Comments on: help me understand

By: Rosalind

Rosalind — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:59:27 +0000

David – Thanks for bringing this issue to your blog. It is always interesting to read of events on the other side of the Pond.

I am horrified that such a brilliant idea about presenting new music in an innovative and accessible way which would certainly attract people to the exciting process of putting together a premiere performance, should be stopped by obstinate union members sticking to their obsolete rules like dying flies to a fly-paper.

They are the small-brained dinosaurs who will be first to become extinct and most to blame when orchestras suffer crippling deficits or go under because of (amongst other things) a total lack of understanding on how one has to “move with the times” in promoting classical music orchestral concerts…

I hope you and your more forward-thinking colleagues make a big issue about this in an effort to allow a modern approach to marketing your excellent concerts in the future. When one looks at promotion of other music genres, of theatre, visual arts etc – not to mention the sophisticated customer sales techniques of the advertising experts in business, industry and services – it makes one weep to see how antiquated our methods still are in promoting OUR art…

By: Ron Blessinger

Ron Blessinger — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 05:10:35 +0000

I have a different take here.
First, this seems to fall under a national recording agreement, and as such is beyond our local’s ability to even consider for a vote. For the same reason why we can’t hire out for film work, we can’t break a national recording agreement.
Second, I have a big problem with the way our management (marketing director) and my colleague (however Noble) have taken these strong positions in public. It’s soooo easy to blame the players for being unenlightened about the evolving state of our industry. I know, however, that we’ve been extremely accomodating when it comes to practically every single contract waiver we’ve been presented. I think our management, at least, ought to be a bit more careful with such public pronouncements of alleged musician obstinancy. As for my colleague(s), first try to get the facts straight, then consider keeping it in house. We’ll all be better served.

By: miriam

miriam — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 06:30:31 +0000

This is ridiculous, and it seems a simple workaround should be obvious. Could it not be viewed as an educational donation?
But then, as a classical freelancer forced to pay for more than one local (totally a frightening percentage of my yearly gigs) even in a state as gig-starved as Oregon and even in years where there are no gigs, I may have a slightly bitter spin on things.

By: tim scott

tim scott — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:20:58 +0000

As a long term member of the symphony I agree with you completely. Free promotion? Let’s take it.