Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Orchestra Salaries


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Posted by Wade on May 09, 2003 at 17:07:06:

In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Orchestra Salaries posted by Rick Denney on May 09, 2003 at 15:58:05:

Man, is this "Trash Rick Denney Day" or something? Heh heh...

Okay, now I am going to take umbrage with one of your points, Rick.

In my experience, to refer to an entire profession's method of coping with problems within that field as being "unprofessional" is akin to donning asbestos underwear. So don them and get ready...

Other professions practice their trade with a LARGE amount of autonomy. We, as ensemble players, are not afforded that kind of license. Every part of our product is produced through hands-on, LIVE group interaction on a level unheard of in the vast majority of offices around the world. Even corporate "teams" do much of the work in twos and threes, coming together only for updates and guidance.

Picture, if you will, 100 engineers all sitting around in a huge, shared space (sans cubicles!) and working together at the same problem hours upon hours, unable to go to the bathroom, drink some water, or smoke a cigarette except as a group, and only for fifteen minutes during this very intense and focused three hour period. All of their work is on a huge, shared computer monitor at the same time, and all 100, mind you, are subjected to the boss standing right in front of them as they work while every single scrap of their work is up on that vast, shared monitor for the instantaneous scrutiny of the boss and the other 99 engineers.

We accomplish things differently than you.

And none of us would ever dream of pursuing a solo career without the safety of an agent or manager that conducted private negotiations for our performance fees. A soloist is much more able to pursue lucre like a specialist that negotiates as he or she moves from company to company writing computer code. Which is a bit closer to the way you fellows negotiate, and, therefore, a bit more palatable to your workplace sensibilities.

Orchestral musicians live and die as a complete group of up to 100 workers with next to no autonomy at all (unless you have a solo line, which is still somewhat circumscribed by that damn waving stick attached to the hand of that guy up front...). Our profession is one of 100% group dynamics—we work as a collective, and we choose to negotiate our working conditions as a collective. Referring to our methodology of workplace maintenance as being "unprofessional" is unkind and shows a certain lack of understanding of what an orchestra is when there is no audience present—which is the bulk of the time.

As I have said: we live and die by the hive mentality in performance, and we do so in negotiations as well. That is VERY professional behavior as set by the standards within our own professional community. And since this a board that is aimed at this very topic, it is apropos as discussion material.

Please don't call our method of financial accountability "unprofessional" as it makes me curl up into the fetal position and whimper uncontrollably!

;-)

Wade "trying to uncurl as I type" Rackley


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