A Glimpse Into Life Back In The Hall
Wed, Jun 6, 2020
by Drew McManus
If you have any friends or colleagues in the Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) I highly recommend you start following them closely on social media. The DSO is one of the handful of orchestras getting back into the hall for performance activity. Perhaps unsurprisingly, musicians and staff have been posting firsthand accounts across social media of
State Of Employment Poll & Review June 22 – 28
Mon, Jun 6, 2020
by Drew McManus
Results continue to reinforce established trends that see stakeholders just over a quarter of orchestra stakeholders indicate they are still working and/or being paid their regular salary. The remaining majority continue to slowly transition from reduced compensation to some form of uncompensated employment status. Weekly Report For the most part, Administrators experienced steady response ratios.
NEC Alumni Pressure School’s Leadership To Improve Diversity
Fri, Jun 6, 2020
by Drew McManus
More than 350 New England Conservatory (NEC) alumni have signed a letter addressed to the school’s president, Andrea Kalyn calling out the university for failing to acknowledge what they define as its role in “reproducing the social conditions it claims to abhor.” It is time for the Conservatory’s leadership to be courageous in addressing its
The Difference Between Per-Service and Salary-Based Musicians
Thu, Jun 6, 2020
by Drew McManus
Following yesterday’s article that referenced per-service and salary-based musician employment, a number of readers reached out asking about the difference. To that end, I’m certainly guilty of assuming too much from time to time and this is decidedly one of those issues that can be very confusing if you aren’t already familiar with the distinction.
Upcoming Stress Tests For Musician Governance
Wed, Jun 6, 2020
by Drew McManus
“Never let a good crisis go to waste” is one of those quotes that comes as a razor-sharp double-edged sword. It’s been crossing my mind as of late with regard to some of the larger challenges orchestra musicians are likely to face in Covid era negotiations. First off, there are going to be no shortage
Embracing Innovation Over Hibernation
Tue, Jun 6, 2020
by Drew McManus
There’s a fabulous piece making the rounds written by Seth Pinsky that was originally published in the 6/13/2020 edition of cnn.com. Pinsky, the former head of New York’s Economic Development Corporation under Mayor Bloomberg and the CEO of the 92nd Street Y, provides the cultural sector with exactly the right advice at exactly the right
State Of Employment Poll & Review June 15 – 21
Mon, Jun 6, 2020
by Drew McManus
After 10 weeks of tracking data, we’re beginning to see administrators and per-service musicians settle into consistent employment status ratios while salaried musicians continue to shift from one week to the next. Currently, approximately 27 percent of respondents across all stakeholder groups indicated they are still working and/or being paid their regular salary. Weekly Report
The 2020 Orchestra Compensation Reports Are On The Way
Fri, Jun 6, 2020
by Drew McManus
Just a quick note today to say that in the wake of receiving several messages from readers asking if the orchestra compensation reports are coming soon, I wanted to post an update to confirm they are indeed on the way. Having said that, they may be a week later than usual but one way or
Don’t Be A Domino
Thu, Jun 6, 2020
by Drew McManus
In case you haven’t heard the news, the New York Philharmonic announced the cancellation of all performances through January 5, 2021. Is that discouraging news? Yes, but there’s no reason for it to be the first domino to tip. Undoubtedly, the New York Philharmonic’s leadership team spent a great deal of time analyzing options before
Examining Recession Era Compensation Trends