Klarinet Archive - Posting 001215.txt from 1998/04

From: Jonathan Cohler <cohler@-----.net>
Subj: Some results to the Survey re resumes and auditions
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 00:06:19 -0400

Here are the results to date of the two questions restated below. So far I
have received a total of 23 responses.

1. Do you feel it is fair for full-time orchestras to exclude
auditionees from the first round based solely upon a resume?

14 said YES 9 said NO

2. Would you support, with your signature, a petition to go to various
powerful bodies in the U.S. that would have the intended result
of compelling full-time orchestras to allow everyone to audition
who fills out an application, sends in a resume and shows up.

14 said YES 9 said NO

9 people answered "Yes, No"
9 people answered "No, Yes"
5 people answered "Yes, Yes"

The third category of 5 people who answered "Yes, Yes" seems odd at first,
but these people feel that it is "fair", but nonetheless would like to see
the process changed.

Here are some comments received from people who answered "Yes, No":

>With the interests of the orchestra at heart, it is necessary for them to
>weed out "candidates" who are clearly not viable ... Some of these people
>would and do apply - remember Florence Foster
>Jenkins? And there is a much bigger body of persons who are genuinely
>talented, but just not THAT talented.

>As in most "industries," I think there has to be a weeding out process up
>front that ultimately leads to a "qualified panel" for the final round of
>evaluation. I can't think of a better alternative than asking an applicant
>to put his/her best foot forward in a resume.

Here are some comments from people who answered "No, Yes":

>This would be similar to interviewing for any job - if you apply, you
>should be given a chance to interview if you meet and/or exceed the job
>qualifications.

>A written resume tells nothing about how a person plays and isn't that what
>they're looking for in any audition?

Here are some comments from people who answered "Yes, Yes":

>Even though I am not planning to play professionally I would have
>to say yes to both of your questions. It is for those reasons to name a
>few that I do not feel comfortable trying to make a living playing.

> I believe that a correctly written audition requirement
> statement from an orchestra stating that only those with
> prior experience "including but not limited to" is
> perfectly fair. However I think the orchestras are inherently unfair _to
> themselves_, moreso than the applicants, by using this
> exclusionary practice; therefore, I'd put my name on a
> document encouraging them to discontinue this practice.

----------------------
Jonathan Cohler
cohler@-----.net