Re: Enough already!

[TROMBAEDU <TROMBAEDU...>]

In a message dated 3/27/01 4:01:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
klezska (at) yahoo(dot)com writes:


> I can see it now, "warning! warning! I must warn you
> that we have a female vocalist in our group and we
> cannot be resposible for the damage it may cause!"  (I
> have an image of the robot from Lost In Space)  
> 
There is a difference in the ideal musical environment and the selling of 
music for commercial purposes. As long as an artist attempts to sell his or 
her music to clientele, they have to be sensitive to a variety of issues in 
order to make sure they sell in a way that will best fit the clients needs 
and at the same time ensure the greatest profitability. That means accepting 
or choosing not to work within parameters with which he or she may not be 
comfortable.  
 

> Isn't it obvious enough that the root of the problem
> here is the perpetuation of a  minhag rooted in the
> decision-making of a bunch of sexist individuals!?

It is not obvious to those for whom Kol Isha is considered Assur. Even within 
Orthodox observance, there are a variety of opinions, as this list has 
discussed fully on a number of occasions. Bottom line, if you are dealing 
with the customer who holds a stringent opinion, that's the only opinion 
relevant for booking that job. Even if we agree that the impetus behind the 
Kol Isha restrictions are part of a series of restrictions that don't 
necessarily apply, or have been stringently applied unnecessarily by those 
who are more afraid of changing Halacha than they are concerned with the 
changing needs of women, that does not address those who as lay people don't 
feel empowered to change Halacha on their own. Remember, that is something 
that lies at the heart of Orthodox observance.  

> 
> Next thing you know we'll be arguing whether it's even
> appropriate for a woman to sing in public.  Let's get
> back to dealing with what's important - THE MUSIC!!!

There is no argument here. There are a wide variety of opinions in Orthodox 
observance, not to mention the other branches of Jewish Observance. It is not 
for us to argue the validity, but to find what works best for us as 
individuals.

> 
> What happened to Shirona was despicable and anyone
> with any sense of decency will agree with that. 

Is this a straw man argument? What happened to Shirona is unpleasant. Is it 
her fault? No! Is it despicable? Well, that's a harder one. When dealing with 
private clients, all sorts of wrenches get thrown in the works all the time. 
Some may make more sense to us, some less. As I see it, the issue here is not 
Kol Isha at all, but that artists need to be protected with good, enforceable 
contracts and deposits that can be nonrefundable. In other words, we need to 
be responsible for our own welfare, and understand that the world in general 
will always take us for granted and exploit us unless we are savvy and 
prepared.

Jordan Hirsch