Colorado Orchestra CEO (broke, desperate and stupid)

[Mark]

... some should keep their personal politics to themselves.

Justin Bartels - Principal Trumpet Colorado Symphony

Then practice what you preach.

[MartyNeilan]

But even though it's legal, it doesn't mean it's a good idea -- there are plenty of things that aren't illegal that aren't good ideas.

[TexTuba]

If people are so opposed to what they're trying, then help them out by giving some of your money. It's easy to call something/someone "stupid" on a forum. It's also just as easy to help out your fellow musicians..if one is truly so inclined....

[MaryAnn]

have we not yet discovered the second hand cannabis smoke is carcinogenic? I'm sure we will, eventually, and then there will be similar rules in place for MJ smoke as there are for cigarette smoke. I have never had a problem with people smoking what they want to, but even very second-hand cannabis smoke causes me to vomit for hours after exposure, and that would totally prevent my attending any concert where it was wafting about.

[bort]

If people are so opposed to what they're trying, then help them out by giving some of your money. It's easy to call something/someone "stupid" on a forum. It's also just as easy to help out your fellow musicians..if one is truly so inclined....

Wouldn't that only work if they stopped having those concerts? Otherwise, they're just getting your money without you going to the concert.

[eupher61]

My understanding, from news reports and other reading I have done, is that the smoke from pot is much less likely to cause cancer, because there is no tar and very little If any nicotine. Even normal tobacco, untainted by the chemical processes of the industry, is much safer in that light. Incidences of COPD are estimated to be fewer but not unheard of in the heaviest pot smokers.

[TexTuba]

Wouldn't that only work if they stopped having those concerts? Otherwise, they're just getting your money without you going to the concert.

My point is that if one is to scoff at this plan of theirs, then what is he/she doing to help?

As to getting money without going to a concert, I donate what I can and when I can to the places/people who I feel may need some help. I don't expect to receive anything for giving something. Maybe the same can be applied to things like orchestras...

[Toobist]

If the orchestra REALLY wants to make money at that concert, they should set up concession stands! They could probably balance their season's budget on Doritos sales alone!

[Donn]

The main difference is that pot is illegal everywhere except for Colorado.

Strictly speaking it's legal here in Washington, too. Legal retail sales are still a ways off, though, maybe couple of months, and that will be the real change from the effective decriminalization that was in force prior to legalization. The rules here, I think, as I vaguely recall them - outside of your home, you can consume only in some sort of private club. The details are probably going to be interesting, I don't know if the gallery area proposed in the article would fit. Sadly it probably isn't going to be ideal for musicians. My impression is that in the typical music venue, the usual recreational drug alcohol just makes the audience more tolerant of loud noise, where cannabis makes for a more attentive and receptive listener who may favor more interesting musical forms. But it's off limits to ordinary music venues - if you're thinking about bringing some and smoking it. If you eat it, instead, the issue goes away.

[justinpbartels]

... some should keep their personal politics to themselves.

Justin Bartels - Principal Trumpet Colorado Symphony

Then practice what you preach.

Mark,

I did not give you even a glimpse of my personal politics on the matter, if you only knew me.
There are some on this thread using their political stances about cannabis use as their reason for saying that this is a bad idea. Frankly, well see if it is or not. This was a business decision. What I will say though, for 3 salon concerts and a red rocks concert, it's generated quite the buzz. More buzz than I would say a symphony orchestra has ever received in history.

Justin

[justinpbartels]

I wonder if the state of Northern Colorado will allow it?

The state of Northern Colorado is very libertarian, google "Gary Johnson" and "Marijuana" you may have your answer

[Uncle Buck]

... some should keep their personal politics to themselves.

Justin Bartels - Principal Trumpet Colorado Symphony

Then practice what you preach.

Mark,

I did not give you even a glimpse of my personal politics on the matter, if you only knew me.
There are some on this thread using their political stances about cannabis use as their reason for saying that this is a bad idea. Frankly, well see if it is or not. This was a business decision. What I will say though, for 3 salon concerts and a red rocks concert, it's generated quite the buzz. More buzz than I would say a symphony orchestra has ever received in history.

