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Arts Marketing

A group for marketing professionals at arts non-profit organizations.

Network Leader: Ceci Dadisman
 
Amy Calhoun All week I have been contemplating what it is going to take to grow the audience for my venue. I have come up with a mixture of sales tactics, social media building and authentic audience engagement. It's really going to be a combination of it all to make it happen. It's going to take some experimentation with each show, but feel this is a solid starting point.

41 weeks ago from Arts Marketing

 
Amy Calhoun How many of you have used Groupon to promote either an event or your venue? Why did you choose to use Groupon? Did you consider it a success in the short-term? In the long-term? I like the concept as a consumer; not so crazy about it as a marketer.

42 weeks ago from Arts Marketing

 
Amy Calhoun audience development and marketing go hand-in-hand. Wanted to share with all of you a podcast with Audience Development Shoshana Fanizza. She's a great resource and one to pay attention to. http://davecharest.com/audience-development-shoshana-fanizza-podcast

43 weeks ago from Arts Marketing

Melinda McKee: Thanks for sharing this!
43 weeks ago
 
Amy Calhoun Any organizations adding Google+ to their mix yet? I'm there at the personal level but have not jumped in yet for my PAC. So far I like what I'm seeing with Google+. What are your thoughts?

45 weeks ago from Arts Marketing

Rebecca Thorman: I don't think Google+ is allowing businesses and organizations yet. They have been taking down business profiles.
44 weeks ago
 
Amy Calhoun Arts marketing doesn't have a silver bullet. You must creatively utilize all of the tools in your arsenal to build and retain your audience. Plus you can be a trailblazer and create some new tools along the way, too. What tools are you thinking about using for 2011-2012? I am trying to look for ways to reward patrons who have subscribed for 5 years, 10 years, etc.

44 weeks ago from Arts Marketing

 
Amy Calhoun There is an interesting conversation happening online at the New York Times about theater with Reginald Nelson about starting a theater company. Some good Q&A happening. http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/06/q-a-how-to-start-your-own-t...

46 weeks ago from Arts Marketing

 
Zezinho Finally we are now able to open Rocinha Media School which will be a center that will have a dj school, photography and filmmaking classes for the residents of Rocinha. Check out our new website at: http://rocinhamediaschool.org

46 weeks ago from Arts Marketing

 
Amy Calhoun Everyone in the performing arts world is working on subscription sales and memberships during the summer. Are you willing to share your mailing lists with other organizations or do you keep your mailing list to yourself in fear that other organizations will "steal" your patrons? What other techniques are you using to build your patron base?

47 weeks ago from Arts Marketing

Amy Calhoun: Actually it is a common practice to do mailing list trades for direct mail pieces. As it is more cost effective than purchasing lists. I have ...MoreActually it is a common practice to do mailing list trades for direct mail pieces. As it is more cost effective than purchasing lists. I have found though that people are less willing to trade during subscription time and are willing to trade when you are promoting just a single performance. While you are creating a great product you often have to have the audience in place way in advance because a show is often a one-night-only event.
47 weeks ago
Rebecca Thorman: Oh, I thought you were talking email lists, not address lists. Either way, it may be common from an organizational perspective, but is unsolicited ...MoreOh, I thought you were talking email lists, not address lists. Either way, it may be common from an organizational perspective, but is unsolicited spam and junk mail from the user perspective.
47 weeks ago
 
Jason H. Parker If you haven't seen this yet, you'll thank me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soAk3F0wX9s And if you have seen it, you'll understand why I've got to share it.

54 weeks ago from Social Media, Social Media Marketers, Web 2.0, New Media Marketing and Arts Marketing3 more

Whitney May Parker: That is great Jason, thanks!
54 weeks ago
Matt Eckert: Awesome!
52 weeks ago
 
Ty Unglebower Everything I read online about starting a theatre company, (as is my plan) is geared towards those that are far less modest than I am. Incorporating, filing as a non-profit with state and local authorities, recruiting an outside board of directors, getting a lawyer on retainer. Nobody seems to think I would ever want to have a small troupe that literally spends ZERO outside of gas money, and the occasional rent. All of that extra stuff is seems so unnecessary.

