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The Really Terrible Orchestra Of the Triangle (RTOOT)

PLAYERS RETREAT

Key Dates -

25 April - quail ridge books with alexander mccall smith (due to space limitations this will not include the full orchestra)
16 May - Sertoma Band Shell, Bond Park, Cary - 3:00 pm
18 May - Dress Rehearsal in Chapel Hill (7:00 pm - 9:00 pm)
19 May - Concert, Hill Hall Auditorium, UNC Chapel Hill, 7:30 pm (orchestra comes at 6:30 pm)

Regular Rehearsals

Regular rehearsals are held at the Herb Young Community Center in Cary, 101 Wilkinson Ave. The choice of this location, which is neither in Durham, Raleigh, or Chapel Hill, is to emphasize the fact that the Really Terrible Orchestra Of the Triangle (RTOOT) is truly a Triangle-wide cultural gem. Rehearsals begin at 2:00 sharp, so please be in your place and warmed up for tuning at that time.

Rules? There are no rules, but we do have policies. For example, it is the policy of The Really Terrible Orchestra Of the Triangle (RTOOT) that you will come to all rehearsals under penalty of death. But seriously, folks, regular attendance is absolutely a requirement because you really hurt your section when you miss a lot.

We have a snow day policy that says if snow sticks, no one has to come to rehearsal. and if it's deep enough to make a snowball, neither my strow hobgood nor anyone else should even think about coming to rehearsal. The reason we have snow in the south is to take time off and lay back and do nothing.

We have a dress policy for the concerts (not for rehearsals -- don't be silly!) Men are invited to wear black tie and women are encouraged to wear sparkly gowns of many colors.

The rehearsal policy requires players to bring a pencil and a music stand, and to get to the rehearsal hall in time to unpack and warmup before the tuning at precisely 2:00 p.m. There is no “punishment” for being late, but you are adversely affecting the entire ensemble and your fellow musicians. Likewise there is no punishment for missing a rehearsal, but I would like to know about your absence via email as soon as you know you will have to miss a rehearsal, or at the latest as a response to the rehearsal order email (see next paragraph). Again, any absence will affect us all.

Each week My Strow Hobgood will send an email showing the order of rehearsal so that, for example, if you play only in Oklahoma and The Blue Danube, you may leave after we have rehearsed those pieces. Strings, bless their hearts, of course will always stay until the bitter (or Terrible) end, because they play on everything and that’s just what strings do in an orchestra. Otherwise, we’d be the Really Terrible Band Of the Triangle (RTBOT) and it doesn’t have the same panache ....

If you must be unavoidably absent, please respond immediately with an email stating that you will have to miss, so I can adjust the rehearsal schedule accordingly. There will be a Signout sheet (the AWOL List) posted in the rehearsal hall for the entire season, and you may sign out in advance as soon as you know of a future absence.

Tax exempt Status

YIPPEE!!! We got our 501(c)(3) certification from the IRS. This means that any money you donate to The Really Terrible Orchestra Of the Triangle (RTOOT), including your dues, can be taken off your income tax beginning with your 2008 tax return (it’s retroactive to 13 august 2008 when we were incorporated as a nonprofit in the state of North Carolina). Furthermore, if your company provides matching grants, we are now eligible. This greatly expands our ability to raise funds and cover expenses. We still need to sell tickets to the concerts, though!!