Drew McManus on the Orchestra business | est. 2003

Grant Park Music Festival

Some Good Questions On The Value Of Free

Tue, Jul 7, 2007
Yesterday’s article examining the value and impact of a free concert series like the Grant Park Music Festival produced a question from Charles, a professional orchestra musician, who asked “…how many of the people who attend the free concerts come back and pay money for tickets. The Knight study showed that very few people who

Little To No Value? I Don’t Think So…

Mon, Jul 7, 2007
It never ceases to astonish me how many managers (and even some musicians) have expressed the opinion that free concerts have little to no value. Nevertheless, when implemented properly, free concerts have the potential to do more for developing an audience and raising the level of appreciation for live orchestral music than just about any

TAFTO 2007 Contribution – James W. Palermo

Mon, Apr 4, 2007
Take A Friend To Orchestra is all about finding ways to help people who enjoy classical music share the event with friends. And having spent my first summer living in Chicago and taking advantage of the Grant Park Music Festival, I can safely say that there isn’t a combination of location, ensemble, atmosphere, and price

Some Initial Volleys At The Value Of Free

Tue, Mar 3, 2007
Regular readers know the issue of ticket prices is a well worn topic here at Adaptistration but some new perspectives on the subject have surfaced from one of the sharpest up and coming journalists in the business…

All About Grant Park

Mon, Jun 6, 2006
As the recipient of 50% of their revenue from government sources, the Grant Park Music Festival in Chicago, Illinois is the closest thing the U.S. has to a government sponsored ensemble. The organization utilizes a unique operational model worth taking a look at and they go a long way toward breaking down some commonly positions