Old-time musicians

"Help you open the door?" Xilan's dark eyes stared at him in confusion.

Fanning said "hmm" and nodded seriously.

Your invisible power seems to be able to unlock the door if you forget to bring it. The little girl blinked and thought for a while.

"Carolan, can I have one too?" Joan, who came out next, said pitifully after finding the key in Xilan's hand.

"There are currently six VIP guest rooms." Fanning smiled, "They are all inner and outer suits, enough for two people. If you are busy too late and don't want to toss, you can stay overnight with Xilan. Of course, I don't mind if you want to use one alone."

"Well, I mainly want the back kitchen key that involves the tea break preparation room."

The three chatted and went up to the first floor, walking towards the rest area for the symphony orchestra musicians and administrative staff.

The air here carries a faint fragrance similar to that of the lobby of luxury hotels in the imperial capital, and there is also a spacious space similar to that of the hotel. However, its exquisite decoration focuses on the home style. Colored oak floors, embossed wallpapers, thick velvet curtains with tassels, crystal lamp grids in the ceiling, and landscape decorative oil paintings are standard. All the corners are wrapped in fabric to bring a relaxing and soft feeling.

Several wall cabinets with books, green plants or small crafts divide the area into more than ten large levels. There are a wide variety of entertainment and leisure facilities, but the common point is that they are all equipped with sufficient expensive brand sofas that people can lean on or lie down directly, and they can see the scenery outside through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

At this moment, in addition to the musicians who come here to rest and communicate during the rehearsal, the administrative staff of other departments also get up one after another and walk here to relax.

The lunch break time of Turner Hall and the Old Symphony Orchestra is from 12:00 to 14:00, and the afternoon tea time is from 15:30 to 16:30. After enjoying this pleasant time, there is only one and a half hours left before the end of the day's work. Of course, this is just a normal situation. The performing arts industry is always special, especially in the early stage of establishment and preparation, there are almost overtime every day. Their high salary also includes subsidies for extra training, overtime or evening performances.

But afternoon tea is an extremely important thing in the current life culture of Tiolain. Fanning attaches great importance to taking one hour out of the regular eight-hour work time every day to arrange exquisite tea breaks for musicians and staff.

The so-called "welfare", "team harmony" or "sense of belonging" discussed from the management perspective is only one aspect.

[To be honest, I have been using reading books to keep up with the latest updates, switching sources, and reading aloud with many tones. Android and Apple are both available. 】

The more reason is that Fanning believes that those engaged in the cultural and artistic industry must maintain creativity and must avoid mechanical and mediocre working conditions.

In a comfortable and cozy atmosphere, the musicians and staff enjoyed some snacks and drinks, had a relaxing free social interaction, or were alone to relax. Many good operational ideas or artistic inspirations were also collided in the communication.

"Why didn't Kaplun come up?" Fanning asked in confusion.

He sat on a six-person sofa combination, with Sheeran and Joan on his left, and Olga, who had been hired as an administrative manager, and an empty seat on his right.

"Since he was about to return to your conducting lesson, he said he wanted to take the opportunity to practice alone." Joan said.

"He was also interested in the feel of the new piano." Sheeran added.

"There was no one there, practicing in the air?" Fanning shook his head helplessly, "Call him up to exchange feelings during afternoon tea time in the future. Why is this guy so stubborn and doesn't know how to relax and have fun."

"I'll talk to him when I get back." Olga said immediately.

Six sets of white lace hand-embroidered tablecloths, as well as dinner plates, teacups, teaspoons, tea dregs bowls, sugar jars, and milk bottles were placed on the table. Then the attendants adjusted four flower pots to the appropriate positions, inserted roses and platycodon in them, tied orange-yellow satin flowers on paper towels, and distributed them to everyone.

"Mr. Fanning, to be honest, your new venue feels much more operable than the Woodpecker Restaurant."

Sitting opposite Fanning was a fat gentleman with dark skin, wearing a pure gold necklace, a white chef's hat and a monocle.

He skillfully unlocked the tea cabinet on the table, weighed the amount of Earl Grey tea with a silver mini measuring spoon, put it into the teapot with a filter together with the sachet, poured about 185 ml of boiling water, covered the lid, turned the hourglass beside him, and after soaking for 2 minutes and 44 seconds, he quickly swept the sediment at the bottom of the pot into the tea dregs cup with a cleaning brush, then added milk to the warm porcelain cup, and poured tea for the six people.

