Author Archive for Joe
I am currently the theatre manager of a presenting venue. My performing arts background includes some acting and technical theatre, though few would hire me in those capacities. With a grad degree in theatre management, my management experience spans LORT theatres, an outdoor Shakespeare Festival, a stint as a visiting university professor and festival and event coordinator.
The History of (Not) Clapping
The Guardian reprinted an excerpt from a talk Alex Ross recently gave at the Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS). Full text can be found on the RPS website. The subject of Ross’ talk was the history of applause suppression in classical music.
There are some amusing anecdotes like Wagner being hissed at for applauding [...]
Yes, Quality Will Definitely Out
More and more the whole idea that it takes 10,000 hours to master a skill seems to be bearing out. Last year I wrote about the astonishing excellence exhibited by Chitresh Das and Jason Samuels Smith in the India Jazz Suite. (And I guess I did a good job because that entry is now part [...]
Calling All Men
I came across a pretty interesting piece on the Chronicle of Higher Education about motivating men to volunteer. If you are having difficulty getting men to volunteer or want to do a better job of inspiring men in their work, you may want to take a look at this.
As you might imagine from the source, [...]
Arts Administrator Residencies-Is There A Need?
I am not quite sure what drew my eye to it but Fractured Atlas did an interview with the founders of the Philadelphia Art Hotel this January. I don’t know why, but the project just looks and sounds a like a cool idea.
Personally, if I were a visual artist, I would probably [...]
Green Papers-Not What I Thought They Were About
Due to the imminent failure of my refrigerator’s compressor, I don’t have as much time to devote to the old blog as I had hoped.
With that in mind, I wanted to direct people’s attention to Americans for the Arts’ efforts at creating a conversation around green papers on topics of importance in the arts. [...]
Info You Can Use: Employee or Independent Contractor
As usual, the folks at the Non-Profit Law Blog provide some useful links. I will quickly point out a short piece about the Senate has recently passing a jobs bill that will provide incentives to hire and keep employees.
The measure would exempt private employers, including nonprofit groups, from paying their share of Social Security [...]
Trash Talkin’ About The Arts
First it was Indianapolis Museum of Art and the New Orleans Museum of Art wagering paintings on the outcome of the Super Bowl. Now I hear Dallas and Ft. Worth are talking smack about which of them has better cultural assets.
Please people, art is only demeaned by using it as a prop in a bet [...]
Turning Waves Of Crisis Into Minor Ripples
You ever tried to get a large group of performers to the airport to catch their flight in the face of an impending tsunami?
Well, I have.
It is actually not as bad as you might think. Given the alternatives of a hurricane, earthquake or volcanic eruption, with the opportunity that either of the latter two will [...]
Who Will Fight For It?
Well my post on Tuesday on the changes in wireless microphone rules garnered the most hits in one day that I have ever received. I am actually not sure exactly where all the visitors heard about the entry. The old tracking software isn’t giving me the detailed clues I thought it would. Anyhow, if you [...]
Info You Can Use: Will You Have To Get Rid Of Your Wireless Mics?
You may or may not be aware that after June 12, 2010, you will no longer be able to use wireless microphones that operate in the 700 MHz range. Arts Presenters has been following this issue very closely and has put together a good resource page on the subject. The page contains information on the [...]