Klarinet Archive - Posting 000085.txt from 2008/11

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] After Drucker
Date: Sun, 09 Nov 2008 12:15:10 -0500

At 09:55 PM 11/8/2008, you wrote:
>One major reason orchestras do not reaudition players every 15 years
>is because if they did, no player would ever be able to make money
>playing for a living. All the orchestras would do is hire kids and
>pay them base salary, they would pretty much all be temps. The AFM
>recognizes this, and thank Heaven it's still one of the strongest
>unions in the country.
>
>Don't believe me? It's already happened, it's what schools do now.
>Teachers unions are getting weaker and weaker. New grads have all
>the advantages, and older, more experienced teachers aren't hired
>because the schools would have to pay them more. It's taking
>longer to get tenure, too.
>
>That mindset has also trickled up into higher ed. Colleges don't
>hire near as many profs full time, they eliminate jobs in order to
>hire more part-timers, and get rid of the tenured positions the
>second they get the chance. If they can't get rid of them, they
>stall. It saves them paying benefits, etc. West Chester took 6-8
>years filling the sax position after Hegvik retired, and they are
>pussyfooting around with the trumpet position now (among others).
>
>Say you could get one of these orchestral jobs and hold it for
>5,10,15 years, then what do you do after that? Here's your answer
>- Nothing....Too much experience, and you aren't hirable. You'd
>make too much on the salary scale. You are Sheet Outta Luck,
>bud. Your fate: open a studio and teach a bunch of kids who don't
>practice, or get a grunt job at the WalMart.

Yep, that is what would happen. My wife is facing that dilemma
now. We moved, and her years of elementary school teaching
experience and Master's degree in counselling have locked her out of
any possible school job in the area. She can't even get an interview.

Bill Hausmann

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

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