Drew McManus on the Orchestra business | est. 2003

Will Michael Dorf Lead The NEA?

Mon, Jan 1, 2009
According to the 1/16/2009 edition of the Los Angeles Times in an article by Allan M. Jalon, it appears that Michael Dorf, founding partner of Chicago law firm Adducci Dorf Lehner Mitchell & Blankenship has emerged as a frontrunner to lead the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA). According to his professional profile, Mr. Dorf

Expanding The National Arts Office Discussion

Fri, Jan 1, 2009
There has been some intriguing discussion throughout the blogosphere following the article from earlier this week about the possibility of a White House based Office of the Arts. Ian Wilhelm picked up on the conversation via an article he posted at the Chronicle of Philanthropy and reader response to the idea has been surprising (at

State Of The Industry Today On Soundcheck

Thu, Jan 1, 2009
I’ll be appearing today on WNYC’s Soundcheck with John Schaefer at 2:00 p.m. ET for a quick discussion about the current state of the orchestra world both artistically and financially going into 2009. You can listen to the segment via the following audio player:

A White House Office Of The Arts?

Wed, Jan 1, 2009
As we stand at the precipice of a fundamental shift in the way the Federal government functions (and quite likely life as we know it), recent gossip has focused on the possibility of a new White House level arts office that would be responsible for what Artnet News reports as “overseeing all things having to

Speedlinking: 1/13/2009

Tue, Jan 1, 2009
Bill Eddins unwittingly discovers the impetus for the annual orchestra website reviews. Joe Patti discovers that his ads are naked. Marc Geelhoed does a 1st class job at demonstrating the power of music. The bassist in the orchestra that shall not be named has a chestnut allergy. Oboeinsight is watching watch cartoons (Leopold, Leopold!). Everyone’s

The Perils of Demand Based Pricing

Mon, Jan 1, 2009
A few weeks ago, the Associated Press published an article by David Sharp about the notion of using demand based pricing throughout the performing arts community. If you aren’t already familiar with demand based pricing as applied to orchestras, it is a method where a higher price is charged for seats within a given pricing

Who Are You?

Fri, Jan 1, 2009
It has been two years since the last Adaptistration reader survey; as such, it is high time to find out more about you. The original survey had a few questions but since then the internet has grown considerably so the need to acquire more info this time around is necessary. Nonetheless, I know your time

Two More Contributors For TAFTO 2009

Thu, Jan 1, 2009
Joining the contributor list for the Take A Friend To Orchestra (TAFTO) 2009 project are Alabama Symphony Executive Director, Curtis Long, and Chicago’s very own cultural Swiss Army Knife Andrew Patner who works as author, broadcaster, journalist, and arts critic. When Andrew isn’t writing for traditional media outlets or working as Critic-at-Large and program host

Lights, Camera, Aktion!

Wed, Jan 1, 2009
Preceded by much fanfare, the Berlin Philharmonic broadcast their inaugural concert via their “Digital Concert Hall” project yesterday. I have to admit, I didn’t shell out the nearly US$15.00 to experience the concert but luckily enough, regular reader Michael Brewer did and was kind enough to pass along his impressions of the event…

Managers Alienate Ticket Buyers?

Tue, Jan 1, 2009
At least that’s the premise for Holly Mulcahy’s latest installment of how different stakeholders within the business push away potential audience members. I find myself agreeing with most of her points and if anything, I think she could have focused more of the article on the different ways managers create (or fail to create) an
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