Podcast Episode #81 - Audience Feedback 2.0 - Quantifying Intrinsic Impact

In this episode, David talks with Clayton Lord from Theatre Bay Area about their work on "Audience Feedback 2.0" - a research study conducted with Wolf Brown on measuring the intrinsic impact (intellectual, social,  and emotional) of a theatrical performance on audiences within 18 theatres in 6 cities throughout the United States.  The study seeks to establish:

• A web-based interface to eventually allow any company to do their own impact study at minimal expense
• A data set that will be useful for artists, administrators, advocates, funders and audience members
• A series of national conversations designed to tackle how best to talk about the arts in a way that isn't economic

For more information:

The Intrinsic Impact Project - Theatre Bay Area's current online record for the project

Intrinsic Impact: New Approaches to Audience and Visitor Feedback - a 60-minute webinar conducted by Wolf Brown and hosted by Americans for the Arts.  (Must be an AFTA member to view this webinar.)

Major University Presenters Value and Impact Study - a two-year study of the values and motivations driving performing arts attendance and donation.

Podcast Episode #80 - Mobile App Development at the Warhol

In this episode, Thomas talks with the Andy Warhol Museum's Josh Jeffrey, the Web and Digital Media Manager, and Tresa Varner, the Curator of Education, about their new mobile apps and the development process behind them. From augmented reality to silkscreening on the iPhone, no two apps at the Warhol are exactly alike.

Cool sites of the episode:

The Andy Warhol Museum - The home of everything Andy Warhol, this Pittsburgh based museum features work by the artist as well as exhibitions of contemporary artists from around the world.

Brunner Digital - This advertising and software development company worked with the Warhol on many of the apps mentioned in the episode.

Toura - Focused on tourism and travel industries, this mobile software development company has worked with the Warhol as well as multiple other museums and cultural institutions.

Podcast Episode #79 - Audience Engagement Platform

In this episode, David talks with Chris Elam from Misnomer Dance Theater about the upcoming launch of the Audience Engagement Platform, an innovative web-based communications network designed to connect artists, and the environments within which they work, with their audiences – patrons, contributors, the media, and potential funders. First announced in 2008, the Audience Engagement Platform has been developing steadily with Elam's leadership.  The platform will provide templates for multiple ways in which artists can create deeper engagement experiences for their audiences.  Artists will also  have the opportunity to see what types of engagement activities their peers are creating.

According to Elam and the AEP team:

Over 40% of all Americans attend performing arts events each year, and there are over 6 million artists working in America. While each interacts with his/her own audience base perhaps once or twice a year, their cumulative reach is enormous. Artists have a huge opportunity to engage their audiences through the web, yet with uncertainty about which tools to use and to what degree, artists often feel stranded, frustrated, and static in their audience outreach. AEP will simplify and streamline the various online vehicles available, and it will create effective and efficient ways of engaging and growing audiences.

Cool Sites of the Episode: AEPlatform - The online space for staying up-to-date on the Audience Engagement Platform

Misnomer Dance Theater - So you've heard about their work with AEP, now check out their amazing work in dance

Podcast Episode #78 - Seven Digital Trends and Their Implications for the Creative Sector

For this end-of-year podcast episode, we take a look at numerous trends in the technology sector and their implications for nonprofit arts and culture organizations. David talks with Brian Newman, author of the essay "Inventing the Future of the Arts: Seven Digital Trends that Present Challenges and Opportunities for Success in the Cultural Sector" from the recently published 20UNDER40: Re-Inventing the Arts and Arts Education for the 21st Century. Their conversation explores ways in which the trends identified in Brian's essay will impact the creative sector as well as how arts organizations can adapt to these shifts in our culture.  Topics include:  downsizing and mergers, with-profit collaborations, disintermediation and the new role for curators, particpatory culture, electracy, and more.

Cool Sites of the Episode

20Under40 - For further information on the project, discussion forums addressing the ideas put forth by these arts leaders, and more. Buy the hardback | Buy the e-book | Discuss Brian's chapter

SpringBoardMedia - Brian Newman's blog on the future of the media arts.  You can also follow Brian on Twitter at @bnewman01.

The Long Tail - Wired editor Chris Anderson's book about the potential power of niche markets.

The Participatory Museum - Nina K. Simon's guide to making cultural institutions more dynamic, relevant and essential.

Podcast Episode #77 - The Efficacy of Multimedia Arts Promotion and Best Practices for WordPress Sites

This is the third and final installment of our series of podcasts (1 | 2 ) featuring interviews from the National Arts Marketing Project Conference.

Amelia Northrup leads off with an interview featuring Kara Larson from Arts Knowledge LLC discussing the results of a research study she recently conducted on the efficacy of using multimedia marketing campaigns to promote the arts, which yielded some surprising results - particularly in regards to promoting the work of emerging or relatively unknown artists.

