Weighing in for myself (without consulting w my committee-mates)
General Systems
1. I tend to agree with sentiments that structure and general things are helpful to share
amongst ourselves as dance organizers, but I don't think that the utility of knowing
specific numbers of a dances finances outweighs the need to maintain privacy, especially
when actual performer pay is so tied to things out of the complete control of the
organizers (attendance.) [We can do our best to ensure healthy attendance, but it's
impossible to predict, as we all know.]
I can see the clear utility of sharing spreadsheet arrangements, data tracking mechanisms,
reports, accounting systems, ways that other dances deal with compensation (formulas), and
the like. Learning about other groups' systems is hugely helpful.
There's some of this sort of thing posted in the Puttin' On the Dance archive
(
www.puttinonthedance.org) and I can imagine sharing systems would be useful. (I could
even post such things in the archive there, for easy access to all, if certain groups
wanted to share documents with the general dance organizing community.)
Specific Financial Data
2. While I also can imagine getting something from knowing 'the numbers', such as
what other dances consider 'expenses", including what those specific costs are
(such as hall rental, insurance, publicity, marketing, website maintenance, any
organizational stipends, etc.) as well as some averages, like average performer
compensation, average overall take, etc. --- I don't necessarily think it's vital.
And it feels a little weird, sort of like me asking someone their annual income. (Not a
question I'd ask just anyone...)
Plus, I wonder where knowing those things might lead. Would groups feel they are out of
the game if they don't take in $2k per night? Would performers get upset when they
see that other performers made more at a series than they did? Not saying it would be
all bad, but it does seem a bit 'tricky.'
I do appreciate what I see as Jeff K's core sentiment - sharing information within the
community of dance organizers. Looking forward to more as it emerges.
Cheers,
Chrissy Fowler
Belfast, ME