TubeNet

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbc ... GECAROUSEL
Another sign of our troubled times. Good Luck to these guys. They deserve better.

The Shreveport Symphony musicians have endured deep cuts over the years. That was probably the impetus for the founding of the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra three years ago as Texarkana is a little over an hour drive from Shreveport and provided a few more concerts for the Shreveport musicians. Nearly all of our strings and about half of our woodwinds were members of the SSO. All of our brass and percussion and the balance of woodwind players were from Texarkana and the surrounding area. I was amazed at the level our performances. These are terrific musicians who are doing whatever it takes to survive financially to practice their craft: Suzuki lessons, private lessons, and other jobs (the TSO concertmaster is a financial planner). I'm afraid we're going to hear of many more stories like this in this economy. Man, I sure miss making music with these fine people since I moved away from Texarkana in June!

There is an official press release from the Shreveport Symphony Musicians website below:
http://www.shreveportmusicians.org/strike.html" target="_blank

Orchestra Players United of Shreveport-Bossier Website is below:
http://www.shreveportmusicians.org/" target="_blank

Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and Shreveport Symphony are now currently on strike. Any others?

David Spies, AFM Local #166
Principal Tubist, Racine Symphony
(Formerly, Shreveport Symphony Orchestra)

Reading the players’ text almost makes one believe, that the management wants to fold the orchestra. If the business side didn’t run in red last year, then why cut down on core members right now?

I have been active in unions, but I am not entirely convinced about the strike being an efficient countermeasure to the management’s move. Shreveport might end up like Miami.

Of course I am used to working within a very different legal frame, so my ideas may not be applicable for US situations.

The whole body of orchestra players goes on strike in mutual solidarity. Of course the orchestra still has its overhead costs, but during the strike there are no costs for the musicians, which creates an immediate relief for the orchestra’s liquidity.

A very specific and sudden action might display the consequenses of the management’s approach as an employer. The players removed from core status could stay away from a concert with short notice. That would display their importance for the orchestra. Or they could with very little change to their clothing and make-up change a concert to a mock funeral viewing. Blackface has a bad ring to it, and so will whitefaces have. Clarinet players may play everything on Bb clarinets (without transposition), because they cannot afford to keep their A clarinets. The SSB with the piccolo solo played on the concert flute for similar reasons.

K

An update on the SSO strike is here:

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbc ... 00334/1060" target="_blank

David Spies
Principal Tuba, Racine Symphony Orchestra
(formerly, Shreveport Symphony Orchestra)

Here's a review of the recent OPUS concert featuring Rick Rowell on the Artunian Trumpet Concerto:

http://www.shreveportmusicians.org/opusreview.html" target="_blank

Here are links to two audio clips from the Inside the Arts Blogsite. Conductor Ron Spigelman (who actually supports the Symphony musicians) recently posted an article on the Blogsite suggesting that perhaps there might be a better time for SSO and Wisconsin Chamber to utilize a STRIKE. He asked the students in his classes their thoughts on the SSO and Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra STRIKES in response to his article "Apathetique".

http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=4428" target="_blank

http://www.houndbite.com/?houndbite=4430" target="_blank

For what it's worth (courtesy Susan Rogers).

David Spies
Principal Tuba, Racine Symphony Orchestra
(formerly, Shreveport Symphony Orchestra)

"Tensions rise between symphony board, musicians"
ShreveportTimes.com
Donecia Pea • doneciapea@gannett.com" target="_blank
Update - 10.16.08

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbc ... 60327/1060" target="_blank

What I hear off the record in similar situations (not this one, since I know no one associated with it) is that the musicians are incensed that they are being asked to take pay cut after pay cut, while the administration and management are not. That is, the people who actually play the music are the ones who are expected to do it basically for free, while the administrators and managers still pad their pockets. No wonder strikes occur. Management doesn't seem to understand that their own jobs will disappear if they destroy the actual product that is produced. It reflects a cultural tenet that the arts are only for recreation, and that people shouldn't expect to be paid for taking part in recreation. Meaningless recreation too, if you consider how meaningful our culture finds professional sports, in terms of money.

MA

LA Times takes note of the Shreveport situation:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culture ... sh-10.html" target="_blank

Notice about Shreveport Symphony and Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra on AFL-CIO Blog:

http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/10/20/afl-c ... ut-workers" target="_blank

Comparing Musicians with surgeons...

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbc ... 8810240304" target="_blank

I might also relay the comparison that Rich Matteson made of musicians to professional athletes. When baseball players bat .350 they are considered tremendous batters. When basketball players shoot over 50% from the field, they are considered strong players. When musicians miss one note of a scale, they do not pass muster, as they have not played the scale accurately. Musicians are expected to present 100% accuracy as professional musicians.

Food for thought.

I need to go practice my scales now... (Thanks, John Rider...)

Update 10/31/08
http://shreveport.blogspot.com/2008/10/ ... l#comments" target="_blank