Stop Waiting For Permission
What’s awful about the mechanisms of classical music, is how it runs on an extreme version of the gate keeper model. To get your music played you have to win a grant or get a commission. Both requiring a board of “experts” who decide who’s music will live, and who’s will sleep forever. What’s inherently wrong is that this model is music is subjective, there is not an inherently better music or worse music. This means that any musical judgment, is at its core, a matter of personal opinion. This creates a situation where winning an opportunity is essentially random, it boils down to a board picking the music that aligns with there personal musical values. This system has created a huge bottle neck, making it extremely difficult for new music to be born cutting off innovation, individualism, and progress in classical music. It makes a world where composers are conditioned to write for what the board wants. It creates a system where composers graduate from the conservatory and never compose again. It creates a system where so much time and resources are wasted fighting for the limited resources (money) which for most people, rareley come to fruition.
So we desperately need to find a new way.
The main way people have tried to solve this problem is by increasing the flow of money. Apply for more grants, try to get more donors, ect. But I suggest the real long term, sustainable solution is in the opposite direction. Classical music desperately needs to tighten its belt and do a drastic cost evaluation. Our goal as composers and instrumentalist is, how can we, long term, sustain our art on a very slim budget. Our goal is to keep creating with out needing permission from some one else.
One simple way I have implemented this type of mind set into my own musical journey is hosting home concerts. I have found these events incredible rewarding, and musical rich. Several things make this approach such a win. Firstly this is the zero cost event, just get your house clean and invite some people over. Secondly this is a great low pressure way both to get acclimated to performance, and try out new ideas. And thirdly, the rich sense of community I have experienced in the home show environment has been a reward in in of it self.
Other brainstorm ideas for cutting cost:
-As a composer compose works you your self can play, even if your not that great at your instrument
-Focus on chamber works
-Host home shows or other spaces that are free. focus on small events that work even if there are only 15 people there.
-Experiment with creating music electronically (no performer cost)
-Create a goal to have a balanced budget. This directs a lot of the decision making. Even the established world of classical music is worlds away from this. Every event the symphony does in reality looses gobs and gobs of money. That’s why they need doners who just keep pumping in to keep the thing alive.