After awhile, the repetition associated with labor disputes can get pretty boring; each side tosses the same old accusations and language back and forth and the outcomes are pretty much unsurprising. It is almost as formulaic as Hollywood’s never ending stream of buddy-cop or teenage-angst flicks. But every now and then, a group emerges to offer up something so crazy it would make the Mad Hatter whistle in awe. And just last week, the current Honolulu Symphony Orchestra (HSO) leadership tossed out an item so irrational, it left poor Mr. Hatter speechless…
Two Google Items You Should Know About
Undoubtedly, Google products and services are a wonderful asset to any nonprofit performing arts professional. Each year, they seem to add some new app that makes us wonder how we ever got along without it. Likewise, upgrades and enhancements to current offerings make good apps even better but there are two Google related items that should be on every arts manager’s radar…
Venture Pre-Release Demonstration
I’m in Springfield, MO today for some strategic planning follow-up work with the Springfield Regional Arts Council. I’m also working with a collection of leading performing arts groups via some collaborative projects of mutual benefit to the entire local culture scene and since everyone is together in the same place at the same time, it seemed like a good opportunity to conduct a thorough demonstration of the Venture Platform…
Looking Like A Genius Has Never Been Easier
Have you ever wondered what separates a mere schmuck with a stick from a bona fide maestro? Are you strangely attracted by the magnetic charm of a cape and ascot? Are batons really more magical than magic wands? If you answered “Oh dear God, YES!” to any of those questions (who are you kidding, of course you did), then brace yourself for one of the most remarkable websites endorsed by one of the most mystical maestros of our time…
Labor Oversupply: Reversal To The Rule
The 7/5/2010 edition of the New York Times published an article by Dan Wakin that examined the uncharacteristically large number of section, fixed chair, and principal positions open among the largest budget US orchestras. What’s interesting here is the groups in Wakin’s article are destination level ensembles, meaning these are the orchestras where the very best musicians aspire to win a position, it won’t be surprising to see these groups adopt practices usually associated with labor shortages…