by Gina Cariño
Home >> Wielding the Baton: Interview with a Philharmonic Executive
GC: Arvind, tell me about the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
AM: The LA Phil Association is made up of many things. On one hand the classical-music orchestra. On the other hand the Association has a very large non-classical music program and runs two of America’s major performing-arts facilities, the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl.
GC: And what exactly is your job?
AM: As COO of the LA Phil Association, I work with the CEO in developing overall strategy for the company and overseeing all operational issues. In addition, I am directly responsible for the management of all non-classical presentations at both venues. Finally, I am responsible for overall management of the Hollywood Bowl.
GC: You hold office in Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall. What was your role in the building of the WDCH?
AM: I was in charge of all strategic planning for the new concert hall; that is, answering the question: “how can the Philharmonic maximize the opportunities afforded to it by this new building?” So I worked with the team to look at new program offerings, new pricing strategies, PR and marketing, etc. I also acted as liaison between the Philharmonic, Gehry’s office, and the builders.
GC: Has it had a “Bilbao Effect” on downtown LA?
AM: I think so. Since it opened, downtown LA has been enriched by major new buildings, including Rafael Moneo’s cathedral, and thousands of new residences.
GC: A philharmonic company is primarily mandated to present works of classical music. Why do there have to be jazz, world music, pop-rock, even electronica concerts at WDCH?
AM: When we received the gift of this building, we knew we had a responsibility to make the Concert Hall relevant for all of Los Angeles. We present over 100 classical concerts a year. Why not use some of the other nights to speak to different audiences? These days, with iPods and their ability to “shuffle,” barriers between musical types are coming down. We decided to reflect that in our programming philosophy.
GC: You have control over programming of non-classical events at WDCH, and over all programming at the Bowl.
AM: Well, I also report to the CEO and a Board of Directors, and I am accountable for the “why” of any program, so it’s not like I can just implement vanity projects and schedule my favourite band just because.
GC: What did you have to do with Rufus Wainwright headlining the anniversary of July Garland’s legendary night at the Bowl?
AM: Rufus had done the same at Carnegie Hall and it was a big success, so we asked him to repeat Judy Garland’s Bowl show in the same fashion. He really wanted to do it as Judy’s appearance at the Bowl was legendary and iconic. He did a great job!
GC: What music do you like?
AM: It sounds like a cliché, but I really do love a lot of different groups and styles of music. It depends on my mood. I have weeks where I am very into a particular band. In terms of older bands, I find myself going back to classics like the Rolling Stones and Cheap Trick. I love the Human League and feel they don’t get enough credit for what they did. I loved bands like Suede and Pulp in the 90s. Of course newer groups like the Arcade Fire and the Killers are a lot of fun and mix old and new very creatively. Oh and Duran Duran, one can’t forget Duran Duran.
GC: What percentage of the concerts you attend on the job would you really go to if you didn’t have to?
AM: The nature of my job means I go to a lot of concerts and some nights I don’t feel like going, but it’s not because I don’t like the artist or the program, it’s more that I’m just tired. There are very few concerts that I’d say I don’t want to go to.
GC: What studies are necessary to do what you do?
AM: None in particular, just good common sense. I studied English literature. I was lucky to not really follow any particular path but still end up doing something I really enjoy.
If you have any questions for Arvind, feel free to ask right here in the Comments section.
Photo: Arvind (far right) and his team during the building of the WDCH.
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Posted on http://www.weeklyletter.com at 2008-02-28 09:00:00 +0100
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It’s interesting to read about widening the repertoire to include other types of music. I think it is incumbent on arts administrators to take art to the people and not just open their doors and rely on the regulars. Many people are intimidated by opera and classical music and part of the fault for that lies with the people who use them as a status symbol. Arts administrators should fight the snobbish pseudo-intellectualism of a self-annointed elite and get the music out into the community.
I think it’s great that Arvind counts ‘common sense’ as the most relevant qualification for his job. A lot of arts administrators I have known seem to think eating sushi and learning the latest ‘buzz words’ are more important.
Adrian Mitchell, the poet, famously said that most people ignore poetry because poetry ignores most people. Get the artists out to visit schools and youth clubs and then it will be easier – less daunting – for the kids to pay a return visit in the concert halls. Music doesn’t wear a dinner jacket!
I think that it is great to have new concert halls.
It would also be a great idea, at least here in Spain, to have them hold more performances or concerts.
As an example, in Germany, they have an Opera House in almost any city. You can go to see an Opera for 12 EUR, and they perform 363 days per year. You see entire families going to the Opera together, and people like it.
