Klarinet Archive - Posting 000518.txt from 1996/02

From: Josias Associates <josassoc@-----.COM>
Subj: First Experience as Contractor
Date: Fri, 16 Feb 1996 20:36:51 -0500

On February 5, 1996, Peter Hill of the University of Delaware
responded to Dan Leeson's request for suggestions on essay subjects
relating to aspects of the music business that might be of possible
interest to young players by posting a message dealing with the
relationship between musicians and contractors and conductors.

Because I earn my living mainly as an independent electronics
engineering consultant in the development of sophisticated scientific
instruments, I am not, strictly speaking, a professional musician -- even
though I play clarinet frequently in the evening and weekend parts of my
occupational double life. Consequently, when I recently consented to help
a conductor friend by hiring a symphony orchestra for a forthcoming
concert, I had little idea what I was getting myself into. It was only
after I was approaching completion of the staffing of my first contracted
orchestra that I saw Peter Hill's guide to the contracted musician.

Amidst mutterings to myself of, "Yeah, yeah," or, "Right on,
baby," or, "Like, ain't that the truth," I concluded, based on my recent
concentrated experience as a contractor, that Professor Hill's advice --
undoubtedly straight from River City (or was that Harold Hill) -- was worthy
of an important place in Dan's list of things young musicians should know.

With the first of two concerts a week away, I wish to take the
liberty -- with your indulgence -- of telling you about my first contracted
orchestra of which I'm a clarinet-playing member. The program is as follows:

Symphony No. 9 (The Choral).........................Beethoven

presented by the Romani Foundation Orchestra, Chorus, and Soloists
conducted by Michael Canales.

For the special information of Southern California members of the
Klarinet List, the venues are

1. Saturday, February 24, 1996
8:00 pm
Herrick Chapel
Occidental College
Los Angeles, California

2. Sunday, March 3, 1996
4:00 pm
St. Mark's Episcopal Church
1014 East Altadena Drive
Altadena, California.

Thanks again to Peter Hill for his insightful recommendations on how to
succeed in the music business. My first experience in hiring an orchestra
has shown me that most (though not all) experienced players who rely on
calls from contractors to sustain an income in freelance music performance
really do the right thing. It's the small number of other people who
complicate the lives of conductors and contractors.

For those in the geographical area with the time and interest to
hear a relatively short but decidedly worthwhile program, I cordially
invite you to our concerts.

Regards,

Connie

Conrad Josias
La Canada, California