Thanks to Sharon for taking these notes, and for Peter for sending them forward!
Notes: Friday, 6/5/09
Budget Group One Breakout Session – Institutionalizing
Thoughts to begin: Olga Sanchez what is our image of success?
Paying Actors
Hiring More Staff
So both mean needing more money / and we can’t divorce ourselves from economic challenges that require we not focus on growth, but only sustainability.
Success: There is a balance and equilibrium that promotes success as well as monetary success and demand for your product.
When we institutionalize the management structure far more than the artistic structure –
Single Carrot – Truly artistic management – pay artists to do two jobs. Pay artists an hourly wage to supplement their artistic fees. Does it make sense to hire staff that perhaps doesn’t have the artistic sensibility of an ensemble member.
Artists / Founders, who run companies, need to fall in love with their administrative jobs as much as they do their artistic ones.
We have chosen our profession, one that is not about the money and that fact alone may make a difference in our ability to continue our work.
Is it possible to partner with a college that would desire the services we provide in exchange for services that are difficult for our organizations to provide. Is that worth exploring?
Will a Strategic Plan and operating under one, help to focus the organization and optimize growth. Very few theatres in our group operate under a strategic plan.
Is there a demand for your product beyond the original development? If the survival of the institution becomes more viable than the art, then it has become an institution for the sake of an institution.
In Chicago – many individuals do their job for several organizations. Not necessarily formalized, but they are going in that direction.
Equity – Very difficult and an ongoing challenge.
Look at the growth of the company and what feeds us artistically – Look at what we’re doing right and then address in a small way.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
post on this blog!
e-mail me and I'll make you an author! tjanes@marylandensemble.org
Also, the Network of Ensemble Theatres website- http://ensembletheaters.net/
more 500less notes
TCG 6/5
Devised work as publication- how can that happen?
Playscripts-TCG publishers?
Universities to take next production of a devised work, maybe take the director to the college and bring the work (or a variation) with them.
Invest in the marketing of the playwright
Every show preshow snacks/drink hosted by a member of the theatre company
Acting class for subscibers!- Deepening the relationship with the theatre
How to deepen, broaden, diversify
Workshops, tours, what do the subscribers want?
Invest board members in the process of play making
Market to the service industry--- Hairdressers specials. Who talks for aliving? Tatoo parlirs?
Devised work as publication- how can that happen?
Playscripts-TCG publishers?
Universities to take next production of a devised work, maybe take the director to the college and bring the work (or a variation) with them.
Invest in the marketing of the playwright
Every show preshow snacks/drink hosted by a member of the theatre company
Acting class for subscibers!- Deepening the relationship with the theatre
How to deepen, broaden, diversify
Workshops, tours, what do the subscribers want?
Invest board members in the process of play making
Market to the service industry--- Hairdressers specials. Who talks for aliving? Tatoo parlirs?
Poptech.org
Eventful.com
Eventful.com
Tad's notes from 6/5
Aud. Dev—
Radio stations proceeds one night, for interviews.
Creating events-
Creating a stronger relationship with audience…deepen…
How to hold audience from show to show…
Multicultural talent pipeline
Partner with Church for childcare?
Workshops for kids while parents are in the show….
NEW play—
Marketing- playscripts- who are the ensembles in the room?
Creating an event-
Cross marketing- segment marketing
Acting class for season patrons
Frequent flyer miles for playwrights- fundraiser when playwright in town…
Cross partnering with new shows…
Resources,
Institutionalize-
How viable are we in the community?
Friday, June 5, 2009
June 4, 2009
These are Tad's quick notes from our the first session of our budget group.
(Tad- Maryland Ensemble Theatre, Frederick, MD) www.marylandensemble.org
I was thinking we all might want to post a different post highlighting some of the sessions we attended. The notes from these sessions will be from the perspective of an under $500k budget category!
Lots of "ensemble" theatres in this group! There are 4 people young people sitting cozy on a couch together- they must be from Baltimore (to be able to send 4 people there)- Could be "Single Carrot Theatre" company- I heard them on NPR a few months ago... they just did Killer Joe, they are in Baltimore and have a very similar ensemble structure as the MET. They are 2 years old- but heading in the same direction... YEP, that's them. Artistic Director's name is Buck! I met all 4 of them. Nice guys- we're seeing their space tomorrow night- they'll come to Frederick to visit and see our space....
In the Budget meeting- we went around the room saying "hi, my name is..." and mentioned some of our major concerns- we're going to talk more on that on Saturday. Oh, there's that Ohn guy that Gene' and Sarah met in North Carolina (NET gathering)- I talked to him on the phone once, but, need to meet him. And there's his wife- they are a team... going around the room, there are at least 4 husband/wife partners in this room... interesting....
The under $500k budget group broke into 3 groups. One to talk about "audience development" (Gene' went to that one), I went to the "new play development" breakout, and another was the "institutionalizing" breakout. We are all going to pull our minds tomorrow morning and bring back info to the group on all of these things.
End of breakouts-
OVERALL FEEL: I've been to the TCG Fall Forum and the Philly TCG conference (2002); but, this is the first time that I've really felt like we fit in. The first time, we knew almost no one- we were a tiny theatre, and there were really not that many people under the age of 50 at that conference; and every discussion I attended seemed to talk about problems that were concerns to theatre's with budgets well over a million bucks... The fall forums were not much better---- BUT....
This time, there are SO many more young people. I would guess that the mean age is 40. Very cool. They say there are 700+ people here and over 300 first timers!
Lots of "ensemble" theatres in this group! There are 4 people young people sitting cozy on a couch together- they must be from Baltimore (to be able to send 4 people there)- Could be "Single Carrot Theatre" company- I heard them on NPR a few months ago... they just did Killer Joe, they are in Baltimore and have a very similar ensemble structure as the MET. They are 2 years old- but heading in the same direction... YEP, that's them. Artistic Director's name is Buck! I met all 4 of them. Nice guys- we're seeing their space tomorrow night- they'll come to Frederick to visit and see our space....
In the Budget meeting- we went around the room saying "hi, my name is..." and mentioned some of our major concerns- we're going to talk more on that on Saturday. Oh, there's that Ohn guy that Gene' and Sarah met in North Carolina (NET gathering)- I talked to him on the phone once, but, need to meet him. And there's his wife- they are a team... going around the room, there are at least 4 husband/wife partners in this room... interesting....
The under $500k budget group broke into 3 groups. One to talk about "audience development" (Gene' went to that one), I went to the "new play development" breakout, and another was the "institutionalizing" breakout. We are all going to pull our minds tomorrow morning and bring back info to the group on all of these things.
I wish all these ensemble theatres could go to San Francisco to the NET summit!
End of breakouts-
OVERALL FEEL: I've been to the TCG Fall Forum and the Philly TCG conference (2002); but, this is the first time that I've really felt like we fit in. The first time, we knew almost no one- we were a tiny theatre, and there were really not that many people under the age of 50 at that conference; and every discussion I attended seemed to talk about problems that were concerns to theatre's with budgets well over a million bucks... The fall forums were not much better---- BUT....
This time, there are SO many more young people. I would guess that the mean age is 40. Very cool. They say there are 700+ people here and over 300 first timers!
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