How Do You Get On The Board?
Fri, Sep 9, 2004
by Drew McManus
In the wake of the Columbus (OH) Symphony Orchestra board chair resigning due investigations by the SEC, Connie from Columbus wrote in to ask: “How do people get on an orchestra board?” What a great question. The answer has been the subject of numerous books, scholarly papers, and articles for the past century. But before
Do you think this is worth $74,425?
Thu, Sep 9, 2004
by Drew McManus
I’ve been digging around orchestra form 990’s at GuideStar lately and I came across what I thought was an unusually high expense under the “Compensation Of The Five Highest Paid Independent Contractors For Professional Services” category in the Phoenix Symphony 2002 return. The Phoenix Symphony paid $74,425 that year to a company called Contact Designs
More About Milwaukee – Marketing Department
Wed, Sep 9, 2004
by Drew McManus
At the conclusion of yesterday’s article, it promised to examine the direction the MSO marketing department is taking since the arrival of their new marketing director, Sean McBryde. In Tom Strini’s Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel article from September 4th, 2004 he reported that the MSO has suffered a big hit in ticket sales since 1999. According to
I Like What I See In Milwaukee
Tue, Sep 9, 2004
by Drew McManus
Just in case anyone missed the article in the online version of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel by Tom Strini buried yesterday in the low traffic path of Labor Day, go give it a read. Tom wrote a good article which focuses on the future of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra via interviews with the MSO’s new
More Contract Negotiation Extensions
Mon, Sep 9, 2004
by Drew McManus
It appears that the Chicago Symphony now joins Cleveland in extending the deadline for reaching a new CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement). Chicago Tribune critic, Wynne Delacoma, reported in today’s issue that talks have been extended through October 31, 2004. The article also reports that a retired judge has been brought in to mediate the remainder
What Is The Value Of Input At Interlochen?
Sun, Sep 9, 2004
by Drew McManus
What is the purpose of a non-profit organization? According to Federal Government a non profit organization or company is established for charitable, educational, or humanitarian purposes and not for making money.
Reader Response: Unnecessary Financial Restriction
Fri, Sep 9, 2004
by Drew McManus
One of Adaptistration’s European readers sent in an email in response to the Removing Unnecessary Financial Restrictions article from September 1st. I always enjoy receiving notes from fellow musicians and orchestra managers from across the Atlantic and this was no exception. The reader pointed out something I didn’t realize happens in Europe all that much;
Will The IRS Determine What Orch. Execs. Earn?
Thu, Sep 9, 2004
by Drew McManus
On August 10th, 2004 the IRS issued a News Release that it would begin scrutinizing executive officer compensation practices among non profit organizations. This initiative has been dubbed the “Tax Exempt Compensation Enforcement Project“. According to the news release, the initiative is a “new enforcement effort to identify and halt abuses by tax-exempt organizations that
The Negotiation Process: Who Does What
Tue, Aug 8, 2004
by Drew McManus
This installment of the “Negotiation Process” series will examine the answers to a common misconception about who does what during contract negotiations. Next in this series of articles, we’ll take a deeper look into “who” does “what” during the process. Mary Lo from Washington wrote to ask, “Why do the musicians care about all of
An Interview With David Lockington
Sun, Aug 8, 2004
by Drew McManus
I published an interview with David Lockington, the Music Director for the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra at my Neo Classical Column over at The Partial Observer. It’s a great interview that covers issues ranging from stage fright, long range planning, to the future of the industry. You can find the article at:http://www.partialobserver.com/ArticleDisplay.cfm?ArticleID=1218
