Reader Response: essays on orchestra leadership
Tue, Nov 11, 2003
by Drew McManus
In response to the essays on orchestra leadership (located in the right hand column on the Adaptistration page), violist Robert Levine writes: Most of what your wrote about musicians is accurate. I’ve found it’s hard for someone not actually in an orchestra to fully understand the psychology. My father is a noted researcher in the
The captain always goes down with the ship right?
Mon, Nov 11, 2003
by Drew McManus
I was relieved to hear the recent news that the San Antonio Symphony is going to get back to the business of making music. When reading about the news in the San Antonio Express I noticed that the players would not be paid for the entire 2003-2004 season and receive no benefits. Their new salary
Oversight
Sat, Nov 11, 2003
by Drew McManus
The recent problems within the American Federation of Musicians regarding the accusations against Enex Steele of embezzling funds from the Sound Recording Special Payments Fund has caused me to stop and think. At first, I was upset that an organization dedicated to protecting musicians interests against abusive management practices was employing a manager who was
The trouble with arts administration degrees
Fri, Nov 11, 2003
by Drew McManus
In conjunction with the redear response below, I felt it was time to post this blog about Arts Adminstration Degrees. Simply put, arts administration degrees are too vague and don’t spend enough time focusing on the unique attributes of managing a particular medium of art. Each branch of art (music, visual, dance, drama, and writing)
I Go To The Symphony For Their Executive Director?
Thu, Nov 11, 2003
by Drew McManus
I have to take a moment and rant about something. When did it become popular to have a biography or message from the orchestra executive director? Not just a listing in a staff directory, but a dedicated biography. I went to the following orchestra web sites: Richmond Symphony, Rockford Symphony, Green Bay Symphony, and Chattanooga Symphony. They
Lack of Interest: Reader Response
Thu, Nov 11, 2003
by Drew McManus
I received the following observation from one of our readers regarding the recent “Lack of Interest” blog. I think it is worthwhile to share because the individual currently holds an administrative position in a major Midwest orchestra. Concerning the issues of finding orchestra management candidates with experience outside of typical industry practice and education, they
What We Need Is Another Henry Ford
Wed, Nov 11, 2003
by Drew McManus
In 1914 Henry Ford instituted his new process of mass production. His financial backers were insisting that he follow the industry trends and hand build cars designed for the elite in society. They wanted him to hire managers with “conventional” experience in this growing industry. Henry told them to take a hike and put his
Ripe for change in Louisville
Tue, Nov 11, 2003
by Drew McManus
The Louisville Orchestra has seen a bad year. They nearly filled for chapter 7 bankruptcy, but were saved during the 11th hour by a $465,000 pledge by the Home Builders Association of Louisville, contract concessions by the musicians, and fundraising efforts by the board. Since then, orchestra leadership has abandoned ship. Management is currently without
Lack of interest
Mon, Nov 11, 2003
by Drew McManus
Problem: I recently learned that an Executive Director of a small orchestra left her position to work as a development director for managed care facility. How are these two businesses related? They aren’t. A leading problem in this industry is there are too many managers that have no real stake in the medium of performing
Inaugural Blog
Mon, Nov 11, 2003
by Drew McManus
As an avid reader of my colleague Andrew Taylor’s blog, The Artful Manager, I would like to start this piece with a quote from one of his writings: “The world doesn’t work the way we thought it did, the way our common knowledge thinks it should, or the way our training prepared us for. Either
