tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43787210654537005582024-03-05T04:25:21.672-05:00League of American Orchestras 2009 ConferenceLeague of American Orchestrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861691243685913733noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378721065453700558.post-2217314144165353542009-06-24T09:30:00.002-04:002009-06-24T09:36:25.788-04:00The Dutch PerspectiveThanks to google we were also able to stumble on to another reaction to conference - specifically on the <a href="http://www.americanorchestras.org/conference_2009/social_networking.html">Social Networking Session</a>.<br /><br />Marc van Bree has some interesting thoughts on how organizations should be thinking about social networking, but in my mind, the most intersting thing is that he followed this session primarily through this conference blog and twitter. <a href="http://mcmvanbree.com/dutchperspective/archives/200906_id361.htm">Here is his post</a>.League of American Orchestrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861691243685913733noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378721065453700558.post-81566821508640478762009-06-18T18:02:00.001-04:002009-06-19T12:40:40.545-04:00Final Word About Conference 2009<strong>Jason Nicholson</strong>:<br /><br />As I'm sitting at my desk looking at the sea of brochures from fellow<br />orchestras, I have to say that we all do a pretty d*mn good job with the<br />resources we have. Especially Groups 3-8. A lot of us don't have a staff<br />of 10,5 or even 2. We manage to do what we do with what we have. We all<br />should be proud. <p>I've been thinking of all the Toolboxes, Perspectives, beer, Roundtable<br />discussions, Sessions, beer, and everything else that went on in<br />Chicago. When I looked at my "to do" for the day, it didn't look like a<br />lot, but when I got going, talking to vendors, friends (new and old),<br />concerts and all the sessions, it got a little crazy. <p>There were some sessions that I was thinking, "Really, you could've<br />handed out an 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper and called it a day because I'm<br />really not getting anything out of this." But then again, the session<br />wasn't all about me, there are others in there might have gotten some<br />little nugget of enlightenment. Instead of complaining about what I'm<br />not learning, I needed to focus on what I could be learning. Whether it<br />was from Mr. or Mrs. Power Point presenter, someone from Group 8 or the<br />big dogs in Group 1, there is ALWAYS something you can take from all of<br />them. <p>I grade this conference an A-. The minus simply because I wanted more<br />toolboxes/sessions and less morning concerts (which were awesome!). But<br />like I said, the conference isn't all about me. <p>Good luck to all my fellow orchestras on their 2009-2010 season! <p>Best,<br />Jason Nicholson<br />Marketing Director<br />Austin Symphony Orchestra</p>League of American Orchestrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861691243685913733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378721065453700558.post-73828839577659369372009-06-18T13:57:00.005-04:002009-06-18T14:36:51.704-04:00Re: Convention after thoughts<p>Hi All – Liz here,<br /><br />The entire experience at the conference last week reminded me of two things-<br /><br />1. We contribute so much value to the organizations we represent and provide a vital service that enriches lives<br /><br />2. Networking with other people in like positions in other orchestras is essential to growing our own orchestra but also to keep our budgets in line. We can test theories and projects through others experiences and learn from them and adapt them to our own situations<br /><br />If you have not been to a convention – try to get to one – I think you will be surprized at the depth of the experience and the fun you will have – this was my first convention and it will not be my last!<br /><br />Liz Burnham<br />Director of Sales and Marketing<br />South Bend Symphony Orchestra</p>League of American Orchestrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861691243685913733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378721065453700558.post-40880351385613140832009-06-17T15:46:00.003-04:002009-06-17T15:53:13.703-04:00Other thoughts on the ConferenceIf you've enjoyed reading what our Conference delegates had to say about their experiences in Chicago (and we know you have!) you might also be interested in Ann Drinan's blog.<br /><br />Ann is the Senior Editor at <a href="http://www.polyphonic.org/">Polyphonic</a> and she has extensive posts on her time in Chicago, you can find it all <a href="http://adrinan.wordpress.com/">here</a>.