Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council Mark Freeman August 5, 2009 Audience Development Ideas

Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council

Mark Freeman

August 5, 2009

Audience Development Ideas With the bad economy, layoffs at Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and Pittsburgh Symphony, and other news it got me to thinking about what I might be able to do as a patron to maybe help promote the arts, etc. As an avid patron, I'm really happy to suggest shows to others And an underlying issue … how does someone go from the occasional attendee, to trying new things, and eventually get really excited about the arts? In June, 2008, I was invited for a focus group for Pittsburgh Dance Council conducted by Yvonne Campos marketing firm I think the results seemed to suggest that there might be more people out there that might be willing to try new things …. If they knew other people that went … so they didn’t feel alone Or had someone that did a bit of the legwork as far as picking out interesting shows to see in the first place Or help getting the links to the show information/reviews, etc

With the bad economy, layoffs at Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and Pittsburgh Symphony, and other news

it got me to thinking about what I might be able to do as a patron to maybe help promote the arts, etc.

As an avid patron, I'm really happy to suggest shows to others

And an underlying issue … how does someone go from the occasional attendee, to trying new things, and eventually get really excited about the arts?

In June, 2008, I was invited for a focus group for Pittsburgh Dance Council conducted by Yvonne Campos marketing firm

I think the results seemed to suggest that there might be more people out there that might be willing to try new things ….

If they knew other people that went … so they didn’t feel alone

Or had someone that did a bit of the legwork as far as picking out interesting shows to see in the first place

Or help getting the links to the show information/reviews, etc

MeetIn & MeetUp Social Networking Sites Free Free Membership One Calendar by City By Topic Area Group Calendar Yes Yes Policy Against Spam & Bad Behavior Singles, Couples, Visitors, and People Moving to Pittsburgh Who are in these groups? Donations Organizor & Sponsors How Funded? No Yes Yes Yes Afterwards, Ability to Rate Events Summarize, Post Photos Yes Yes RSVP & Links to Internet Yes Yes Control of Personal Information When Joining One Group per City By Topic Area Group Organized MeetIn MeetUp

MeetUp There are 65,684 Meetup Groups around the world meeting about 19,100 interests… In Pittsburgh, there are 237 MeetUp Groups (within 50 miles) Some MeetUp groups have 500-1000 members with all kinds of activities The largest among these are very active With multiple Assistant Organizers posting lots of events And ‘core’ people that attend lots of events When new members join, they see lots of activity and people Included among these 237 is the Pittsburgh Cultural Arts Meetup Group

There are 65,684 Meetup Groups around the world meeting about 19,100 interests…

In Pittsburgh, there are 237 MeetUp Groups (within 50 miles)

Some MeetUp groups have 500-1000 members with all kinds of activities

The largest among these are very active

With multiple Assistant Organizers posting lots of events

And ‘core’ people that attend lots of events

When new members join, they see lots of activity and people

Included among these 237 is the Pittsburgh Cultural Arts Meetup Group

Pittsburgh Cultural Arts MeetUp Group http://www.meetup.com/Art-lovers/ Founded November, 2008 Organizor stepped down in late-February 2009 Process begins 2-week countdown to find a new organizor before each MeetUp Group dissolves So on the last day, Mark decided to give it a try! Membership (as of 8/05/2009) 180 Members 71 MeetUp events to-date 4.5 Rating out of 5 Stars

http://www.meetup.com/Art-lovers/

Founded November, 2008

Organizor stepped down in late-February 2009

Process begins 2-week countdown to find a new organizor before each MeetUp Group dissolves

So on the last day, Mark decided to give it a try!

Membership (as of 8/05/2009)

180 Members

71 MeetUp events to-date

4.5 Rating out of 5 Stars

Pittsburgh Cultural Arts MeetUp Group Goal – Grow the group and promote the arts Challenges Bad economy Getting people to try new arts and cultural events for the first time Misperceptions about the arts being too expensive or that attending events is lonely “ Herd Mentality” that must be overcome …when people see who has already RSVP’d to events Possible Ideas Connect with arts organizations Imagine if a few could donate their comp tickets to friends that have some free time, would like to advocate the arts, and socialize a bit more They can appoint people as Assistant Organizers to easily post events Ticket Promotions and special offers Have some nice social events (e.g., Cabaret Theater) promoting the arts and reaching out to the other groups which have extensive member lists

Goal – Grow the group and promote the arts

Challenges

Bad economy

Getting people to try new arts and cultural events for the first time

Misperceptions about the arts being too expensive or that attending events is lonely

“ Herd Mentality” that must be overcome …when people see who has already RSVP’d to events

Possible Ideas

Connect with arts organizations

Imagine if a few could donate their comp tickets to friends that have some free time, would like to advocate the arts, and socialize a bit more

They can appoint people as Assistant Organizers to easily post events

Ticket Promotions and special offers

Have some nice social events (e.g., Cabaret Theater) promoting the arts and reaching out to the other groups which have extensive member lists