Context: Managing Director Salaries
A while back, there was a flurry of discussion about Artistic Director salaries. Playgoer did an excellent job examining NYC artistic director salaries, and I plucked a few anonymously. While I think this discussion was pretty dynamic and the direction it went was interesting, I thought we might throw these salaries into a more accessible context.
Here in Asheville, there is a grocery chain called Ingles, which operates 197 supermarkets in six southeastern states. This last quarter, they had net sales of $771M. If you multiply that number by four, you get an approximation of their net sales for the year. Divide it by 197 stores, and you get the average net sales per store: $15.65M.
The income for the Goodman Theatre was $15.89M, according to Charity Navigator.org. The managing director of that organization -- not the artistic director, the managing director -- was paid $340,021.
So here's my question: do you think, if I drove over to the Ingles a few blocks away, that the manager of the store is being paid $340,ooo a year?
Here in Asheville, there is a grocery chain called Ingles, which operates 197 supermarkets in six southeastern states. This last quarter, they had net sales of $771M. If you multiply that number by four, you get an approximation of their net sales for the year. Divide it by 197 stores, and you get the average net sales per store: $15.65M.
The income for the Goodman Theatre was $15.89M, according to Charity Navigator.org. The managing director of that organization -- not the artistic director, the managing director -- was paid $340,021.
So here's my question: do you think, if I drove over to the Ingles a few blocks away, that the manager of the store is being paid $340,ooo a year?
Comments
I don't know what the answer is, but that might have something to do with it.
Also (and not to be a goodman apologist) the ED of the Goodman has been with the company for 16 years and is a huge part of the reason why they are where they are.
Adam and Hans -- Just curious -- what is it about running a theatre that is many times more difficult than managing all the daily decisions involved in a grocery store? Just curious.
And, while I have certainly questioned funding and salary priorities there at times, the Goodman's ED earns every penny, IMHO.
-Normally not Anonymous
I'd say a production's Stage Manager and a Grocery Store Manager are comparable, while a Managing Director of a theater and the CFO of the Ingles Corporation are a better fit by comparison.
Just semantics, really . . .
However, ya just can't compare a store manager to the leader of a theater. Did you consider the salary of franchise owner of those stores? That might be more in line.
Also, the store manager is not usually on the Board of the chain, but the MD of the theater ususally is. So, the MD is actually financially liable if s/he runs the company into the ground. A store manager is not.
Also, also, doesn't the Goodman have more than one theater. If you're gonna divide up the chain, then shouldn't you divide the MD's salary by the number of theaters/stores?
Then there's the intellectual property created by the theater. A store manager may order the re-stocking of supplies, but rarely does that person pick which items that are actually sold (the season).
I could go on, but it would be much better just to pick a more analogous example rather than give folks the wrong impression. thanks.