A decrease in ticket revenue means fewer shows and fewer staff members for next season's Ovation Series at Popejoy Hall.
Tom Tkach, director of public events, said on average the 2004-2005 season made $15,000 less per show in ticket sales when compared to last year.
Ninety-six percent of Popejoy's revenue comes from ticket sales. Four percent comes from fund raising or governmental funds.
"When ticket sales decreased, we took a very twofold hit," he said.
Because of the decrease, Tkach said Popejoy is cutting back on the number of shows and losing five full-time staff positions.
"I guess downsizing is the popular corporate term," he said. "We are doing this so we can be around tomorrow."
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Sophie Martin, director of marketing, said although ticket sales were weak this year, she wouldn't blame the patrons.
"You can't really point to your audience and say, 'You aren't buying enough tickets,'" she said. "It's just a reality. This stuff is all cyclical."
Tkach said performing arts centers across the nation are suffering losses, and he can name a few reasons.
He said the fall season is when performing arts centers promote single ticket sales. But in the fall, the nation's focus was on the presidential election, and the projected ticket sales weren't what they expected.
"Every time there is a heated presidential election, all the focus goes off everything else," he said.
He said he didn't know if the downsizing was going to be permanent. It depends on the economy, he said.
"Tickets to performing arts events have always been seen as a little bit of a luxury," Martin said.
Tkach said the downsizing means Popejoy will take a more conservative approach to booking.
"Sometimes we will book a show even if we know it will lose money, because we think it will add diversity to the program," he said. "Now the priority is to go back to a formula of shows that have a proven ability to attract people."
The hall is 38 years old and was built when Tom Popejoy was the president of UNM. Tkach said at the time, there was a lack of sophisticated venues to house touring art groups. There was a movement by many universities around the country to build performing arts centers.
He said Popejoy was built with the intent of being the University's handshake with the community.
Tkach said in the past seven years, Popejoy has had to cut back on staff members but never on performances.
"We had these lovely great strides and growth and support and attendance," he said. "This is a shock for everybody."
