| Let's make sure that this thread doesn't turn into the kind of thing that resembles a rather juvenile type of playground activity. Yes, compared to the income of the average "pro" musician, a legit "gig" with a major orchestra may seem like heaven. Compared with the obscene amounts of money paid to many "professional" athletes, actors, TV stars, etc. it is a pittance.
It's all relative, guys. Please keep that in mind.
I had a chat just this week with a local professional violist who is giving my daughter violin lessons. Somehow the subject of professional salaries came up and the conversation inevitably led to the story of the German orchestra where the violinists wanted to be paid BY THE NOTE! It seems that there are so many semi-demi-hemi quavers in the violin section that they feel they are overworked compared with the rest of the orchestra. Our final "mutally agreed" position was that they made the choice to learn violin rather than ... say ... bass fiddle. (he seemed surprised that a mere amateur trumpet player would have heard about this story... HA!)
Anyway.... it's an interesting topic (remuneration for artistic output) but let's all keep in mind the enormous diversity of members who might be involved in the debate. It (the topic) also has the potential to lead to a discussion on a more fundamental question: "What is happening in the marketplace that is causing the demise of so many professional orchestras?" (and the corollary question "What to do about it?") |