Description
My name is Michael Arnowitt. I am a classical and jazz pianist who moved to Toronto six years ago from Vermont in the United States. I have been a full-time working professional performer for 35 years, and during my career I have done seven international tours in Europe and Asia and have organized many interesting creative projects. I am legally blind and am wishing to hire part-time help to work assisting me and furthering my career in any of the below part-time positions:
1. Artist Representative. A person to help me with my marketing outreach to concert organizations and live music venues in North America and beyond. This position involves promotional writing, telephoning, online research, and networking skills. 10-20 hours per week to be discussed. This is the highest paid position of the three listed here, likely pay offer $30 per hour.
2. Project Manager. I would like to hire someone to focus on working exclusively on one of my larger project ideas, to devote some organizing energy and enthusiasm to help bring a chosen project to the finish line. The person would do support work reaching out to individuals and potential partner organizations on my behalf. Examples of some possibilities are: a multi-sensory concert where the audience would experience sensations in touch, smell, taste, and sight paralleling events in the piano pieces I would be performing; organizing a book tour for the publication of a book of essays about music I am writing; working on organizing performance tours of either Europe or southeast Asia countries; working on one of my special jazz composition ideas; various media projects; or furthering an idea to establish a foundation to create music centres in foreign countries where the performers would be limited to under-recognized musicians. A Project Manager position could be structured as per hour work of 5-10 hours per week at a pay offer of $25-28 per hour depending on past relevant work experience and skills, or could alternatively be structured as a lump sum payment for the project as a whole.
3. Music Assistant. A person to do behind-the-scenes work with me in person in Toronto for a variety of creative and career activities I have difficulty doing by myself due to my blindness, including looking at details in printed music, helping me in the preparation of music files for rehearsals and for my book project, some light proofreading, and library and online research. This position does require fluency in reading music; please inquire for more details. 10-15 hours per week with some irregular scheduling around peak periods of concert performing. Pay offer will be $25-28 per hour depending on past relevant work experience and skills.
Applicants who feel they have a matching skill set for one of these positions but who desire a number of hours per week different from the stated range are encouraged to apply anyway, indicating their preference and availability.
I can be flexible on a start date for any of these positions.
To be considered, please send an email introducing yourself to [email protected] along with a resume outlining your past work and volunteer experience. Additionally, please send writing samples, a minimum of one sample in a more casual writing style and a minimum of one sample in a more formal writing style. In addition to sending application supporting material files as pdf’s, sending the content additionally in file formats that are more accessible to screenreading speech output technology for the blind is encouraged but not required. Applicants interested in being a Project Manager are encouraged to indicate a specific project they would like to focus on, and express why they feel their skill set and interests makes them a good fit to work on that particular project. A list describing these potential future projects is available by email on request.
For the Artist Representative and Music Assistant positions, strong preference will be given to applicants who may wish ongoing long-term employment. Those only looking for a short-term employment period are discouraged from applying due to the importance of continuity in building relationships for success in the performing arts field and because of the need for a certain introductory period getting accustomed to systems and special preferences of the employer due to his visual disability.
Pay and Benefits
Hourly rate range:
$25.00 — $30.00 per hour
Qualifications and Experience
Required Qualifications and Experience:
A good quality phone, a computer with Microsoft Word and other basic software for office work, a reliable internet connection, and a quiet home workplace for any work done remotely.
Preferred Qualifications and Experience:
For all positions:
- integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness
- a friendly interpersonal manner on the phone and in writing
- good listening skills in conversation, good reading comprehension skills, writing skills, and attention to detail.
- efficiency with looking up information and understanding of how websites and libraries are typically structured
- previous knowledge or experience with non-profits and arts organizations is a plus
- an interest in music and the arts, especially classical music
- any prior experience interacting with the blind or other people with disabilities, and sensitivity to understanding and respecting disability-related preferences
- experience with personal networking
- writing and spoken communication skills in the area of promoting arts projects, performers or other types of artists
- negotiation skills
- knowledge of different social media platforms
- demonstrated past experience at fulfilling a large project with many details
- ability to read fluently and accurately music in both treble and bass staffs
- understanding of the layout of printed music from piano to orchestral scores
- experience with the Sibelius music composition display software
- some computer and technology troubleshooting aptitude
- comfort with reading aloud
- an ability to read French or German would be a plus
Application Process
Will an automated HR system be used to filter applicants?
– No.
Will non-shortlisted applicants be notified?
– Yes.
Are interviews flexible? (e.g. different interview formats, times, location, remote option)
– Yes.
To apply, email your details to MA@MAPiano.com
To be considered, please send an email introducing yourself to [email protected] along with a resume outlining your past work and volunteer experience. Additionally, please send writing samples, a minimum of one sample in a more casual writing style and a minimum of one sample in a more formal writing style. In addition to sending application supporting material files as pdf’s, sending the content additionally in file formats that are more accessible to screenreading speech output technology for the blind is encouraged but not required. Applicants interested in being a Project Manager are encouraged to indicate a specific project they would like to focus on, and express why they feel their skill set and interests makes them a good fit to work on that particular project. A list describing these potential future projects is available by email on request. For the Artist Representative and Music Assistant positions, strong preference will be given to applicants who may wish ongoing long-term employment. Those only looking for a short-term employment period are discouraged from applying due to the importance of continuity in building relationships for success in the performing arts field and because of the need for a certain introductory period getting accustomed to systems and special preferences of the employer due to his visual disability.