82 weeks ago from Washington D.C., Creatively Inspired, Creating a Life You Love, Arts Marketing and Community Theatre3 more

Ty Unglebower: Linda- I will check out that website, thank you, though I ought to point out I am not in the Bay area...I am in Central Maryland.

Brigid- Thanks. ...More
Linda- I will check out that website, thank you, though I ought to point out I am not in the Bay area...I am in Central Maryland.

Brigid- Thanks. I don't feel I will be charging for admission in the near future. Especially since there is no one specific venue. Unincorporated non-profit status is possible, because from what I learn here, you can solicit "pay what you like" donations, so long as it is made clear that said donations are not tax deductible.

From the information I get, getting the right lawyer, accountant, and paper work, plus fees, to declare something an official non-profit with the state and the federal government can cost up to 800 dollars or more. I simply do not have that kind of money, and nor do I feel it would be worth it for what my mission is. 8 people with a passion for acting taking a show to various local community centers just doesn't warrant that kind of red tape and financial investment at this time. This is about art for me. It is not a business investment.

82 weeks ago
Linda A. Hamilton: Ty -- for some reason I thought I read you worked for a couple of San Francisco newspapers, so I thought you in the Bay Area; your profile clearly ...MoreTy -- for some reason I thought I read you worked for a couple of San Francisco newspapers, so I thought you in the Bay Area; your profile clearly states Maryland. Sorry about that.

One thought.. it may be wise to hold onto some of this information or at least look into it so you have an idea of it. Once you get yourself and your troupe established, you may run into a talent scout or agent interested in your company. They may have ideas to throw out and the more you are aware of the background information the better able you'll be to negotiate terms and such. While it's all about art, sometimes art turns very profitable. You remind me of movie stars who return to Broadway and Stage acting; their passion is for the art of acting not so much the money. Their reward goes beyond the money although that's a great by-product of their art.

Good luck, Ty.

82 weeks ago
 
Ty Unglebower I have been skidding a bit in my writing lately. It had all become daunting. Stressful. Sometimes miserable. I couldn't figure out if I was doing something wrong, or if I was just lazy. But last night it hit me...I wasn't letting myself write what I love. Instead I was running all over the place looking for any chance to get paid to write, all the while being willing to hammer my writing into a mold, any mold, even those for which it was not suited. That ends now. http://bit.ly/cHVWuT

84 weeks ago from Professional Writers and Editors, Creative Writing, Washington D.C., Arts Marketing and Creatively Inspired3 more

 
Ty Unglebower My "other" blog, (The one that isn't Too XYZ. Did you know I had one??) is celebrating 5 years in existence today! It's called Always Off Book, and it has been a place for me to share my thoughts and feelings about acting, as well as relay the specific adventures in any given production. Traffic has never been high for some reason, but nonetheless today I posted about what I hope it has accomplished these last 5 years. http://bit.ly/do1aGL

84 weeks ago from Arts Marketing, Art, Creating a Life You Love, Community Theatre and Creatively Inspired3 more

Ty Unglebower: Thanks for the recommend. I never seem to get as much interest here in my older blog as I do in Too XYZ.
84 weeks ago
 
Ty Unglebower When I am in a stage play, many of my finest qualities come out. not just while performing, but in many other ways during the entire 6-8 weeks of a production. My inner resources increase, certain skills are sharper, and a few talents that I don't usually have access to outside of theatre become available. It's like my superpowers show up when I am in a stage play. What could this say about potential ideal careers for me? Anything? http://bit.ly/bGEODI

86 weeks ago from Washington D.C., Baltimore Brazen, Creatively Inspired, Community Theatre and Arts Marketing3 more

Bryon Ownby: Ty, check out this website on traning, www.astd.org that will give you ...MoreTy, check out this website on traning, www.astd.org that will give you insight to this field. You might find a company that wants to do something in house instead of paying tons of $ to "training or eLearning company". I would say as an outside consultant, you are less prone to have to deal with corporate politics as being on training staff. Another thought would be to put something to together on how to do engaging presentations on boring topics, etc. While it might be true that they hire professionals in the training field to put the material together, those that put the material together are not always the best presenters.
86 weeks ago
Raquel Elle Bell: Practice makes perfect. I find when I am teaching others what I already know that my process gets better. We do a lot of role playing here and ...MorePractice makes perfect. I find when I am teaching others what I already know that my process gets better. We do a lot of role playing here and it's amazing how even I get stuck sometimes.. :)
86 weeks ago
 
