Looking back on 2009

December 30, 2009
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Thoughts after looking back on the year of IBJ arts and entertainment coverage:

--If, two years ago, someone had told me that the near future would bring a three-stage performing arts center to the region, I'd have been thrilled. And if they added that the facility would be run by world-famous pianist/musicologist Michael Feinstein in conjunction with the former managing director of La Jolla Playhouse, I'd have tried to wake them up. Putting aside the huge risk, high costs, and big, big question marks about the project, I'm thrilled, as an audience member and someone trying to encourage excellence on our stages, that the Regional Performing Arts Center is happening.

--One of the stories I dodged this year was the death of Michael Jackson. I didn't do it deliberately, but I realize in hindsight that his was a case where I couldn't put aside his alleged off-stage actions in order to focus on his talent.

--I'm thankful that, in spite of tough economic times where every ticket matters, there's been no pressure to soften my arts and entertainment reviews. One of the signs of a maturing arts scene is that it understands the value of criticism and comment. 

--The just-announced closing of Morty's Comedy Joint reminds me that, in the face of the aforementioned tough times, just about all of Indy's arts groups have managed to hold on and stay open. Here's hoping for a brighter 2010.

--In case you missed it, you can find a rundown of my favorite A&E events of 2009 here.

Your thoughts?

 

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  • Indianapolis
    LeoDecember 30, 2009 9:36 AM
    Lou;
    What do you think about the Multi-theater and performing artist affordable housing proposal for the sites adjoining the City Market?
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • city market
    LouDecember 30, 2009 10:38 AM
    Leo,
    As with the Regional Performing Arts Center, I'll put all economics aside for a second and say I'd be thrilled to see City Market converted into 1/3 YMCA, 1/3 Market, 1/3 theater space with performers in residence.
    In an ideal world, Indy artists could generate enough performances to make it viable and the work would be of such quality that word of mouth would lead to capactiy crowds. More innovative artists of quality would be attracted to Indy--and more who would otherwise have left would stay--and I'd have even more to write about than I do now.
    Here's to dreamers,
    Lou
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  • following through...
    Hope BaughDecember 30, 2009 1:41 PM
    It has been an interesting (as in a Chinese curse) year, that's for sure. I, too, am glad that just about all of Indy's arts groups have managed to hang on and stay open.

    Lou, a year ago, almost to the day, you asked your readers to:

    "Resolve right now to attend at least one more arts event in 2009 than you did in 2008. Resolve to do more if you feel up to it."

    People posted some pretty cool resolutions. I'm sure more people made resolutions on their own, even if they didn't write them here on your blog.

    I resolved to attend one more arts event...but I'm not sure I actually did! I'll have to sit down some time soon and total up 2008 vs. 2009. I have directories of what I saw for both years on my own blog, but they are not numbered.

    However, off the top of my head, I did attend at least one new-to-me arts event this year: a Broadway show. Sure, it was here on tour rather than in New York ("Wicked" at the Murat) but it was still a new, and wonderful, experience for me.

    For a while there, I resolved privately to write a little something here on your blog EVERY TIME you posted a new topic. That writing practice/marketing effort started to take over my life, though, so I stopped being so obsessive about it.

    I still check your blog every day, though, and I still enjoy reading your thoughts about the arts, so I'm glad you're still here, too.

    Hope Baugh
    Indy Theatre Habit
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment

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  1. liek the rest of America

  2. These quaint,obsessed musings by the stalkers are certainly entertaining, but I'm trying to figure out what, if anything, all the yelping below has to do with Zak Brown.

