Walt Disney Concert Hall
Photo by Lisa Hirsch
Received yesterday: a begging letter from, wait for this, the LA Philharmonic.
Asking me to donate toward their $50,000* goal.
Yes, that's right. The LA Phil, which is the wealthiest**, biggest-budget*** orchestra in the United States, is asking their donors to give them money toward a very tiny goal. Here's the text:
#GivingTuesdayNow, taking place on May 5 is a global day of giving and unity organized in response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. #GivingTuesdayNow will harness the collective power of individuals, communities, and organizations to drive a spike of generosity and support for communities and nonprofits around the world.
The LA Phil is asking for your support. In times of strain, we turn to the arts – the power of music to uplift us remains constant. For over 100 years, the music of the LA Phil has inspired, taught, united and comforted our community. Your generosity during #GivingTuesdayNow will ensure that we emerge stronger, more vibrant, and more creative than ever.
Join us for #GivingTuesdayNow on May 5 and help us reach our goal of raising $50,000 for the future of the LA Phil. In this time of uncertainty, there’s a fundamental truth that gives us hope – together we can accomplish the extraordinary.
I am perplexed. That could be less than what the orchestra pays Chad Smith's executive assistant. The board members collectively can likely find $50K in the cushions of their sofas. The future of the orchestra in no way depends on raising $50,000 right now.
So what is this about? Just to keep the orchestra in the forefront of people's minds? So they can participate in #GivingTuesdayNow and it would look unseemly to ask for a million when they have so much? Because they actually need the $50K for some immediate need??
* That's the entire annual budget for a small community chorus.
** Because of the giant income stream from the Hollywood Bowl and their $280 million endowment, which is about the same as the Met and San Francisco Opera.
*** Around $120 million/year.
UPDATE: A look at the orchestra's most recent 990 shows that in the two years whose income/expense figures are visible, the LA Phil had the following:
Income, fiscal 2017: $203 million
Expenses, fiscal 2017: $142.5 million
Net income: $60.7 million
Income, fiscal 2018: $190.8 million
Expenses: fiscal 2018: $159 million
Net income: $31.7 million
Again, WTF with the $50,000?
Yeah, the small ask is odd. Maybe it's a token so that they shouldn't be seen to be gloating over their comparative wealth.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, what do you think the chances are that there will be a Hollywood Bowl season this summer? 18,000 people in one place? I wouldn't go, masked or not. I think it's odd that they haven't said anything at all about this, but they must be planning. And losing a year at the Bowl would/will be a knife in their fiscal heart.
They're going to have to cancel the Hollywood Bowl season. I don't expect any of the summer festivals to happen. SFS and Music@Menlo just canceled. I believe that Santa Fe Opera will cancel on May 12.
ReplyDeleteI don't actually know what percentage of the orchestra's income is from the Hollywood Bowl, and I should try to figure that out some time (or just ask someone who knows). But there's that $90 million surplus over the two years mentioned in the most recent 990, so....I think the orchestra's pockets are deep enough to absorb the HB loss.
I also don't know how much extra they spent on the centennial season, of course - that was quite an extravaganza and I think it's the season after the 990 I looked at today.