A manager (sometimes called “chief executive” or “president”) is responsible for overseeing an orchestra's management team, from finance and fundraising to marketing and media relations. With some orchestras, the manager is the chief conductor's boss; with others, it's an equal partnership. A good relationship with a manager is a priceless blessing for a chief conductor. It's collaborative, with the conductor developing an artistic vision for the orchestra and the manager doing his best to make that vision a reality. The two need to be open to each other's suggestions while still respecting the boundaries of professional expertise. Problems arise when a conductor thinks he knows more about business than the paid professionals on the staff do, and a manager thinks he knows more about artistic matters than the conductor does. A conductor's ambitions and his orchestra's best interests need to go hand in hand. Innovative programming is healthy for audiences and musicians, as long as it doesn't threaten ticket sales, alienate the public, or damage the orchestra financially. The manager is paid to maintain the financial health of his orchestra and may be reluctant to support risky projects. Most disputes are about money: whether an orchestra can afford certain guest artists or projects and whether the public will buy tickets for the concerts. Any disagreements between conductor and manager need to be kept strictly private.