Social Media 101 for Conductors

First, let me get my "Duh" moment out of the way...

Social media is an incredibly powerful tool. DUHHHH!

That being said, I see the many ways to use social media. To get the word out about a person, an event, or a product. To keep in contact with friends and family.

DUHHHH!

When I started using Facebook, I had a few goals for its use. My intent was to keep in contact with close friends, old friends, and my family. And I wanted to keep my friends to under 100. My outlook has changed to adding people I barely know with whom I share similar interests, as well as former students; and I am now at 482 friends.

As Facebook evolved as social media has evolved. Many people who use it treat it as if their posts are conversations with their friends. They post personal things that are going on in their lives, and they post their beliefs. Why? There is a security in posting. You're not going to get into a face to face confrontation.

One thing I try to remember with my Facebook and Twitter accounts is that my conducting position with the Athens Symphony is public. I have had people “friend” me because they want to keep up with what I might be doing with my conducting. Because of that, every time I post something, I think of one thing.....

Is this appropriate?

Years into the future, if you see this post, you may remember the week before I posted this was a trying week in United States history. In the past week, the Supreme Court ruled that gay marriage is legal and that President Obama's healthcare plan was legal; and the state of South Carolina wants to remove the Confederate flag from its State Capitol. Many states are following their example, and many businesses are no longer selling the flag or its likeness.

And social media lit up. Why? Everyone has an expert opinion.

That's where I had to put on my conductor goggles.

Every action usually has two sides. Let's take an easy one: The President of the United States. If I post that he/she is an amazing president, the people who do not like the job he/she is doing will get irritated at me. If I post the he/she is the worst president in the history of mankind, the ones who are happy with his/her leadership will get irritated with me.

Now apply that to the Confederate flag...to gay marriage...or even to local politics.

Do I have opinions on all of these subjects? Of Course! Does it matter?

That's a good question. If someone wants to know your opinion, they will ask you. Until then, I would not post it on social media. Why? Let's go back to your opinion of the President.

Most presidential elections in the past few years have been very close. When Obama won the Presidential Election in 2008, the final results were 53% to 46%. In 2012, it was 51% to 48%.

If I post on Facebook my opinion of Obama, voting averages say that about half the people will agree with me, and half will disagree. But all will form an opinion. Some will brush it off, and some will get angry.

More specifically, people will form an opinion about me as a person. When the time comes to work with them, they may have formed an opinion that puts a barrier between us that can prevent us from working together positively. If I posted my opinions on gay marriage, chances are that I will upset someone, and they may not want to be a part of my ensemble because they disagree.

Is that what you want? Then why post it?

Possible employers now check social media. Valentina Lisitsa is a pianist who posted offensive pro-Russia twitter comments. Her comments were so offensive that the Toronto Symphony cancelled their performances with her.

I have friends on Facebook who have posted links to articles they believe I should read, and they comment on them. However, they aren't posting because they believe I would be interested in the topic, but because they feel it is important that all people need to know about where they stand on this. You know what I now know? I don't want to do business with this person or their place of employment.

If someone owns a flower shop and posts that the school I teach at is terrible, will I buy flowers there?

Nope.

My suggestion is that if you use a social media tool, read your posts from the point of view of a member of your ensemble. From an audience member. Or as a potential employer. Is it still a good post?

One of my favorite books for conductors is "Beyond the Baton" by Diane Wittry. Read chapter one on Character Development and see if you are doing actions in public that help or hinder your public perception.

That's my thoughts. And I..Am...Outtahere!