Musician Communication Experience

Through an agreement with the American Federation of Musicians, Barbara offers communications seminars for symphony musicians. At the request of a local, group of locals or orchestra committee, the AFM will provide funding assistance for onsite training.

Barbara presents an entertaining and informative PowerPoint seminar, teaching participants how to develop key messages and work with arts, business and labor journalists. One local might wish to plan for the future by building relationships with the press and enhancing the public profile of the union and the musicians. Another local might be gearing up to deal with an impending crisis.

Proper training for officers and musicians can help avoid misconceptions and misstatements. It can help an organization enhance its credibility with local audiences and donors and improve the contract negotiation process. Each seminar is customized to meet local needs.

Objective
Teach musicians:

• How to use charitable works, community activities and musician profiles to demonstrate commitment to the community and the arts.
• How to build positive relationships with major donors and community leaders.
• How to select and work with a local PR firm.
• How to develop effective communications materials, including news releases, websites and handouts.
• How to prepare and integrate key messages into all strategies
• How to understand what stories the news media are looking for
• How to establish strong relationships with reporters, including local and national print, radio and television arts and labor reporters.
• How to effectively respond and communicate messages during news interviews.

Benefits

• Increased public awareness of musician organizations
• Increased effectiveness of musician messages and contract negotiation strategies
• Larger pool of effective media spokespersons who are trained and willing to conduct effective media interviews

Deliverables

• Pre-seminar planning and coordination with the musicians and AFM if necessary
• Customized training program to fit the organization’s specific needs and expectations. The 4 - 5 hour workshop will review communications and negotiation goals, develop key messages, determine effective strategies and conduct mock interviews for up to 10 spokespeople.
• Pre-seminar assessment for all participants
• Packet of handouts for each participant
• Videotape of mock interviews for session participants.

Background
Barbara has almost 30 years of experience in TV and radio news, public relations, corporate communications and government affairs. She has handled a variety of strategic communications projects for musician clients in the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Honolulu Symphony, Local 8 of the American Federation of Musicians and many others on an ad hoc basis. She also has worked with the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians, the Organization of Canadian Symphony Musicians, Regional Orchestra Player’s Association and others. A former news reporter, producer and anchor at stations in Milwaukee and other Wisconsin media markets for more than a decade, Barbara also has been a lecturer in Mass Communications at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

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