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WOSU wrote
Columbus Symphony Musicians Approve 3-Year Contract
Sam Hendren, WOSU Reporter
Columbus Symphony musicians on Monday approved a 3-year contract with the CSO board. Principal Tuba player Jim Akins says under the new contract, the orchestra will maintain all 53 musicians, but the season will be shortened and salaries reduced.
Representatives of the orchestra’s musicians describe the contract as “a lifeboat.” The orchestra’s Jim Akins says musicians were out of options.
The contract’s approval means salaries will drop from an average of $55,000 to about $34,000, for the current, abbreviated 31 week season. For clarinetist David Thomas, the cut in pay is the breaking point.
Related Stories:
- Symphony shuts down for summer, future in doubt
yep. that’s an unfortunate overly-entitled sounding quote if I’ve ever heard one.
yep. that’s an unfortunate overly-entitled sounding quote if I’ve ever heard one.I was thinking the same thing.
Doesn’t sound like an unreasonable salary for 31 weeks of work. Lots of people are creative, hardworking and talented and make less than that working year-round.
That doesn’t make it right. Not realizing the worth or actual cost of the arts just promotes brain drain for the city and state.
That doesn’t make it right. Not realizing the worth or actual cost of the arts just promotes brain drain for the city and state.
What makes you so certain that the old “worth” (which was driving the symphony bankrupt) was the “real” one and the new one is the wrong one?
joev +1
That doesn’t make it right. Not realizing the worth or actual cost of the arts just promotes brain drain for the city and state.
This worth has to be earned. I’m happy that an agreement has been reached to keep things alive but the symphony still has challenges to overcome. As has been hashed out here on CU over and over again.
Symphony musicians get far more than what the Columbus market would otherwise dictate. I wish I had wealthy donors funding my outdoors column.
Hmmm, any takers? Walker?
There’s no such thing as brain drain. It’s brain circulation. And we’re all better off for it.
yep. that’s an unfortunate overly-entitled sounding quote if I’ve ever heard one.
He’s the principal clarinet, so I would be very surprised if he couldn’t get a job that pays at least two or three times what he’s getting now, whether it be a teaching position or another symphony. He knows what other markets are paying and thinks Columbus is getting the short end of the stick, and I agree.
http://columbusunderground.com/phpBB2/search.php?search_author=DTclarinet
Sorry, lad. I’ve got more important things to spend my wealth on… like purchasing orphanages just to close them down for laughs. Ho! I believe I just dropped my monocle into my snifter, spilling my exotic libations all over my electric typewriter. Pardon me while I throw this one into the rubbish bin and purchase a pallet of new ones.
http://columbusunderground.com/phpBB2/search.php?search_author=DTclarinet
I’ve been following this situation since day one and have already read (and just re-read) all of his posts. Can you clarify your point?
I was just pointing out that he has been posting here for anyone who hasn’t been following. It has been an interesting conversation from the very beginning.
Oh, ok.
There aren’t a lot of jobs that offer healthcare, a pension program, and a healthy amount of time in which to moonlight at a skill which is in demand for cash.
I appreciate the CSO as much as the next guy and usually make it to a performance every year or so, plus a pops show or two every summer. However, I’ve often wondered if the real debate isn’t musicians wanting to have it all: a healthy package plus lots of flexibility.
Nobody says it, but I bet most of the musicians would turn down the old contract + 10% if they were required to hold regular hours throughout the year in practice and study, and refuse all other sources of income.
I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, in fact I think it’s a good thing that they have the flexibility to do other things, but let’s not act like it’s not happening.
yep. that’s an unfortunate overly-entitled sounding quote if I’ve ever heard one.
Oh jeeze, I heard this on NPR this morning. The guy came across as a real ass. Way to garner public support for your organization!
People generally think classical musicians are arrogant elitists (hell, most people think this about the arts world in general) and his comments only gave credibility to that opinion. There are many many people in this town who would feel fortunate to earn that kind of income.
(Full disclosure – I’m not enthralled with Mr. Thomas’ comments either. And I have been a volunteer singer in the symphony chorus for 16 years, so yea, I’ve been to a “few” concerts.)
Since most of you guys and gals posting are either doctors, lawyers, accountants, or other “professionals” billing at $125 an hour or better … you know, market rates for your “passion, creativity, and talent” … I’m surprised at your general lack of respect for the elitist clarinet player.
It really is such a shame that the poor clarinet player, who has dedicated his adult life to studying, practicing, and living his craft will earn only slightly more than an OTR truck driver who made undoubtedly the same investment of studying and practicing once he/she recognized then acted on his/her natural ability to operate an 18 wheel rig?
And in order to subsidize his income, I’m sure he feels tremendous gratification and passion teaching snot-nosed 8 years olds how to play the clarinet (who just love being there, I’m sure). Similarly, the OTR trucker can teach drivers-education on his off hours. Man that sounds rewarding.
Actually what disgusts me most about the general lack of appreciation for the lowly clarinetist receives on this board, and the larger public in general, is the failure to recognize that he is likely the most gifted and talented clarinetist in central Ohio, and easily in the top 3 in the state. That is where talent trumps creativity and passion, and it merits proper compensation.
“BFD” you say … “he only plays the clarinet.”
Exactly.
Life with diminished importance on the arts is so exciting. And cheap! I can’t wait to get there.
yep. that’s an unfortunate overly-entitled sounding quote if I’ve ever heard one.
I don’t see anything questionable about the quote, and I’m not sure why the rush to taunt him for having issued it. Let’s parse it:
“Creative & talented” — subjective traits, perhaps, but you don’t become first chair in a pro symphony by being uncreative and untalented.
“Deserve this kind of salary” — i.e. he’s now being paid below the typical salary for someone of his skills and experience –or is the issue the word “deserve”?
“For the kind of work I’ve done all my life” — i.e., his playing hasn’t changed, but his salary has.
It might not be the kind of statement that makes good PR for the symphony, but that isn’t his goal. He’s explaining why he’s looking for a new job, and the explanation makes sense.
I agree completely with the last 2 posts. Professional musicians are just that, professionals, and these people are in the upper ranks of their profession. You don’t get there without devoting your entire life to it, and they deserve to make a wage that is more than just “a lot of my friends would be glad to make that.”
If you can’t tell the difference between the music made by a professional musician and by a hobbyist/amateur (and I’m the first to say that I personally cannot), then perhaps you aren’t quite in the best position to say what that difference should be worth in terms of pay. Maybe in Columbus there just aren’t enough people who appreciate the difference.
If Columbus wants to be a cowtown that thinks that the skill level of amateur musicians in community orchestras is good enough for us (and sooo much more affordable), then so be it, but don’t act like the best musicians should be grateful to stay here to participate, and don’t be surprised when national news media keep saying “Columbus, OHIO” and reminding viewers that we’re located a couple of hours southwest of Cleveland.
@ uncleboo:
“Since most of you guys and gals posting are either doctors, lawyers, accountants, or other “professionals” billing at $125 an hour or better.”
I coulden’t tell if this was sarcastic or not: I’ve made very little following my creative passion and regularly put in long, long days.
@kitoba: that’s a selective parsing that doesn’t take into account the context or perceived tone of speaking of yourself as deserving of more than you are receiving.
@all: Many people on this board have had words twisted or pulled from context by media. I’m not judging or advocating judgment, just pointing out that the quote is unfortunate.