New Jersey Symphony cuts season and staff
NewsThe resourceful but often-troubled orchestra has begun its season by cancelling three concerts (out of 14) and sacking 15 staff.
Apparently, film and variety concerts are selling well but the old audience for symphony concerts never returned from Covid. Some estimate the symphonic downturn at 75%.
The NJSO had its centenary last year. The music director since 2015 is Xian Zhang.
https://www.njsymphony.org/musicians-orchestra/musical-leadership/daniel-bernard-roumain
Hopefully he is making a positive impact that will grow their audiences.
This really speaks to bad management more than anything else. Audiences for classical concerts are rebounding nationwide, and New Jersey is surrounded by wealthy patrons. I have many friends in the orchestra – from them, it’s clear this is an example of failed leadership.
Management aside, it is not an entirely fair statement to say that “audiences for classical concerts are rebounding nationwide.” Some of them, yes, but there are more factors here than just management. The audience in Jacksonville is not the same as the audience in Seattle, which is not the same as the audience in Dallas, or New Jersey. Also, “rebounding nationwide” does not necessarily mean “rebounding to pre-pandemic levels,” which is the unfortunate truth for a lot of orchestras simultaneously trying to cut their immense losses and figure out how to remain operational, while also remaining a viable place of employment for a lot of talented, dedicated staff.
With respect, I completely disagree. I don’t dispute that the pandemic created a very difficult situation for anyone tasked with managing an orchestra. But, almost every orchestra received PPP and other federal and state government funding that more than made up for lost earned revenue.
With regard to winning audiences back, it really does come down to the ability of marketing and development departments to do the grassroots work of putting butts back in seats and retaining donors.
Yes, orchestras are not at pre-pandemic levels, but most are pretty darn close – in the neighborhood of 85-100%. (Citation: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/23/arts/music/orchestra-classical-music-attendance.html)
The last thing to do in this situation is start making cuts. It’s been shown time and time again in the performing arts world that you cannot cut your way to success. It. Has. Not. Worked. Once. Not once in the past 75 years.
Instead, focus on engagement – not a newer, smaller hall and less performing weeks in the case of New Jersey – and get people excited about what you’re doing. Success will follow.
Really? How is this management’s fault. If you’re going to trot out hackneyed, threadbare blame-game rhetoric , details would be helpful in convincing skeptics like me.
Well, Andy, if you are going to ask someone else for details, perhaps you should provide some yourself.
What do YOU think is the problem, since you seem to feel it’s not management? On what data do you base your defense of management? And what can you bring to the table regarding potential solutions? Details would be helpful.
They released this news on a Friday afternoon to try and bury it in the news cycle. The press release described a “Concert Weekend Consolidation and Workforce Reduction” – i.e. slashing programs and laying off workers.
But what’s a shame is the NJSO has done the hard work of becoming a state-wide orchestra, investing in outreach, and getting out from the shadow of NYC. But even that foundation hasn’t been enough.
15% of employees not 15 employees
I have heard similar things about another orchestra in another part of the country — audiences for the “real” concerts are sharply down. In this particular case they also have every reason to think that there has simply been no rebound from Covid. A high ranking member of the Board asked me about concerts where the orchestra plays along with films and while I am sure that will sell tickets, I also advised him that that is not what these musicians came there to perform. And that is the ultimate irony — that kind of concert needs the best and most versatile musicians and if that is all they are asked to do, they’ll go away if they can.
The musicians will “go away if they can.” If they can are the important words in your comment.
There are so many more completely qualified musicians available than there are jobs. It is not easy at all for a musician in one orchestra to simply decide to move to another city/orchestra. The competition is steep; the jobs are few. The musicians may complain about playing movie music to a film, but they will show up, do the playing, take the check, go home, pay their bills.
So you mean 3 concerts out of their first 14? NJS plays a ton of concerts this season.
Three of their fourteen classical music series. They do many other concerts. They intend to increase the number of performances they are doing for three concerts that will be performed and not cut. They perform in multiple locations.
In ten years symphony orchestras’ sole rationale will be playing backup to rock concerts and live backgrounds to sixty-year-old movies.
Norman, please correct the article. 15 staff were NOT let go. That is a total of 15% in budget cuts from budgeted staff costs. This comes from a combination of a few who were sadly let go and some positions that will remain unfilled.
Of the 14 Subscription weeks the NJSO offers, they are now reducing that to 11. However they will be adding additional concerts into those 11 to maintain as much reach as possible to the many different communities we serve and minimize the impact of those unfortunately cancellations.
Hopefully this painful cuts will allow us to stabilize and come back stronger!
Won’t someone think of the “Resident Artistic Catalyst?!”
https://slippedisc.com/2021/04/us-orchestra-adds-a-resident-artistic-catalyst-whats-that/
60 minutes had an interview with the conductor of the Metropolitan Opera and in it there was mention of the their struggle to get audiences to return Post Pandemic.
. I do not think the New Jersey Symphony is one of few arts organizations struggling. I regularly get contacted by Arts Pride to sign petitions and contact elected officials in order to get more financial support from the state and federal governments for the very reasons the symphony has stated for the changes they are making.
When I am contacted I am told nonprofits are still reeling from losses. Many patrons of the arts have not returned post Pandemic. Costs are up significantly in all areas. This is a worldwide issue. The war in Ukraine , supply chain issues , etc. I do not think it is fair to blame symphony management. Since Xian and the new CEO have been with the NJSO they have made a tremendous effort to reach a wider audience including minorities and young people, those that not traditionally symphony goers. In addition the administrative staff has grown to increase fundraising and all areas of running the organization.
The President/ CEO of the symphony came from The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields organization. He is more than capable and is highly regarded by supporters of the NJSO.
I have recently moved to Newark and the New Jersey symphony does several concerts a year at the NJ Performing Arts Center. Maybe I am not looking at the right media but apart from the seasonal brochure of all its performances that NJ Performing Arts Center mails to subscribers I have not seen any NJ Orchestra concerts advertised anywhere. Contrast this to the annual Shen Yuen program (Chinese variety show sponsored by Falun Gong) or Riverdance both also performed at the NJ PAC which had advertising through large billboards on highways or extensive internet popups etc.
For what it’s worth, I suspect that Shen Yun has more money just to spend on advertising than the NJSO has in its entire budget.
Live classical music is struggling in the United States because there are many alternative options available online. The organizations need to become more available for diverse audiences by offering streaming services. Unfortunately, the unions are preventing streaming pricing services out of the market. They must accept the new market or become extinct.