<br /><br />Do you know about other people who were blogging in Chicago? Let us know and we'll link to them here.League of American Orchestrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861691243685913733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378721065453700558.post-33314335116652322632009-06-16T15:01:00.001-04:002009-06-16T15:07:28.273-04:00Random Post Mortem MusingsPost from <strong>Alan Jordan</strong> (from 35,000 feet.)<br /><br />Quasi-quote: “There isn’t a mayor in this country who doesn’t come to Chicago and see this (the Pritzker Pavilion) and say, ‘man, I want on of these for my city!’”<br /><br />I never thought Shostakovitch could sound like Brahms until last evening. And no one would know why his Songs of the Forest would be unfamiliar to American audiences until they read the translations. (And we still would have be in the dark had communism not died there!) Wonder where I can find a recording?<br /><br />2009 conference may eventually be regarded as one of the largest group therapy sessions ever offered. One can’t help feeling a little better about our industry—and careers!<br /><br />A constituency session comment re-iterated a line shared with me a long time ago from a concert hall manager in Concord, NH who passed away from cancer a few years back: the official moniker for 501(c)3s is not “non-profit,” but “not for profit.” For profit firms are obligated to their shareholders to produce results. We are obligated to the public to produce results, and those results are not necessarily—and most beneficially—financial ones.<br /><br />I haven’t been sold yet on a laptop as a classical music instrument. And I wonder how percussionists will feel about seeing performance opportunities for them wrested away by pre-programmed computers? Is this much different than using a CD for Nutcracker?<br /><br />I wonder if the Palmer House will find any lost delegates on Monday morning?<br /><br />And now a final image; one not taken by our official conference photographer, and not at an official conference event:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvy9wOlAUKn2eKd7j_B2-ACQ7yRt6AQ-H6iCx-kCok-J55neygSxYq8E68Taf_nz3xCKhiaXeiUc7lPkjPHja-Ey_cBdzwhyphenhyphen_krY-HAx6GVQELDzGZs6ZH7WKQByqEgbMJd1UrJYx5IZI/s1600-h/clip_image002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348003445020557026" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvy9wOlAUKn2eKd7j_B2-ACQ7yRt6AQ-H6iCx-kCok-J55neygSxYq8E68Taf_nz3xCKhiaXeiUc7lPkjPHja-Ey_cBdzwhyphenhyphen_krY-HAx6GVQELDzGZs6ZH7WKQByqEgbMJd1UrJYx5IZI/s320/clip_image002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Ari Solotoff (Portland, ME), Alan Jordan (Vermont), Emily Pawlak (Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA), John Gingrich (NY, NY), Joshua Worby (Westchester, NY), and Bill Capone (NY, NY) with the Chicago skyline in the background following the Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago White Sox game at Comisky Park (aka, US Cellular Field).<br /><br />Enjoying America’s second favorite pastime after orchestra concerts: baseball!<br /><br />Looking forward to Atlanta!</div><div> </div><div><br />Alan Jordan<br />Executive Director<br />Vermont Symphony Orchestra</div>League of American Orchestrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861691243685913733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378721065453700558.post-75282914424420574602009-06-16T12:13:00.000-04:002009-06-16T12:14:42.753-04:00well worth the trip<strong>John Thomas Dodson</strong>:<br /><br />It occurs to me that when you look at the cost of attending the annual conference you have to ask some hard questions. CAN we pay for this and SHOULD we? For me, it was well worth the trip.<br /><br />I was in a meeting yesterday with an educator planning one of our concerts for junior high and high school students for next season, and I found myself including new ideas I had gotten from the conference. As things went on, we got more and more excited – realizing that we were creating something genuinely innovative for young people. Score one for the session on Social Communities. We’ll be borrowing some ideas from that one…<br /><br />A conference, or for that matter, the League itself, is as valuable as you choose to make it. Reaching out to old friends, and being open to making new ones creates not only new contacts in the field, but incredible new resources who will respond to an e mail or a phone call - helping you wrap your mind around an issue that needs more wisdom that you feel you have at the moment.<br /><br />More than that though, being in Chicago helped me remember that the tough times aren’t just local and that I’m a part of something larger. It helps us belong to the entire field. It removes isolation and replaces it with community.<br /><br />See you next year!