Tag Archive for 'picnic with the pops'

A Message of Hope for Columbus

Published
by
dtclarinet
on May 21, 2008
in Behind the Scenes, Columbus Cultural Politics and columbus symphony orchestra
. 2 Comments

The arts are alive and well all around the country, especially in Columbus, Ohio.

The non-profit culture industry provides over 5.7 million jobs and accounts for over $166 billion in economic activity every year, including over $330 million in Greater Columbus alone! That’s 11,000 jobs in Columbus.

Attendance is up, downloads are rising faster than for any other musical genre, and the New York Times is proclaiming that this could be “the Golden Age for Classical Music. The Columbus Symphony, led by the charismatic Junichi Hirokami, is playing better than ever.

But for some reason, Columbus has been told much the opposite about the arts in their city. The citizens of Columbus have been led to believe that classical music is dying, that funding is drying up, that it can no longer afford its fine orchestra, and the burden has been placed squarely on the musicians of the orchestra.

The truth is, the problem with the Columbus Symphony is not its musicians. They are playing at levels deserving of much higher salaries. Musical reviews have been rave; attendance is way up.

Total musician expenses fell by $0.9 million over the past 4 years. The cost to maintain the “heart of the orchestra” has been under-budget or on-budget for 3 of the last 4 years. When their portion of expenses went over by 18% in 2004, the musicians took an 11% paycut in 2005 to save $1.3 million, which more than covered that gap.

The real problem for years has been gross mismanagement of the non-musician part of the budget. Over-spending their own budget by $6.5 million in the past four years, management has failed the organization by an obscene margin.

Just a few examples of these cost overruns:
157% ($1.7 million) over budget in marketing expenses in 2004,
134% ($635,777) over spending in development expenses in 2004;
70% ($969,218) in the red for marketing again in 2005,
62% ($979,738) over budget in 2006.

Overall, management overspent their own budget by over $3 million in 2004, nearly $1.5 million in 2005, $1.3 million in 2006 and $736,000 in 2007. None of this overspending was caused by musician costs.

That’s $6.5 million in non-artistic cost overruns in 4 years.

The musicians have proposed a solid plan with the hope of taking us all forward. To keep within the confines of a $9.5 million budget, they are offering to take 7% paycuts to produce savings of $500,000, even though their portion of the budget for 2007 is 4.5% ($297,637) in the black. (*see source footnote below)

I hope citizens would agree, management needs to take responsibility for its own huge cost overruns and to find ways to cut the non-artistic budget by $2 million. Fairness still counts for something, doesn’t it?

Then we can all move forward and get back to the music. Whole communities of volunteers are eager to help; grassroots organizations have already begun to prove their ability to gather support. All of Columbus wants to see Picnic with the Pops, and to see TBDBITL play their hearts out with the Symphony. What would a Columbus summer be without Picnic with the Pops?

The musicians of the Columbus Symphony have offered their commitment to the future of the orchestra and to serving the community of Greater Columbus, which deserves the best.

The citizens and political leaders of Columbus must ask why this board and management, while charged with serving their community, is promoting such a negative view of the future of the arts in your city. If you see negative connotations in the news of the musician’s reasonable proposal or its logic, ask Mr. Buzz Trafford to resign as board president so someone else can really save the Symphony.

(*sources: details of CSO budget research by Dan LaMacchia, orchestra comparisons and the musician’s proposal can be seen at Symphony Musicians website)

Letter from Paul Josenhans

Published
by
dtclarinet
on May 18, 2008
in Behind the Scenes, Columbus Cultural Politics, Our Supporters and columbus symphony orchestra
. 0 Comments

Dear Sir:

My wife and I were quite dismayed by the photo of the conductor of the Columbus Symphony waiting at the airport for what might complete his last trip to Columbus, and for the image of Columbus that will prevail if the City is not able to maintain its first class orchestra (although we commend the Dispatch for featuring this and other positive articles relating to the Symphony).

