Breaking Up The Tuning the Air Company

A Tuning the Air Journal

Monday January 4, 2010 – Breaking Up The Tuning the Air Company

A practice we followed quite rigorously in the first couple of seasons of Tuning the Air was to “break up the company” at the end of the season. What this means is that as of the close of the season, everyone is released from their obligations and commitments. Then, at the opening meeting of the next season, a new company is created. If you show up, you are making a commitment to the next season. If not, well there you go.

In practice, this is a nightmare. All of the practical matters – committing to the rental for the performance space, promotion, etc – need more lead time than that. But in terms of the commitment of the team, and everything that a fully committed team makes possible, it is irreplaceable. Over the past few seasons, this practice has fallen prey to practicalities and reasonableness.

With the production, the team, the challenges and the potential of this endeavor going through a critical transition right now, Jaxie and I decide to send out the following email this morning:

Dear Team,

Before we gather next week to look at what’s next for TTA, something has presented itself that feels necessary; a return to an early practice that was important and useful, but has fallen out of our process in recent seasons. As part of our completion of Season 8, we would like to officially break up the band. This is an opportunity to completely release all obligation and commitment to the group. Free dispersal from the circle! For now and until the outcome of next week’s opening meeting, TTA doesn’t exist.

warm wishes to all,
jaxie and curt

On Saturday, there will be a group sitting in the morning, followed by the Monthly Open Circle. For myself, sitting together and playing together are the most important things that we do. After that, we will meet together and see who is onboard for the next season, and take it from there. Bill and Frank will be at the meeting, with Sandra AAD. It will be something.

I honestly am comfortable that there will be a next season. But this practice needs to be taken on in earnest, which means allowing for the possibility that no one, or not enough people, will turn up next Saturday, and allowing that to be an acceptable outcome.