The document provides an overview of touring and community engagement for artists, including why artists tour, how presenters find and book artists, different models for presenting work, tools and resources for touring such as sample budgets and contracts, and ways for artists to connect with communities through their work. It also discusses various types of presenters, how presenters learn about artists, and subsidies that can support touring.

1. NATIONAL PERFORMANCE
NETWORK
presents:
Doin’ It On the Road
An Artist’s Guide to Touring and Community Engagement

2. Introductions
National Performance Network
• Who we are:
A network of 62 performing arts organizations called
Partners representing 43 cities and 28 states
throughout the United States
Visual Artists Network (VAN) – 15 VAN Partners
• What we do:
Support the creation and touring of performing and
visual arts across the United States in a context of
community engagement

3. Why tour?
• Broaden audience base
• Connect to like-minded communities
• Extend the life of the work
• Confirmed income
• See the country, meet new people

4. What they are looking for:
How presenters identify work they
are interested in booking

5. Kinds of Presenters
•Colleges and Universities
•Multi-Disciplinary Arts Centers
•Community Centers
•Festivals
•Municipal Performing Arts Centers
•Producing Dance/Theater Companies (other artists)
•Booking/Touring Houses
•Arts Councils
•And many more…

6. How do Presenters find
artists to present?

7. Learning about artists and
their work
• Seeing work live
• Booking conferences
• Packets and media
• Rosters
• Web

8. Different approaches to
presenting
• Peer presentation
• Partnering with diverse organizations
• Box Office Splits
• Festivals
• International Opportunities
• Touring Support Structures
• Creative Exchanges

9. Touring support structures
• Association of Performing Arts Presenters
• National Performance Network
• South Arts
• New England Presenters
• Mid Atlantic Arts Federation
• Mid-America Arts Alliance
• Western Arts Alliance
• Arts Midwest
• Alternate ROOTS
• National Dance Project
• National Theater Pilot

10. After you get booked:
Tools for touring

11. Tools for touring
• Presenter Responsibilities
• Artist Responsibilities
• Pricing your work
• Mutual understanding of presenter’s and artist’s
financial realities
• Subsidies and financial resources
• Sample contract
• Insurance

12. Pricing your work:
Sample artist budget
ARTIST FEES, 1-WEEK 5 Artists, 1 Tech
• Salaries for artists/tech 6 x $700 $4,200
• Fringe benefit for artists/tech 6 x $140 $840
• Transportation 6 x $350 $2,100
• Lodging 6 x 7 nights x $75/night $3,150
• Per diem 6 x 7 days x $40/day $1,680
• Administrative Allowance $1,500
• Artistic Director's Contingency $300
TOTAL FEE $13,770

13. Presenter expenses and revenues:
Sample presenter budget
• EXPENSES
Facility Costs
 Rental $2,000
 Insurance $100
 Personnel
• Front of House $600
• Backstage $1,200
• Booth $1,500
• Presenter (admin/misc.) $1,000
Box Office $2,000
Hospitality $500
Marketing
 Advertising $5,000
 Direct Mail $1,000
 Web $100
 Program/playbill $1,000
Equipment Rental $1,000
Artist Contract $13,770
• TOTAL EXPENSES $30,770
• REVENUES
Box Office (400 seats @ $15.00 x 2 nights) $12,000
Ad Sales $1,000
Contributions and Grants $17,770
• TOTAL REVENUES $30,770

14. Tools for touring
• Subsidies and resources
• Sample contract
• Insurance

15. On the road:
Connecting with community
• Contextualization of your work for an
audience
• What are your intentions, and to whom does
your work speak?
• Deepening the experience: Community
engagement activities

16. Other opportunities
• Commissioning
• Long-term residencies
• Artistic collaborations

17. Questions / Answers