Ty Unglebower When I am in a stage play, many of my finest qualities come out. not just while performing, but in many other ways during the entire 6-8 weeks of a production. My inner resources increase, certain skills are sharper, and a few talents that I don't usually have access to outside of theatre become available. It's like my superpowers show up when I am in a stage play. What could this say about potential ideal careers for me? Anything? http://bit.ly/bGEODI

86 weeks ago from Washington D.C., Baltimore Brazen, Creatively Inspired, Community Theatre and Arts Marketing3 more

 
TOP IDEA: Ty Unglebower As a writer and actor, and general creative time, I have sometimes made myself crazy trying to figure out what it means to have a "hit". Does it mean you have made something great? Or, as some suggest, does its status and billing as a hit devalue it because it has now become "commercial"? How do creative types determine this line? How do you? I blog about this conundrum today. http://bit.ly/dgs1r2

88 weeks ago from Creating a Life You Love, Creative Writing, Creatively Inspired and Arts Marketing2 more

Frank E. Warren: Hello Ty,
It is my opinion that creating a "hit" (or spending time "trying yo figure out what it means..."), has little to do with being a ...More
Hello Ty,
It is my opinion that creating a "hit" (or spending time "trying yo figure out what it means..."), has little to do with being a successful artist. I'm certain you've heard the expression (paraphrasing) 'Do what you love and you will be a success.' It is not any different in the art world.
It is imperative that one first decide on a meaning for the word success. if it means creating work that makes a lot of money, that is one avenue. If one thinks that creating work that meets their goal as an artist is more important, then that is a different path. Should the two roads converge, then that is wonderful.
I wish to diverge to the famous Robert Frost poem that ends with these words:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I --
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

The poem is all about the road (or decision) the speaker chose, and what it meant to have taken that road, yet the title of the poem is; THE ROAD NOT TAKEN.
At the end of the line, you don't want to be quoted as saying 'I wish I had..."

Jamie has a point that marketing drives financial gain. That is also true in the art world... people have to read your work or see you perform and, large or small, you must be available to your audience. More important (perhaps - as Marie suggests) is doing what you love. If you do work that has meaning for you, then you'll be rich in spirit. Should you choose to create a "hit," don't allow that to rule your heart.
It is my opinion that being a commercial success in the art world is only bad if one makes the choice to leave their dreams behind.

Don't worry about being a hit, learn to become the best at whomever and whatever you may be as a person and artist... you may find that's the greatest hit of all time!


87 weeks ago
Ty Unglebower: True, Frank, and in the end I would only ever really go after what I felt was true to be, in regards to art, or writing or acting. It's just that ...MoreTrue, Frank, and in the end I would only ever really go after what I felt was true to be, in regards to art, or writing or acting. It's just that I have always been baffled by the mystery of why some people do that and end up with a "hit" and others who do that do not.

Having a "hit" isn't the only thing an artist needs to worry about, of course. But there does seem to be an unpredictable X factor which dictates what becomes popular and what does not.

87 weeks ago
 
Ty Unglebower Yet another prime example of what I have mentioned and blogged about before; http://bit.ly/aAwygN. Vancouver Opera has got it right when it comes to actually engaging it's community and sparking an interest in the arts, without diluting the product, or appearing as an elitist megalith of high culture that you couldn't possibly appreciate. More arts organizations should follow suit. I've said itbefore, and will again.

89 weeks ago from Arts Marketing, Art and Creatively Inspired1 more

Frank E. Warren: My question is; why is it that America "couldn't possibly appreciate" high culture? Whatever the answer, it is a disgrace.
87 weeks ago
Ty Unglebower: I feel America as a nation could in fact appreciate high culture. But I feel that cultural organizations tend to set themselves up as these huge, ...MoreI feel America as a nation could in fact appreciate high culture. But I feel that cultural organizations tend to set themselves up as these huge, elitist institutions, who feel they don't need to give back to interact with the community. That by being open about what they do, having an outreach, or doing anything other than asking for donations to get people involved, they feel they are being less artistic somehow. Vancouver Opera has proven this doesn't have to happen.
87 weeks ago
 
Ty Unglebower I am in the earliest stages of starting my own local community theatre company. (Mostly on paper for now.) A very minimalist vision, but having a small but workable space to perform would certainly be a good start. Aside from the ubiquitous networking advice, does anyone have any ideas of how I might go about securing a regular venue at minimal or low cost for such an endeavor? (Doesn't have to be a theatre, but it does need to lend it self to simple productions.)

