The Venture Platform’s Next Big Thing
Thu, Mar 3, 2015
by Drew McManus
Last month, we crossed the latest threshold in The Venture Platform’s evolution with the release of Venture Event Manager (VEM) 2.5. We’re not content with resting on our laurels following the tremendous growth in 2014 and this upgrade to Venture’s cornerstone functionality is the most profound piece of coding since we launched in 2011; moreover,
What Everybody Ought to Know About Activating Demographics Reporting In Google Analytics
Wed, Mar 3, 2015
by Drew McManus
I published an article today at ArtsHacker that provides step by step instructions on how to activate one of the most important settings anyone with a Google Analytics account should be using. Ironically enough, the setting isn’t activated by default so you do need to pop in and click a single button buried inside an existing
Fiber TV Ads Could Be Very Good News For Performing Arts Orgs
Mon, Mar 3, 2015
by Drew McManus
It may have flown under your radar but the 5/20/2015 edition of Gizmodo.com published an article by Matt Novak that reports on Google’s intent to begin modifying how television viewers using its Google Fiber service. Simply put, Google wants to sell ads directly and make them function more like their successful targeted online ads. Given
Pittsburgh Strikes Back. At Themselves.
Fri, Mar 3, 2015
by Drew McManus
On 3/15/2015, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette published an article by Elizabeth Bloom reporting on a $100,000 marketing study that uncovered audience development woes at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO). On 3/19/2015, the chairs from the orchestra’s board and musicians’ committee (Dick Simmons and Micah Howard, respectively) co-authored an op-ed piece that takes issue with the article and,
Hey, I’ve Emerged. Where’s My Cake?
Thu, Mar 3, 2015
by Drew McManus
ArtsHacker Samantha Teter published a post on 3/18/2015 that has been extraordinarily popular post that harnesses her post-emerging professional arts manager knowledge on how other post-emerging professional arts managers can stay sharp and acquire new skills. It doesn’t take long in this field to wake up one day and realize you’re no longer the shiny
Well Worth Your Time
Wed, Mar 3, 2015
by Drew McManus
If you haven’t taken the time to read James B. Stewart’s missive in the 3/23/2015 edition of The New Yorker about the Metropolitan Opera’s recent labor dispute and related political rapids, then you’re missing out. Yes, it is nearly 9000 words, but you’ll be glad you allocated the time. Even if you’re already quite familiar
Audience Development Blues
Tue, Mar 3, 2015
by Drew McManus
There’s an interesting article by Elizabeth Bloom in the 3/15/2015 edition of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that reports on audience development woes at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO). In a nutshell, the PSO’s $100,000 study produced results that aren’t exactly earth shattering and the tiny focus groups of non-ticket buyers incorporated an equally myopic cross section
MN Patron Group Mute On Substitute Equal Pay For Equal Work Topic
Mon, Mar 3, 2015
by Drew McManus
Last week’s pair of articles (part 1 and part 2) examining the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) musicians’ decision to go public with concerns over artistic integrity in the wake of extended austerity measures produced an intriguing byproduct related to the topic of equal pay for equal work. On one hand, BSO president and CEO, Paul
Day Off
Fri, Mar 3, 2015
by Drew McManus
It is rare to take a day off but today is a special exception thanks to spending an entire day building up to my wife, violinist Holly Mulcahy, performing Jennifer Higdon’s Violin Concerto with the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera. It was a fantastic performance with the orcheatra and music director Kayoko Dan rising to the
Five Articles People Should Stop Writing