Adaptistration

Some Good Questions On The Value Of Free

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 come to free concerts will pony up for the paid ones...Word from our development department is that there is little to zero draw from these concerts to the concert hall." Good question Charles...

Little To No Value? I Don't Think So...

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 other tool available today. Case in point, the Grant Park Music Festival featuring the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus...

August Is Coming, Is Your Website Ready

August is only one week away and if your organization hasn't been updating and enhancing its website, you had better get moving...

Music Directors And Age: Survey Results

Yesterday's survey designed to measure how Adaptistration readers feel about music directors and age as well as the qualities they find most important in a music director (regardless of age) generated more than 100 responses - the results of which were fascinating...

Music Directors and Age: An Adaptistration Survey

Given the number of private messages since Monday's article about music directors and age, I put together a straightforward five question survey to help gauge what Adaptistration readers feel about music directors and age as well as the qualities they find most important in a music director (regardless of age).

So take a fun break out of your day and fill out the survey, it will only take a few moments. The results will be posted on Thursday or Friday of this week.

TAKE ME TO THE SURVEY!

Framing The Debate In San Antonio

There isn't a day that passes where I don't receive at least a dozen press releases but recently, my inbox has been filled with a new type of press release from the musicians of the San Antonio Symphony...

Does It Really Matter How Old The Conductor Is?

You have to love this business. Really, you do. Any sane person who didn't would likely throw up their hands in frustration and swear off classical music forever after a few years. Why on earth anyone cares about whether or not a music director is 26 or 66 is beyond me. Nevertheless, the business seems determined to forge ahead with shaping phony connections between age and audience development...

Some Good News

Several ICSOM orchestras have concluded collective bargaining agreement negotiations recently but a few stand out as examples demonstrating sizeable improvements in musician compensation...

Getting My Head Above Water

I'm back in Chicago and am slogging through several hundred email messages and several dozen phone messages. Hopefully, I'll be back to blogging as usual by tomorrow or next Monday. In the meantime, check out one of the blogs I visit on a daily basis, Butts In The Seats, Musings on Practical Solutions For Arts Management by Hawaii based arts manager Joe Patti. It's full of great ideas, thoughtful topics and every once in awhile provides a reveling look into the world of arts management.

Back To Chicago

I'm heading back to Chicago today so, just in case you haven't seen it yet, check out the big news from New York: Alan Gilbert Named To Lead NY Philharmonic

Every Wonder What Goes On During Orchestra Meetings?

CSO bassist Michael Hovnanian gives you a look into the often closes door meetings between management and musicians when he presents his recollection of events from a recent meeting between CSO musicians and the management of the Ravina Music Festival. All in all, it is fascinating reading and gives you more useful insight into how the world of orchestra business interacts with the artists they present.

Read Michael Hovnanian's blog, No Such Thing

ArtsWatch

I'm taking a sincere vacation day today and am immersing myself in a day-long hike in the Grand Teton National Park. In the meantime, please take a moment to visit a new blog written by Philadelphia Inquirer music critic, Peter Dobrin. Peter is one of my favorite cultural journalists currently working and I'm glad to see The Inquirer has carved out a digital niche all for him: Peter Dobrin's ArtsWatch

Re-examining The Big Picture

Back in February, 2006 I published a four part series of articles which examined the Dallas Symphony Orchestra's strategic plan, called "A Bold Plan For Greatness." It seems Dallas isn't the only orchestra looking to expand as the North Carolina Symphony recently released a strategic plan/capital campaign called "America's Next Great Orchestra."...

Are Orchestra Still Being Dismantled?

Nearly three-and-a-half years ago, I wrote an article about the dangers of stagnation among the middle budget American orchestras...

Recent Development In Omaha

Although the orchestras Omaha and San Antonio are 830 miles apart amidst very different community structures, their prospects share a great deal in common. In particular, both communities are experiencing a sort of cultural renaissance, one orchestra (Omaha) recently moved into a new primary venue while the other (San Antonio) has a new venue on the drawing table, and both organizations are engaged in collective bargaining negotiations...

It Pays To Carry Your Cell Phone

The Grand Teton National Park is enduring a very hot, dry summer and the park service recently elevated the level of fire danger to "Extreme", their highest level, which according the park service means that "fires can start easily, spread quickly, and burn intensely"....

Are Orchestra Musicians Just A Bunch Of Zoo Animals?

At least, that's the issue Holly Mulcahy examines in her latest Neo Classical column at The Partial Observer...

Off To The Tetons

For the next several days, I'll be at the Grand Teton Music Festival on a working vacation. Fortunately, there's a reliable wireless connection where I'm staying in Teton Village so I'll be able to keep up with the blog on a daily basis...

Happy 4th Of July

While celebrating the founding of the country, take a moment today to remember those who don't have the opportunity to be with family and friends while serving overseas in the Armed Forces. Furthermore, take a moment to remember that the single largest employer of full-time professional musicians is the United States Armed Forces.

Negotiation Update: San Antonio

Although the musicians from the San Antonio Symphony are off for the summer, their elected Negotiation Committee representatives are still at work...

A Rose By Any Other Name...

A recent article in MusicalAmerica.com by Susan Elliott reports that the American Symphony Orchestra League has had enough with being the butt end of jokes about their organization's acronym, ASOL*...