It seems that what is needed now is a sort of “emergency rescue fund” in three components, first to allow contributions to rescue this summer’s Picnic with the Pops series; second to garner a fund to support a 2008 to 2009 regular season; and third and perhaps most importantly to initiate a fund for long term endowments of the orchestra and its various chairs.

We get the impression from friends (not orchestra members) that some donors are reluctant to make further substantial contributions because the management has not done a good job of managing and accounting for prior contributions. While we don’t know if this is true, it certainly may be a perception that hinders some fund raising efforts. Could this be addressed by setting up one or more trust funds, independent of the Symphony’s board of trustees and management, to administer the collection, use and accounting for these future donations. Would the Columbus Foundation be able and willing to set up designated use funds in this regard ? Would it be feasible to have one of the major accounting firms take responsibility for administering such fund(s) on a pro bono basis ?

We also need more of a “can do” attitude on the part of the Symphony Board and the full time manager it selects going forward. A manager who consciously or subconsciously regards the Symphony as a dinosaur not only denigrates the orchestra and its members, but reveals an attitude that perhaps the trustees should seriously call into question.

Contributions from small as well as large donors are needed. Are there opportunities for “naming rights”, perhaps for each Picnic with the Pops concert ? Or contributions from supporters who might love to have a chamber music performance at their homes for their friends and associates ? Or other imaginative ideas ?

Columbus has invested, over the years we’ve been living here, in various expensive undertakings, including Ameriflora, professional sports teams and sports venues, and most recently in a new stadium for the Columbus Clippers — a wonderful team, although still a farm team. Certainly the Symphony has proven that it deserves the same kind of support and investment. We consider it to be “major league” on the cultural scene. But even if it were a farm team like the Clippers, doesn’t the community see the need for the same kind of dedicated support and investment ?

Paul J. Josenhans

Letter from Gisela Josenhans

Published
by
dtclarinet
on May 17, 2008
in Columbus Cultural Politics, Our Supporters and columbus symphony orchestra
. 0 Comments

Gisela is an active supporter of the Symphony and the arts in Columbus and a member of the Women’s Association of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.

The source of the death knell for the beloved Columbus Symphony Orchestra has revealed itself in the May 16 Columbus Dispatch article about the multitude of community support efforts, the orchestra and the incredible conductor. Mr. Beadle’s negative attitude and commentary at the end of the article says it all. Instead, he should have sung the praises of such efforts and embraced the widespread, creative energies of such efforts to maintain the symphony.

He apparently kept the true picture of the orchestra’s financial condition to himself and the board, instead of facing the financial needs and undertaking the broad and creative development efforts that are required to maintain a first rate orchestra.

Several years ago, the musicians set such a wonderful example by giving up thousands of dollars from their salaries to allow the orchestra to continue. With the proper development and fund raising efforts, the community would have followed their example.

The orchestra contributes in innumerable ways to all our lives. It is a shame that mismanagement, or perhaps neglect, or perhaps a less than supportive attitude of the management and some trustees has resulted in the risk of loss of this resource.

Management needs to find a way to reinstate the Picnic with the Pops series as a way of preserving the orchestra and continuing to afford the public the tremendous joy of musical summer weekends.

The orchestra needs new management with community leaders who love the orchestra, who properly manage its finances and financing, and who will have an attitude that will foster creative and imaginative plans that will enable central Ohio to continue to enjoy the artistic excellence of the orchestra’s exceptionally talented musicians and maestro.

Very truly yours,

Gisela E. Josenhans

More from Bob Nichols

Published
by
dtclarinet
on May 15, 2008
in Our Supporters
. 0 Comments

Here is Glenn Sheller’s (Dispatch editorials page editor) letter to which Bob Nichols responds below. Mr. Nichols’ gentle admonishments seem to have little effect on the outcome of the Dispatch’s stance.

Dear Mr. Nichols:
Much of the opposition to the board’s plan focuses on what the board SHOULD have done before to prevent the symphony’s finances from reaching such a parlous state. But even if it’s true that the board previously failed to act effectively, nobody can travel back in time and fix things. So the question is, what would critics have the board do NOW? How do critics propose that the symphony balance its budget?