<br /><br />John Thomas Dodson<br />Music Director, Adrian Symphony<br />Principal Conductor, Toledo Ballet Theatre<br />Creative Destruction Blog: <a title="http://www.artsjournal.com/creatived" href="http://www.artsjournal.com/creatived">www.artsjournal.com/creatived</a>League of American Orchestrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861691243685913733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378721065453700558.post-63150512632568461522009-06-13T01:34:00.004-04:002009-06-16T12:13:40.834-04:00A few words.<p>Posted by: <strong>Carolyn Nishon</strong></p><p>Early flight and a forty-seven pound suitcase--massive overpack. Monroe street, please. Back-to-back-to-back in the lobby. That ceiling. Suits and heels and nametags and business cards. Itineraries and blackberries. Awkwardly staring at peoples stomachs to get a glimpse at their names. Faces to accompany phone voices. Three days will feel like three weeks. Corner Bakery. Waiting for the elevator. Getting on the wrong elevator. Getting lost in the hallways. Starbucks. Starbucks again. Friends and Fellows. Remember when. Wabash street exit umbrellas. Two trumpets sounding like one. Event and experience. Cheese and crackers and pointillism. Gin and tonics. Laughter. Lack of internet. Spirituals and bird songs, Hiawatha, bohemia, and the B9 scherzo. Standing ovations. Everyone move up closer--this should be a discussion. Cutting costs and sympathizing. Constantly asking. Questioning habit. Churn. Humanizing. Booths and pamphlets and discs and folders. 2010. 2011. 2012. 2013. Lack of sleep and blurry eyes. Seven-thirty croissants and community, rolls and relationships. Booked myself through lunch. Beyond the beyond. Bernstein and the Bean. Shaking hands and embracing arms. </p>League of American Orchestrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861691243685913733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378721065453700558.post-54686809790971734402009-06-12T16:55:00.002-04:002009-06-16T11:33:26.266-04:00A British Perspective<strong>Mark Pemberton</strong>:<br />Sorry I've been so quiet but a) I've just been so busy and b) I objected to paying for internet access at the Palmer House. Now that I've re-located to the Park Hyatt for a few days of sightseeing, and have access to free wi-fi, I can give you my views on a fascinating few days.<br /><br />So, highlights for me definitely include the drinks at the Art Institute. What an amazing building. And great views. Slightly embarrassed that it should be the Brits who have to be kicked out at the end of the night.<br /><br />In terms of the conference, we can't avoid the fact that the state of the economy has drowned out all other topics. Which is a shame, as the conference is the opportunity to look to the future, while also sharing the problems of the present day. For this reason I gravitated towards discussion on new technology. I found today's Social Networking session interesting up to a point. But Russell Jones was spot on in his cry of "what about the dollars?". The speakers kept talking about the "new business model". But Facebook and Twitter have no business model! They have no means of generating income. So while they provide opportunities for communication and audience development, they have, I fear, limited income potential.<br /><br />I enjoyed the Round Table, though found it hard to hear the speakers. If the League is going to repeat this, then, if it can afford it, booths would work better. And I know times are hard, but could they not have stretched to giving us a cup of coffee this morning?<br /><br />Benchmarking for Success provided some useful information and will certainly help my organisation.<br /><br />But the main benefit of attending the conference has to be the range of people you meet. Everyone is so friendly and has a story to tell.<br /><br />As for Chicago - what a great city. Though all those ribs and deep dish pizzas have done nothing for my waistline.<br /><br />See you in Atlanta.<br /></span></p>League of American Orchestrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861691243685913733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378721065453700558.post-74004948715207916522009-06-12T14:17:00.002-04:002009-06-12T16:26:58.470-04:00Blog entryCan it be Friday already? I just came out of a session devoted to the implications of social networking. At one level I'm sure the subject seems either just "an extra bell and whistle" or a subject too daunting to think about, but when all the smoke clears we'll remember these days as the beginning of a new approach to working together. Ripples of this session will show up in future master agreements and even in the way we view content ownership. It will mean opening ourselves up to audience-generated content after a concert (including the freedom to lose control of comments). I hope we get this right soon enough to be here to reap the benefits. It will mean a lot