Yes, I pride myself on being prepared for the extraordinary, but occasionally I'm faced with a domestic-type challenge that rattles my sense of capability.
The scene: Backstage at the Hilbert Circle Theatre, Guest Artist Dressing Rooms Suite
The time: Intermission, Friday night, 2/5/10
The predicament: Wardrobe malfunction
Friday night at the Symphony was exciting even in the face of a snow blizzard that threatened attendance by even our most loyal patrons. All in all, there were just under 300 patrons who braved snowfall and drifts to hear the ISO and Christian Tetzlaff perform the Brahms Violin Concerto, Midsummer Night's Dream and Schumann's Rhenish Symphony under the direction of Maestro Gilbert Varga (pictured). When you see that people defied the elements to enjoy an evening of symphonic music, you are reminded of how special events like these are to our loyal patrons. (Bravo audience!)
By day, I perform duties as the ISO's Director of Education, but this weekend, I was called to appear as Guest Artist Assistant, which means I'm on call to transport guest artists to and from the hotel and concert hall, make coffee, clean dressing rooms and respond to general needs. Our area is equipped with resources to address many last minute requests/needs of artists, like a ironing board, snacks, safety pins and band-aids. (In some instances in the past I've been called to make a "beer" run, all in the name of an artist in need.)
At intermission Zack French, ISO Artistic Coordinator, asked me to escort Tetzlaff to the lobby to sign CDs, but just as the artists exited stage right following an exhilarating 1st half, our conductor needed help in his dressing room with a button cover that had snapped in two! Ee-gads! This was my moment to demonstrate what a Guest Artist Assistant can and should do under pressure.
I remembered that Bob Sansone, ISO Asst. Principal Cello, had a workshop in his home and was extremely crafty at many things, so I ran downstairs to see what he might do under these circumstances. He feared that the piece was too delicate for repairs he could perform, so I ran empty. Oh, how would I reclaim my dignity as a Guest Artist Assistant and explain defeat to Varga?!?
Alas, Maestro Varga had another button cover, but it was suited for a button that was 3 times larger than the one that broke. It simply would not do.
Just then, I pulled a tool kit from a closet (pictured to the left)... a kit filled with sewing needles, thread, scissors, bobby pins, etc. and picked up a spool of fine wire. Eureka! I would wrap the wire around the prongs of the button cover to create a loop. It took some doing to loop the cover over the button, but voila! Instant button cover! Our maestro was properly adorned once again.
Maestro Varga called me his "button lady", but I think you can just call me MacGyver.
The scene: Backstage at the Hilbert Circle Theatre, Guest Artist Dressing Rooms Suite
The time: Intermission, Friday night, 2/5/10
The predicament: Wardrobe malfunction
Friday night at the Symphony was exciting even in the face of a snow blizzard that threatened attendance by even our most loyal patrons. All in all, there were just under 300 patrons who braved snowfall and drifts to hear the ISO and Christian Tetzlaff perform the Brahms Violin Concerto, Midsummer Night's Dream and Schumann's Rhenish Symphony under the direction of Maestro Gilbert Varga (pictured). When you see that people defied the elements to enjoy an evening of symphonic music, you are reminded of how special events like these are to our loyal patrons. (Bravo audience!)By day, I perform duties as the ISO's Director of Education, but this weekend, I was called to appear as Guest Artist Assistant, which means I'm on call to transport guest artists to and from the hotel and concert hall, make coffee, clean dressing rooms and respond to general needs. Our area is equipped with resources to address many last minute requests/needs of artists, like a ironing board, snacks, safety pins and band-aids. (In some instances in the past I've been called to make a "beer" run, all in the name of an artist in need.)
At intermission Zack French, ISO Artistic Coordinator, asked me to escort Tetzlaff to the lobby to sign CDs, but just as the artists exited stage right following an exhilarating 1st half, our conductor needed help in his dressing room with a button cover that had snapped in two! Ee-gads! This was my moment to demonstrate what a Guest Artist Assistant can and should do under pressure.
I remembered that Bob Sansone, ISO Asst. Principal Cello, had a workshop in his home and was extremely crafty at many things, so I ran downstairs to see what he might do under these circumstances. He feared that the piece was too delicate for repairs he could perform, so I ran empty. Oh, how would I reclaim my dignity as a Guest Artist Assistant and explain defeat to Varga?!?
Alas, Maestro Varga had another button cover, but it was suited for a button that was 3 times larger than the one that broke. It simply would not do.
Just then, I pulled a tool kit from a closet (pictured to the left)... a kit filled with sewing needles, thread, scissors, bobby pins, etc. and picked up a spool of fine wire. Eureka! I would wrap the wire around the prongs of the button cover to create a loop. It took some doing to loop the cover over the button, but voila! Instant button cover! Our maestro was properly adorned once again.Maestro Varga called me his "button lady", but I think you can just call me MacGyver.
Betty Perry, ISO staff member and music director of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, is a finalist for the Inspire 2010: Power of Mentoring Awards to be presented by College Mentors for Kids, Inc. on February 24th at 11:30am at the Indiana Roof Ballroom. She was nominated by Donna Proctor at Marian University.
My name is Sarah and I attend Covenant Christian High School. Each year after Christmas break, students at my school participate in a two week experience called “J-term”, or two week internship. I love music and thought that the Indianapolis Symphony would be a great opportunity. For my two weeks, I was part of the Learning Community. There were many activities and projects that I participated in during these two weeks, like the Young People's Discovery Concert teacher workshops designed to help teachers prepare their students for concerts and assisting HR with paper filing. The teacher workshop was a brand new experience for me and I loved learning the different ways of presenting classical music to groups of elementary level students. 
Today was so much fun! Performing on stage with Dan Zanes was too much of a nice experience. The audience was mostly little kids, so they were pretty rowdy and excited. I liked the outfits they wore on stage and the instruments they played.
Today was a day I will never forget. It was really fun being able to play with Dan Zanes and his crew. It was really quite inspiring being able to watch someone make children happy and have fun while doing so. It inspires people to gather energy, dress up kind of funky, and sing silly songs, just for the smile of a toddler. It can really make a difference to the world of you can make just one child smile. They are our future. Make them happy and the future becomes brighter.
I really enjoyed myself playing with Dan Zanes and his crew. I have two favorite parts of this day playing with them. One is when we were backstage and one of his crew members let me play the ukulele. I’ve always been a fan of that instrument and it was amazing my first time playing it. Secondly, when we were on stage performing and Dan Zanes was so connected with the crowd. Made me feel really cool to see all the smiling faces.
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