Stormy weather

In the middle of yesterday afternoon’s rehearsal, our Personnel Manager, Linda Unkefer, came on stage, told us that there was a tornado warning in effect, and asked us to pack up our instruments and head for the basement. This was a first in my 20 years here. Unlike most tornado warnings, though, this one didn’t last very long; we got called up about 15 minutes later and finished the rehearsal. 

Thanks to my iPhone, I found that there was indeed a cell with rotation headed our way, but apparently it didn’t actually result in a tornado. Sad to say, there would be some positives to serious tornado damage to our hall – but not while anyone was in the building, of course.

Earlier in the day I experienced a different kind of storm, having been approached at the break in the morning’s rehearsal by a colleague very unhappy with my performance as union representative. I was surprised to hear that his main gripe with me appeared to be that I didn’t come out on stage to warm up along with everyone else, which obviously meant that I thought I was better than everyone else. I’ll admit that I do think I’m better than people capable of that kind of pettiness. Unfortunately my response to him was not that considered. But then being called an asshole does push my buttons.

Anyone who wants to study the sociology of a small, isolated, inbred village could do worse than spend time with the average full-time professional orchestra.

Comments

[Charles Noble]

It's one of the classic ironies of orchestral life that those who care enough to take on the onerous duties of overseeing the contract and its hundreds of rules are often the most abused people in the orchestra. An additional irony is that those who care and are actually intelligent and good at this sort of work often quit out of disgust or fatigue, leaving the hacks to take over. Then no-one is truly happy (except maybe the hacks). I wish there would be a reality show or feature length documentary or mini-series about life in an orchestra, with no restrictions of access - it would be an eye opener of epic proportions.