of new thinking from everyone involved and a significant cultural change across the field. I loved the open-ended qualities of this session. No one knows exactly where we're going, but we DO know that the old models won't be sufficient anymore. Opportunity knocks!League of American Orchestrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861691243685913733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378721065453700558.post-14264728855248148482009-06-12T13:51:00.001-04:002009-06-12T13:51:22.427-04:00League Staff<div>The League Staff has done such a good job this conference. Melanie Thibeault is awesome! Thank you Melanie for all your help and support! You made this easy for me. Major Props! Thank you Jim Holt for setting up this blog!</div> <div> </div> <div>I have one more blog in me that I'll save for later!</div> League of American Orchestrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861691243685913733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378721065453700558.post-34155285033024633982009-06-12T13:32:00.002-04:002009-06-12T16:26:25.425-04:00Chicago: Day 4James Barry:<br />When I started at the League back in October I often heard around the office phrases such as: "just wait until conference, remember at conference, well... at conference." I was fairly certain this conference thing must be a pretty big deal. Now in Chicago on my fourth day I have the bragging rights to speak phrases that end in "conference." Simply: it has been a whirlwind. I expected and was warned about the long hours, having to rise at the crack of dawn, the non-stop work - which all happened. But the things I didn't foresee or expect are those that have left the strongest impression on me. On Wednesday just before 1pm I witnessed the Palmer House Hilton bristle to life with delegates: reunions of old friends, hugs, handshakes, new introductions, the beginning of new relationships. The inspirational power of the Beyond the Score presentation of the New World Symphony reinforced why all "this" matters. And when the CSO's facilities manager spoke at the Operations/General Managers constituency meeting about hall/office utility consumption I understood the level of detail and insight orchestra staff members have brought to coping with the new economic reality and their willingness to share successes with others.League of American Orchestrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861691243685913733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378721065453700558.post-34439471969853597332009-06-12T09:59:00.001-04:002009-06-12T11:27:17.907-04:00day 3 begins...<p class="mobile-photo"> </p><p class="mobile-photo">people strolling into Orchestra Hall. Chicago youth symphony and MusicNOW beginning soon. </p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKfwiOsxaAMSsWlFOPRg7DJ1E9blM9ZFEjZWfNLru3-Z1oQrJ-qz2wZePDiPrhCeAOauJcONCnlgMdWVM40mQcs2byKvYcz2UBlSO6h-zhiO1JLI9FFY8AcZEbuMkKa4i3Gr0WWIZ3MA/s1600-h/photo-776045.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346458510433305682" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKfwiOsxaAMSsWlFOPRg7DJ1E9blM9ZFEjZWfNLru3-Z1oQrJ-qz2wZePDiPrhCeAOauJcONCnlgMdWVM40mQcs2byKvYcz2UBlSO6h-zhiO1JLI9FFY8AcZEbuMkKa4i3Gr0WWIZ3MA/s320/photo-776045.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>League of American Orchestrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861691243685913733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378721065453700558.post-44985232238604326212009-06-12T07:44:00.000-04:002009-06-12T07:46:12.677-04:00RE: Social Networking Time ManagementHi Liz here again -<p>Yesterday I engaged is some lively conversations about how to manage social <br>networking and not let it rule your every waking moment. It is very <br>important to keep these outlets fresh and new, but how can you fit updates <br>to these social sites in check. The suggestions I received were to limit <br>the social networking time to 5 to 30 minutes a day and no more----<p><br>ThanksLeague of American Orchestrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861691243685913733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378721065453700558.post-69574539065173756492009-06-11T23:16:00.002-04:002009-06-12T11:26:35.574-04:00dead name badge<p class="mobile-photo">posted by <strong>liz Mahler</strong> via<strong> jim holt</strong>: </p><p class="mobile-photo">did liz "lose" her badge? yes.<br />did jim "find" it? yes.</p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5CgxjAs8jzm9lfFTleVhXGCfP59VWI6Pw5KEL6CFDTjZvsF-nI1_Z5J5lvOCnXtPCTFnR-98XqaOgfhREz4o_2f1fgNjt0WsQn5VjV8NLTfL2X8X8OQWZgC8bQ8LLYFgRC68RIAaytw/s1600-h/photo-748896.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346274994941849762" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5CgxjAs8jzm9lfFTleVhXGCfP59VWI6Pw5KEL6CFDTjZvsF-nI1_Z5J5lvOCnXtPCTFnR-98XqaOgfhREz4o_2f1fgNjt0WsQn5VjV8NLTfL2X8X8OQWZgC8bQ8LLYFgRC68RIAaytw/s320/photo-748896.