The Met hires an Australian press chief

The Met hires an Australian press chief

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norman lebrecht

August 01, 2017

He’s called Tim McKeough and he comes from the Sydney Theatre Company.

He has experience handling visiting Hollywooders like Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush.

No known form in opera.

He takes over the least responsive press office in US performing arts, matched only by the New York Philharmonic.

G’luck, Tim.

 

Comments

  • AMetFan says:

    Buy American. How in the world can the Met obtain a visa for a foreigner in this position when there is an army of press folk in New York? Absurd and most likely illegal.

    • Petros Linardos says:

      Illegal? Why?

      • AMetFan says:

        Not being an immigration lawyer, I assumed it would fall under this law; “short supply” being the key. Good press people in New York are plentiful.

        H-2B Work Visa for Skilled and Unskilled Workers
        The H-2B Work Visa was created to allow people to come to the United States temporarily, mainly for non-agricultural jobs, in which the United States workers are in short supply. Up to 66,000 H-2B Visas are issued every year.

        However, it seems Australia has a partial waiver, if press can be considered a specialty occupation.

        E-3 Work Visa for Australians
        The E-3 Visa is a new Work Visa category available only to Australian citizens. The E-3 Treaty Professional Visa is a temporary work visa, and is usually issued for 2 years at a time. United States legislation limits the E-3 Visa to citizens of Australia. The primary E-3 Work Visa applicant must be going to the United States for the purpose of working in a specialty occupation. The spouse and children of the main E-3 Visa applicant do not need to be Australian citizens. Spouses of E-3 Visa holders are entitled to E-3D (dependent) Visas and work authorization.

        Interesting article from the Washington Post regarding Australia and the US regarding foreign workers. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/04/18/australia-slashes-skilled-worker-visas-as-trump-gears-up-for-h-1b-restrictions/?utm_term=.bc9a0d8461fc

    • Anon says:

      The MET should hire the best person globally available. As they do with any position, on stage, too. As they do with their repertoire too. Such top quality places should not fall to the pea size mindset of silly nationalists like you.

      • AMetFan says:

        Just a seasoned professional in the business here, not a nationalist, silly or otherwise. But thanks for the ignorant characterization; it categorizes your post. Time will tell about the new hire. But trust me…the Met hasn’t been able to hire the best people (singers and musicians are the stellar exceptions) for a long time.

  • Old Man in the Midwest says:

    They could have hired Sean “Spicey” Spicer or Anthony Scaramucci. They are both available and come with a wealth of experience.

    The Mooch is a native New Yorker and worked in the West Wing for 11 days.

  • Francois Paulette says:

    And now, e.g. August 2019, the job is advertised again. What happened to the wonder from down under?

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