White House Proposes Eliminating NEA (again)
Wed, Feb 2, 2018
by Drew McManus
Although it comes as no surprise, the White House has once again proposed eliminating National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Ideally, everything will unfold in similar fashion as it did during last year’s assault. Although President Trump has made it clear he thinks the Arts and Humanities
How Recent Changes To The US Tax Code Introduce Risk To Orchestra Labor Relations
Mon, Feb 2, 2018
by Drew McManus
An article by Daniel Braden in the 2/11/18 edition of the Morning Call examines how recent changes in the US tax code will have a decidedly negative impact on orchestra musicians classified as employees (as opposed to self employed contractors). The author is a former tax consultant specializing in serving musicians and according to his
Mea Culpa Friday
Fri, Feb 2, 2018
by Drew McManus
I know yesterday’s post teased up something special for today, but it turns out life had other plans and when faced with rushing to get out what I consider an important post, I decided to wait until Monday. I would like to acknowledge this by offering the following three-part apology: I acknowledge that even though
#TBT Past Performance Is No Guarantee Of Future Results
Thu, Feb 2, 2018
by Drew McManus
Today’s #TBT is really a prelude to tomorrow’s post about one of the dynamic ways recent changes to the tax code will impact the field of nonprofit orchestras. In order to get the most out of that post, it will help to have a broader understanding of how orchestras, as employers, offload what are normally
Lab Coats And Mallets
Wed, Feb 2, 2018
by Drew McManus
Last month we examined a music listening blog from violinist Timothy Judd and I want to take a moment today and point out another relatively new culture blog written by Jason Haaheim, Principal Timpanist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra…oh, he’s also a scientist with nearly a dozen patents and more than twice that number in
Embrace The Don’ts
Tue, Feb 2, 2018
by Drew McManus
If you keep an eye on listings at ArtsAdminJobs.com, you’ve probably noticed the uptick in listings over the past few weeks. With each new wave, I’ve always found it fascinating to see what sort of language job descriptions (JD) include. As it turns out, Joe Patti had a post on that very topic at Butts
Lack Of Women Composers Among Some Big Budget Orch 2018/19 Programming
Mon, Feb 2, 2018
by Drew McManus
On 1/31/2018, the always sharp Alex Ross published a short but powerful tweet about something he noticed in the 2018/19 season announcements from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Philadelphia Orchestra. https://twitter.com/alexrossmusic/status/958741910935371778 Not too long ago, we examined a similar lack of women composers in masterworks programming at the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO); in that
Red Pill/Blue Pill: Effective Data Driven Decision Making (Hint: Take The Red One)
Fri, Feb 2, 2018
by Drew McManus
I’m very happy to announce a third conference appearance this Spring: the 37th Annual Association of Arts Administration Educators Conference! #AAAE18 runs from May 31 – June 2, 2018 and takes place in Houston, TX. The Association of Arts Administration Educators (AAAE) consists of more than 150 member programs, all training and equipping students in arts leadership, management,
#TBT You Want To Carry That On Board And Put It Where Again?
Thu, Feb 2, 2018
by Drew McManus
If you’re an orchestra musician, the anxiety attached to flying with your instrument is all too familiar. Will they let you one with your instrument or not? Career roulette is fun! #not If you’re an arts manager, you know the pain of that 11th hour call from your guest artist telling you the airline wouldn’t
Some Thoughts On Positive Change In The Wake Of the #MeToo Movement?