[TPIN] JSO woes

[Michael Anderson]

Gregory,

I'm really sorry to hear you and your orchestra mates are going through
this. LOTS of orchestras like yours are going through this sort of thing.
I've seen orchestras go from being very healthy to having all sorts of
financial struggles in just one or two years due to incompetent management.
By the same token, I've seen orchestras do just the opposite with really
good management, so there is hope.

I've also seen musicians and orchestra committees shoot themselves in the
foot during these sorts of negotiations. Often musicians are their own worst
enemies when it comes to negotiating a new contract. Let me ask this.. Do
you have Chris Durham from the AF of M helping you negotiate? If so, you are
in the best hands possible. Chris knows his stuff.. Unfortunately committees
don't always follow his advice.

Fortunately, the Oklahoma City Phil is in great shape with wonderful
attendance numbers and an excellent management staff and board. But, we are
not a full time orchestra, nor do we have a full time core. So, it is a bit
easier to make things work and no one is depending fully on the orchestra
for their primary income. We negotiated a new contract last year and it was
very amicable and we got a decent raise and lots of new amenities. I'm chair
of the orchestra committee this year and working with management is frankly
a joy. Our musicians don't know how lucky they are and how good they have
it. Such was not always the case when I was in Lincoln and Omaha, which was
very solid when I was there, is now having all sorts of troubles - all due
to bad management.

I wish you and your orchestra the best of luck and I hope you come through
this lockout soon.

MA


> From: Gregory Curry <gcjax at bctribe.com>
> Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 22:38:21 -0500
> To: "tpin at tpin.okcu.edu Network'" <tpin at tpin.okcu.edu>
> Subject: [TPIN] JSO woes
> 
> Our symphony has been locked out by management. No holiday pops, no
> Nutcracker, etc, etc. and that means No Paycheck, and No Health
> insurance.
> Guess what. It's about the money the management says it doesn't have,
> that the musicians say it does have.
> No end in sight. Very rancorous.
> Lots of musicians going broke,  fast.
> 
> So ya' wanna be a pro, eh? Have I got a deal for you.....
> 
> Gregory Curry
> Jacksonville, FL