In my experience, if you really really want the cash, you can find it.
The problem is, the ones who control the cash, the big shots, always seem
to be able to find enough for their 20% raises every year. Then they tell
us there just isnt any money, but would you mind dressing a little nicer?
I've made sacrifices to work in this environment, but I don't like
getting my face rubbed in it.

 Tue, 16 Jan 1996, Byron A. Johnson (813)
228-0097 wrote:

> While it it not impossible to live on under $25,000, the question is
> whether it does the individual or the profession any good to do so.
>
> As a MAP surveyor and a veteran of 20 years in the field, I have had to
> advise numerous boards of trustees who complained about the "quality" and
> often the "appearance" of some employees that these factors are often
> linked to compensation. On one notable occasion I attended an opening at a
> colleague's museum where a trustee (who I later found out was worth well
> into seven-figures) complained about the appearance of a preparator at an
> opening. After informing the Trustee that this person who handled objects
> worth six-figures made under $20,000 a year, the answer I go was classic
> "let them eat cake."  The individual actually suggested that a line be
> added to the job description requiring them to have a suitable "livery" for
> museum functions. Whoa!
>
> A starting point would be for the AAM to establish salary guidelines with
> suggested adjustments for cost of living areas. Trade unions (gasp!) do it,
> other professional organizations do it, why not the museum profession? This
> might eliminate the need for us to constantly peruse the AAMD and SEMC
> salary surveys in an attempt to create equity for our staffs and ourselves.
>
> Another step in the right direction would be for AVISO to refuse to accept
> ads for positions that do not (1) list a salary range and benefits, and (2)
> fall within a reasonable minimum salary level. Colleagues have frequently
> told me about applying for a "salary commensurate with experience and
> qualifications" job only to discover that a curatorial position paid
> $20,000 a year or a directorship paid $25,000. They either found that
> asking salary questions up front automatically disqualified them from
> further consideration, or that the hiring committee refused to discuss the
> matter. Frankly, I do NOT believe such limitation on ads would constitute
> either censorship or unduly handicap small museums on limited budgets. Such
> a policy would cut down on the number of applications for low-paying
> positions and encourage some sort of equity between qualifications and pay.
>
> I cannot agree with the suggestion that, below a certain level, one simply
> has to bite the bullet to work in the field. As they used to say, "why buy
> the cow when you can get the milk for (nearly) free?" Or, as some museums
> have found out, people tend to appreciate the museum more if they have to
> pay a reasonable fee to get in.
>
> Byron A. Johnson
> Incoming Director
> The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum
> Waco, TX
> [log in to unmask]
>