Open Forum

Hello everyone,
I'm working on a book chapter about museum consultants.

What would you ask museum consultants if you could ask us anything about our work?

For example, I often get asked why my services cost what they do if I know I am working with a non-profit.

What else would you like to know about museum consultants and museum consulting?  No question too silly, too small or too large!

You can reply here, or if you feel more comfortable, to me personally at claudia(a)museumpartnersconsulting(dot)com.

Thank you!


Claudia

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Claudia Ocello
President & CEO
Museum Partners Consulting, LLC
Maplewood NJ
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Hi Claudia:

In addition to the customary questions you know so well about competency, work culture, setting and adhering to budgets (and overruns should they occur), I would want to know if the contractor has had any experience working with, reporting to, or otherwise being involved with the trustees of a nonprofit entity, and obviously a museum.   If they have not interacted with trustees there are usually  valid reasons. If they have, in what capacity and how did that contact unfold?  More importantly, were they any problems and how were they dealt with?  In my experience trustees have been mostly helpful when they dealt with contractors but I know of exceptions.   

By the way, may I ask what book this will appear in so I can get it when published?

Regards,

Steve

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Steven Miller
Executive Director Ret.
Boscobel House and Gardens
Garrison NY
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Claudia,

I'm also very interested in how consultants can share what they see in the field - how can you all help us to see trends, quandaries and other issues that are emerging? You have a set of eyes that none of the rest of us have. How can you leverage that role on a more regular basis?

Thanks!

Sarah

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Sarah Jencks
Director of Education and Interpretation
Ford's Theatre Society
Washington DC
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-01-2018 10:25 AM
From: Steven Miller
Subject: Your questions for and about museum consultants

Hi Claudia:

In addition to the customary questions you know so well about competency, work culture, setting and adhering to budgets (and overruns should they occur), I would want to know if the contractor has had any experience working with, reporting to, or otherwise being involved with the trustees of a nonprofit entity, and obviously a museum.   If they have not interacted with trustees there are usually  valid reasons. If they have, in what capacity and how did that contact unfold?  More importantly, were they any problems and how were they dealt with?  In my experience trustees have been mostly helpful when they dealt with contractors but I know of exceptions.

By the way, may I ask what book this will appear in so I can get it when published?

Regards,

Steve

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Steven Miller
Executive Director Ret.
Boscobel House and Gardens
Garrison NY
------------------------------

It couldn't hurt to address some of the legal issues involved with hiring or being a consultant. A couple of examples that come to mind are:
* Intellectual property rights / ownership of the final work product, especially considering work-for-hire rules. 
* Management issues - how does managing a consultant differ from managing an employee, such as work hours, goals and objectives, etc.
* Insurance issues - is the client responsible for workers comp or other types of insurance when hiring a consultant
* Tax implications

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Sean Blinn
Bedminster NJ
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-01-2018 10:25 AM
From: Steven Miller
Subject: Your questions for and about museum consultants

Hi Claudia:

In addition to the customary questions you know so well about competency, work culture, setting and adhering to budgets (and overruns should they occur), I would want to know if the contractor has had any experience working with, reporting to, or otherwise being involved with the trustees of a nonprofit entity, and obviously a museum.   If they have not interacted with trustees there are usually  valid reasons. If they have, in what capacity and how did that contact unfold?  More importantly, were they any problems and how were they dealt with?  In my experience trustees have been mostly helpful when they dealt with contractors but I know of exceptions.

By the way, may I ask what book this will appear in so I can get it when published?

Regards,

Steve

------------------------------
Steven Miller
Executive Director Ret.
Boscobel House and Gardens
Garrison NY
------------------------------

Claudia:

I have used consultants & served as one in the museum field.

My first question has to be: "How will you & your team gain sufficient understanding of the background, culture, personalities, concerns, dreams, community context, current & realistic future potential finances, & realistic vision, etc., etc. so as to provide advice that is founded on local realities vs. ready-made report boiler plate professional theory?"

My second question has to be: "Do you expect museum clients to have put sufficient energy into "DIY," i.e. attempting the necessary research, environment scan, strategic & financial planning, etc., etc. in advance to prove to themselves that they actually need outside advice?"

As a client lead hand, I have been disappointed in consultant performance that demonstrates outsiders can't know everything in the universe of local circumstances they really should--or perhaps ever could--in order to provide appropriate elements x, y, or z of advice.

In my view, consultant clients need to take the project & consultant by the throat, keep a tight grip throughout, & exercise strong direction of the contract Work.  May I recommend that your chapter touch on the responsibility of clients to take such a firm grip.

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Paul C. Thistle
Director/Curator (retired)
Stratford ON
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Claudia,

In addition to working for a museum consultant - a museum planning and exhibit design firm - I teach two courses in Johns Hopkins' Museum Studies program: one on project management in museums, and one on exhibition design & documentation. In both of those courses we cover the pros and cons of hiring museum consultants, and we discuss cultural and contracting issues. If you'd like to talk about this, and if it would be helpful for your book, please reach out and we can schedule a call. My email is david@lucicreative.com

Best,

David

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David Whitemyer AIA
Director of Business Development
Luci Creative
Lincolnwood IL
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Hello, Claudia -

It might be interesting to ask the consultants that you speak with about their career paths.  How long have they been working as a consultant?  Did they first work as staff members at museums prior to entering the private sector?  If so, what were their reasons and motivations for that transition?  If not, where does their knowledge of museums come from?  Are they currently working as a sole proprietor or independent consultant/contractor, or are they employed by a larger business or firm?  While exhibiting at recent museum sector events like AAM or ASTC, I've had a number of young and emerging museum professionals (some still students) visit and comment on the competitiveness and saturation they perceive in the museum job market.  It seems like interest in other museum career options (aside from traditional curator, collection manager, or other "in-house" positions) is growing.  I'll be interested to see what you write! 

  Cheers,

        Michael

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Michael Holland
Principal/Owner
Michael Holland Productions

Redmond, WA USA
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As as long-time consultant (more than 30 years) and also a long-time museum director (15 years), I have been struck by how often clients get stuck on making CHOICES. Like most people, museum staff and trustees tend to be reluctant to give up any promising strategy or idea even when it is clear that constraints of time, money, and space limit what the museum can (and should) do. Much of my planning time with clients is devoted to getting them to CHOOSE and then STICKING with the choices they have made.

I would ask any prospective consultants how they assist clients to make choices and to stay the course once decisions are made.

Avi

Avi Decter, Managing Partner, History Now








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Avi Decter
Managing Partner, History Now
Philadelphia, PA
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-05-2018 11:46 AM
From: Michael Holland
Subject: Your questions for and about museum consultants

Hello, Claudia -

It might be interesting to ask the consultants that you speak with about their career paths.  How long have they been working as a consultant?  Did they first work as staff members at museums prior to entering the private sector?  If so, what were their reasons and motivations for that transition?  If not, where does their knowledge of museums come from?  Are they currently working as a sole proprietor or independent consultant/contractor, or are they employed by a larger business or firm?  While exhibiting at recent museum sector events like AAM or ASTC, I've had a number of young and emerging museum professionals (some still students) visit and comment on the competitiveness and saturation they perceive in the museum job market.  It seems like interest in other museum career options (aside from traditional curator, collection manager, or other "in-house" positions) is growing.  I'll be interested to see what you write! 

  Cheers,

        Michael

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Michael Holland
Principal/Owner
Michael Holland Productions

Redmond, WA USA
------------------------------