Woodwind.OrgThe Oboe BBoardThe C4 standard

 
  BBoard              
 
 New Topic  |  Go to Top  |  Go to Topic  |  Search  |  Help/Rules  |  Smileys/Notes  |  Log In   Previous Message  |  Next Message 
 Re: professional oboists
Author: huboboe 
Date:   2011-07-18 18:48

We went around in negotiations about length of ballet services and ended up with a contractual 3 hour service (paid at the same rate/hr), but that service started at 8:00, not when the curtain went up.

Once, with a show only a few minutes short of 3 hrs, one of our members with a critical part in the opening number got stuck in traffic. The show went one minute overtime and cost the ballet 1/2 hour of overtime for the orchestra, close to $2000. That shows the arguments on both sides of the negotiating table.

I can't comment on the terms of any group's contract beyond saying whether or not I could live with it, but for me the gating item was always whether the pleasure of playing a given job was worth the effort involved. I never felt I was being paid enough except for scale recording sessions and subbing in the big-time groups. I always made the majority of my income from other ventures; teaching, machining, janitoring, you name it.

The only folks making a living in classical music are the big ensembles. The second tier groups are struggling to stay alive and even the gig groups are under fire - look at Philadelphia.

And the conservatories turn out enough fine new players each year to fill all the vacancies 5 times over. Young players need to search other outlets for their talents. But it can be done. Google "WindSync" and see how a motivated group of fine players has a great new approach to the wind quintet concert presentation!

Robert Hubbard
WestwindDoubleReed.com
1-888-579-6020
bob@westwinddoublereed.com

 Reply To Message  |  Avail. Forums  |  Flat View   Newer Topic  |  Older Topic 

 Topics Author  Date
 professional oboists  new
Theyoungoboist 2011-07-17 05:18 
 Re: professional oboists  new
WoodwindOz 2011-07-17 08:49 
 Re: professional oboists  new
huboboe 2011-07-17 20:52 
 Re: professional oboists  new
GoodWinds 2011-07-18 00:34 
 Re: professional oboists  
huboboe 2011-07-18 18:48 
 Re: professional oboists  new
WoodwindOz 2011-07-19 10:15 
 Re: professional oboists  new
GoodWinds 2011-07-19 18:48 
 Re: professional oboists  new
WoodwindOz 2011-07-20 02:32 
 Re: professional oboists  new
HautboisJJ 2011-07-20 04:52 
 Re: professional oboists  new
GoodWinds 2011-07-20 15:25 
 Re: professional oboists  new
WoodwindOz 2011-07-20 15:56 
 Re: professional oboists  new
GoodWinds 2011-07-21 00:24 


 Avail. Forums  |  Need a Login? Register Here 
 User Login
 User Name:
 Password:
 Remember my login:
   
 Forgot Your Password?
Enter your email address or user name below and a new password will be sent to the email address associated with your profile.
Search Woodwind.Org

Sheet Music Plus Featured Sale

The Clarinet Pages
For Sale
Put your ads for items you'd like to sell here. Free! Please, no more than two at a time - ads removed after two weeks.

 
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org