Klarinet Archive - Posting 001297.txt from 1998/04

From: Hard Reed <HardReed@-----.com>
Subj: Re: Pay analysis, etc.
Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 07:11:13 -0400

Jonathan,

My point about the data being outdated is that contracts are negotiated and
renegotiated regularly and the figures in many a case (orchestra) can be quite
different. For example, it is very likely that most all of the contracts on
your wage chart are no longer in force. However, if you are simply looking
for representative data without regard to current accuracy, that's fine with
me! :)

Also, keep in mind that musician costs (in the symphony orchestra) go far
beyond that of salary alone. Costs for health care and other insurances,
pension and other benefits are hardly a trivial amount in their comparison to
mere salary.

I might suggest that beside locating the current wage chart (which is, for a
change, up to date!) which will have all that information (and can be obtained
easily enough from the AF of M), you might try to get data concerning monies
expended for auditions (if such data exists) from sources such as the American
Symphony Orchestra League (lovingly referred to as ASOL) or from the
individual orchestras. Of course, it's a bit tedious to gather it all, but
the accuracy in your starting figures might give your arguement more teeth,
perhaps?

Good luck,
Larry Liberson
hardreed@-----.com