Comments on: executive and music director pay http://www.nobleviola.com/2008/06/03/executive-and-music-director-pay/ Life on the working end of the viola. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:01:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Drew McManus http://www.nobleviola.com/2008/06/03/executive-and-music-director-pay/comment-page-1/#comment-11630 Drew McManus Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:26:47 +0000 http://www.nobleviola.com/wordpress/?p=1000#comment-11630 Good ideas Charles (hint, hint, taken, taken). To a small degree, some of the past compensation reports have discussion threads which examine those very issues although a reader has to slog through the comments to get everything. One of the reasons the online reports focused on quantifiable content this year is becasue so many of these issues don't have universal solutions that defy "answers" in the traditional sense. At the same time, I think the conversations defining the issues related to executive leadership at the administrative and artistic levels is extremely valuable so communities/individuals can begin to formulate their thoughts on the matter and how it applies to their respective orchestra. The trick is to keep from getting tangled up in the semantics :) Good ideas Charles (hint, hint, taken, taken). To a small degree, some of the past compensation reports have discussion threads which examine those very issues although a reader has to slog through the comments to get everything.

One of the reasons the online reports focused on quantifiable content this year is becasue so many of these issues don’t have universal solutions that defy “answers” in the traditional sense. At the same time, I think the conversations defining the issues related to executive leadership at the administrative and artistic levels is extremely valuable so communities/individuals can begin to formulate their thoughts on the matter and how it applies to their respective orchestra.

The trick is to keep from getting tangled up in the semantics :)

]]> By: Charles Noble http://www.nobleviola.com/2008/06/03/executive-and-music-director-pay/comment-page-1/#comment-11629 Charles Noble Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:33:21 +0000 http://www.nobleviola.com/wordpress/?p=1000#comment-11629 So, here's an idea (hint, hint) for a future article, Drew: why are music directors of the larger orchestras suddenly worth so much more than for the smaller ones? I'd argue that the inverse is true, that the larger the orchestra, the more vital the role of executive director/president becomes, and that's where LA has gotten it right (for the past few directors, I'd argue, not just Borda). Sure, the MD is important for the artistic vitality of the organization, but if you have a visionary board leader and a capable president/E.D. then you'll do well regardless of how much of a "name" your MD is - thoughts? So, here’s an idea (hint, hint) for a future article, Drew: why are music directors of the larger orchestras suddenly worth so much more than for the smaller ones? I’d argue that the inverse is true, that the larger the orchestra, the more vital the role of executive director/president becomes, and that’s where LA has gotten it right (for the past few directors, I’d argue, not just Borda). Sure, the MD is important for the artistic vitality of the organization, but if you have a visionary board leader and a capable president/E.D. then you’ll do well regardless of how much of a “name” your MD is – thoughts?

]]> By: Drew McManus http://www.nobleviola.com/2008/06/03/executive-and-music-director-pay/comment-page-1/#comment-11628 Drew McManus Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:21:12 +0000 http://www.nobleviola.com/wordpress/?p=1000#comment-11628 Interestingly enough, in some cases executives do earn more than the music director on a regular basis (not counting situations were either individual is only employed for part of a season). Nearly 25% of ROPA executives have earned more than their respective full-season music director for three or more of the most recent seasons where data is available. For ICSOM ensembles the number was lower, just under 10%, and in some cases the situation has existed for only the two most recent years. In each of these cases, the situation exists in middle to lower budget ensembles but in the instances throughout ROPA ensembles, the situation was widespread. As such, as Elaine points out, it is safe to assume that this isn’t the case in the higher budget ensembles but it is an interesting enough trend. Thanks for putting all that together Charles, I'll include a link over from the "subscribers only" article going up at the end of the week. Another interesting perspective to CEO/ED compensation is to take into consideration which ensembles own and/or manage their main performance venue. For example, the CEO at Nashville Symphony had a significant jump in compensation one season but that also corresponded with the opening of their new hall, which they own and operate. As such, it's fair to say that his duties and responsibilities increased on par with the increase compensation. Best, Drew McManus WARNING, GRATUITOUS PLUG: To find out which ensembles have consistently paid executives more then music directors, pick up a copy of the print edition of the 2008 Orchestra Compensation Report, on sale now. Interestingly enough, in some cases executives do earn more than the music director on a regular basis (not counting situations were either individual is only employed for part of a season). Nearly 25% of ROPA executives have earned more than their respective full-season music director for three or more of the most recent seasons where data is available.

For ICSOM ensembles the number was lower, just under 10%, and in some cases the situation has existed for only the two most recent years. In each of these cases, the situation exists in middle to lower budget ensembles but in the instances throughout ROPA ensembles, the situation was widespread. As such, as Elaine points out, it is safe to assume that this isn’t the case in the higher budget ensembles but it is an interesting enough trend.

Thanks for putting all that together Charles, I’ll include a link over from the “subscribers only” article going up at the end of the week.

Another interesting perspective to CEO/ED compensation is to take into consideration which ensembles own and/or manage their main performance venue. For example, the CEO at Nashville Symphony had a significant jump in compensation one season but that also corresponded with the opening of their new hall, which they own and operate. As such, it’s fair to say that his duties and responsibilities increased on par with the increase compensation.

Best,
Drew McManus

WARNING, GRATUITOUS PLUG: To find out which ensembles have consistently paid executives more then music directors, pick up a copy of the print edition of the 2008 Orchestra Compensation Report, on sale now.

]]> By: Elaine Calder http://www.nobleviola.com/2008/06/03/executive-and-music-director-pay/comment-page-1/#comment-11620 Elaine Calder Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:45:52 +0000 http://www.nobleviola.com/wordpress/?p=1000#comment-11620 Notice it?? for a moment I thought, "we're not in Kansas (or Canada) anymore Toto. Look at this! executive directors in the big orchestras make more than their music directors...." Notice it?? for a moment I thought, “we’re not in Kansas (or Canada) anymore Toto. Look at this! executive directors in the big orchestras make more than their music directors….”

]]> By: Jason Heath http://www.nobleviola.com/2008/06/03/executive-and-music-director-pay/comment-page-1/#comment-11619 Jason Heath Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:22:28 +0000 http://www.nobleviola.com/wordpress/?p=1000#comment-11619 Very cool chart on these stats from Drew, Charles. I love these kinds of studies! Very cool chart on these stats from Drew, Charles. I love these kinds of studies!

]]> By: Charles Noble http://www.nobleviola.com/2008/06/03/executive-and-music-director-pay/comment-page-1/#comment-11618 Charles Noble Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:47:49 +0000 http://www.nobleviola.com/wordpress/?p=1000#comment-11618 Thanks for noticing that - I was in a hurry to get out the door when I made the chart! Thanks for noticing that – I was in a hurry to get out the door when I made the chart!

]]> By: Elaine Calder http://www.nobleviola.com/2008/06/03/executive-and-music-director-pay/comment-page-1/#comment-11614 Elaine Calder Tue, 03 Jun 2008 23:51:29 +0000 http://www.nobleviola.com/wordpress/?p=1000#comment-11614 Charles - I think you need to reverse the heading on the last column, so it's Music/Executive Director ratio. Charles – I think you need to reverse the heading on the last column, so it’s Music/Executive Director ratio.

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