Justin

If you want the buzz, you gotta take the criticism that comes along with it. To state that the critics should keep their mouths shut while still pursuing the buzz is pretty hypocritical. (And I'm not taking any side on the underlying issue, just observing this particular inconsistency.)

[justinpbartels]

I don't think an orchestra has ever had a buzz like this before, I don't really have a road map for this

Buzz is an interesting choice of words

[euphoni]

Taking advantage of Colorado's new, booming, hundred million dollar industry to gain sponsors, fund the orchestra, gain patrons, support CO's community and culture, and attract national attention to their orchestra (in the age of pop) sounds like a pretty brilliant marketing strategy, if you ask me.

Whether you like it or not this sponsorship is akin to having sponsors like Budweiser, Camel, BP, Pepsi, etc. They're all legal poisons of some sort. The examples are just more socially acceptable. If you have such a problem with the sponsor that you don't want to go to an event, then don't go; But I didn't stop watching the Olympics because of my disdain for BP. My guess is, since Colorado legalized this, the vast majority of CO citizens will not have any problem supporting these new sponsors and the Colorado Symphony.

[eupher61]

Hey...if you don't want to go to a Colorado Symphony concert, don't.

No need to gripe about their marketing. Just don't go.

Simple. Don't tell them what to do, they won't tell you what to do with your opinion.

Same with me. If you don't like my habits, my morals, fine. I won't force mine on you if you won't force yours on me.

Now go practice.

[tofu]

[Buddhatuba]

To our positive supporters, thank you. Remember this we are performing music for wine and food pairings. This is topic is HUGE in Colorado. A FOR those of you opposed, it might be best to do a little research on Jerome H. Kern before making a post calling him stupid. He's a brilliant man with a resume to match, he works for 2 dollars a year, and he is a major donor as well. We're playing Mahler 7 with Litton this weekend, no there won't be any pot in the hall. This Cannabis series is an attempt to think outside the box, some should keep their personal politics to themselves. All I have to say, the next time your orchestra plays Symphony Fantastique are you boycotting?

Justin Bartels - Principal Trumpet Colorado Symphony

This is a brilliant response! Orchestras need fresh new sponsors. Who else will support orchestras when all of the rich old folks die?

[KevinMadden]

Here is a list of Performing Art Centers, Performing Arts Organizations, Civic Organizations, and Schools that have received significant donations from the Altria Group inc. (Philip Morris, SABMiller) Did you know that cigarettes and alcohol are bad for your health and using them turns you into a blathering addicted imbecile that can never contribute to society? I can't believe that the sponsorship boards of these organizations could be so 'broke, desperate, and stupid' to accept a donation from a peddler of death like Altria:

http://www.altria.com/Responsibility/In ... eeList.pdf

[Toobist]

Here is a list of Performing Art Centers, Performing Arts Organizations, Civic Organizations, and Schools that have received significant donations from the Altria Group inc. (Philip Morris, SABMiller) Did you know that cigarettes and alcohol are bad for your health and using them turns you into a blathering addicted imbecile that can never contribute to society? I can't believe that the sponsorship boards of these organizations could be so 'broke, desperate, and stupid' to accept a donation from a peddler of death like Altria:

http://www.altria.com/Responsibility/In ... eeList.pdf

[Donn]

I sure can't say what your point is there, but I note that his location is apparently not in Colorado. For myself, when in a couple months cannabis products go on legal retail in my state, I sure plan to add them to alcohol and caffeine as a substance I "abuse." I won't have to worry what the neighbors might think, I won't have to come up with silly stories like "I didn't inhale". We've cancelled that business.

It's anyone's guess where we'll go with it. In the past, marijuana has often enough been associated with music, but of course always in the semi-underground or counter culture vein - because it wasn't legal. Jazz since the beginning, for example. Classical music not so much, but now ... Would an audience of affluent classical music patrons stoned on weed find to their delight that more modern works are more accessible to them in some ways? I don't think that's far fetched at all, who do you think was listening to Eric Dolphy back in the day?