Dear Mr. Sheller,

Thank you for your response to my May 10 email. Excellent point - the problem today IS today’s problem to be solved, not yesterday’s! So let’s do PUSH for a resolution now, and NOT surrender to an “I give up – you win (or you lose, depending on where you stand) conclusion. The motivation to protect the integrity of an in-place asset, an unchallenged artistically successful institution (the CSO) SHOULD, should it not (?), provide plenty of motivation to look for solutions to protect, not destroy this orchestra. I am sure it is much cheaper, easier, and considerably more efficient to keep an orchestra, than it is to create one. This scenario assumes the board leadership is not already satisfied, even pleased, they are about to, or perhaps have, already achieved their goal – to disband the present orchestra.

Unfortunately, their actions and published comments to date have done NOTHING to dispel this very dark and I sincerely believe inaccurate, although too easily obvious, a conclusion.

“How do they balance the budget?” is asked. Perhaps it IS a smaller orchestra in terms of full time musicians, perhaps it IS a shorter season. However, it certainly is NOT resorting to abusive or inadequate compensation practices (i.e.. 40 %, or whatever it was, pay cuts). It is NOT canceling reportedly successful concert venues (i.e. Picnic With the Pops). It is NOT denigrating the input of the musicians by insincere “bargaining” sessions. (i.e. apparently ignoring a $500,000 payroll reduction reportedly offered by musicians). It is NOT conducting lack-luster fund raising campaigns that do not reach a sufficiently broad audience and do (did) not instill ANY sense of urgency.

I am not informed enough to place priorities on, or to determine the relative value of, each the above items – but I do think there is a potential balanced budget there, somewhere - maybe even w/o any personnel reductions(?), do you suppose?.

Now to matters other than “balancing budgets.”

WOSU has understood the importance of broad campaigns, directed to individuals and their sense of responsibility to maintain a service that used to be, and still is would you believe free for the listening! They have done this through repetitiously reinforcing the intrinsic value of their service plus developing a public sense of urgency, ownership, and responsibility. They (WOSU) followed a very unpopular programming change with another successful campaign – actually amazing! Is there not a lesson available here to our symphony?

No one, except perhaps the politicians (?), I think, has ever “won” the battle for popular support by attacking the credibility of those individuals on the other side. Affirming relationships are much more constructive! There has certainly been too much of that unfortunate technique used here between the symphony leadership and the musicians. The January board “Strategic Plan” began this episode by producing a unilaterally created document arguably not very kind to the musicians on several levels. The musicians responded quickly and understandably questioning the integrity of the board and leadership. This sort of dialogue has continued unabated, and recently has even spread to the Maestro! This practice is very sad and totally unproductive leading to divisiveness that can last beyond the time limits of the “negotiations.” Very, very sad indeed!

In conclusion, this “critic,” would very much like to see the symphony board/leadership along with the musician’s leadership quickly seek the counsel of a third party mediator/consultant to enable developing an acceptable and creative resolution for everyone out of this obvious impasse. (I admittedly have no credentials to be labeled a “critic,” I am only reacting to what I perceive as less than positive and not very constructive publicly displayed attitudes that sometimes even seem to be driven by mysterious(?) agendas.)

I do not see ANY indication a solution is to come from any other source or technique.

Can we not ALL easily agree that the Columbus Symphony Orchestra is worth the effort!

Incidentally, I was “amused” with the editorial comment Sunday morning that “…the loss (of the CSO) would not necessarily mean the loss of orchestral music in Columbus.” We simply are evaluating this issue on totally different levels. It occurs to me and I am quite sure you will not ever hear any of the personnel of the “other” orchestras in or around Columbus express anything other than dismay at losing or the compromising of the Columbus Symphony.

