Radio Waves And Putting The $ In Orch Busine$$

Apparently, it is possible to be in more than one place at the same time. At least, virtually. Yesterday’s edition of culture.wnyc.org published an article by Marlon Bishop that examines the move by Graham Parker, currently the exec of the Orpheus Chamber Ensemble, over to lead WQXR that included some of my quotes. On the same day, sfcv.org published an article by Janos Gereben that references the 2010 Compensation Reports…

In addition to my quotes, Bishop’s article includes additional insight from the extra large brains of culture gurus Jeremy Denk and Frank Oteri (hey, both have been Take A Friend To The Orchestra contributors). The move from executive orchestra management to the radio side of the business will be fascinating to watch.

Over at San Francisco Classical Voice, Gereben not only pours over the relationship between music director, base musician, and total expenditures as reported in the latest round of Orchestra Compensation Reports, published here at the beginning of the month. While you’re there, make sure you keep reading down the page to the entry with the headline Early Betting Line on MTT Succession where Gereben has some “what-if” style fun with fellow SFCV.org writer (blogger extraordinaire and Take A Friend To The Orchestra contributor) Lisa Hirsch.

About Drew McManus

"I hear that every time you show up to work with an orchestra, people get fired." Those were the first words out of an executive's mouth after her board chair introduced us. That executive is now a dear colleague and friend but the day that consulting contract began with her orchestra, she was convinced I was a hatchet-man brought in by the board to clean house.

I understand where the trepidation comes from as a great deal of my consulting and technology provider work for arts organizations involves due diligence, separating fact from fiction, interpreting spin, as well as performance review and oversight. So yes, sometimes that work results in one or two individuals "aggressively embracing career change" but far more often than not, it reinforces and clarifies exactly what works and why.

In short, it doesn't matter if you know where all the bodies are buried if you can't keep your own clients out of the ground, and I'm fortunate enough to say that for more than 15 years, I've done exactly that for groups of all budget size from Qatar to Kathmandu.

For fun, I write a daily blog about the orchestra business, provide a platform for arts insiders to speak their mind, keep track of what people in this business get paid, help write a satirical cartoon about orchestra life, hack the arts, and love a good coffee drink.

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