The Detroit Symphony strike is getting international attention

[1KielsonDrive]

The 'market', the 'free market', socialist, blah, blah balh. All words redefined to be used by people who have no clue, or intend to throw them at others in their attempts to sound knowledgeable. Get a life. It will all come crashing down on you, soon enough.

[kryptonite]

Well first of all that made no sense whatsoever. And what in the world does it have to do with the DSO's declining revenue and subsequent deficit?? Gloom and doom is always predicted by some people, and eventually they are right if only by coincidence. The only thing I fear crashing down on me is the Wurlitzer Bldg.

I read that a small operating millage may be added to the property taxes collected in the tri-county. It would be added to the Zoo operating millage and I think the DIA. But it goes on a referendum or millage vote from what I recall. It's just a proposal now, but it may be the symphony's only hope. http://www.freep.com/article/2010112...o-DIA-zoo-plan

[1KielsonDrive]

Well first of all that made no sense whatsoever. And what in the world does it have to do with the DSO's declining revenue and subsequent deficit?? Gloom and doom is always predicted by some people, and eventually they are right if only by coincidence. The only thing I fear crashing down on me is the Wurlitzer Bldg.

I read that a small operating millage may be added to the property taxes collected in the tri-county. It would be added to the Zoo operating millage and I think the DIA. But it goes on a referendum or millage vote from what I recall. It's just a proposal now, but it may be the symphony's only hope. http://www.freep.com/article/2010112...o-DIA-zoo-plan

It likely wouldn't make sense to you because, and I don't know this for sure because I don't know you personally, your mind and views are made up, as are most people's posting here. So, I don't expect you'll understand my post. My mind is pretty well set, though I'm willing to hear others out. If you don't understand what I meant, there are others here who do. This is for them.

[MikeM]

http://www.detnews.com/article/20110...wake-of-strike

DSO loses concertmaster Boisvert in wake of strike

First violinist to take post with Dallas orchestra this fall

Reached Wednesday afternoon, Boisvert said, "I am heartbroken to leave Detroit. I have cried for days." She denied the strike was the cause of her departure, saying only that she had fallen in love with the Dallas orchestra where she played several times over the winter.

Yet, in a release early Wednesday, she noted that Dallas was attractive because of "the intrinsic respect offered to musicians by the administration."

Orchestra consultant Drew McManus termed that a slap at DSO management. "Her decision appears to have been motivated in large part by the strike and its residue of bitterness," he said.

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110526/...#ixzz1NbyNqGIT

[1KielsonDrive]

'sustainable funding' and 'the arts' are an extremely rare combination in the US

Sustainable funding in the U.S. today exists for nothing except Congress, the Department of Defense and tax breaks for rich and corporations. Education? Health Care? Social Security? Living assistance? No, no, no and no, etc, etc, ad infinitum.

[Wesley Mouch]

Sustainable funding in the U.S. today exists for nothing except Congress, the Department of Defense and tax breaks for rich and corporations. Education? Health Care? Social Security? Living assistance? No, no, no and no, etc, etc, ad infinitum.

That's not true. Many areas have regional taxes for the arts. The only one I know for sure is Salt Lake County. They levy a fairly small tax for Arts, Parks, and Culture. I think its about a 1/4% sales tax. This money is spent to support arts organizations.

I am libertarian, and do not like direct support to arts organizations. Like all organizations, they can become corrupt. If they're given money, the will typically waste it. But I would be 100% in favor of a tax that supported the infrastructure only. Build the zoo a fence or exhibit, support the Max building, pay off debt for Detroit Opera House. Just never every give money to arts administrators. They should prove daily to the public that they deliver a good, valuable experience. Leave the funding for their salaries to their supporters. If they spend their money, they'll make sure its done right. Let tax money go for something that would outlive bad management. [[Does the Musician's union want to fund the DSO management?)

[Detroit500]

The Detroit Symphony will hopefully see sustainable growth. Their concerts in the past few weeks have been selling remarkably well and they are also trying to find new ways to reach the world beyond merely Orchestra Hall.

The question is, what can they do to develop their brand more effectively and more quickly, and also what can they do to ensure that the playing stays at the same remarkably high level. Hopefully using new technologies such as iTunes and others they will be able to develop more of an interest in their orchestra than just the season ticketholder. Also, reducing ticket prices will hopefully prove to be a remarkably effective strategy for them, filling the house with more seats and building more of a demand.

The Detroit Symphony will certainly survive. The real question is, what will it look like? and how different will it be from the Detroit Symphony from the 1950s?

[English]

The Detroit Symphony will certainly survive. The real question is, what will it look like? and how different will it be from the Detroit Symphony from the 1950s?

As different as today's Detroit is from the Detroit of the 1950s, I fear. There doesn't seem to be the same support base for it as there is for either the art museum or the opera...