90 weeks ago from Arts Marketing, FunEmployment, Creatively Inspired, Creating a Life You Love and Washington D.C.3 more

Ty Unglebower: Thanks Jen. Wheels are turning...
88 weeks ago
Kim Luu: Ty,

Check with local senior centers. They tend to have very nice facilities that can be rented for cheap. Libraries have rooms that can be used ...More
Ty,

Check with local senior centers. They tend to have very nice facilities that can be rented for cheap. Libraries have rooms that can be used by non profits.

The park. It's free and you have nature. Shakespeare by the sea has been an ongoing successful theatre project in California for years.

88 weeks ago
 
Marie Kazalia My Kickstarter project Participate in the project, as a backer or by sharing the project with others-- the link: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2146291558/painting-series-to-comple...

90 weeks ago from Arts Marketing

 
Marie Kazalia My Kickstarter project: Participate in the project, as a backer or by sharing the project with others-- the link is: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2146291558/painting-series-to-comple...

90 weeks ago from Arts Marketing

 
Marie Kazalia http://ArtistMarketingSalon.wordpress.com My blog is 1 1/2 years old. Resources for artists to promote and market their art...

91 weeks ago from Arts Marketing

 
Milena Thomas Are you interested in ideas to liberalize the music industry? Do you wonder why it is so difficult to get airplay or make a meager living as a musician? Does it seem like the only artists signed to the largest music labels have sub-par talent that is appealing mostly to tweens worldwide? http://artandavarice.com/2010/08/16/art-and-airwaves-the-economics-of-br... A paper released by Harvard Law School may have some answers...

92 weeks ago from Economics and Finance, Arts Marketing and Artists as Entrepreneurs1 more

Frank E. Warren: The paper "may have some answers...", my questions is whether these answers are correct? Some very simple concepts seem to be overlooked.
91 weeks ago
 
Ty Unglebower My latest acting column over at ShowBizRadio.net talks about how and why so many otherwise fine actors start to look totally fake once they have to enact talking on a the phone during a show. It doesn't have to be this way! Find out how I advise actors to correct this. http://bit.ly/acA2M9

92 weeks ago from Community Theatre, Creatively Inspired, Arts Marketing, Nonprofiteers and Professional Writers and Editors3 more

 
Ty Unglebower My acting blog is up full blast again for the next 6 weeks, as I delve into my latest theatrical adventure; "A Thurber Carnival". Today was our first read-through, and naturally I posted my first impressions. http://bit.ly/aKnEpD

92 weeks ago from Arts Marketing, Creatively Inspired and Community Theatre1 more

 
Ty Unglebower I recently agreed to help out a rather new theatre company with getting the world out about their upcoming performances. They are the Wandering Souls, based in Washington, D.C., and they put on professional performances for free in the area for under privileged people who might not otherwise be able to attend such shows. Does anyone know of some good arts or community message boards or other online sources to which I could spread the word about this company? I appreciate any suggestions. Thanks.

93 weeks ago from Community Theatre, Creatively Inspired, Arts Marketing and Washington D.C.2 more

Patrick Pho: I work in the DC Theatre Scene on the side and I suggest DC Theatre Scene and ShowBizRadio as outlets you should reach out to.
93 weeks ago
Ty Unglebower: Thanks everyone for the ideas. I am already starting to put together some contacts.

And Patrick, it just so happens I am a columnist for ...More
Thanks everyone for the ideas. I am already starting to put together some contacts.

And Patrick, it just so happens I am a columnist for Showbizradio, and they were definitely among the first people I thought of!

Hopefully I can help spread the word about these folks. (And hopefully other people will want to as well.) I haven't seen any of their shows yet, but I was just so struck by their mission, I wanted to help out, even in a small way.

93 weeks ago
 

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