Clients — Past & Present

The Longs Peak Chorus is the performing unit of the Longmont Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, which is the largest singing organization in the world with more than 22,000 congenial men who love to sing four-part harmony in the barbershop style. The Longmont Chapter was chartered in 1948.

After sessions with Shoshana using the Audience Matchmaker 3-Step Method, they are working on updating their brand and to broaden, deepen and diversify their audiences. Their 2019 Christmas concerts will be the first concerts they start using some of the new audience development plan. They have new collaborations and a group of programs to implement for this season through the next.

Still a relatively new company, Boulder Opera Company met with ADS to work on the Audience Matchmaker 3-Step  Method for their 2014-2015 season. They also hired ADS to create a Development Plan for the year as well as to learn about publicity – the audience development way.

For the 2016 Season, BOC has hired Shoshana for their production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni using the ADS Event Booster.  The results for the three show run was a sold out opening show, and very full houses for the other two performances! It was a huge success, and the energy carried over for interesting future community collaborations.

The 2017-2018 Season has some additional work on the development side. A development plan, updates for their sponsorship/advertising program, and an Energizing Workshop for their board were included.

Shoshana was hired back for the 2019-2020 season to help with event promotion and their season development campaigns.

Gustav Hoyer, Composer and Impresario contacted Shoshana about audience development for his recent CD Release, Witness, as well as for building his audiences for his events and other projects. Gustav is extremely passionate about creating unique experiences to make classical music accessible to this generation’s music listeners. The Audience Matchmaker 3-Step Method and ADS Event Booster will be undertaken to begin his audience development journey. His Audience Development Plan, part of the 3-Step Method is sure to have some very interesting projects.

One of the projects we implemented this year was the Anachronism Podcast to help promote active listening, Gustav’s music, and the music of other new composers. The podcast asks the question, why classical music?

Gustav’s latest album, The Gilded Age, will be released January 1. We did a Facebook Live active listening party which joined Gustav and pianist Benjamin Harding to speak about the music and the making of the album. Unfortunately we had a major mic issue, but the music was still heard. Another listening party may be in the works.

Lastly, Anachronism concerts are being lined up in LA in May 2020. Other locations are being decided upon.

Flatirons Food Film Festival  contacted ADS to build their audiences for their 2018 festival in October. The Audience Matchmaker 3-Step Method, Audience Viewpoint Evaluations, Sponsorship/Advertising Program, Audience Surveys and Analysis, and the ADS Event Booster have all been planned.

The Flatirons Food Film Festival (Oct. 11-14, 2018) is an annual multi-day film festival in Boulder, Colorado that brings together those interested in eating, food culture, and food issues. 

Shoshana was hired again for the 2019 Festival, which ended in a 35% increase in audiences!

The Longmont Chorale is hiring Shoshana to do the ADS Event Booster for their A Celtic Spring concert on April 7, 2019. Shoshana will be creating and sending press releases, doing audience research, sending out individual email invites, putting together a mini-audience development plan and a social media management plan, and helping with social media posting.  Check back for results!

New York-based theatre collective The Herd will present its one-woman show I Killed the Cow as part of the 2018 Boulder Fringe Festival. After an extended run in New York City at the United Solo Festival in October 2017, I Killed the Cow will perform August 17–25 at the Pine Street Church Secret Chapel (1237 Pine St.) in Boulder as the second leg on its national tour.  They hired ADS for the Event Booster package!

I Killed the Cow tells the story of one woman reflecting on the moments that shaped her most: awkward first sexual encounters, rehearsing mortifying phone calls, and tuning in to doctrinal lectures on veganism. She realizes, however, that the consequences of one particular moment—her assault—have been long-repressed. Through conversations with the audience and Mother Cheetah, she resolves to no longer shy away from what has happened. She must face this moment head-on.

Co-created and performed by Broadway World award-winning actress Larissa Marten, I Killed the Cow asks: When it feels like the lawless world of sexuality is devouring you alive, how do you make your body your own?

