Clarion Clarity
I was ever so grateful the Thanksgiving holiday week.
It was one of the most FULFILLING weeks
I've had in a memorably-long time.
Monday/Tuesday before
was Fancy Christmas Concert® series
which I had been arranging for 14 months.
I'm proud despite work being 50/50 about it.
But work is sorta 50/50 about most things
so it goes.
[Want to learn more about the concert?]
They were so clear from the get-go it was supposed to be a
Production Opportunity
and not a
Fund Raiser
so when it hit all my low-estimate ticket-thresholds
I was happy,
but it seems like between
"This is to make a great show"
and
"Don't worry about sales"
there was a building mountain of,
"Sales! Sales! SALES!"
from Development
(that is their job, of course
despite investing none of their budget
to the production/event)
that has added unnecessary sourness
to the otherwise satisfying experience.
Locally we work with the Symphony and the opera company,
and the top chamber orchestras,
but very few of my co-workers are knowledgeable
or interested in classical music....
so the Fancy Christmas Concert®
started with digging out a boulder
before I could start pushing it up this particular hill
even though
that's exactly what they asked for.
What did I give them?
Musician's musicians.
A band that plays musicians' music for other musicians.
They tell musician's jokes... in music.
Other musicians consider these musicians... instrumental athletes.
Laymen think they sound "okay"
but musicians SWOON.
They were not impressed that it was a rare/unusual 14-piece brass ensemble
(Taz_39 might be interested that we had a female conductor,
two more on French horns, and another on trombone)
culled from symphonies all across the Western U.S.
who have been working with a certain local Music Director/Composer since 1993
focusing on and recording his arrangements/compositions.
They don't notice that it is extremely technical music.
They don't care that they are extremely creative arrangements.
And the problem with people who aren't music people,
is they aren't that impressed by ANYONE'S music.
They dis/like it based on genre,
or style, or
or how people look,
(videographers, after all)
rather than what they are actually hearing
which can be deflating -
but I knew it was a stellar concert,
so... I guess that isn't my problem!
The end of the second night,
I think I helped our venue
(a cathedral)
find their new church pianist
(a friend and world-class professional solo pianist
looking for work having just moved back from NYC
to take care of her aging mother)
and making those sorts of introductions
and connections
feels SO GOOD.
You know what else feels good?
To see my mother-in-law crying at the concert,
(she loves opera and classical
but almost never goes to see it live since having children)
and seeing her enthusiasm starting the standing ovation -
sitting just a couple feet from
my own mother
who is a bit teary-eyed
also delighted by the performance.
So... I made people who are important to me happy,
and I satisfied my boss,
and my boss' boss.
For the long Thanksgiving weekend,
I worked hard
to do as little as possible.
You heard me.
My boss was flabbergasted when I told him my holiday plans:
1. Sleep in
2. Relax
3. Hang out
4. Eat eventually
I told him that I believe holidays
are supposed to be... get this.... a holiday!
Carefree.
That the dictionary definition is a holiday
is a day exempt from work.
A period of relief.
A vacation.
He was quiet for a moment,
almost teary-eyed.
"That sounds,... really nice, wow.
I wish MY wife would go for that!"
For thanksgiving,
they bake and clean for a week beforehand
spend days decorating,
and often have two red-eye flights to attend
far-fetched family celebrations
as well as hosting their own.
Sailor and I
stayed in bed till noon every day
and then literally..
just hung out.
Glorious!
Needed!
Sunday we were social again,
and friends started coming by just dropping off
holiday wishes and series of fresh pies.
That... is the life,
my friends.
The big concert which I had been pouring time/energy into,
then this big-ass blow-off
where we both just got to melt,
and just as we wrap up the week
friends seem to line up
to deliver desserts.
My attitude is gratitude, yo
and I feel so full of thanks
both given and received.
Holiday success!
I am pulled in a lot of directions right now,
but it's hard to describe.
Work is always adding something new to the juggle...
but it is almost always fun/exciting things,
so no complaints from me
except maybe
the want of some universal picture
which is not where my employer excels....
I love getting to talk to musicians for our podcast
about their relationship to music.
Every single interview is meaningful to me...
while I am editing them
there are always gems.
Moments of truth and beauty and elegance
and often raw pain, as well.
A woman who plays viola in the Symphony,
who has a voice as quiet as mouse scratches
talking about always being incredibly shy -
but how she feels free to express herself through her instrument.
Another member of her chamber orchestra talks about
how she's never been able to escape her fascination with music
no matter how hard she tried to focus on other more grounded endeavors.
"There's a million universes in every note; it's incredible!"
The tears when people share their stories,
their triumphs, too.
And the laughter... so much laughter.
I have no complaints,
and no news...
but I wanted to share anyways.