The Dispatch certainly has it within their influence to garner positive community support around the symphony, to stimulate the kind of attitude that would enable the negotiation of a responsible “labor” contract, and to give confidence to a no doubt “uneasy” board, as well as to help generate a community climate for very successful 2008-2009 fund campaigns.

Wouldn’t you like to do that? A decision to not go this route will most certainly also contribute to the destruction of the CSO as a viable institution for many years.

At the risk of redundancy, the goal should not be simply to save or keep “a” symphony orchestra - the goal is for Columbus to continue to have an orchestra worthy of the true critic’s ink.

Recent ticket sales and the positive community/audience response to the orchestra certainly are encouraging. Let’s build on that!

Once again, thank you for your response and taking the time to read this rather long email.

Bob Nichols

CSO Management Losing Public Respect

Published
by
dtclarinet
on May 8, 2008
in Behind the Scenes and Off the Record
. 3 Comments

Most of you may know the distressing news by now; the CSO board and management has canceled the lucrative summer Picnic with the Pops series, citing lack of funds.

It should be known that the Summer Pops pays for itself in revenue. So why cancel it? Whatever the twisted intent, it has little to do with “saving the Symphony”.

The move may be an attempt to corner the musicians into signing an insulting contract which sends the Columbus Symphony back to the dark ages.

My guess is that the public already senses the perfidious deception behind Buzz Trafford’s public pontificating that the board’s hands are tied and the musicians just refuse to cooperate. This drastic and defeatist move will further weaken public respect for the current Symphony Board of Trustees.

I had lunch today with a few reporters from the Dispatch who listened intently to my point of view. I emphasized that the musicians are VERY interested in negotiating, but not in being told what they MUST accept without question or DIE.

Among other things, these reporters have been informed that the musicians initiated “good faith” bargaining steps by offering to take some pay cuts, but were rebuffed; they have been told that we called for a mutually chosen mediator, an unbiased third party professional to monitor the negotiations, to which the answer came back from management, “NO!”.

We’ll see if the Dispatch squeaks any balanced truth in tomorrow’s paper.

I told them that if they Symphony dies, it won’t be the musicians fault. These gentlemen were baffled by our unanimous rejection of management’s insulting demands. Our solidarity truly perplexed them.

I believe the musicians’ consciences are clear. We are rational people. We’ve been reasonable. We’ve been patient. We’ve been polite and considerate. Understanding the seriousness of the situation, we have communicated our intent to compromise and our desire for professional mediation.

But we are not dealing with reasonable people, or being given fair and balanced coverage. So, what do we do now?

I will not presume to speak further for my colleagues. But I think many of them would agree with the following thoughts:

For years now, the Columbus Symphony has existed as two very different organizations.

One has been the actual orchestra itself, which has developed into a world class musical organization with an outstanding conductor and players. The Symphony Chorus has risen with the orchestra. Through education and outreach, thousands of lives have been enriched. Concert reviews have been rave, and audiences love them.

The other less visible part of the Columbus Symphony has been its Board of Directors and executive management. Unlike the orchestra, the board and management have been a dismal failure, unable to reach their own stated goals and mismanaging the administration and budget, resulting in losses.

Each time this has happened, rather than doing some soul searching about its own shortcomings and ongoing inability to maintain this pristine jewel in the crown of Columbus’ fine culture, the board and management have instead sought to dump their failures onto the backs of the musicians themselves. In the last contract go-around, management had a 15% loss, and the orchestra accepted 15% pay cuts with promises that management would do better this time. That hasn’t happened. Yet, the Columbus Museum raised an $80 million endowment and Nationwide Arena was built without tax funding. Columbus can accomplish great things with the right leadership.

This year seems to be no different, only management has gone public trying to brand the musicians as offenders that “don’t understand the reality of the situation.” Instead of self-selecting and leaving so that others may succeed where they have failed, they have entrenched themselves in a senseless campaign to crush the orchestra. The only reality here is that Buzz Trafford and the board and management don’t know how to run an orchestra, and instead are trying to point the blame somewhere else.

When a baseball team is losing, who gets fired - the players or the manager?