My comment, just posted at the bottom of the editorial:
In my opinion, Denver would be better off losing the Broncos than the Colorado Symphony. Of course I’m biased.
I first learned to love good music listening to Gene Amole on KVOD when I got dressed each morning to go to Denver’s Thomas Jefferson High School, although going to concerts never became a habit. Still hasn’t.
In a way, my love of the music and not being a concert goer made me the perfect spokesman for the Symphony, I loved the music but was never figured out how to participate. Still haven’t.
When I was desperate for a job the Denver Symphony, which now calls itself the Colorado Symphony, was desperate enough to hire me as their marketing. (For the story of how I got from my desperate moment to a job offer in two days on the podcast “How to find a good job fast,” on http://www.JohnWren.com)
They were in very bad financial shape back then, for a while it was as if I owned the Symphony. What we learned was that Denver loves what one of our really good board members, and there were and I’m sure are still many, called “Denver’s biggest band.” It was just that most of the people in Denver didn’t know when the concerts were held or how to buy a ticket.
We brightened up and increased the advertising, got the support of the local newspapers to run more stories, did a few promotions, and the result was that we had more sell outs than ever before or since.
My ego got the best of me, and I left. My replacement was Barry Fay, and I’m not sure how the story went from there to bankruptcy.
I’d be glad to share what happened in more detail if anyone wants to hear it, just give me a call. I’m still trying to figure out how I can participate, and I think lots of other people in Denver are, too.