I think that here in Spain, going to the Opera is not so accessible to people.
Only a few go on a regular basics, not only because it is quite expensive, but because there are only a few concert halls in the country.
Best wishes,
Cristina
I like people with common sense, and your friend have a lot !!!!! I believe
common sense is the best thing you can put in your CV. The problem is
demostrate it!!!!
Best Regards!!!
Talk about shuffling music genres: this weekend, the LA Philharmonic joins forces with “indie” rock band Grizzly Bear. Should make for a harmonious evening… as much as when my and my husband’s cherished, MP3-packed iPod jumps from Grant Green to Clinic to Esa-Pekka Salonen to The Kinks to Dino Saluzzi to Duran Duran and beyond. Yep, I echo Arvind’s sentiments: one can never forget Duran Duran. That guy—-he sure has common sense.
Best to all from sunny Los Angeles—-
mia
hmmm, i always thought of arvind as part of my team, not the other way around. although in this case maybe the opposite is true—i mean, he was the one with the personalized hard hat.
Hi,
I think that for this job you need “common sense” and an” MBA” or something like that…. An MBA because you are directing a company and you have to make profits… And common sense because you need to love music in order to know what is the best….
In Madrid, it’s a pity that good concerts aren’t accessible to everyone because they are expensive….
Bye,
Leticia.
Hi, what an interesting job!! I like the music a lot, it’d nice to have all these concerts.
Related to common sense, I think you need it in everyjob you have, and in everyday life!!
In my opinion, you can study for some degree, and then you can dedicate to anything different…only you need common sense…and luck of course!
good weekend.
Begoña.
Congratulations Arvind,
doing something that you really enjoy ang getting paid for it must be wonderful, musn’t it?
A few questions for you,
How big are those two concert halls you run?
Do you have shows everyday?
I suppose it depends on the artist but, how much does a ticket cost for an ordinary concert?
Regards from Madrid
Juan Carlos
Very good interview, Gina. Congratulations to the both of you. I used to live near L.A. and was blessed occasionally to be able to attend the symphonies. I think Mehta was conductor back then. Sometime in the past century.
Hi, everyone,
I think that Arvind works in something that he likes, and he is very lucky for this. It seems that his job isn’t boried. He manage music but he also could manage any other product, but I think that the culture is most interesting. He likes music, and this is an advantage.
Here, in Spain clasical music isn’t near of the big public, and this is a pity. It is very expensive, and it isn’t present in the schools, the children don’t know it.
Grettings.
Conchi Calvo
Hi,
In first place this has been a great interview. Here in Valencia there are two important music halls: Palau de la Música (orchestral music) and Palau de les Arts (this one with only one year working and dedicated to Opera performance mainly). Unfortunately both of them are very expensive, specially Palau de les Arts. I hope increasing demand for this kind of spectacles will decrease prices.
Regards from Valencia
Miguel Ángel
Hello,
Congratulations for the interview, Gina.
I think that Arvind is lucky because he works in something that he likes a lot. I supposed that the world of music must be more different that my world, but I think that must be exciting.
In my opinion the concert in Spain are expensive and sometimes you can’t go to all the concert you would like to go.
Regards from Madrid
Hi there!
Answers to Juan Carlos’s questions:
How big are those two concert halls you run?
17,500 and 2,265
Do you have shows everyday?
No, but almost! In the winter, about 4 a week (at WDCH) and in the summer, 6 a week (at the Bowl)
I suppose it depends on the artist but, how much does a ticket cost for an ordinary concert?
Very much depends on the artist. At the concert hall, tickets range from $15 to $150; at the Bowl, they range from $1 to $300!
Thanks!
Arvind
Arts organizations, at least not in the United States, cannot expect to make their money (the question of “profits” being moot when talking about a nonprofit organization, with no shareholders) “at the gate”—-that is, through ticket sales. They must rely on philanthropy. In this country, with limited government support of arts and culture, it’s donor support that helps keep these institutions alive.
P.S. Went to the Grizzly Bear/LA Philharmonic concert on Saturday night and was blown away. Fantastic night! And for any of you wishing to visit Los Angeles, think about coming in the summer to watch the Hollywood Bowl in action. It’s true: you can buy a seat there for $1. You’ll be a distance away from the stage but the summer nights are gorgeous and the view of the iconic Bowl shell is best appreciated from afar.
Thanks for your answers, Arvind
JC
I haven’t been to a concert here in Brisbane yet, but I should go. I would have liked to go to the Carlos Santana concert, which was held just a couple of days ago. The Police were here some weeks ago, too, and so were Iron Maiden.