Ernest Fleischmann passed and I had one treasured experience with him that I want to share, but first to Terry Teachout. Terry I say thank you for your article raising the question of eliminating regional orchestras, yes thank you! He opened an even bigger debate than in my Context/Urtext post (it is somewhat related) which is: what is the definition of the word “artistic”?…..
Outreach
It needs to be about CONTEXT not URTEXT!!!!
At Cliburn last year I kept hearing “it has to be about the music”. I’m sorry MUSIC IS NOT ABOUT MUSIC, it’s about everything else! We spend so much time focusing on trying to get people to fall in love with music and with what we do. This will only happen when we do the opposite first i.e It’s time for us to be into them! Trying to tap into their pulse still puts us on the outside looking in, the goal should be to become part of their bloodstream…..
The Audience….who are they…and why do they do that?
So there he is right in the center, and every time I turn around he’s still asleep? Wait a second why is that person leaving without even applauding, climbing over other patrons, was our performance that bad that you couldn’t wait for even one curtain call? Are they just rude or is there something wrong with me, oh no IS THAT THE CRITIC??? !!! We need to stop concluding that this is about us…….(even though it might be)
Another Message Control Fail…Practice, Practice, Practice
How do you get to Carnegie Hall?….You know the line. The Oregon Symphony has been invited, they have asked the city to help pay for the trip, and the message in the paper? Cue the closing of fire stations, mixed in with a defensive posture and vitriolic comments mostly against the funding and now it is all uphill….it didn’t have to be so….
More ASS in clASSical – Unexplain This!
So I’m late in getting to the widely panned Philly marketing campaign Unexpect Yourself. Now to their credit it has created a lot of buzz in the blogosphere but whether it translates into sales and repeat business….well time will tell. What marketing in general seems to lack is creating a connection to relevancy with this and many other tag lines going for a just try it kind of E Harmony vibe. There is an incredible study out there that marketers should take note of that is not sexy but is relevant and might change the philosophy of sending out the message into sending out the messenger(s)…..
Very STATisfying! – part 1
It’s about Artistic excellence, We want to be the best orchestra this side of the…(insert iconic river or Great Lake here!), We’ve practiced, practiced, practiced…now we want to go to Carnegie Hall. How many times do you hear how great an Executive and/or Music Director wants their orchestra to be, but what does great actually mean. I contend that for an organization to be great it is others that need to bestow that adjective upon us, not ourselves. After all Olympians never judge themselves. I contend that the goal should always be Organizational Excellence, I want to share a stat…you be the judge….
Adjusting the Seasonings in Salt Lake! – Time to Make a Play!
The Utah Symphony and Opera have been rescued by a very large gift which is great news. A couple of articles about their situation got me thinking more about community outreach and how the tangible resonance of a hall needs to be matched with the resonance felt within and even beyond our communities. More importantly though, it’s now time for Orchestras to stop playing defense in this recession and start to become a player in getting America out of it!……We are faced with possibly the greatest opportunity ever to become relevant, so it’s time get off the bench and fight!…..
Hope for the Next Decade: A Call to Arts!
Community Outreach was the catchall category of the last decade in the Orchestra world, and has become so non defined that we take for granted that it’s happening at every orchestra. It most certainly isn’t just because the words are used. It is time to define it for real, give it real teeth and to make those who use the word accountable. Why? It is something that Bono said, yes the U2 guy!…..