Lied Center Layoffs

My hat is off to all of my friends at the Lied Center (my former employer) who lost their jobs due to budget cuts. As reported in the Journal Star on Tuesday 2/12/08, the Lied Center is laying off 6 FTE to make up a major budget shortfall that has been caused by lagging ticket sales over the last three years. From what I've heard there have actually been 8 positions cut and a 9th person has resigned. 1 position was cut a month ago and the other was PT so not listed with the other layoffs. Comments to the story were quite scathing I must say, towards the content that the Lied has been offering as of late and high ticket prices. All my love to them, but I must agree I haven't been excited by much on the brochure over the last couple years.

I am a bit confused by some of the comments. There were several complaints of $90+ tickets and I can't find any show over $60 and that includes the Broadway selection. If we could get our Broadway touring shows in Minneapolis down to $60 for the top tier I'd be ecstatic!

There were also several comments that people wanted higher caliber entertainers with much lower ticket prices...

soo...

you want to see more expensive artists

and...

you want to pay less for them.

Hmmm, well that's logical. I'd rather buy a 40" plasma TV and pay less for it than a 19" box TV. If you can find the store that will make that work, I'd be happy to patronize that establishment.

Balancing the schedule for a performing arts center (especially in Nebraska) is an exceedingly difficult task. You simply can't NOT book events with world class orchestras and dance companies. These events need to be accessible to the citizens, but undoubtably will lose money. Many of the orchestras are set to lose money even if they sell out! Hey, it's expensive to tour with 100+ musicians.

Add to that the new Holland Performing Arts Center in Omaha and the fact that they book Broadway through Broadway Across America (formerly of Clear Channel) and you have an uphill battle in scheduling the top acts.

The Lied has missed out on great opportunities to partner more heavily with the University. With the musical talent that is coming out of Omaha these days, there is an abundance of up and coming musical acts that are followed by the large number of students in Lincoln. In my three years alone we passed up opportunities to present Maroon 5, Bright Eyes and Jason Mraz to name a few. Granted both the Student Activities Board and Lied are both responsible for not creating a broader partnership.

Also noted in the article are needs to improve marketing efforts (which have been lacking for several years) and the need to increase fundraising efforst. UNL has shot itself in the foot for the fundraising, they have heavily restricted the Lied's efforts to raise funds to support itself since it opened. A heavy portion of the Lied's revenue comes from ticket sales, which is not a comfortable/safe position to be in. Hopefully the NU Foundation will begin kicking up efforts to grow the Lied's Sponsorship program as well as planned giving and soliciting large donations to the endowment. An arts organization simply can't last (obviously) on the little fundraising that the Lied was allowed to do. That being said, I'm a bit surprised that one of the positions cut was the Development Director. The only develpment position on staff.

I wish the best to all of the staff who have had there positions cut. Your accomplishments are many and I hope you are all recognized for the great work that you have done. In such a small organization (31 total FTE) any cuts are painful and deep, let alone when you are losing a 3rd of your staff. Best wishes also go out to all those that will continue on. I'm sure there will be a lot of changes to adapt to and ever increasing job descriptions as well.