Montalvo Association

Saratoga-based Montalvo Arts Center is a leading presenter and producer of performing arts events in the South Bay. In the 2008-09 season the organization dismissed one executive director, hired an interim director and recently hired Angela McConnel to be their new permanent director. Amidst this transition Montalvo has engaged Live Nation (one of the country’s largest for-profit concert producers) to return popular music to their amphitheatre. While bringing the likes of Julio Iglesias, Kenny G and Peter Frampton (all slated to perform in the summer of 2009) will not further Montalvo’s artistic mission it is hoped that these acts will generate earned income for the cash-strapped organization and, more importantly, will introduce (or re-introduce) audiences throughout the region to the Montalvo estate. To increase the likelihood that the relationship with Live Nation will be profitable and the management of the series will be well integrated into the organization’s overall programming Montalvo has hired Tobias Clainos of Tonic Entertainment LLC to serve from May-December 2009 as expert liaison and transition consultant to Montalvo staff, to guide the partnership between Montalvo and Live Nation. Based on Mr. Clainos’ experience working for Bill Graham Entertainment it is expected that he will supervise Montalvo staff during the 2009 season so that they can manage the following components of the Live Nation partnership internally in 2010: Contract Management, Facilities, Production, Concessions Management, Marketing/Ticketing/Development and Calendar Management. The terms of the current contract provide a minimum $175,000 guarantee to Montalvo with potential bonuses should ticket sales exceed certain targets, however, efficient management of the concert series and shrewd analysis of the costs and benefits to the Live Nation partnership will be crucial factors in determining whether to grow earned income in this manner in the future and on what terms. ($25,000; 68% of project budget)