After receiving a grant for audience development, Shoshana was asked by The Theater Project to consult for the season. An Audience Matchmaker 3-Step Method is in place along with the Get to Know Your Audiences program. In addition, a Marketing/Outreach Plan was designed, Audience Viewpoint Evaluations were conducted for their website and social media, and ADS Event Boosters are being added to a few of their shows this season. A Follow Up Evaluation will be conducted at the end of their season. Shoshana was delighted to fly out to Brunswick, ME to present an Energizing Workshop for their board. The board is excited and taking ownership of particular programs on the plan to execute smoothly.

Exciting news! After the final analysis, there have been increases across the board!

• 12% increase in donations; 221% increase in individual donors.
• 76% increase in first time buyers
• 35% increase in ticket money
• 38% increase in ticket sales
• 55% increase in their out of state audiences
• More geographical diversity overall!
• Almost double their totals raised from their gala fundraiser

“Thanks so much Shoshana. This is so enlightening and helpful! And thank you for all that you’ve done for the Theater Project – your work with us paid off tremendously, and we really are grateful. We feel like we grew a lot last year, and have a solid platform to grow even more in the coming years – that is extremely important for us as we look toward our 50^th anniversary (and beyond!).” – Jim Adolf, Board President

Shoshana was contacted by Rhino Theatre Company out of Pompton Lakes, NJ for the Audience Matchmaker 3-Step Method program. In addition an Audience Viewpoint Evaluation was conducted for their website and social media. Look for their new website soon! A Sponsorship program was also put into place, and the ADS Event Boosters for two shows were included.

River City Mixed Chorus hired Shoshana to do the Audience Matchmaker  3-Step Method program. In addition, Get to Know Your Audiences, Last Season Snapshot, Ticket Analysis, and Audience Viewpoint Evaluation programs are being conducted for this season.

“Our holiday concert is next weekend (2018), and I am happy to tell you that we are sold out again! Thanks again for all your help.” – Travis Mullins, Chorus Manager

Inis Nua Theatre Company hired Shoshana after receiving a grant for audience development. A full audience development journey has been planned which includes full Evaluation, Audience Matchmaker 3-Step Method, Audience Analysis, Energizing Workshop, Get to Know Your Audiences program, ADS Event Booster, and a Follow-Up Evaluation at the end of the year.

After the end of season analysis:

• 22% increase in subscribers
• 26% increase in single ticket money
• 18% increase in single ticket sales
• 98% increase in new audience members

This was a season of some experimentation, such as, they opted to change their Reading Series to a free offering. Plus, they will have a new website next season (something planned, but had to delay). Overall, it was a good season with momentum from the overall organization, and a drive to continue with these increases next season.

Donald Tongue, Founder of New World Theatre hired Shoshana for both the 3-Step Audience Matchmaker and a segment of the Event Booster (added social media) for their upcoming production of Candid Candidate. New energy surrounding the event happened!

Opera on Tap Colorado  hired Shoshana for the Event Booster service for a performance of Die Fledermaus and for the upcoming Mini Festival of Mini Operas happening February 24-25.

Included in their service package are: Research for the best audiences, an audience development plan for their team, and hands-on social media and email invitations.

David Harrison hired Shoshana to go through the Audience Matchmaker 3-Step Method to find the best audiences for his Reggie Wingnutz shows around New York City. This has been one of the most creative set of sessions yet!

Shoshana had the pleasure of presenting an Energizing Board Workshop about the basics of audience development for Bucks County Choral Society‘s board as well as working with the executive director and marketing director on the 3-Step Audience Matchmaker Method. A complimentary website evaluation was created as a thank you gift.

Update from their Marketing Manager, the audience development plan was added to their overall strategic plan for the next few years. So far, one of the ideas that came from the planning sessions was picked up for an article in Chorus America’s magazine. Another idea did get considerable buy in from the choir members themselves. Results of the full plan will be shared next season.

