Value Of Recording Poll Results
Tue, Mar 3, 2009
by Drew McManus
The 132 responses to the Value of Orchestra Recordings poll from 3/10/2009 produced some intriguing results, my sincere thanks to all who took the time to vote and/or submit a comment. Although far from conclusive, the responses demonstrate that most respondents tend to feel orchestra recordings have the most potential as a less than substantial
Nudging Yourself Back On The Right Path
Mon, Mar 3, 2009
by Drew McManus
On 3/12/09, conductor Ron Spigelman posted an article at his blog, Sticks and Drones, that examines some recent decisions at the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra reported in an article from the 3/9/09 edition of the Grand Rapids Press. Whether he intended to or not, Spigelman raised exactly the right set of questions at exactly the
Orchestrating Crime and Punishment
Fri, Mar 3, 2009
by Drew McManus
It’s 5:30a.m. and he’s sound asleep. It’s his first week in what will likely be his home for the rest of his life. At precisely half past the hour ________ begins playing through a pair of speakers that have no volume or setting controls. His eyes snap open and another day begins. The “he” in
An Interesting Take On The WCO
Thu, Mar 3, 2009
by Drew McManus
Robert Levine posted an intriguing piece over at Abu Bratsche on 3/6/2009 regarding ongoing developments with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra (WCO) negotiations. Never the dull writer, Robert launches the post with this gem, “Labor disputes never bring out the best in employers, and orchestras are no exception.”…
TAFTO 2009 Promotional Banners Now Available
Wed, Mar 3, 2009
by Drew McManus
Take A Friend To Orchestra (TAFTO) month is just around the corner so in order to start spreading the word, you can find a variety of promotional banners to use at your blog and/or website. This year’s look is a little grungier and also new for 2009 is the addition of a higher resolution 1500
Is There Value In Recordings?
Tue, Mar 3, 2009
by Drew McManus
The Oregonian’s classical music critic, David Stabler, posted a fascinating rant on 3/5/2009 about orchestras, musicians, and recording rules. As it turns out, David’s post inspired some readers to send in some intriguing email messages about that blog post which grew into an interesting exchange about the value of orchestra recordings in the new economy
It’s Time For Academia To Remove The Rose Tinted Glasses
Mon, Mar 3, 2009
by Drew McManus
The 3/8/2009 edition of the Chicago Tribune published an article by Howard Reich that reports on the continued rise in applicants to music schools across the country. Based on a wide variety of quotes from a broad cross section of music school administrators the article paints an idyllic picture of opportunities that await graduates but
You Can Almost Smell The Lighter Fluid
Fri, Mar 3, 2009
by Drew McManus
With each passing week, the situation at the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra (WCO) continues to resemble many of the characteristics defined by Scorched Earth Governance In 10 Easy Steps. The only curious aspect of this situation is the WCO has yet to indicate that the organization is having any sort of financial difficulty…
NEA Guidelines Posted
Thu, Mar 3, 2009
by Drew McManus
If you haven’t done so already, drop whatever you’re doing and head to the National Endowment of the Arts’ (NEA) website and read about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law 111-5 grant guidelines. According to that information, the application deadline is no later than 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on April 2,
It’s Time For A Nonprofit LLC
Wed, Mar 3, 2009
by Drew McManus
In yesterday’s article, I mentioned the notion of a nonprofit LLC and wanted to take a moment to expand on that notion. If you imagine the world of U.S. performing arts as a brick wall then the multi-million annual budget size organizations are the bricks and the mega-million annual budget organizations function as cornerstones. Of
