The internet has opened up a whole world of possibilities for the classical musician. It was almost inconceivable ten years ago that, with the help of a computer, you could order CDs, print out sheet music or listen to a concert in the comfort of your own home. Two men who believe wholeheartedly in the power of the worldwide web are Julian Morgenstern, who runs Morgensterns Diary Service, and Simon Hewitt Jones, founder of www.violinmp3.com.

When Morgenstern set up his musicians' diary service in 1983 everything was done on paper. For almost a decade, Morgenstern and his colleagues worked entirely manually until 15 years ago when he computerised the business. The difference was enormous - at the touch of a few buttons, a list of available musicians for any date could be printed off. However, the process was still relatively slow, with Morgensterns staff tied up for hours on end going through lists on the phone with a fixer. And of course the phone bills were costly.

Then in early 2005, Morgensterns Diary Service re-launched www.morgensterns.com which has benefited Morgensterns business, the musicians on his books and the fixers who employ them. The website has been a true labour of love for Morgenstern who designed and built it from scratch, writing every single line of code himself.

SPILLING THE BEANS
Since the publication of this article we have introduced a web and wap accessible client logon service that provides clients with a wealth of password protected, securely encrypted information served directly from our diary database, including account and contact details, calendar, messages (current and pending) and work profile details.

To view your logon pages, you will need to make sure that your browser has Javascript and Cascading Style Sheets enabled. Should your browser be configured to block pop-up windows, you will either need to disable this feature, so that pop-up windows can be displayed, or include our client logon window in your list of approved pop-up windows.

The website's purpose, according to Morgenstern, is to promote his 500 or so clients as much as possible. To that end, each one is given their own page which contains a wealth of information about themselves, such a biography, list of recent bookings, review quotations, discography, outreach work undertaken, and details of their education, teachers and any prizes and awards they have won. In addition, clients may display one or more photographs of themselves and upload mp3 files (which, strangely, only a dozen or so have done so far).

Details on each client are automatically updated on a daily basis via the MDS database. And if musicians want their page to be amended immediately, it can be done in the time it takes one of the MDS staff to type the change and the client to hit the refresh button.

Fixers benefit from not only having such a wealth of information on each musician to hand but also at the speed at which they can find out who is potentially available for their engagement. It takes not even seconds for the MDS software to provide a list of available musicians which is then uploaded on to the website and instantly visible to the fixer. The list provides links the each musician's own page so that the fixer can make an informed - and fast - decision over who to book. The canny inclusion of photographs means that the fixer who never forgets a face but is hopeless with names might recognise a musician they are keen to re-employ (or, heaven forbid, avoid!).

For fixers with a little more time on their hands, it is easy to navigate the website's client pages. Musicians can be searched for by name or browsed by instrument, everything from bassett horn to violone via electric cello, flugelhorn and mandolin. Also on MDS's books are several Alexander technique practitioners, a photographer and even a musical masseuse.

It is a pity that not all of MDS's clients have given the nod to have their details published online - they are really missing out on a great promotional tool - although these are in the minority, and a tiny one at that. Furthermore, one or two might think about having some new photographs taken - on his, clarinettist Nicholas Benda is holding a mobile phone the size of a house brick, which probably means the tot on his lap is in his late teens now!

For the musicians on the MDS books, the website provides a number of useful resources. There is a substantial list of booking clients - every band in the land it would seem - complete with contact details including websites and links to maps, as well as similarly informative and equally comprehensive venues list.

The 'client shop' area of morgensterns.com attempts to create a community feel for MDS clients. There are orchestral job listings, recommended service providers (such as photographers), a 'for sale' board and a notice board which covers topics as diverse as flat shares and stolen instruments. The website also hosts a number of articles pertinent to jobbing musicians, such as designing a brochure and preparing a CV, as well as one on the recent National Insurance payments saga.

Morgenstern has also published the company's quarterly booking statistics dating back to 2000 on the website, which make an interesting read and gives a useful overview of the MDS year, particularly for potential clients who might like to see where they could find work. Indeed every single enquiry from musicians interested in signing up with MDS in recent months has come via morgensterns.com.

by Rebecca Agnew, 22nd July 2006

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