Spokane Settles
Thu, Dec 12, 2012
by Drew McManus
It appears that the Spokane Symphony Orchestra (SSO) and its musicians reached an agreement thereby ending a month long strike. Details are slim; the SSO press statement and the musicians’ website announced that a deal was struck but neither sources provide data. However, the 12/5/2012 edition of The Spokesman-Review published an article by Chelsea Bannach
Minnesota End Game
Wed, Dec 12, 2012
by Drew McManus
My Inside the Arts blogging colleague, conductor Bill Eddins, recently reminded me why it’s wonderful to be associated with a collection of sharp, insightful authors. Eddins published an article at Sticks and Drones on 12/3/12 that appears to be his final word on the Minnesota Orchestra Association (MOA) labor dispute. His sayonara post is brutally
Palm Beach Symphony Is Back In The News Again
Tue, Dec 12, 2012
by Drew McManus
They say there’s no such thing as bad press but the Palm Beach Symphony (PBS) might be testing that adage in the wake of a 12/2/2012 article in the Palm Beach Daily News by Jan Sjostrom that reports the orchestra is once again at the center of a labor controversy. The last time the PBS
Show Me The Money Monday
Mon, Dec 12, 2012
by Drew McManus
The economic downturn doesn’t appear to be having much impact on nonprofit thieving. Last week the Woodruff Arts Center (WAC), parent organization of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO), announced that they paid nearly $1.5 million to a fake company for more than five years and it just so happens that the company was connected to
The Empire Strikes Back
Fri, Nov 11, 2012
by Drew McManus
EXTERIOR PLAIN OF HOTH MINNEAPOLIS – HELICOPTER SHOT – DAY: A white snowscape races toward camera … the MAIN TITLE quickly recedes, followed by a roll-up. Episode V: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK… Although certainly not science fiction, the recent opinion piece co-authored by Minnesota Orchestra Association (MOA) board chair Jon Campbell and MOA negotiation chair
No Confidence Vs. Full Confidence
Thu, Nov 11, 2012
by Drew McManus
On 11/27/2012, the musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra issued a notice that they had unanimously voted No Confidence in Minnesota Orchestral Association (MOA) President and CEO, Michael Henson. Although the measure requires no contractually obligated action on part of the MOA board, it does escalate the tone of an already bitter dispute. Although the musicians
Let There Be Transparency: The Minnesota 990s
Wed, Nov 11, 2012
by Drew McManus
Maybe it’s the approach of the holiday gift giving season, but I felt compelled to crack open my consulting document vault (which is usually closed to all but paying clients) and put together all of the Minnesota Orchestra Association (MOA) IRS Form 990s I have on file into a single downloadable file. Given the recent
In Minnesota, The Game Is Afoot
Tue, Nov 11, 2012
by Drew McManus
The Minneapolis Star Tribune published an article on 11/26/2012 by Graydon Royce that may very well be one of the most influential examinations of the ongoing labor dispute between the Minnesota Orchestra Association (MOA) and their musicians. Of particular note, Royce reports that the MOA intentionally obfuscated financial troubles in 2009 and 2010 with the
What We Need Is Another Abraham Lincoln
Mon, Nov 11, 2012
by Drew McManus
Back in 2005, I published a post titled What We Need Is Another Henry Ford that suggested stagnant management techniques and outdated operating models were pushing the orchestra field toward trouble. Although a popular post for its time, reader email was dismissive and in some cases, outright hostile in response to what might as well
What’s Your Group Doing For Black Friday?
Fri, Nov 11, 2012
by Drew McManus
Out of all the orchestra mailing lists I subscribe (over 100 so far) it never ceases to surprise me how few offer any sort of thanksgiving holiday shopping promotion. In fact, so far this season, the only one I’ve received is from the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. Granted, not every group is going to have offerings