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>League of American Orchestrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861691243685913733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378721065453700558.post-32488311745029314002009-06-11T21:53:00.000-04:002009-06-11T21:54:17.081-04:00Next<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuLGVra8pmK3rqZad8mw_3ZFRh-ZWdUsIYhq_D7iVaxmSBCRVPuCvNq3EINJcOqDYwGsu6H7gBQQpzf_xqKmZKno5xjF5V-64hOB1g7n21j4xR_F4ERAqYkJUI8WnEAZ9kRtSBLxpx34/s1600-h/photo-757083.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuLGVra8pmK3rqZad8mw_3ZFRh-ZWdUsIYhq_D7iVaxmSBCRVPuCvNq3EINJcOqDYwGsu6H7gBQQpzf_xqKmZKno5xjF5V-64hOB1g7n21j4xR_F4ERAqYkJUI8WnEAZ9kRtSBLxpx34/s320/photo-757083.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346253557826447538" /></a></p>live from the bottom lounge. mmmm... bottom lounge.League of American Orchestrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861691243685913733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378721065453700558.post-92072450550005537042009-06-11T21:42:00.000-04:002009-06-11T21:44:48.934-04:00RE: Churn RevisitedHi Liz here again -<p>The Churn Revisited is a follow-up to the Churn study from the last <br>conference. This presentation will be up on the League site next week- this <br>information is not to be missed! The presentation shares some initial <br>findings from offers sent out based on the research on single ticket buying <br>habits and behavior-- I found it this insight helpful,and exciting to test <br>in my marketplace -<p>LizLeague of American Orchestrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861691243685913733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378721065453700558.post-13331540025744743372009-06-11T21:09:00.000-04:002009-06-11T20:57:06.676-04:00FranticPost by Alan Jordan<p>That's the word that first comes to mind to describe the pace of this <br>conference. And I don't mean that in a bad way but, honestly, it's been <br>non-stop since 7:30AM, and I have about 20 minutes until my next appointment.<p>So, why is this? From what I've experienced, people seem more interested in <br>getting information, making connections, sharing experiences, and finding <br>solutions. What I haven't seen as much are the war stories. Perhaps, we <br>all have had enough of our own war stories in the past twelve months that the<br>"venting" is just too painful—or unproductive. In any event, there's <br>drive here in Chicago. The people with whom I've interacted see the <br>challenges and are ready to take them on.<p>A long-time colleague remarked about how humorous it was that no one was <br>willing to admit how tough things are. In my mind, that's a given. We all <br>know it's "the worst of times." And there's a lot that we cannot <br>control or fix. So our focus should be on what we can fix. (First<br>"take-home:" get, "Polarity Management" by Barry Johnson. It <br>addresses just this topic. Thanks Andrew!)<p>Other notables today:<p>1) Beyond the Score—very interesting and enlightening presentation. Glad <br>the Civic still had enough chops left to play the whole New World in the <br>second half.<p>2) Churn and churn busters—THE buzz word and topic. Be prepared to hear <br>more on this for years.<p>3) "Being non-profit does not mean being stupid." (Actually, a quote <br>from yesterday, but so true! We don't need excuses like that. When this <br>economic mess is done, wouldn't it be nice to hear the phrase, "you should <br>run your business more like the Symphony!?"<p>4) Henry, the accolades today were wonderful but still do not convey how much <br>our field owes you! I add my thanks to everyone else's.<p>Off to my next meeting.<p># # #League of American Orchestrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861691243685913733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378721065453700558.post-77683247364621019562009-06-11T18:46:00.003-04:002009-06-12T16:58:53.098-04:00Peer-to-Peer PresentationPosted by <strong>Jason Nicholson</strong>:<br />I gave my Peer-to-Peer presentation just now. I believe it went well. The people at my table were responsive and asked great questions. I hoped they got something out of it. I love talking about the BATS!League of American Orchestrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861691243685913733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378721065453700558.post-64927060938482827852009-06-11T18:45:00.002-04:002009-06-11T20:03:31.664-04:00Presentations and ConcertsPosted by <strong>Jason Nicholson</strong>:<br /><br />All I can say is WOW! The people I've met so far have been wonderful and what I have learned from them is invaluable.