"Golden Drop." The fat black gentleman stood up slightly, and the last drop of amber liquid with a strong tea fragrance in the first round of teapot brewing fell into the last Fanning cup in the order with a "dingdong" sound.

"Thank you." Fanning pinched the cup ear and picked it up gently, then looked around the wall of the cabinet at the musicians in other areas, "I heard them praising, and even a little moved. It can be seen that the implementation of this benefit is satisfactory. We can learn from this successful experience in the evening courtesy of the ten title concerts."

"Hiring a few photographers will have a better publicity effect." The fat black gentleman said.

Kimberly Congreve, senior tea artist of Woodpecker Restaurant of Guidance School.

She is also a senior baker and former deputy store manager.

Viadrin's worries were proven to be unnecessary, as Fanning did not take action on the operating funds of Woodpecker Restaurant.

Fanning chose to poach people directly.

For example, Congreve has been appointed as the manager of the comprehensive operations department, because during the conversation, Fan Ning learned that in addition to specializing in the pastry field, this guy also came up with various projects including fresh food, delivery service, and guest service during his time in the store. Various tricks including points, full-process customization, and referral rewards.

He belongs to the type of tea master who knows how to make money the most.

Well, it's not quite accurate to say "dig". Their establishment was originally composed of civilian staff of the Guidance School. He is both the music director of the old symphony orchestra and the president of the Uvranser branch. Perhaps this is an internal transfer of personnel. At the same time, Fan Ning added more fresh blood to Woodpecker Restaurant, because starting from today, its order volume will increase again.

As for senior tea master Congreve, Fan Ning believes that in addition to teaching tea art and baking skills to restaurant apprentices, he should focus more on market operations. As for the procurement and implementation of daily tea breaks, including special service personnel The employment scheduling is left to the administrative department.

The waiters were still filing out of the preparation passage behind the bar, placing groups of three-layer dessert porcelain plates on the white tablecloths in front of the musicians' tables, and removing the thermal covers.

They follow the traditional order from salty to sweet, with handmade biscuits, meat floss rolls, salt and pepper squid rings and sandwiches with ham and butter placed on the first layer, and scones piled high with jam and cream dishes on the second layer. The third layer contains the favorite varieties that Fan Ning specially selected on the first day: Lemon Almond Cake Slices, Coconut Pear Pudding and Cherry Crushed Red Wine Puffs. After they are eliminated from top to bottom, there will be relief. The sweet fruit tart is presented.

Sheeran and Joan got into an argument about "should you choose hot milk or cold cream for Earl Gray tea, and whether you should add milk or tea first?" Fanning leaned on the sofa, biting the yurt ring with a crunching sound, and asked Orr Jia asked: "What are the actual calculation results of the comprehensive management costs of the Music Aid Program?"

"1 to 9." Olga replied quickly. "In the morning, the chorus members were given a 1 pound subsidy for the last week of October; they have already settled in two centralized rental houses in nearby streets; the part-time job of the teaching teacher has been scheduled. Until the end of November; in addition, there are some miscellaneous expenses for clothing, shoes, hats, and stationery, including depreciation of teaching equipment and venues. Overall, these costs are spread out to each child, which costs about 9 pounds per week.”

In the few sentences above, she reported on the progress of the four tasks.

Fan Ning nodded slightly: "So the subsidies given to them only account for 10% of the money spent on them. The overall cost of education is the bulk."

Fanning spent a large proportion of his energy thinking about the personnel management of the affiliated choir and the future youth symphony orchestra.

In addition to the professional issues of music teaching itself, for this group of children who have entered adolescence, he also has to consider their personal safety, mental health, character education, discipline management, as well as future incentives and punishments, entry and exit mechanisms.

The current conditions cannot provide unified responsibility for food and lodging, so a closed boarding model cannot be implemented. In addition to living allowances, Fan Ning has also made three main efforts:

First, an additional deputy manager of the administrative department was recruited to serve as Olga's deputy, leading several staff members to be responsible for the daily management of these teenagers and girls;

Secondly, we conducted an on-site inspection of all the relatively concentrated vacant rental houses near Turner Art Hall, contacted the urban construction department, and matched with the Housing Improvement Association to conduct unified negotiations and arrange for centralized occupancy in separate areas for men and women, with four people per apartment to shorten the distance between living and attending classes as much as possible. ;

Finally, in terms of teaching courses, in addition to music professional courses, he also recruited senior students from other colleges to provide necessary cultural education such as language, mathematics, history, etc., and invited Ms. Hamilton’s team to teach adolescents or families of origin Bring regular counseling for possible mental health issues.

