Expectations

One of the most disappointing experiences I had early in my life as an arts admin was the time I let the financial expectations of a show get blown way out of wack.

You know how it goes . . . you have an artistic event coming up.  The event is going to be expensive.  The donors have given as much as they plan on giving, so now all the pressure is on earned income to make the show viable.

So I made the fatal mistake, I allowed pressure from the artistic staff and the Board to raise expectations around the show beyond all reason.

Then the show happened . . . and you know what, it was a good show.  It was well produced, the audience liked it, etc.

Internally, however, we called the show a failure because it didn't hit it's financial goal.

To be honest, I let that particular show down.

That was many years ago but it still bothers me.

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Running an arts organization is, in many ways, a guessing game.

There is so much information you don't know, or can't really accurately project . . . so you make your best guess at the beginning and adjust along the way.

But the question is, what is driving your best guest?

Is it the ego of the artistic staff?

Is it the facts?

Is it something else entirely?

Think about it.

Because in this line of work nothing is more important then setting proper expectations.

If you don't you can ruin a good thing before it starts.

 

 

Comments

[JodiSC]

I know exactly where you are coming from! I always budget on three year averages. I get a lot of argument from staff and board, but I refuse to do it any other way. If I have enough history, I will use a separate average for musicals vs. plays. But other than that each show is the same.

I think it is vital for everyone to realize some things land and some don't. Often due to factors out of your control.

I think we spend so much time in the moment that we don't assess our efforts on a multi-year basis. By budgeting on average you can get ahead or behind but you have real data to compare to from previous years.

Often I am asked if I keep a separate set of my guesses about shows - I don't. I do however do a lot of analysis on show performance schedules, length of the performances, and other trends.

[Tony]

I think that's also why so many arts orgs are saddled with so much debt. As a field we tend to spend what we hope to make ('cause they're all gonna be hits)Instead of budgeting with what we have.

[Adam]

Jodi,

We use a three *show* average where I work, but I like the three year average as well.