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hrmjustin

(71,265 posts)
Tue Jun 17, 2014, 10:53 AM Jun 2014

Met Opera General Manager Earned $1.8 Million in 2012

JENNIFER MALONEY

The Metropolitan Opera, which is seeking concessions from union members in difficult contract talks, disclosed Monday that its general manager in 2012 earned a total of $1.8 million, and this year took a 10% pay cut.

The general manager, Peter Gelb, has proposed a 16% pay cut for union members in the face of declining ticket sales, a dwindling endowment and growing expenses.

The company's operating budget for the 2012-2013 season was $327 million. A Met spokesman said Mr. Gelb received a raise in 2012 after the signing of a new 10-year contract, bringing his base compensation to $1.55 million. The disclosure, in the company's latest tax filing, sparked criticism from union leaders.

"It's outrageous. It's disgusting," said Alan Gordon, a union leader who represents singers, dancers and stage managers.

http://online.wsj.com/articles/met-opera-general-manager-earned-1-8-million-in-2012-1402952915

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Met Opera General Manager Earned $1.8 Million in 2012 (Original Post) hrmjustin Jun 2014 OP
Being paid under $2-MM a year to run a $327-MM business is hardly out of line. stopbush Jun 2014 #1
Good points. hrmjustin Jun 2014 #2

stopbush

(24,378 posts)
1. Being paid under $2-MM a year to run a $327-MM business is hardly out of line.
Tue Jun 17, 2014, 11:18 AM
Jun 2014

The question is whether Gelb is doing a good job running The Met. I don't think he is. He's all bluster and "new ideas," ideas that are costing The Met a lot of money, money that isn't getting them past deficit or break-even spending. They're not building a new or younger audience. They're losing subscribers and not selling inventory (ie: seats).

I don't begrudge the man his salary. I do wonder why The Met gave him a ten-year extension on his contract. He isn't a starting pitcher, after all. Three-year extension TOPS would be normal.

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