VOCI ( aka Voices of Canton, Inc.) is working on a re-branding challenge as well as a need to broaden and diversify their audiences.  Shoshana is working with them on their 3-Step Audience Matchmaker Method.  An Evaluation for their new website has also been conducted.

“Working with Shoshana was the next right step for our 76 year old community chorus. She directed the organization to be patron centered and to view all patron interactions from their perspective. We experienced a 71% increase in audiences last season. That’s because we have a new viewpoint: from the outside in, instead of the inside out. It’s a continuous process, but we have experienced exciting results! Thanks Shoshana!” —Carol Olson, Executive Director of VOCI (Voices of Canton, Inc.)

Public Works Theatre Company is working with ADS on the 3-Step Audience Matchmaker Method in order to get ready for their 2014 Boulder International Fringe Festival show.  A plan for their fundraising campaign as well as extra help with social media and press release evaluation was included. Update: The show was one of the top attended performances, and Public Works Theatre Company received an encore presentation spot on the final day of the festival.

Update 2016: Currently they are still using audience development methods, and they sold out their full run of their last show!

During the 2014 Fringe Festival, Hypothetical Theatre Company, presenting Meghan Cary’s new play On the Way to the Waterfall,  hired ADS to work on publicity and audience development.  The show was well attended and well reviewed by the audiences!

Sounds of Lyons hired Shoshana to handle the audience development planning. The 2nd season has brought in new interest and excitement surrounding this brand new festival concept!  This year (2014), ADS is working on fundraising as well as audience development.

Composer, Stephan Beneking is ADS’ first Evaluations client. A full audience development evaluation report evaluating his website, social media, and music sales options has been conducted with a follow up Skype session. Ideas and quick fix suggestions were included!

Photographer Steve O’Bryan (Wild Basin Photography) worked with Shoshana on his 3-Step Method program. The Audience Development plan was used on several occasions which resulted in successful events and publicity!

Pierre-Arnaud Dablemont wanted to change his career and needed an extra hand in developing his new path. After going through the Audience Matchmaker 3-Step Method, Pierre-Arnaud has a plan with a clear direction. Keep an eye on his website for new and unique projects throughout the year!

Stephen P. Brown worked with Shoshana on a YouTube solo competition called “A Mother’s Lament.” Click on the link for more details about this ADS endorsed project.

New City Stage Company contacted Shoshana after being a follower of her blog. Shoshana created an audience development plan for two of their plays in the 2012-2013 Season. Both plays did well with the first production, “RFK” selling out the complete run!

Illusionist Ivan Amodei was a 3-Step Method Client in 2012. Some of the featured hightlights resulting from his sessions included the planning for a slight re-brand, an audience development plan, and a group sales program. Currently, I am getting the news that he now has a national tour and has been invited to appear on various national talk shows (a goal he mentioned in his sessions).

The Arizona Women’s Theatre Company, hired Shoshana to learn how audience development could work for them. Over 5 phone sessions, specific audience development plans were created for their 2012 season.

“I loved the sessions and as I was taking them for my newly elected position, I felt I needed some close mentoring and strict goal setting…She absolutely did listen to our needs and tailored her sessions to fit our little situation. I have bragged about the sessions to other admins in our areas. Some of the instructions were familiar as I had followed her ideas for some time. Most are obtainable over time and will be implemented this coming year as we finish our season. My time with Shoshana at ADS, I would rate it First Class!” —Joy Bingham Strimple, Board President

The pickPocket ensemble, a “new music for the world cafe” ensemble based out of the San Francisco bay area, called Shoshana after having a concert with low attendance. With their goal of bigger venues, they realized they need a bigger audience to get the attention of these venues. After 5 phone sessions to teach them about audience development, they now have a solid understanding and a plan to implement to achieve their goals.

