Posted by Rick Denney on February 06, 2002 at 11:47:42:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: Auditions posted by anon on February 06, 2002 at 10:04:51:
Why is it that people assume playing ability is the only factor in getting a given musician job?
The military bands are open-minded? If you don't look like a military musician, they will also pass you over unless they can be persuaded that you can attain the look by the time you leave basic training, and that you will keep it. And if you are a known trouble-maker, or if you can't get security clearance, they'll give you a miss. They are interested in lots of things besides playing ability.
Maybe the orchestra in question feels like a person of that age won't have the maturity to handle the public relations--or co-worker relations--required to be successful in that organization. They may be exercising all sorts of sensitivities required to keep their other musicians happy, too. It's their money, and they can hire anyone they choose who fits their idea of the perfect candidate, within confines of the law. One thing is almost always true: That idea of who the perfect candidate is will not just include playing ability.
And it's true in every profession there is. Lots of folks get turned away because the organization fears they won't be able to work with others, or that others won't be able to work with them, for whatever reason. They may even realize that the problem is with the employees they already have, but what are they going to do? In an orchestra, those other employees have tenure, and those doing the hiring HAVE to be sensitive to their desires whether valid or not (as long as they are within the law, of course). My technical ability as an engineer has only been a small factor in whatever success I've enjoyed.
Rick "who notes that Szentpali didn't get the Vienna gig because he didn't sound 'Austrian' enough" Denney