Popejoy, NMSO out of sync

To cope with declining returns, Popejoy may book fewer New Mexico Symphony Orchestra concerts in favor of more profitable events, NMSO and Popejoy officials said.

NMSO currently rents Popejoy as the venue for its “Classics” and “Pops” series concerts, but the Orchestra owes nearly $250,000 in unpaid rent, which has piled up since 2008.

Popejoy Director Tom Tkach said the orchestra will continue using the venue, but has to develop a better business strategy.

“We have been, over the last couple years, trying to help them, and we’d like to see them survive,” he said. “We think they’re important to the community, but they have to work out their own business plan in order to get through this time.”

In its recent budget recommendations, the President’s Strategic Advisory Team reported that Popejoy accumulated a nearly $3 million deficit, and only 4 percent of its revenue comes from NMSO. The PSAT recommended Popejoy book more popular events in lieu of NMSO concerts.

NMSO Spokesperson Leon Sterling said NMSO performed more than 30 concerts at Popejoy last semester and has more than 20 already scheduled for this semester. He said the orchestra is required to pay full price each time it rents Popejoy, whether it fills the hall.

“They happily talk about our debt, but they don’t talk about the fact that they’re one of the reasons we are in debt,” he said. “For them to point a finger at us and call us a source of bad debt, that is really backwards. It’s the other way around. We’re partly in debt because of how unforgiving and inflexible they are.”

Sterling said Popejoy is more interested in booking popular shows, like Phantom of the Opera, and gives the orchestra last priority when selecting show dates. He said UNM is trying to address a $28 million deficit by collecting $200,000 from NMSO.

“(Popejoy) changed their mission,” he said. “The original mission was to be a community orchestra venue. They were actually built to support NMSO, and now their mission is to be a profit center.”