Portland Piano International hired Shoshana to present a 3 hour workshop for their board and staff. The feedback has been extremely positive with their artistic director sighting new board energy and new ideas for educational and audience relations programs. They have set a goal to get to know their patrons better with an overall effort to engage and build stronger relationships with them.

“Shoshana led our board in a terrific two-hour workshop on the value of Audience Development. The presentation was tremendously helpful to us in defining our audience and has been a major influence in how we relate to our patrons. I’m convinced that our evolving work in Audience Development will lead to stronger relationships with our patrons.” —Harold Gray, Artistic Director Emeritus

Kamp Camille’s Chantelle Tibbs worked with Shoshana during 5 one-hour phone sessions. Kamp Camille is a brand new Guy/Girl Americana band out of San Francisco. A branding questionnaire was completed, and an audience development plan they could use for their upcoming concerts was created. A little bird told us that for their first concert using the plan, they doubled their audience!

“I booked a series of phone sessions with Shoshana because I think in order for record companies and booking agents to take us seriously we need to have a certain number of fans that we have a great relationship with who consistently come to our shows. Shoshana helped me to channel certain hazy focuses I had into more solid avenues. I also learned more about my goal, what we really want to do with our music, and how we want to affect people. We are now building a relationship by finding out what people like and want so we can see through their eyes. Shoshana’s sessions were fantastic- she followed up and she even helped promote!” —Chantelle Tibbs

Pro Musica Colorado Chamber Orchestra hired Shoshana to handle the audience development and marketing for two of their main concerts in the 2009-2010 Season. With personalized email campaigns, a grassroots/social networking program, press release services, graphic design, radio time placement, web updates and a donor drive plan, Pro Musica is experiencing new energy and an increase in audience attendance and donations.

The second season resulted in close to doubling their audience and their monetary support.

Leah Danoff Storyteller is a storyteller in the Chicagoland area. ADS has helped Leah build relationships with the best contacts to increase her past event schedule.  ADS had also worked with her on branding, marketing materials, and contract negotiating.

The Blind Cafe – Rosh & ‘One Eye Glass Broken’ had a fantastic idea, but needed help in spreading the word. They hired ADS to do publicity for them as well as create a grassroots – audience development plan, people power plan, a social media plan, and support in formatting the pilot event. The event sold out two weeks before the first show and raised $1,000 for a good cause! The March 2009 events also did quite well with one 85% filled house on a Wednesday night and two other sold out shows! They were able to donate another $1,000. Boulder Blind Cafe 3 and the first Portland Blind Cafe sold out! The Blind Cafe has evolved into an award winning event with many interested locations across the country. Look for their events in Boulder, CO; Austin, TX; Portland, OR.; Seattle, WA; San Francisco, CA…

“Shoshana is outstanding at reaching people in an authentic and inspiring way. She helped me get confidence in how I could really offer my services to my audience, connect with them and flourish as an organization. :)” —Brian Rosh Rocheleau, Producer/Performer of The Blind Cafe

Boulder Digital Arts (BDA) hired Shoshana back in September of 2009 to help increase their membership and attendance numbers. Through audience development branding, a people power plan, some improvements to their membership and sponsorship program, as well as a full audience development plan for 2010, BDA is seeing increases. Numbers will be tracked over the year. For 2010, a new Partnership Program is being put into place.

The Boulder Chamber Orchestra is showing great results from the many plans we have created for them. Audiences have increased by 30-40% this year and donation/funding goals are being reached. The following is the series of plans that were created: Ambassador Program, Audience Tracking Program, Community Collaboration Program, Sponsorship/Donor/Membership Re-Design Program, Volunteer Program, Development Plan, and Sponsorship Outreach Program. Shoshana was also hired to help out with their 2009 gala event which reached their projected goal.

Update: I attended a concert in 2011 and the place was packed to the point that they needed to add chairs!

Both Nancy and Shoshana worked with Wess Staats of The Academy for International Movement Studies. A new branding concept, website and audience development email, publicity and online/social media campaigns worked to get AIMS ready for business.

