Posted by historian on May 13, 2003 at 10:21:33:
In Reply to: Re: Bad News List posted by Mary Ann on May 12, 2003 at 12:20:09:
In the era of the Great Depression, musicians had to deal with changes in demand, as tastes changed and movies became talkies - no more movie theatre orchestras, but studio work in LA and NY.
One of the big differences then was that almost no players made their livings as symphony musicians. Instrumentalists played all styles and did different things in different seasons: the famous cornetist H.L.Clarke played a season or two as principle with the NY Philharmonic, Bill Bell, played variously for Sousa, the NY Philharmonic, the NBC Symphony (which was a year-round gig) and the Asbury Park, NJ, band and the Goldman band in summers.
I know a number of NYC area players who make very good livings without any one steady orchestral gig: between their teaching studios, pick-up orchestras, broadway shows, private parties, church gigs, studio work, etc., it works out pretty well. No security, and no benefits except what they have through local 802 or spouses, though.