Be the change you want to see – a summary

Posted on August 19, 2014 by Shoshana

  I think about this quote a great deal, as you may know, dear reader.  Today, I would like to summarize some of the thoughts I have shared with you over the years concerning this quote. If you want people to comment on your posts, start commenting on other people’s posts. Do you want more diversity for your audiences?  Start…

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Ask Shoshana: Change & Niche

Posted on August 15, 2014 by Shoshana

Welcome to the first segment of our “Ask Shoshana” format for ADS Podcast.  Shoshana will be fielding the questions about how to get people on board with the changes necessary for audience development and how to build smaller, profitable audiences for niche events and arts organizations. If you have a question for a future “Ask Shoshana” podcast, email us or send…

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Two way streets drive audience development

Posted on August 8, 2014 by Shoshana

I wanted to leave you this week with a quick thought – “Two way streets drive audience development!” We are all busy in this world.  We all want people to care about what we are doing in life.  One of the best ways to create more care is to care more about what other people are doing and their situations….

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A solution to founder’s syndrome – asking for support

Posted on July 31, 2014 by Shoshana

I have been waiting to be struck by inspiration.  Today I have thoughts about smaller organizations and individual artists and their particular growing pains for asking for support.  The biggest challenge I am seeing is the fact that the founder(s), or individual artists, are so tied to the arts business, they feel that they are asking money for themselves.  In…

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The changing landscape of audiences

Posted on July 18, 2014 by Shoshana

  “The simple answer is San Jose’s population changed a lot in three decades and the Rep changed very little.” An opinion about the demise of the San Jose Rep: End of the San Jose Rep: Part II  And this opinion is becoming more fact than opinion every day.  This morning, I heard in the news that the majority of…

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Scott Harrison of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra chats about their webcasts

Posted on July 11, 2014 by Shoshana

Scott Harrison, executive director of board engagement & strategy and executive producer of digital media for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, stopped by the ADS Podcast to chat about the DSO’s revolutionary webcasts.  Join us for all the details about the history, format, and process for this audience building digital media program. Some additional bonus conversation about their other audience development programs…

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A teenager’s perspective on attending the arts

Posted on July 10, 2014 by Shoshana

I was having a conversation with my step-daughter, Anya, and I enjoyed hearing what she had to say.  She is a 16-year-old artist in her own right.  She plays guitar, likes to create art, and has been in many a school theater production.  She likes the arts! Hearing what she had to say about why her age group may not be…

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It adds up for audience building

Posted on July 7, 2014 by Shoshana

I had a quick Twitter conversation that led me to posting about how small efforts will add up.  I was asked how an indie artist can connect with people more personally due to time constraints.  I answered him, by emailing 3 people per day.  He responded back that this was doable and he would be reaching 1,000+ people by the…

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Guest Post: Wake up call for audience development in the UK?

Posted on June 26, 2014 by Shoshana

On June 20th, my audience development colleague, Roger Tomlinson,  created a summation post regarding the current political stances for the funding of the arts in the UK.  Arts funding in the UK is being challenged by politicians with the argument that the arts are currently not accessible enough to everyone. Roger also makes the case that funding for audience development…

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Thought after the whirlwind of conferences – take action!

Posted on June 23, 2014 by Shoshana

Over the past few weekends, we have had 5 conferences related to the arts: AFTA, Chorus America, Dance USA, TCG, and Opera America. All of these conferences did talk about audience development with extra thoughts focusing on civic impact, how to engage an audience, how to diversify and be more inclusive, and how to connect with your community. How to…

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