The overall principles of the above ideas are: to ensure that music learning can be focused on without distractions, that the diet is nutritious and not extravagant, that the residence is comfortable but not luxurious, and that simple and self-disciplined living habits are cultivated.

Fanning’s long-term plan will not be limited to this city. He will build Turner Art Hall into a model similar to the “theater chain” in the previous life. After some of the good experiences are fixed, he can expand the territory in other counties in the future. Apply directly.

"When the staff recruited by the two groups are available, the monthly expenditure will rise to 5,600 pounds, accounting for approximately 7% of the current monthly operating fixed expenses of Turner Art Hall." Olga emphasized the final conclusion.

Fan Ning is very satisfied with the administrative efficiency and financial data control of the chief steward: "The actual situation is basically in line with my expectations. In order to encourage outstanding people or relieve the worries caused by major family difficulties, I will consider scholarships and bursaries." setting plan.”

Olga hesitated for a moment, then tried her best to speak as if mentioning it in passing: "Speaking of which, today also happens to be the salary payment day of the fourth week, and the musicians and employees have enjoyed the benefits for the first month."

"Carone, I have to mention this." Joan took a tea knife and spread jam on the opened scones. Her tone was very excited, "The chief treatment you provide makes me doubt Bologna every time." The 5 pounds weekly salary of the school is bullying me because of my young age. I put today’s banknote in the outer pocket of my flute case. It is a full 8 times the salary of the school.”

She looked left and forward, and found that both Sheeran and Olga seemed to be hesitant to speak.

"What's wrong?" Fan Ning smiled and blew a sip of black tea from the cup.

"Mr. Fanning." Olga gritted her teeth, "The current account situation of Turner Art Hall is this."

"Miss Luo Yin's sponsorship allows us to start the preparatory stage with £1.00. After deducting £0.00 for your super luxurious decoration expenses upstairs and downstairs, the remaining £1.00 will be left."

"Ms. Sheeran's estimate of fixed monthly expenses was £1,000. I thought it would be exceeded at the time. In fact, there were a lot of unexpected expenses. For example, we purchased 20 small machines costing £400 each in the music classroom and piano room. For a grand piano, small aspects such as cleaning the exterior windows of the building are far more expensive than I thought. There are more cleaning staff than I thought. The choice of carpet grade and area expansion quadruple the price. Of course, there are This daily coffee break service is as elegant as Louis’ royal family.”

"The actual expenditure is pounds! In other words, the account balance now only has pounds. Although we will not purchase 20 more baby grand pianos next month, the fixed expenses will need at least pounds according to this trend!"

"Such a big gap!?" Xilan only felt that the situation was worse than he expected.

"Oh my god, Carol, I suddenly feel that the lemon almond cake doesn't taste good anymore." Joan was shocked after realizing it. "What should I do? Do you need to go to the bank for a loan? My dad knows some people who lend money quickly. That's right, you can stop paying my salary first, and I'll go downstairs and return the banknotes to you."

The performance season has just started on the 25th of next month, right?

Although the tickets are sold in advance and the funds will flow back in advance, it is extremely easy for the flow to be cut off due to lack of reserves in this situation, let alone how the tickets will be sold.

"Oh, I forgot something." Fan Ning smiled softly and started looking for something in his briefcase.

He took out two remittance receipts and handed them to Olga.

"They were originally transferred to my personal account. I just went to remit the money to Turner Art Hall in the name of payment in the morning. Well, the financial efficiency of the city is still good. You should receive the telegram voucher within two days."

Olga's eyes gradually widened as she took it: "Pounds? Pounds? So many? Or two?"

"The additional sales of more than 700 copies of the Summer Arts Festival record after tax, and the 8115 after-tax returns from the first sale of the album "Keyboard Etude for a Fixed Bass Theme", well, the latter has already reached a four-star rating, that gang The guy acted very quickly. Seeing the overwhelming number of buyers, he rushed to produce the first batch of 5,000 copies before they were sold out, ensuring that the nominal first-sale data was not interrupted... It was priced at 20 pounds, and I could only get 35% of it. , in terms of cost-effectiveness, it is far inferior to the first one where all the profits went to me. It’s a pity that the record company will never give me random money again.”

The scene was a little quiet for a while.

"Twenty thousand, forty thousand, ninety thousand, ninety-four thousand." Sheeran came back to his senses and began to make gestures on the dinner plate with a tea knife. "Caron, our financial situation seems to be the same as when you took the tax payment." The state after the huge sum of money.”

"That." Qiong smiled, "The lemon almond cake is quite delicious..."