The World's Your Stage

PREFACE

by William F. Baker

WHY WE WROTE THIS BOOK

In my first year of teaching a business course at New York’s Juilliard School of dance, drama, and music, I asked one of my students, a gifted pianist whom I’ll call Alicia, what she would like to do with her life.

“All I want to do is play the piano before a respectful audience,” she answered.

I believe deeply in Alicia’s goal, or else I wouldn’t have coauthored this book. I also believe, as do my two coauthors, that today’s classical performing artists deserve a wide and appreciative audience. But in order for that to be true, I know that Alicia and her peers in music, dance, and theater have to think differently about their work in order to succeed. Just being good at their respective art ...