It’s proven, we’re smarter and cooler!

Also proven, these studies might make people hate us…. I have 2 pet peeves in our business that are related, the first I will give some detail to explaining, the second is pretty much self explanatory.  Pet Peeve #1: Why on earth do people when studies are released on the benefits of playing an instrument conclude that as musicians we are smarter, cooler, and more fun to be around, I mean what is the point of this other than to try and convince people who do not have musical talent or interest … Continue Reading

How to turn up the quiet…by Alecia Lawyer

With several incidents of conductors stopping performances for children (this article from Dayton) and cell phones (seemingly the only way to make the news these days), it begs the question especially in the case of children: is there something short of ostracizing them (and their parents) that can be done to allow quiet in a concert hall with children present?  Most definitely yes, as guest blogger and Founder/ED of the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra Alecia Lawyer will explain…..

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Treating Patrons Like Kids….DON’T DO THAT!!!!! – Update: Response

Creativity is not only for the artists.  A patron interfaces with an arts institution long before they get there, and time and time again the visitors guidelines and etiquette policies read as though buying a ticket is a passport to not being able to do anything coupled with an assumption that you know nothing, and that we are all 5 years old!  We belittle patrons before they walk through the door, we simply have to get creative with this.  My Audience Connection class took this on last week……(Update: response from Indianapolis below)

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Things that move….

I’m in the midst of the busiest schedule of my life in Lake Placid and in Syracuse, with 3 (this week 5) concerts a week till mid August, but that doesn’t mean there is no time to be moved….just not much time to write about it!  Yesterday something struck me and a friend shared with me a clip that reminded me just how we can through music both move and be moved, I also kind of broke an unwritten rule….

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Terry Teachout and how we go from Zero to Hero! – plus a mini tribute

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”?…..

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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….

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Quick Takes: What is Success?

The word success is defined for many in the performing arts as the accomplishing of a personal goal, to be continuously engaged, to reach higher positions, to be critically acclaimed and all of the above. Is it really success when it is only about ourselves? Is success not something that also given from ourselves to others? To take a great work and to give it a great performance actually pales into insignificance compared to a performance resonating to the point that that it alters someone’s being, gives them pause to reflect on themselves or even potentially saves a life!…..I pose a question….

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