Using Orchestra Website Humor As A Learning Tool
Thu, Mar 3, 2011
by Drew McManus
Proper Discord posted another one of their so-true-you-have-to-laugh videos the other day. The latest installment focuses on the all too common practice of overloading an orchestra website’s homepage.
An All Around Day Of Downer News
Wed, Mar 3, 2011
by Drew McManus
A few items of note to point today: the first from Detroit where it seems like both sides in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) dispute are having some trouble working through the necessary issues in order to even consider arbitration. And by trouble, I mean a continuation of the same fundamental separation on the most
Learn To Love Lobbying
Tue, Mar 3, 2011
by Drew McManus
There’s a great post over at Butts In The Seats titled Info You Can Use: What Is Lobbying and Can I Do It? which covers some of the basics of lobbying do’s and don’ts (thanks in part to the Charity Lawyer Blog). In the age of government budget cuts, lobbying is more important than ever
Oil Prices Are Going Up And You Know What That Means
Mon, Mar 3, 2011
by Drew McManus
The turmoil in the Middle East has had a strong impact on the price of oil and as a result, gas prices are starting to spike. What this means for the field is a new round of increased difficulties with attracting worthwhile per service and substitute musicians…
Detroit Poll Results
Fri, Mar 3, 2011
by Drew McManus
Last Friday’s Detroit Symphony Orchestra oriented poll not only beat the previous all time high for most responses, it shattered it. The first question garnered just over 1000 responses while the second question produced a hair less than 1000. And with full poll logging measures in place to prevent a single respondent from flooding any
Thursday News Roundup
Thu, Mar 3, 2011
by Drew McManus
It’s been another eventful week. The Boston Symphony Orchestra announced that music director James Levine will be stepping down as of 9/1/2011 but no word on emeritus status while in New York City, the Metropolitan Opera says “Levine intends to fulfill his schedule here for the remainder of this season and in future seasons”…
Life After Near Death In Detroit?
Tue, Mar 3, 2011
by Drew McManus
Yesterday’s announcement from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) musicians about their willingness to return to work without a contract is the closest thing the group has had to hope in some time. But before everyone begins rejoicing, there are conditions in the form of both sides agreeing to binding arbitration as a means to an
Breaking News From Detroit: Musicians Propose Returning To Work
Tue, Mar 3, 2011
by Drew McManus
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra Musicians (DSO) issued a press statement at 1:00pm ET today stating they intend to hold a press conference at 2:00pm ET to announce that they are proposing to return to work under the conditions DSO management imposed in October that initiated the strike (last updated 6:50pm ET)…
Musicians Behaving Badly?
Tue, Mar 3, 2011
by Drew McManus
The 2/28/2011 edition of the Boston Herald published a review by Keith Powers of a performance by the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) or Mahler’s Ninth. What makes the review unusual doesn’t have anything to do with the music so much as what Powers wrote about behavior he observed in the violin section. More to the
Detroit, Wisconsin, And The National Union Movement
Mon, Feb 2, 2011
by Drew McManus
Amidst last week’s Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) discussion threads, a reader asked about my thoughts on whether or not the DSO dispute is part of the growing union debate that began in Wisconsin. Since the question was posed, I’ve given it some considerable thought and have decided that whether or not any connection ever existed
