MAACC Suggestions and Comments — Take Two
We’ve gotten slightly side-tracked in the comments section of our last post, so we wanted to start anew.
The goal is to use this space — well, technically the space below — to continue the discussion of successful practices in the current economy that began at Monday’s Town Hall meeting.
For example, Alex Trouteuad of Spry PR highlighted a great marketing trick that had worked well for the brain geniuses at Synchronicity Theatre.
The main questions we’re looking to answer are:
- Which specific strategies work for your arts organization in this economy?
- Which strategies don’t work?
- What can the Atlanta community do to help your organization?
- Did you think that the MAACC event was helpful?
Hopefully, these answers will create an ongoing dialogue for members of the arts and culture community. It’s so great to be able to learn from everyone else’s experiences, and I would love for the discussion to continue. (Here.)
And, if you’re bored enough, you can even read other posts on our blog. Let’s just hope things don’t get that bad.
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Amelia Trace Lerner
Program Director
Lain Shakespeare
Executive Director
13 Comments to MAACC Suggestions and Comments — Take Two
Folks, thanks for participating in the March 16 Town Meeting. There are a two issues I’d like the arts community to take a stand on:
1) A “call to action” –let’s take ownership of how the greater community can help arts groups and artists in these trying times–help us compile a useful list of implementable ideas that we can pitch to the press either as an article or an editorial—we need to keep the arts at the forefront of the public dialogue and provide the public with the tools to help.
2) The Mayor emailed me yesterday expressing her concern about the recent City Council resolution to ONLY FUND Fire & Police in next year’s City Budget and asking MAACC to get the word out to the arts community. This effort would further cut funding to arts & cultural initiatives within the City’s Budget. Please contact your City Council members and express your views on this matter at: http://apps.atlantaga.gov/citycouncil/council.htm
I thought the meeting was terrific. To have 250 arts folks in one place, planning good ideas together was a big help. I’m hoping to use several of the ideas that were discussed up at Theatre in the Square.
Winners not whiners!
I really enjoyed the comments at the event from Actors Express, who have cabaret or some other sort of late night act using the theatre after regular theatre hours are over and most of us are in bed. I know a few theatre groups like Dad’s Garage are using their space well into the evening, but most theatre companies are running seasons at the same time of the year so aren’t great space cross-pollinators. It was a great idea for how to reach out into something a little different, though not too different, to utilize your existing spaces.
I smell some late night storytelling dance parties at the wren’s nest cooking!
# Which specific strategies work for your arts organization in this economy?
In the Nightlife Arena We have found that working with younger Artists from our local area has brought out younger audiences. We budget to the venue and set our ticket prices accordingly so that our ticket sales cover the costs of our productions without the assistance of our local government or private donations. We also utilize local graphic designers for our advertising which brings down our marketing costs significantly.
# Which strategies don’t work?
Corporate. We have found that no amount of marketing can match the lip service you receive after delivering a well thought out production that connects with the audience. Atlanta has a lot of turnover as far as its residents go. Long term marketing strategies tend to be lost when the people who witnessed them move away.
We have found the most important items on our marketing materials are the Date, the Venue and the Name of the Event. If somebody can’t answer who when and where in 5 seconds they tend to move on to the next add. We give the most real estate to those items.
# What can the Atlanta community do to help your organization?
Acknowledge its existence. I spent a lot of time answering questions that I was asked and also speaking to the Specific things that you have asked for feedback on. So far I am the only person who has made suggestions outside the facilitators.
Many members of the Nightlife community are following this blog and they are going to interpret this as being ignored. I don’t tell them what to think I just let them read what is being said about them.
“Take-Two” suggests that my comments are Once Again Invalid. I went through great lengths to explain myself the first time and now I am having to do so again.
I have been polite and spoke directly to your concerns and offered suggestions based on the questions that were asked.
You are creating a divide where there doesn’t need to be one. If you wish to exclude Club Culture from your organization please say so openly.
Otherwise I’d appreciate it if OTHER people had the opportunity to read my comments objectively and respond.
# Did you think that the MAACC event was helpful?
I could not use most of the advice that was given because it had to do with external funding but I thought the first two presenters did an excellent job laying out a framework to approach the problem Objectively.
I’m not sure their advice is being employed but I am still hoping to “make new friends” in the Art and Culture community.
I am anxiously awaiting feedback from other folks who have different ideas on how to approach the problem.
Turner
Hmmm… I spoke too soon. Greg I like where your head is at!
Flora Maria, good call! I like the mayor’s point that so much of the funding situation hinges on petty politics, meaning it could be just as easy for city council to swing the other way.
Raye, I like your attitude as per usual.
Greg, I know that my organization in particular could use our outdoor space more efficiently. We’re definitely open to exploring partnerships with theatre groups that are interested in performing outside. We have a grass amphitheatre, a stage from 1926, and enough electricity for the Rolling Stones.
I wanted to also suggest that future meetings be recorded in the event that we have another packed house. (way to go arts and culture, first show is a sell out!)
That or you can raise the price of admission. kidding…kidding…
Even today I can go back to our meetings and revisit what was said in case somebody said something then that we didn’t pick up on.
Gives other people who might be stuck in traffic at 5:30 that option too.
1. Lain, I read both posts and I am not sure what your affiliation with MAACC is, other than you have a relevant organization and that you attended the meeting. Do you and/or Amelia have some major role on the “leaders” of this group?
2. For Turner – it sounds like you have a lot of good ideas, but this might be a lesson for you as well. Although it is great to be passionate and excited about trying to move things forward, it is important to recognize the time and place for presenting such ideas. To try and force a (relevant, but) somewhat-personal agenda is not necessarily appropriate, at a time and place where you are supposed to keep things to 10 minutes. This can be frustrating when you have a lot to say, but in some ways forces you to “go the extra mile” and make sure that people are mentally prepared for what you have to say. This means organizing an event yourself, or getting more involved in certain organizations that you are looking to reach.
Sometimes I also feel like “I am right,” and tend not to speak up unless I feel that’s the case, but I am aware that it can come across as condescending at times. Taking a dismissive attitude and being okay with the fact that you knowingly offend people at times doesn’t tend to serve anyone very well, in the long run.
Good post, Joe.
Amelia and I were merely at the meeting. We were no different than any of the other arts organizations present, other than we are willing to provide an online forum to discuss these issues.
Ha. Generous gesture Lain, or a trick to get people to look at your blog?
Just kidding. Maybe you could point the MAACC in the right direction to help them get a website, facebook page, or the like.
Both! You and I know that I am not above trickery.
We’ve found that our blog tends to be more preservation minded than arts minded — at least when we choose to talk about issues affecting more than just the Wren’s Nest. It’s not that we don’t want to talk about the arts, but it’s more like there’s nobody talking about preservation.
At any rate, we thought this might be a good and relevant opportunity.
For those of you interested, check out MAACC here:
http://www.atlantaplanit.com
http://www.metroatlantaarts.org
Oh man, that website is totally lame compared to yours. There’s not even a blog! No wonder you won that award a year or two ago…
I found the meeting very constructive and encouraging. For the non-profit arts community, these times are exceptionally challenging and scary. I appreciated that the bulk of the meeting was devoted to strategies and solutions, not simply a retread of the gloom and doom tales we’ve all told and heard in recent months.
Thank you to MAACC for opening up this conversation.
Upward and onward.