David Dombrosky closes the episode with an interview featuring Ceci Dadisman from Ceci Creative discussing best practices for arts organizations using WordPress to create and manage their websites.  This interview is chocked full of tips and tools for using WordPress effectively.

Cool Sites of the Episode

Google Analytics Conversion University - A series of recorded video lessons designed to teach analytics "newbies" how to maximize their use of Google Analytics to gauge their website's traffic.

WordPress Hosting on GoDaddy - Ceci recommends GoDaddy to arts organizations without their own servers and are seeking affordable web hosting for their WordPress sites.

WordPress Plug-in Directory - Plug-ins connect WordPress websites to external services (like Google Analytics) and expand the functional capabilities of your site.  This directory allows you to search over 12,000 plug-ins to find the right ones for your website.

Podcast Episode #76 - Virtual Lobbies, Facebook Advertising Strategy, and Online Marketing Hits and Misses

In this second podcast episode in a three-part series (1 | 3) featuring interviews from the National Arts Marketing Project conference, we talk with three arts professionals about their marketing successes (and some misfires). We lead off the episode with Amelia Northrup interviewing Sara Billman from the University Musical Society about the UMS Lobby - a virtual space, accessible year-round, where UMS offers multiple streams of engagement activities.

Next up, David Dombrosky talks with Robert Gore from Theatre Development Fund (TDF) about strategic tips for success with Facebook ads.  These tips are simple and easy for any arts organization to implement.

Finally, Amelia wraps up the episode by interviewing the Susannah Greenwood (aka The Princess) of Artsopolis, the Silicon Valley’s ultimate online guide to arts and culture, about the various online marketing strategies that Artsopolis has employed (both successful and not-so-much) as well as ways to engage Gen Y audiences.

Podcast Episode #75 - NAMP 2010 Breakdown with Ron Evans

Ron Evans

In the first in a three-part series of podcast episodes (2 | 3) featuring interviews from the National Arts Marketing Project Conference, David talks with Ron Evans from Group of Minds Arts Marketing and Technology Consultants about the events and phenomena of interest during the conference. The conversation includes:

- Live streaming video during arts conferences - Conference participants using Twitter to communicate with each other and those unable to attend - Notable plenaries and panel sessions - Tips for arts conference planners - The art of conference presentations - Minimalism vs Bullet Crazy - Reasons to lose your NAMP Conference virginity

Cool Sites of the Episode:

Technology in the Arts' Conference Recap Videos on Vimeo - Imagine a cross between The View and an arts conference. 'Nuff said.

NAMP 2010 on Livestream - The NAMP Conference provided live streaming video for two plenaries and one panel session to the general public courtesy of support from Livestream.

Twitter Discussion for NAMP 2010 - The use of Twitter to communicate with each other exploded among attendees at this year's NAMP Conference with over 5,000 tweets during the 3.5 day event.

Backupify - Daily online backup for your social media and software-as-a-service data.

Presentations on Google Docs - Allows you to keep your presentation in a tab within your browser so that you can jump between the presentation and online content.

Podcast Episode #74 - Developing Your Digital Analytics Toolkit

In this episode of the Technology in the Arts podcast, Molly Hanse talks with Michael Newberry from the Global Analytics Team at OMD, one of the world's leading companies in media communications, about measuring progress in arts organizations and how to develop your digital analytics toolkit as an arts manager.  Their conversation covers analytic tools for your online communications, choosing which data to analyze, making decisions based on data analysis, determining where to invest in advertising, and more. Cool Sites of the Episode:

Google Analytics - It's robust.  It's free.  If you aren't addicted to it yet, you should be.  This tool provides you with all of the basic tools you need to determine how well your website is serving your organization.

Google Insights for Search - Allows you to compare search volume patterns across specific regions, categories, time frames and properties.

Quantcast - Web analytics experts building powerful statistical technology to understand digital media audiences. Offer free and paid levels of audience analysis.

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Podcast Episode #73 - Overview of PatronManager CRM with Gene Carr

In this episode of Technology in the Arts, Brad interviews Eugene Carr, President of Patron Technology, about the recent launch of PatronManager CRM - "an all-in-one system that manages and integrates all [of an] organization's operations: ticketing, donations, correspondence, e-mail, and calendar."  The conversation reveals Patron Technology's inspiration for pursuing the development of a customer relationship management system customized for arts organizations.  What benefits will it provide?  Can small arts organizations afford it?

Podcast Episode #72 - The Ride: Multi-media Theatrical Tourism on Wheels

In this episode of Technology in the Arts, Brad interviews Brett Jarvis, Technical Supervisor for THE RIDE, a multi-media, multi-discipline production that moves guests through midtown Manhattan on custom-built vehicles, while an ever-changing show featuring actors, performers, and everyday citizens unfolds on the streets before them. THE RIDE rolls out on September 16, 2010.

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