Metropolis Struggles to Find Broader Appeal

Metropolis Performing Arts Center saw attendance increase by 20 percent last year, but there was also the day only 28 tickets were sold for one performance.

“I think the message this year that we put forth is loud and clear, Metropolis needs to live within its means this year,” Executive Director Charlie Beck said. “We did not this year. We obviously have to do that better. We simply cannot afford to operate at a level we did in the past.”

Beck gave Arlington Heights trustees an overview of the Metropolis and its 2013 fiscal year season. The board went over the center’s budget Monday, March 11, during its budget workshop.

Arlington Heights subsidizes a portion of the Metropolis through an Arts and Entertainment tax - 2.5 percent on restaurants and bars is earmarked for the performing arts center. The village owns the building and is essentially the center’s landlord. Metropolis had a budget of more than $2 million in fiscal year 2013.

Metropolis is asking for $160,000 - in addition to $125,000 in capital improvement funds for this year, said Joe Lynn, chairman of the Metropolis board. Metropolis will upgrade its sound system, ticket system and paint with the capital improvement funds.

Beck became executive director in late 2011. Under his guidance, Metropolis started releasing quarterly reports and its finances have become more transparent. Metroplis also cut staff. Its board of directors is undergoing a change as new members come aboard.

“We knew if we wanted Metropolis to be a successful piece of the community, we needed to get a clear vision of where we are and where we are going,” Beck said.

Metropolis should be able to make it to the end of the fiscal year, on May 1, but it will be tough, he said.

“I am certainly batting down the hatches,” said Beck, adding he is prepared to write a check to make sure the Metropolis gets through the next few months.

Beck has been trying to figure out the right mix of programming at the center so it can become profitable.

Attendance did increase by 20 percent but went up and down depending on the performance or performers.

“We did manage to move the needle up in terms of attendance,” Beck said.

Beck said the Metropolis had success with shows that appealed to an older crowd, over age 45, with tribute concerts and other productions.

“It doesn’t take a lot of thought to realize we need to double down and focus on that demographic to get our feet underneath us,” he said.

Younger audiences did not turn out for late night shows or performances, Beck said. While he has heard performers like Billy Corrigan would draw crowds, it’s not the time to take a risk on trying to draw a younger crowd again, he said.

“No mater what we did…the audience didn’t turn out,” he said.

Metropolis stopped offering performances geared toward a younger crowd due to the low numbers, he said.

Trustee Carol Blackwood questioned Beck’s business plan, adding the village could not subsidize Metropolis as it continues to spiral downward. “I just want to make sure it will not take another year” to figure out what is not working, she said.

“I love the arts but it’s not always sunshine and rainbows,” Blackwood said. “Obviously, it’s something we must sustain, but reasonably.”