Thanks Livejournal!
It was one of the most FULFILLING weeks
I've had in a memorably-long time.
Monday/Tuesday before
was Fancy Christmas Concert® series
which I had been arranging for 14 months.
I'm proud despite work being 50/50 about it.
But work is sorta 50/50 about most things
so it goes.
[Want to learn more about the concert?]
They were so clear from the get-go it was supposed to be a
Production Opportunity
and not a
Fund Raiser
so when it hit all my low-estimate ticket-thresholds
I was happy,
but it seems like between
"This is to make a great show"
and
"Don't worry about sales"
there was a building mountain of,
"Sales! Sales! SALES!"
from Development
(that is their job, of course
despite investing none of their budget
to the production/event)
that has added unnecessary sourness
to the otherwise satisfying experience.
Locally we work with the Symphony and the opera company,
and the top chamber orchestras,
but very few of my co-workers are knowledgeable
or interested in classical music....
so the Fancy Christmas Concert®
started with digging out a boulder
before I could start pushing it up this particular hill
even though
that's exactly what they asked for.
What did I give them?
Musician's musicians.
A band that plays musicians' music for other musicians.
They tell musician's jokes... in music.
Other musicians consider these musicians... instrumental athletes.
Laymen think they sound "okay"
but musicians SWOON.
They were not impressed that it was a rare/unusual 14-piece brass ensemble
(Taz_39 might be interested that we had a female conductor,
two more on French horns, and another on trombone)
culled from symphonies all across the Western U.S.
who have been working with a certain local Music Director/Composer since 1993
focusing on and recording his arrangements/compositions.
They don't notice that it is extremely technical music.
They don't care that they are extremely creative arrangements.
And the problem with people who aren't music people,
is they aren't that impressed by ANYONE'S music.
They dis/like it based on genre,
or style, or
or how people look,
(videographers, after all)
rather than what they are actually hearing
which can be deflating -
but I knew it was a stellar concert,
so... I guess that isn't my problem!
The end of the second night,
I think I helped our venue
(a cathedral)
find their new church pianist
(a friend and world-class professional solo pianist
looking for work having just moved back from NYC
to take care of her aging mother)
and making those sorts of introductions
and connections
feels SO GOOD.
You know what else feels good?
To see my mother-in-law crying at the concert,
(she loves opera and classical
but almost never goes to see it live since having children)
and seeing her enthusiasm starting the standing ovation -
sitting just a couple feet from
my own mother
who is a bit teary-eyed
also delighted by the performance.
So... I made people who are important to me happy,
and I satisfied my boss,
and my boss' boss.
For the long Thanksgiving weekend,
I worked hard
to do as little as possible.
You heard me.
My boss was flabbergasted when I told him my holiday plans:
1. Sleep in
2. Relax
3. Hang out
4. Eat eventually
I told him that I believe holidays
are supposed to be... get this.... a holiday!
Carefree.
That the dictionary definition is a holiday
is a day exempt from work.
A period of relief.
A vacation.
He was quiet for a moment,
almost teary-eyed.
"That sounds,... really nice, wow.
I wish MY wife would go for that!"
For thanksgiving,
they bake and clean for a week beforehand
spend days decorating,
and often have two red-eye flights to attend
far-fetched family celebrations
as well as hosting their own.
Sailor and I
stayed in bed till noon every day
and then literally..
just hung out.
Glorious!
Needed!
Sunday we were social again,
and friends started coming by just dropping off
holiday wishes and series of fresh pies.
That... is the life,
my friends.
The big concert which I had been pouring time/energy into,
then this big-ass blow-off
where we both just got to melt,
and just as we wrap up the week
friends seem to line up
to deliver desserts.
My attitude is gratitude, yo
and I feel so full of thanks
both given and received.
Holiday success!
I am pulled in a lot of directions right now,
but it's hard to describe.
Work is always adding something new to the juggle...
but it is almost always fun/exciting things,
so no complaints from me
except maybe
the want of some universal picture
which is not where my employer excels....
I love getting to talk to musicians for our podcast
about their relationship to music.
Every single interview is meaningful to me...
while I am editing them
there are always gems.
Moments of truth and beauty and elegance
and often raw pain, as well.
A woman who plays viola in the Symphony,
who has a voice as quiet as mouse scratches
talking about always being incredibly shy -
but how she feels free to express herself through her instrument.
Another member of her chamber orchestra talks about
how she's never been able to escape her fascination with music
no matter how hard she tried to focus on other more grounded endeavors.
"There's a million universes in every note; it's incredible!"
The tears when people share their stories,
their triumphs, too.
And the laughter... so much laughter.
I have no complaints,
and no news...
but I wanted to share anyways.
Thanks Livejournal!