Office Space: Springfield Symphony (MO) Orchestra

Who doesn’t like taking a look into someone else’s office? I know I do and whenever possible, I like to take the time to profile some of better orchestra office spaces when the opportunity permits. At the end of the 2008/09 season, I spent some time in Springfield, MO working with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra (SSO) where I was struck by their office space. If you subscribe to a correlation between office space and productivity, you’re going to be interested in what the SSO folks have accomplished… (more…)

Accountability, Performance Reviews, and Planning

Welcome Back!  Yesterday, we talked about trying to raise money after the concerts are done.  Today I want to focus in on accountability, performance reviews, and tactical planning.

One topic I hear a lot about in the orchestra world is accountability.  In a very obvious way, musicians are accountable every time the orchestra plays.  They are held to extremely high standards; when they make a mistake, it’s often out there for everyone to hear. (more…)

So How Do You Really Feel?

Lock up the liquor, hide the kids, and brace yourselves as conductor Bill Eddins has something to share on the painful subject of cutting staff. In particular, Eddins directs his in-case-you-miss-the-point-easily-let-me-make-it-painfully-clear pointed commentary squarely at those shouldering the task of deciding which employees stay and which go. His advice is not only well timed but could serve as a chapter in the Orchestra Management for Dummies book (wait, that doesn’t exist yet)… (more…)

You Can’t Fire Me, I Quit!

The 10/25/2007 edition of CNNMoney.com featured an article by FORTUNE senior writer, Anne Fisher, which examined eight ways to tell if your job is in jeopardy. Although the article is obviously directed to the for profit workplace, it is fascinating to see where the suggestions overlap with an orchestra workplace and where they go astray…

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