— Yeah, so what? Managing a group, playing concerts—that’s all a director should do. Does it really require much intelligence?!
I cut this line from my consultation.
People believe that a director, like a conductor, “just waves his baton,” while the musicians play themselves (literally: they can play without him; they don’t need him).
A little about a conductor:
You might laugh, but the most difficult role in an orchestra is that of a conductor.
A conductor creates a musical picture during rehearsals. That is, he interprets the pieces, he arranges the musicians, he listens to each and every one of them, he knows all the parts for all the instruments, he understands how to play, he coordinates the musicians with just a wave of his baton. Sometimes the musicians allow themselves to play independently, but more often they work “by hand.” When he appears at the conductor’s stand, the orchestra begins to play “differently.” This is how you can feel the master at work.
And to do all this, you need a wealth of experience, knowledge, a keen ear, and skill.
The same goes for the leader. You don’t see him on stage, or perhaps you don’t notice him, like a conductor. But he’s prepared everything, inspired where needed, and resolved the problems of his colleagues. He’s brought the team together, and it’s only thanks to him that the band performs. Some bands have active directors who also play the role of musicians, while others have people standing behind the scenes who worry and care for their colleagues more than the performers themselves.
You could say that managing a band—taking care of performances, negotiating terms, finding interesting training, building a team, and much more—is hidden from the uninitiated. Yes, this profession is for people who don’t seek publicity, but these people are the creators of the invisible front.
A musical band needs to be monitored. It’s essential to record all the musicians’ performances: their rise, stagnation, and decline. You need to be constantly prepared for the unexpected, both in everyday life (illness, binge drinking) and professionally (a decline in performance). This is what a manager does.
To be continued…