  3. It's evident that Moffett was pushing the right buttons and corporate America is now trying to squash him. He just wanted to withdraw the free pilot services provided to the company by the pilots to try and put some pressure on a company that has not been interested in negotiating a contract in over 5 years. The company does not provide a contract because not having one has saved them a bundle of money. Shame on any Republic pilots not standing behind their union leader just because things are getting tough, can you not see such strategic moves by the company as putting the last union president in a corporate position and into THEIR pocket. Do you really believe the last union president is so appalled at the attempts by Moffett, do you not remember his oppositions to the company? We stood behind him. It has been proven over and over again for thousands of years without fail, a man cannot serve two masters. Anyone that believes people vote contrary to their paycheck and livelihood deserve to be taken advantage of, the recent statements by the former union president are laughable as he denounces the current union president from his new corporate position. Have you ever seen a drafted sports player score points for his previous team, it cannot be done, he is not on the pilots side anymore, he gets his money a different way now than you and I do, and he should not be allowed to remain on the seniority list. A drafted player brings strength, credibility, tactical knowledge, and a strategic advantage to his NEW team, he would not be drafted or paid were it otherwise. We are all forced to choose only one side to play for and support, not doing so has many references in life such as insider trading and shaving points, all illegal for good reason. This basic fact is why corporate moguls, scientist, and engineers all sign non-discloser agreements and non-compete clauses, as protection in case they are lured into switching sides as our former union president has done. No NFL coach ever drafted a player so that both teams could benefit and better understand each other, they are recruited to win the game against that former team, period. Likewise the company does not recruit the former union president by accident or mutual understanding, its strategy. Don't confuse playing the game with good sportsman-like conduct in support of common business and prosperity goals, with the requirement to only play for one side. Good men we all love and favor fall subject to this manipulation, often without their knowledge, and it is not a betrayal of their friendship to oppose them when they switch sides. If we did not love and trust them, they would not have been chosen and lured to the other side in the first place. The deception by the drafted player is not made at a conscious level, it's just human nature and it's all about money and power which corrupts our ability to be objective and loyal to two masters. This is why our court system created the defense attorney, and why our military created counter intelligence. Its strategy and its propaganda, and it works, and that's why the "powers to be" manipulate the chess pieces by sometimes changing their colors. Some players know they are being manipulated when their color is changed, but it brings them more money and power so they do not care. The rest have good intentions but do not even realize they are being manipulated. This tactic is also known by another name, Divide and Conquer. In battle sending an imperfect message with an imperfect team is obviously not ideal, but it's still being sent by YOUR team, your union leader, a leader that has common goals and common rewards with you, they are the best, because we have elected them to do a job for us. If you are not backing Moffett but believing the spin by those that have recently switched sides, you are taking food out of your own mouth. Showing unity and backing an imperfect situation still results in taking just as much ground, it's about unity and bargaining power. It's not necessary to wait around for that perfect attack because it will never come, the company will spin and attempt to destroy anyone that gets in their way. Ultimately it's not about any specific attack anyway, ASAP or whatever it makes no difference, it is and always has been only about power. If this company cared about safety it would not build pairings with 8 hour overnights, come on, are you that naive? Besides, do you really think Hoffa cares, no, he got a call from corporate America and was squeezed into denouncing Moffett. If he didn't they would spin the safety card against him and the Teamsters National with implication for truckers, future contracts, insurance rates etc...saying something like the Teamsters use safety as a bargaining chip, blah blah blah... Do you really think any pilot is going to do something unsafe for the contract, absolutely not, the only ones threatening safety here is the company with reduced rest, fatigue, and poverty. Do you not find it odd that Hoffa and the Teamsters are opposing a Teamster president publicly? Would the Teamsters National not normally support and work with one of their own? Why did they not sit down and help him strategize, correct any mistakes, and charge ahead? Would the Teamsters National not normally support and leverage a contract for all those pilots that have been paying Teamster dues, isn't that why we have all been paying Teamster dues in the first place? I sure haven't been paying dues so that the Teamsters National could come along and write this kind of an article undercutting our union leader and our unity. Whose side is the Teamsters National really on, it's obviously not the Republic pilots side.

  4. No matter what Moffatt does the company is going to spin it like he is the terrorist and brainwash people like you into believing it, wake up, back your players that are trying to change things for you and your livelihood. Where has Hoffa been for the last 6 years, except collecting our dues. Seriously, do you really think an FO going for upgrade, signed off by a checkairman ready for the upgrade, who then fails, is not even capable of returning as a First Officer.

  5. whoa!

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