Shoshana was the Audience Development Consultant for Helander Dance Theater from 2009-2012. It all began with working on audience development for their production High Octane. Publicity,email, and social media campaigns were put into place, which resulted in close to 50% increases in both audience numbers and financial numbers.

Over the summer of 2009, a big picture for the future of HDT with the following plans were created: business plan, development/fundraising plan, people power plan, audience development branding plan, and a volunteer management plan. Also, Shoshana began working for HDT as the temporary website, development and volunteer coordinator (until volunteers are found). The new branding and new energy has been very positive for collaborations, volunteering and funding. New branding concept was designed by Nancy and successful grants were written by Matt and Shoshana.

In 2008-2009, Boulder County Arts Alliance hired Shoshana to do a workshop series consisting of three Audience Development workshops for their Business of Arts program: A Case for Audience Development. The attendees’ feedback were favorable and the goal of beginning education about how to apply audience development in Boulder County was accomplished!

Shoshana was asked back in 2013 to do another series of workshops entitled Audience Affairs, which included “The Top 20 Tips for Increasing Everything” and “Building Relationships to Build Funding.”

“Boulder County Arts Alliance hired Shoshana to present a series of workshops. They were fabulous! Very well received and packed with useful and new information. The best part was I have been able to apply Shoshana’s methods with very positive results. If increasing your audience is your goal, there’s no question Shoshana will make it happen.” —Charlotte LaSasso, Executive Director of Boulder County Arts Alliance

David Harris, Composer worked with Shoshana in 2009 for his production of Perish, The Thought. A publicity campaign, ambassador program and grassroots campaign helped David to double his audience in Boulder.

Iman Woods hired Shoshana in 2009 to perform a publicity campaign and an audience development email campaign in order to give her newly relocated business (from Orlando to the Denver area) a jump start. Iman was featured on 9News, as well as in the Daily Camera’s Boulder Women’s Magazine, Boulder County Business Report and more. Both the publicity and emails created new photo shoots for Iman with bookings into 2010.

“Shoshana rocks! I have an artistic mind that goes all over the place and she can appreciate that while leading me to great pr. She is the person on your side when you feel like you’re alone in your small business. Thank you, Shoshana for taking my mission, personality, creative talents and channeling them into increased public awareness.” —Iman Woods, Illustrative Photographer

Colorado Shakespeare Festival hired Shoshana as an extra group sales consultant for their 2009 holiday play, A Child’s Christmas in Wales. The attempts did result in group sales as well as relationships for future productions.

The Shoot Out 24 Hour Filmmaking Festival Boulder hired Shoshana as their Audience Development Manger for 2008. After an audience development analysis and a full audience development plan, 2008 showed increased participation by 35% and a filled house for the final screening event!

“Audience Development Specialists did what they promised and helped increase The Shoot Out Boulder’s 2008 audience.” —Michael Conti, Executive Director

The Boulder Ballet worked with Shoshana during the 2005-2007 Nutcracker seasons while she was the Marketing and PR Director for the Boulder Philharmonic. They hired her in 2008 to establish a group sales program for their production Comedia. Shoshana’s endeavors produced considerable word-of-mouth and ticket sales that helped create filled auditoriums.

For the Colorado Music Festival, Shoshana was hired as the Interim Development Director and Group Sales Consultant for 2008. From the reports, groups sales more than doubled that year and there was great energy from the Board and Development Committee after her work with them. New sponsorship money for the year was also secured by Shoshana.

Nancy, our past graphic designer was hired that year for a few invitation/postcard jobs. She was hired back the next year (2009) for more design jobs.

Shoshana was hired back for the 2015 and 2016 seasons to lend support for their marketing and audience development efforts.

“Shoshana is one of those rare people who have a “can do” attitude and frequently surprise one that they can pull it off. She is determined and resourceful and she does it all with a smile.” —Jack Walker, Walker Enterprises LLLP, CMF Board of Directors