In Detroit, Everything Still Comes Down To Trust
Fri, Jan 1, 2011
by Drew McManus
The news services and cultural blogging community are abuzz with yesterday’s news out of Detroit where musicians and management exchanged a vitriolic round of PR artillery. But the other news is that management asserts they have submitted a revised offer that provides the first series of economic improvements in several weeks…
Detroit’s War Of Words Escalates
Thu, Jan 1, 2011
by Drew McManus
It seems that the ongoing Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) work stoppage has reached an unfortunate, but not uncommon, benchmark in that both sides have resorted to accusing each other of failed leadership…
If It Were Only That Easy
Wed, Jan 1, 2011
by Drew McManus
It has been making the rounds throughout the culture blog circuit all week but in case you haven’t seen it already, there’s a wonderful piece of satire at The Nonprofit Quarterly titled A Strategic Nonprofit Reorganization Plan that deals with the frustrations many arts organizations experience when playing the grant application game. On a more
Stakes Are Raised In Detroit
Tue, Jan 1, 2011
by Drew McManus
On 1/26/2011 the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) executive committee will meet to “evaluate the merit of suspending the remainder of the 2010-11 season, as well as indefinitely deferring the announcement of the 2011-12 season, until a settlement can be achieved.” This step is right on schedule as most orchestras need to pull triggers on major
Why Smart Managers Are Looking At The Slow Food Movement
Mon, Jan 1, 2011
by Drew McManus
Recently, Diane Ragsdale posted an interesting article at her blog that compares the Slow Food movement and the culture sector. It’s chocked full of thoughtful observations and, in turn, has generated a healthy comment thread. Ragsdale’s post made me recall the pair of articles at Neo Classical from Holly Mulcahy in 2008 on the same
The AFM International Unfair List, Defined
Fri, Jan 1, 2011
by Drew McManus
Although it has been in effect for months now, some folks aren’t aware that the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) placed the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) on their International Unfair List per request of AFM Local 5 (the office which represents the DSO musicians). Although this isn’t an unusual course of action during a work
Tim Smith Couldn’t Be More Right
Thu, Jan 1, 2011
by Drew McManus
Baltimore Sun music critic, Tim Smith, posted a superb blog on 1/4/2011 titled A tough battle for 2011: Fighting the anti-cultural crowd that examines the apparent upswing of anti-cultural sentiment throughout the comments of traditional newspaper and culture blogs. What apparently set Smith off was a comment thread in a Kentucky paper about the unfolding
Auld Lang Syne Meme Of Three
Wed, Jan 1, 2011
by Drew McManus
Inspired by Bill Eddins over at Sticks and Drones where he posted a laundry list of wishes for 2011, I wanted to take a moment to kick off an Auld Lang Syne Meme of Three for 2011 (orchestra stakeholder edition)…
BOOM Went The Gavel
Tue, Jan 1, 2011
by Drew McManus
It happened so close to the New Year holiday you may have missed it but the decision by Judge David T. Stosberg denying the Louisville Orchestra’s (LO) filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as means for temporary relief from its collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is, to put it mildly, a big deal. At the same time,
Who Are You? 2011
Mon, Jan 1, 2011
by Drew McManus
It has been two years since the last Adaptistration reader survey; as such, it is high time to find out more about you. The last survey was enormously helpful in guiding Adaptistration’s content and overall direction and I’m sure this survey will be no different. Just like the last time, I’m going to make it