<br /><br />The Chicago Symphony's performance last night was simply amazing. I don't think they are human because they don't make a mistake, yet the color and dynamics show everything only a human can possess. I know Chicago is proud of the gem they have here.League of American Orchestrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861691243685913733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378721065453700558.post-61657326567333440022009-06-11T17:05:00.001-04:002009-06-11T17:05:14.440-04:00Blog entry<div>John Thomas Dodson:</div> <div> </div> <div>Beyond the Score was extraordinary this morning - a model of imagination. I remembered thinking that there must be a number of orchestras rethinking their capacities for audience engagement as it took place. At least I hoped it did. In a Discovery Channel world, this is one of the fruitful ways forward for the field. Strangely, it was so well done that I had one private worry: I hoped that all of the marvelous technical achievements wouldn't discourage the smaller budget groups from pursuing this idea. There is a LOT that can be done in this vein - even without the vast resources we experienced today. As an aside, kudos to Sir Mark Elder, who completely entered into the project and brought his artistry to the young musicians of the Chicago Civic.... I can't imagine that they would ever forget such an event.</div> <div> </div> <div>I heard a wonderful question today in one of the conductor/artist administrator sessions: "Are you doing anything NEW or just making incremental cuts to survive these times?" The question didn't come from the podium - perhaps it should have - but it really captured the challenge of these economic realities. We can't just cut, wait and survive. We have to create and re-imagine ourselves. I loved that moment: a quiet, thoughtful challenge to all of us.</div> <div> </div> <div>Off to Peer-to-Peer Roundtables. I had better hurry...I'm presenting one of them. More later.<br><br></div> League of American Orchestrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861691243685913733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378721065453700558.post-5629684807503512722009-06-11T13:36:00.007-04:002009-06-11T12:17:06.498-04:00The Annual Refusal of the GiftsPosted by <strong>Rachel Rossos</strong>:<br />As I go through my notes from yesterday's fantastic Annual Fund OLA in preparation for co-leading the Development Groups 3-8 meeting at 1:30pm today (Striking a Chord With Your Board), a particular phrase sticks out at me: "The annual refusal of the gifts."<br /><br />During a discussion of how to choose an Annual Fund chair, Paul Hogle said that he has had great success when appointing someone who is brand new to the Board of Directors. He then suggested that a major trap that institutions fall into regularly is to court a member of the community for the Board of Directors, letting them know all the skills and leadership qualities that they will bring to the table, and then to not follow through on the promises in those discussions. The community member joins the Board and is under-utilized. In other words, we are refusing the gifts of his or her time, leadership, and skills.<br /><br />By defining a brand new Board member's role as the chair of a campaign or committee, we can help ensure that we are taking full advantage of their skills and enthusiasm. Even if there is not an opening to chair a committee, we do have the responsibility to commit to a role for everyone on our Board of Directors. Otherwise, we are leaving valuable resources and talent untapped.<br /><br />What is your orchestra's Board culture like? Do you have defined roles for most or all of your Board members?League of American Orchestrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861691243685913733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378721065453700558.post-83669907584560664992009-06-11T08:57:00.000-04:002009-06-11T08:59:17.704-04:00day two begins<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlTVVYulJpaSKftVDzDiXLSdgI2Tu6Ir-_LGmI-9mIexldrdbH57Yu3ez1jPL8puef4zrBltqOwG6PJfX0efVhcUvBT_U1CaULoFpwgbzeF-VqrQp1SQeyNnhGtjdY1GxjqP46LEXnWI/s1600-h/photo-757705.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlTVVYulJpaSKftVDzDiXLSdgI2Tu6Ir-_LGmI-9mIexldrdbH57Yu3ez1jPL8puef4zrBltqOwG6PJfX0efVhcUvBT_U1CaULoFpwgbzeF-VqrQp1SQeyNnhGtjdY1GxjqP46LEXnWI/s320/photo-757705.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346053845592704754" /></a></p>goodmorning everyone...League of American Orchestrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861691243685913733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378721065453700558.post-84192711624007039712009-06-11T08:19:00.000-04:002009-06-11T08:21:01.280-04:00Re: BlogHi this is Liz Burnham -<p>This is my first conference and day one was wonderful - full of insight into <br>how to handle marketing challenges facing all of us today. I am impressed <br>by the creativity all the marketing directors have used to increase <br>audiences and promote themselves. It is nice to know we are not alone.