All Entries in the "Plugging Holes" Category
We are for Profit…aren’t we?…..
I am up here in Lake Placid for 6 weeks of concerts in the glorious Adirondacks with the Lake Placid Sinfonietta. Something is really bothering me, even though I am here in paradise. The words not-for-profit have such a negative connotation. I know it’s a widely used categorical description but it’s not accurate in the [...]
Quick Takes: A Sustainable Business Model…How is it Possible?
It seems that a huge focus in the Symphony world is to create the ideal business model for success. Thousands of hours and millions of dollars are spent on conferences, consultant fees, marketing schemes etc… and yet the secret ingredient, is neither a secret, not does it cost anything. The best business model without it [...]
Adjusting the Seasonings in Salt Lake! – Time to Make a Play!
The Utah Symphony and Opera have been rescued by a very large gift which is great news. A couple of articles about their situation got me thinking more about community outreach and how the tangible resonance of a hall needs to be matched with the resonance felt within and even beyond our communities. More importantly [...]
Concert Companion….Bring a Friend to the CSO!
I’m a big fan of technology, I’m always bummed out when something I have is super seeded by a new model. I still have that old crusty 1st generation ipod touch (18 months old!). I was intrigued like many when the Concert Companion first came out, a device to enhance the understanding of the concert [...]
Plugging the Holes before Filling the Barrel (2009) – Opposite World!…..
Two articles jumped out at me over the weekend. Both reminded me of the constant tail chasing that goes on in the arts world. Sometimes we get so far behind our audience’s needs, that we end up doing either what we should have been doing all along but a little too late, or the opposite [...]
Plugging the Holes before Filling the Barrel (2009) – Put it in the Bank….
I’m 41 today yikes….On the theme of free tickets, when there are empty seats there is an opportunity for outreach. Subscribers have a choice of what to do with their tickets if they are not able to attend such as to give them to friends/family etc.. or to take a tax deduction. There is another [...]
Plugging the Holes before Filling the Barrel (2009) – We Salute You!…
My first Music Directorship was with the San Angelo Symphony (TX), and there were a lot of trial by fire moments that one can normally expect first time up at the plate. From the very beginning though I had always thought of an orchestra as a community service organization…..
Plugging the Holes before Filling the Barrel (2009) – When Blank Checks Have No Value!
With hand wringing over empty seats and the “papering” arts organizations do to make a hall look respectable, the phrase “not worth the paper it’s written on” comes to mind. There is a golden opportunity to empower the audience to help recruit new audience members with a free ticket and/or referral program…..
Plugging the Holes before Filling the Barrel (2009) – BOGO
Last year I published 5 posts under the Plugging the Holes category dealing with subscriber retention and audience recruitment utilizing the best advocates of all ….our subscribers and our orchestra! Two articles that I read this week have spurred me to continue the category…..
Plugging the Holes before Filling the Barrel – part 5 -”Bordering on the Personal!”
For the final part of this series, I introduce a program we call “Coffee and Classics” and also give a cost summary of each audience initiative program I have outlined in this series. Regarding my criticism in recent posts regarding gimmicks especially of the cupcake variety, for this program we serve coffee……hypocrisy?
Plugging the Holes before Filling the Barrel – part 4 – “Lest We Forget!”
I want to mention a forgotten group of audience members, those who used to subscribe but are now physically unable to attend. Sadly when they stop subscribing, orchestras will eventually end the relationship. It’s not their fault they can’t attend anymore, and it’s time outreach included showing we still care about them by continuing the [...]
Plugging the Holes before Filling the Barrel – part 3 – “Real Identity Cards”
In about 45 minutes, we can connect with each of our audience members on a personal level. These programs have had a big impact, not just on the audience members, but on the musicians also….
Bill Eddins wrote:
Geof Applegate wrote:
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Xylo Guy wrote: