Today I do not have a guest blogger planned.  I thought I would fill in the gap with a variety of thoughts (and questions) that I have been thinking over the past week (in no particular order).  Let this serve as a summary of blog posts from past and future.

• Audience development is hard work.  Are we ready to work?
• Again, audience development is not “butts in seats” !!!  A butt doesn’t enjoy the show, people enjoy the show.
• A team is needed for audience development.  Can we be team friendly people?
• Should we appeal to audiences when programming is concerned?  Would we be letting them run our show?  More on this thought later.  This article spurred this thought.
• We need to go beyond the discounts when it comes to building an audience or we serve to lose our bottom line.
• Quality needs to be at the forefront for everything we do.
• Why are board members so scared to ask for money?  They are passionate about their arts organization.  Aren’t they?
• If I received a penny for “Something for everyone” and other inane marketing blurbs, I’d be rich! Maybe I should start an audience development fund this way?
• Artists and arts organizations are supposed to be creative, right?
• Social Media needs to be social.  It’s not termed Marketing Media.
• If you don’t know your audience, you can’t develop your audience.
• If you don’t know your audience, you won’t know what types of programs will be appealing and successful.
• Ask them survey questions beyond the demographic questions.
• Instead of targeting or segmenting – perhaps reaching out is a better term?
• Numbers are not people.  You can data mine and analyze away, but this step will not build relationships with living people.
• If something you are doing is not working, why are you continuing to do it?
• Why spend money on something that is not working?  Because that’s the way you are supposed to spend your budget?
• Audience development is a state of mind.  Everyone on your team can be a part of it.  Everywhere you go is an opportunity for it!
• Learn to be a part of your community.  Use the other C’s to connect, collaborate and care.
• If you have a big marketing staff, over 2 people, and you are still not getting an audience, either someone is not doing their job, or typical marketing is not working anymore.
• Run your arts business as a business too.
• Non-profits can be “profitable.”
• If a certain business model isn’t working for you, explore a new model.
• Your audience can be part of your team.
• Ask your audience, they know what you don’t.
• Treat your volunteers like royalty.
• Treat your donors like royalty.
• Thank your supporters often.
• Be supportive and respectful of everyone on your team and learn to work together knowing that each part has an important role to play.
• For gosh sakes, program new stuff too!
• Be true to yourself and your mission.
• Brand properly.
• Be relatable.
• Engage, but also get your audiences involved! There is a difference.
• The arts matter, but only if you find out why they matter to your audiences.
• Your thoughts here!  Feel free to comment below.

Cheers to happy and loyal audiences,
Shoshana

Shoshana Fanizza

Audience Development Specialists

https://www.buildmyaudience.com

“Never treat your audience as customers, always as partners.”
~James Stewart

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