By Leslie Morris
Buffalo, NY – Recently, I attended a performance of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. The overall attendance resembled the hair of the men in the audience -- sparse.
Buffalo has great attendance at the Buffalo Bills games. Attendance at the Sabres games, until recently, has been robust. The game tickets and symphony tickets are in the same price range. Why isn't anyone standing outside of Kleinhans scalping symphony tickets?
I have decided that the problem is that there is no National Symphony League. Ergo, there is no competition. A National Symphony League consisting of say the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Cleveland Symphony, the New York Philharmonic and many others complete with league standings and end of the season playoffs would solve the attendance problems and create fan interest among a whole new audience. Think of the rivalries. Buffalo vs. the Rochester Symphony.
It's true, of course, that the New York Philharmonic is a large market town as compared to the small market towns like Buffalo, but does that stop the Bills from competing against the New York Jets?
True this kind of competition might attract a group of fans unusual to typical symphony performances. Kleinhans sells wine, but no beer. Symphony attendees do not try to smuggle in a bottle of merlot to drink during the performance. However, think of the rowdy crowd in the pit at the Globe Theater in Shakespeare's England. Did it hurt attendance?
Does the Buffalo Philharmonic have symphony colors? I suppose that might have to be updated so that we could sell team colored tuxedos. How about numbers on the tuxedos? Have you ever wondered, what is the name of that attractive violist?
Why are there no pre and post symphony interviews? I think that the Buffalo News must expand its coverage in that area. Since Buffalo does not have a professional basketball team, the Buffalo News Sports Department has a sort of soft time in the winter. They could step into the breach at little cost.
How about a Jerry Sullivan interview with a veteran cellist or a rookie oboist. Think of the radio program with a critic called the "Director," who would take phone calls about last Sundays performance.
Is there a symphony doctor? Why don't we ever get any injury reports? I need to know if the first chair trumpeter will be ready for next week's concert after suffering from chapped lips. What is his rehab routine? Is there an injured reserve?
How about that older bassoonist? Will he be ready for next year or will he be cut in favor of a rookie?
By the way, the National Football League could learn something from the symphony. How about guest soloists in football? Say Jerry Rice as a guest receiver for the Bills one week. I would love to see Moulds and Rice on the same team for one game.
Cheerleaders seem to be a bit extreme in this situation, but could we have instant replay of difficult passages?
Currently, the back of the balcony is a cheap seat. How about converting that area into skyboxes at premium prices.
Where does the Buffalo Philharmonic get new performers? Is there a draft? Why aren't the openings publicized? Again, the Buffalo News fails us in not covering the options. Perhaps the Philharmonic hired a rookie percussionist with a broken finger. She was great at the Eastman School of Music, but she may be required to sit out next season in rehab. Will she recover her greatness?
Where are the articles about next year's expectations? How will Buffalo do? Will rookies displace old stars? Is the Director under fire? What about contract negotiations?
Establishing the National Symphony League with competition and playoffs, and converting the way we look at the symphony will increase attendance and establish a whole new fan base.
Listener-Commentator Leslie Morris is a retired director of Libraries at Niagara University.