<p>I will share two marketing ideas I thought were outstanding-<br>1. A symphony used a university gym to promote and sell tickets because 80% <br>of the students used the gym - giving away free tickets and found that 30% <br>returned to buy tickets to a concert<br>2. For new subscriptions - refer a friend - by e-mail or snail mail. Ask <br>current subscribers for names of people to offer a promotion - in this case <br>they offered 50% off for new subscribers - they received 200 new subscribers <br>in one year and retained them in year two by 50%<p>More later -League of American Orchestrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861691243685913733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378721065453700558.post-82592019885766794922009-06-11T00:38:00.001-04:002009-06-11T00:38:41.800-04:00Tune up party reportJoey and liz<br> Joey and liz are at the tune up party after a great concert. Joey had the best seat in the house-behind the orchestra. Liz had a great view and listen of Alisa's Dvorak concerto. Its been a pretty good opening to the 64th league of american orchestras annual conference!<br>Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerryLeague of American Orchestrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861691243685913733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378721065453700558.post-46873495381511648262009-06-10T21:56:00.003-04:002009-06-11T09:35:38.244-04:00Improving Music Education in Our Schools & CommunitiesPosted by Najean Lee:<br />Greetings from the Windy City! Forgive me if this is on the long side and believe me when I say this is already quite pared down! I’m not sure how often I’ll be able to post, so there’s a chance this may be my only entry. For those of you following along at home, we really wish you were here! But it’s great to see just how many folks did make it out, and I have to say that having so many of you in one place is a huge part of why Conference is such a great experience, especially for me since I don’t often get to interact with members from our lonely DC office. Today I sat in on two sessions discussing music education. The first was the Education & Community Engagement constituency session, which examined how orchestras can be advocates for in-school music programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Rather than recap everything, I’ll just note a couple of things that I found particularly memorable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>First, the Dream Out Loud (</span><a href="http://www.cso.org/dreamoutloud"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#800080;">www.cso.org/dreamoutloud</span></a><span style="font-size:100%;">) campaign is really fantastic, judging from the clips we saw today anyway. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>The CSO has found a way to bridge the gap between young students and professional musicians by profiling several orchestra musicians. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>In addition to a poster campaign, there are also more in-depth video interviews in which the musicians share their stories about how they got involved with music, some of the challenges they faced as they began learning their instruments, and what they gained from their early experiences – it was truly inspirational, even to the proverbial choir that already believes in the message! One common thread that ran between this session and a following Toolbox session titled “Music in Our Schools and In Our Future” was a focus on data. Before getting any successful project off the ground, you need to gather data so you understand your environment, the challenges, and the opportunities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Similarly, when Susan Bodilly from RAND was asked in the Toolbox session what one thing orchestras, or really any organization, should do in order to strengthen arts education in its community, she advised conducting an audit to learn about what types of arts are being provided.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Once you have the data, you can begin to detect trends, and most importantly – you can begin building compelling arguments to convince other organizations to join in partnership with you and even contribute funding so that your efforts can be sustained over time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’ll end here, but if any of you are interested to learn more about either of these sessions feel free to shoot me an email and I’d be happy to share my notes!</span></span></span></p>League of American Orchestrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01861691243685913733noreply@blogger.com0