to securities fraud in connection with his role in an alleged kickback scheme involving New York state’s largest pension fund.” In 2003, when talent management agency IMG decided to jettison
A New, New Media Guide
Wed, Apr 4, 2009
by Drew McManus
Recently, Marc Van Bree published a free eBook about orchestras and new media that serves as the latest episode in his series on the topic. Coming in at 56 pages, Marc’s book is filled with useful info but if you don’t have time to process the entire document, I strongly recommend that public relations and
Take This Audition And Shove It
Tue, Apr 4, 2009
by Drew McManus
There has been some intriguing discussion as of late among some cultural bloggers about the audition process. It started off on 4/5/2009 with a post by Jeffrey Weisner at the Peabody Double Bass Blog examining the sometimes slippery process that results in a “no-hire” audition. Weisner’s post is refreshingly candid and offers a valuable glimpse
Cultural Confidence Continues To Drift
Mon, Apr 4, 2009
by Drew McManus
The latest cultural confidence polling cycle indicates that positive attitudes remained somewhat unchanged and those with a negative outlook don’t feel quite as bad as the previous polling cycle. At the same time, the overall outlook on current and future economic conditions is decidedly negative…
Do We Need A New Business Model?
Fri, Apr 4, 2009
by Drew McManus
At least, that’s the question posed by Peter Dobrin in an article he wrote for the 4/5/2009 edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer. The quick answer is no, but Dobrin’s article is representative of the normal sort of reservation and introspective analysis that accompanies any sort of unexpected critical event. In this case, the predicament is
