 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: GBK
Date: 2010-12-05 05:06
Not sure if this link will work (subscription only)
http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/cash-strapped-li-philharmonic-scales-back-2010-11-season-1.2512534
"...Facing a serious cash crunch, the Long Island Philharmonic said yesterday that it has decided not to play a 2010-11 season - except for its annual New Year's Eve concert at Tilles Center..."
"...The decision is the latest blow to the Philharmonic. Last season's opening concert was delayed. Following three free outdoor performances, the Philharmonic announced this summer that it would delay the opening of the 2010-11 season until New Year's Eve. That concert, "Greatest Hits of Broadway," is still on, general manager Linda Morrisey said...."
...GBK
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Author: Gary Foss
Date: 2010-12-05 05:46
Another Orchestra struggles, but 6 or more?, concerts and the annual budget was 1.5 million, where was all the money going. I get that orchestra musicians, Directors, management, tend to expect entitlement, but that seems a pretty big number for so few concerts.
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Author: William
Date: 2010-12-05 15:55
Sounds like the south central Wisconsin orchestra I play with which cancelled most of it's full-orchestral concerts this season in favor of small chamber events. We are playing a Holiday Concert this month and Beethovan's Ninth in March, but the other usual four concerts are gone because the money simply isn't there for our meager salaries as musicians. Sad economic times for orchestra's in general.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2010-12-05 20:20
With a million dollar yearly budget and only six concerts a year, there were clearly some financial shenanigans somewhere.
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Author: William
Date: 2010-12-06 14:52
Wes, I agree. Orchestra boards of directors--like that of the symphony I play for--often hold their finacial cards very close to their chests and are reluctant to fully disclose where the money goes.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-12-07 00:24
That does seem like a lot of money for six concerts. Somehow I doubt that the musicians are getting a very large piece of the pie. In any case, it's a shame to lose yet another local orchestra. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2010-12-07 14:58
Geez guys, if you want to provide anything close to a "livable wage" for 80 to 100 musicians, you're looking at almost a half million just in salary. There are, of course "benifits" and costs associated with running a show. Before we castigate the smaller outfits, we may want to look at the operating budget of the Berlin Philharmonic and New York Philharmonic to see just how the other half lives.
................Paul Aviles
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-12-07 19:32
Paul, the LI Phil is not a full time job in any way you look at it. It's a per service orchestra and it's hardly a "living" wage that the musicians expect because every one of them relies on other sources of income to make a living but they do deserve to be paid a "fair" wage when they play. I doubt that's an unreasonable salary the musicians receive for their services. I doubt too that any of them receive benefits for playing in a per service orchestra. The only ones' that would receive a decent salary and benefits would be the conductor and staff, not the musicians. ESP
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Author: GBK
Date: 2010-12-07 20:17
Ed is correct - The Long Island Philharmonic is (was) a per service group with musicians rehearsing in the week(s) prior to each scheduled concert.
The per service fee was about +/- $100 per musician.
Certainly not a living wage ... more like gas money.
...GBK
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Author: William
Date: 2010-12-08 14:46
"The per service fee was about +/- $100 per musician.
Certainly not a living wage ... more like gas money."
LOL, that's a little more than "gas money" to me--still, not enough to support a family with.
I still think it's generally more accurate to say "musician with a profession" rather than "professional musician". I'll just bet than most CSO musicians give lessons "on the side" to suppliment their orchestral earnings. Living in the "Windy" isn't cheap like up here in "the North".
Post Edited (2010-12-08 14:52)
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Author: William
Date: 2010-12-08 18:59
For $100, I can fill my tank three times and drive for about .28 cents a mile. To do a 100 mile round trip to a gig, only $28--gas isn't THAT expensive to me.
Of course, I have to admit it's more than the .25 cents per gallon I used to pay the pump when I began driving......LOL.
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