[justshutupandtakeit]

Unfortunately when high culture was available to the masses the musicians were paid crap. Now an ensemble like the Chicago Symphony consists of about 100 of the finest musicians in the world who are (and should be) very highly paid. This makes ticket prices high right off the bat.

That being said the residents of the Chicago area have a fine free concert in the park series every summer with the Grant Park Orchestra. Last summer they actually scheduled works the public wants to hear: the B-boys, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, etc. and the concerts were packed. GPO's musicians are paid well but not at the level of CSO for many are younger musicians starting their careers. Of course, the orchestra is funded through taxes via the Park District and some don't like that.

[ArGee]

Unfortunately when high culture was available to the masses the musicians were paid crap.

There's a chicken and egg problem here. Once everyone is interested then the volume overcomes the low margins. But you can't get the attendees all at once so some program of ticket subsidy is required. I'd suggest a civic organization that raises and distributes funds for this purpose. I'd call it the CEA (Conservative Endowment for teh Arts). If it managed to put the NEA out of business at the same time...

I can dream, can't I?

Shalom.