Classical Music: Death knell for Columbus Symphony?

Monday, March 17, 2008

Death knell for Columbus Symphony?

To let it die or to not let it die? -- That seems to be the question in Columbus. Take a look at yesterday's Dispatch. Can this orchestra be saved?

7 Comments:

at 3/18/2008 10:27:00 AM

Anonymous said...

Reading the article one can't help but think in this instance in Columbus that the musicians have gone out of their way to be part of the problem rather than part of the solution. Musicians representative walking out of a meeting with managenment who was trying to but forth a plan to save the organization is counter-productive at best. If the organization folds because people are not buying tickets or large contributors are suffering from donor fatigue preventing them from saving them-again-then I guess the marketplace has spoken hasn't it?

Steve Deiters/Oakley

at 3/18/2008 03:29:00 PM

Anonymous said...

I think Steve, and others who may share his perspective, might see things from more of a comprehensive vantage point if they had some information that has been left out of the Dispatch articles. For example, accusing the players of being a part of the problem because they left a meeting where the board wished to discuss their proposed financial plan had nothing to do with the players being obstinate.

Instead, they left that meeting because components of the proposed financial plan the board wanted to discuss dealt directly with collective bargaining issues. As such, the only forum that allows for those discussions are formal negotiations.

That particular meeting would have gone better if the board simply presented the plan along with a formal request to initiate negotiations after the players had an appropriate time to disseminate the plan and caucus with their colleagues.

Finally, to conclude that current ticket sales is a universal indication of potential demand is very short sighted. Any good marketer will have a laundry list of examples of businesses (for profit and nonprofit) that focused on creating demand as part of the core mission.

Respectfully submitted,
Drew McManus
Nonprofit consultant and author of Adaptistration, a blog on orchestra management.

at 3/18/2008 04:54:00 PM

Anonymous said...

I can only base an observation on what I have read with the limited information available. There is certianly more to the problems than meets the eye. Frankly the thing that set off the alarm bells for me was the fact that people who they turned to in the past for help (read-financial) it look likes they have dug in their heels and said "Enough". Again, I may not know the whole story, but perhaps those financial backers know more than we do.
I don't think I said anything about "potential" ticket demand. I think what they have been dealing with is the "real" ticket demand (i.e.sales or lack of them) which have, if what I have read in the past and today, has been less than inspiring. The net result is that it is contributing mightly to the situation they now find themselves.
Couldn't agree with you more on the need for a laundry list of marketing efforts needed to create an increasing demand based on the symphonies core mission. At this point in time it appears too little, too late. A little of that philosophy could go a long way for a local orchestra.

SD

at 3/18/2008 05:50:00 PM

Anonymous said...

Based on information not published by the Dispatch (a separate issue worthy of discussion in and of itself) I don't believe local donors are unified behind any funding position. It would be bad form (and potentially illegal) for any of them to come out and say "we won't give X dollars to the symphony if either side in the negotiation doesn't acquiesce to what the other wants."

The section in the Dispatch which I think Steve is referring to which lends that sentiment isn't supported with any reference or attribution (even anonymous). As such, it is bad form for the Dispatch to publish something like that without proper attribution, otherwise it looks like they are attempting to force a self-fulfilling prophecy on a situation that only today had its first official negotiation meeting.

I don't think it is ever too late to address improved ticket sales. One point which is rarely discussed is the cost of tickets, which on average are far too high. In Columbus' case (and most other professional orchestras) ticket price is kept artificially high to compensate for ticket revenue lost from lower sales and decreased unearned income (donations).

Regardless, ticket income has been a slowly shrinking piece of the orchestral revenue pie for years due to reasons that are entirely natural (again, a separate discussion altogether). As such, orchestras will have to identify additional revenue streams to replace it (and subsidize lower average ticket prices). This places greater expectations on the other fundraising components inside an organization, namely the board, but it is far from impossible.

For example, one of the beneficial dynamic consequences of lower ticket prices is that the majority of concerts are likely to sell at or near capacity and that sort of enthusiasm benefits unearned revenue generation in ways that open doors previously closed.

Drew McManus

at 3/19/2008 11:25:00 AM

Anonymous said...

Ultimately, a community defines itself. I would encourage the city of Columbus to rise to the occassion as much and as often as necessary to maintain a credible symphony orchestra for its own credibility as a state capitol as well as for its citizens and visitors. I'm not dismissing the weaknesses of the organization--none of us posting here know the whole story. But, how this is handled will speak volumes about the movers and shakers of Columbus and about Ohio in general.

at 3/21/2008 04:00:00 PM

Anonymous said...

Hey Janelle... where's your opinion on this??? It's nice and easy to throw something like that out there for the circus again. How about we hear an opinion from someone who is supposed to have an opinion.

at 3/21/2008 05:35:00 PM

Janelle Gelfand said...

I'm afraid I'm up to my ears getting ready for a huge symphony tour with our own CSO... I don't really consider any of you to be "the circus." There are a lot of thoughtful answers here and I agree with lots of this. First of all, Columbus does not have the century-long history of symphonic music in its city, and it has been a struggle from the beginning to get the community to financially back an orchestra. I don't know what the board looks like now, but I would suspect it is old money and the same old corporate supporters, without taking advantage of the city's "new blood" and younger corporate execs who could offer more funding opportunities and fresh ideas. I don't think that slashing the personnel of the orchestra is the solution to their financial problem, and it could lead to the eventual disbanding of the orchestra entirely. That seems to be the quick and easy way out -- instead of finding a longterm solution with, as Drew suggests, finding new revenue streams, perhaps marketing better and above all -- lowering ticket prices. Apparently Baltimore got a grant to cut ticket prices to $25 for any seat this year and they've had record attendance. The entire industry is watching this to see what will happen. It's not about "cheapening the product" which is what a symphony marketing person will tell you -- it's about making symphonic music more accessible.

Previous Posts

Monday, March 17, 2008

Death knell for Columbus Symphony?

7 Comments: