A bad settlement in Atlanta
September 27, 2012The musicians of the Atlanta Symphony voted to ratify a tentative settlement that was pretty much what ASO management (or perhaps the Woodruff Center) wanted all along: Symphony Orchestra accepted a new collective bargaining agreement Wednesday, barely averting a postponement of the fall season. The deal will cost players $5.2 million in compensation over two […]
When’s it OK to ask musicians to work for free?
September 26, 2012For sure it’s not when the person asking has raised $1.2 million for her new album but doesn’t want to pay back-up musicians on the road. Fortunately for all concerned, she (very grudgingly) changed her mind after considerable public outcry. Many AFM locals had a prohibition in their bylaws about members working for free, at […]
That was quick
September 25, 2012Maybe not the shortest orchestral strike on record, but likely close to it: They entered the negotiating room in the Chicago Symphony Association’s lawyer’s office at 2 p.m. Monday, and by about 6:45 p.m. a tentative agreement had been reached in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s first musicians strike in 21 years. The orchestra announced shortly […]
Invisible Musicians
December 22, 2011At the end of this blog is a letter to the editor that was published in the December 13 Louisville Courier-Journal. In it the writer laments the absence of an orchestra at this year’s Nutcracker performance. The tone of her letter is typical of what I had read in the past when ballets have opted […]
No Need to be Nervous…
November 17, 2011The next time you get nervous for a performance–whether soloing in Carnegie Hall or being put on the spot in a class–may be a sign that it’s time to get Fearless. This video, by the world-renowned horn player from Canadian Brass, Ind…
Classical Music: Too Elitist or Not Enough?
October 27, 2011I spend a good deal of time dreaming up bold and unconventional success solutions for the arts. While these proposals typically receive serious consideration from some corners, there are others who emotionally shoot them down immediately without any rational thought whatsoever. It seems the closer someone is to a position, the more threatening a fresh […]
What Artists Can Learn from Steve Jobs
October 6, 2011Today, as the world mourns the loss of visionary leader Steve Jobs—responsible for creating Apple, the Macintosh computer, iPhones, iPods, iPads, and Pixar Animation Studios—is an ideal opportunity to reflect and grow as individuals. This article o…
What Is a Brand and Is Yours a Good One – A "Jack of Nothing," How Diversified Should You Be?
August 7, 2011This is always a difficult question to answer and it varies from person to person. It stands to reason that if you do one thing and take it to the max, your chances of being superior to the person who does two or more things is enhanced. With a few exceptions most musicians who are at […]
What Is a Brand and Is Yours a Good One—Key Measures of Success
July 27, 2011The ultimate measures of success are trial and repeat, and the buyer is the final judge. If a manufacturer of just about anything, from dishwashing detergent to automobiles, gets you to try their product, and you are satisfied and return to purchase again, that is success. Using a music example, let’s say you get a […]
What Is a Brand and Is Yours a Good One – Brand Image Associations
July 16, 2011It’s important to understand image. Your brand exudes a certain image and is made up of the following: Tangibles & Intangibles[i] Tangible—Can you play accurately? Do you show up on time? Are you a good sight-reader? Intangible—Do you have a beautiful sound? Are you musical? Do you make the notes come alive? Do you add […]