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Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2011 > March > 21 > Entry
Editorial: Philharmonic not giving in to hard times
The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra isn’t overstating things when it says, “… Two years ago, we knew change was upon the DPO in a way that threatened our existence.”
The line is among the talking points supporters are emphasizing to prospective donors in an effort to raise $1.4 million.
The stock market drop in 2008 and the ensuing economic uncertainty turned things upside down for the orchestra. But even before that, the Philharmonic was in a bad spot. It had been operating in the red for multiple years and was dipping into its unrestricted endowment at levels beyond the 5 percent rule of thumb.
Twice it took draws of 8 percent, a move that can become habit-forming and can drain an endowment, especially if the stock market were to stay down for a long period.
Its fundraising campaign, which aims to put the orchestra in a place where it doesn’t need last-minute gifts to end its seasons in the black — has almost made its goal.
Supporters have raised $950,000 without a big public pitch, and recently philanthropist Charles D. Berry promised to match any money that’s raised now, up to the $1.2 million mark. His gift would put the orchestra over the top.
But the orchestra, under the musical direction of the popular and energetic Neal Gittleman, isn’t just counting on gifts. It has cut staff and the organization has taken a pay cut (of 10 percent for the top staff). Some concert series have been scaled back or eliminated.
Ticket pricing has changed in ways that allow concert-goers to pick and choose from various series and still save a few bucks without having to commit to a whole season. (Ask about the “flex pass” if you’re curious, but don’t want to be a regular.) New concerts, aimed at non-traditional audiences, have been added.
By the orchestra’s count, in the last two years, 20,000 new people who hadn’t attended a DPO concert before have come. That’s a big number in a market that’s not growing and that’s been financially stressed. It suggests the Phiharmonic is not just reaching out to new audiences, but it’s giving them something they want.
Meanwhile, season-ticket purchases for next year are up 5 percent over this year.
This combination of solutions is impressive because it shows that the staff and musicians do understand that there isn’t a “fundraising only” solution.
Big and small orchestras across the country have struggled financially. Some have gone into bankruptcy; some have gone on strike because of ugly financial problems. Louisville’s, for example, filed for Chapter 11, Honolulu’s for Chapter 7.
It’s not the American way to settle for “sustainability over growth,” which is the succinct version of the Philharmonic’s game plan for the future. But it’s also not the American — or Dayton — way to fail. Letting an institution that, for 77 years, has given joy to people in tuxes, jeans and school uniforms die was never an option.
A small core of 130 donors has written checks that total almost $1 million because they believe that Daytonians want and deserve to be soothed, thrilled and stirred by music. They are supporting not just the orchestra, but the quality of life Dayton offers.
They stepped forward first. Now others have to step up beside them.
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