Comments for Adaptistration http://www.adaptistration.com Drew McManus on the orchestra business Wed, 16 May 2012 15:52:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on New Details About The Proposed Palm Beach Juilliard Residency by Bruce Hembd http://www.adaptistration.com/blog/2012/05/16/new-details-about-the-proposed-palm-beach-juilliard-residency/#comment-29239 Bruce Hembd Wed, 16 May 2012 15:52:57 +0000 http://www.adaptistration.com/?p=16238#comment-29239 The response from Mr. Finn sounds a little like double-speak. More specifically, the assertion that children respond better to presenters from their own peer group is somewhat misleading, if not plainly incorrect - an unsubstantiated claim. For a good 20 years, I performed dozens (if not hundreds) of chamber group children's concerts with great success. Children are naturally curious and inquisitive, and one could easily argue that the age of a music program presenter has little or nothing to do with connecting with children. Fred Rogers (of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood) is a pretty good example and counterargument. All this aside, these thoughts (mine included) are all purely anecdotal, and this begs the big question: is anecdotal evidence a good foundation to base an entire outreach/educational program? I would say not, especially when there is research to look at and other successful programs out there to gather more concrete evidence. The response from Mr. Finn sounds a little like double-speak.

More specifically, the assertion that children respond better to presenters from their own peer group is somewhat misleading, if not plainly incorrect – an unsubstantiated claim. For a good 20 years, I performed dozens (if not hundreds) of chamber group children’s concerts with great success.

Children are naturally curious and inquisitive, and one could easily argue that the age of a music program presenter has little or nothing to do with connecting with children. Fred Rogers (of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood) is a pretty good example and counterargument.

All this aside, these thoughts (mine included) are all purely anecdotal, and this begs the big question: is anecdotal evidence a good foundation to base an entire outreach/educational program?

I would say not, especially when there is research to look at and other successful programs out there to gather more concrete evidence.

]]> Comment on Invasion Of The Job Snatchers? by New Details About The Proposed Palm Beach Juilliard Residency | Adaptistration http://www.adaptistration.com/blog/2012/05/07/invasion-of-the-job-snatchers/#comment-29213 New Details About The Proposed Palm Beach Juilliard Residency | Adaptistration Wed, 16 May 2012 07:00:56 +0000 http://www.adaptistration.com/?p=16174#comment-29213 [...] last week’s post about a proposed Juilliard residency vis-a-vis the Palm Beach Symphony that created quite an uproar [...] [...] last week’s post about a proposed Juilliard residency vis-a-vis the Palm Beach Symphony that created quite an uproar [...]

]]> Comment on Invasion Of The Job Snatchers? by higherfasterlouder http://www.adaptistration.com/blog/2012/05/07/invasion-of-the-job-snatchers/#comment-29175 higherfasterlouder Tue, 15 May 2012 04:28:11 +0000 http://www.adaptistration.com/?p=16174#comment-29175 There is the possibility that not every orchestra with a CBA will perform all operas with the full orchestration. And even if they do, determining string section sizes might possibly take more than 15 seconds. "Up to performance day" is a bit extreme though! There is the possibility that not every orchestra with a CBA will perform all operas with the full orchestration. And even if they do, determining string section sizes might possibly take more than 15 seconds. “Up to performance day” is a bit extreme though!

]]> Comment on Invasion Of The Job Snatchers? by bratschegirl http://www.adaptistration.com/blog/2012/05/07/invasion-of-the-job-snatchers/#comment-29140 bratschegirl Sat, 12 May 2012 06:36:00 +0000 http://www.adaptistration.com/?p=16174#comment-29140 The claim of Fresno Grand Opera that they don't know until the last minute what musicians are required is, of course, ludicrous. Once they decide to program, say, La Boheme, it's a matter of about 15 seconds to find out what the instrumentation is. FGO is not commissioning and presenting world premieres at last report, and even if they were, orchestration is agreed upon between composer and presenter at the outset. Perhaps what they really meant to say is that they don't know until the very last minute how many musicians they're willing/able to pay for, which also reflects poor business practice. "Hey, kids, let's put on a show in the barn" is all very well in the movies, but it doesn't translate particularly well to the professional world. The claim of Fresno Grand Opera that they don’t know until the last minute what musicians are required is, of course, ludicrous. Once they decide to program, say, La Boheme, it’s a matter of about 15 seconds to find out what the instrumentation is. FGO is not commissioning and presenting world premieres at last report, and even if they were, orchestration is agreed upon between composer and presenter at the outset. Perhaps what they really meant to say is that they don’t know until the very last minute how many musicians they’re willing/able to pay for, which also reflects poor business practice. “Hey, kids, let’s put on a show in the barn” is all very well in the movies, but it doesn’t translate particularly well to the professional world.

]]> Comment on Mongo Only Pawn In Game Of Life by Ben http://www.adaptistration.com/blog/2012/05/10/mongo-only-pawn-in-game-of-life/#comment-29133 Ben Fri, 11 May 2012 23:53:17 +0000 http://www.adaptistration.com/?p=16212#comment-29133 This is not a new negotiating tactic. It was openly used by management in our last negotiations (for a major Midwest orchestra). The line went something to the effect that "We've been responsible making cuts in our own management/staff size and salary - what are you going to do to show that same level of commitment to the organization?" Even though our performances, playing level, and reviews had been glowing both at home and on tours, management said that that part really didn't matter. It was truly a reprehensible, inflammatory tactic and took a lot of cooling down on the negotiating committee's part to continue to believe that bargaining was being done in good faith. This is not a new negotiating tactic. It was openly used by management in our last negotiations (for a major Midwest orchestra). The line went something to the effect that “We’ve been responsible making cuts in our own management/staff size and salary – what are you going to do to show that same level of commitment to the organization?”

Even though our performances, playing level, and reviews had been glowing both at home and on tours, management said that that part really didn’t matter. It was truly a reprehensible, inflammatory tactic and took a lot of cooling down on the negotiating committee’s part to continue to believe that bargaining was being done in good faith.

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