I know, it's kind of a dumb question...but after our annual meeting, I
began rethinking some conversations I had last year with agents asking
about membership in Tennessee Presenters - because some of those
conversations got to the heart of using these new electronic tools we
have to help us sell ourselves. And one of the big ideas we stressed at
the annual meeting was using our electronic communications tools to
better connect with each other.
While I want to pass along these thoughts primarily to our artist
members, there are some universal themes all of us can recall from our
past, and maybe apply again to good result, no matter if we are agent,
presenter or artist.
First, let me say that we truly appreciate each and every one of you as
members. Brent, Wayles, Linda, Gail, David, Jacqueline, Lang, Jim, and
everyone on the agency side as well. We appreciate your membership and
your financial support. And that financial support is what I want to
talk about a bit - it has bought you a grand opportunity to get to know
the rest of us.
A few of us know one or two of you - that's how we came to know about
you and you became members. Now it's time to get to know some more
members of your extended family in this organization. So let's start
with the easiest and least costly thing you can do.
Post up to this list on a regular basis. Seriously. You'll be surprised
what we're interested in. Let us know what you're preparing for next
season, where you've been, where you're going, who's new. What really
gets you excited about your art...your organization. Give us some
information about yourselves. You don't have to spill all the beans at
once - just give yourself a regular reason, say once a month, to tell
us something about yourself and keep your name out in front of us.
Obviously, as we get into booking season, you'll be in more of a
selling mode, and we expect that. But in the off periods keep in touch.
We're much more likely to remember you when the talk gets serious.
If you have a web site, make sure we know where it is...and let us know
when there are additions and updates. If you don't - and not everyone
needs one (gasp!!!) - you just use the listserve a little more to keep
in touch with us.
Everyone is extremely busy and everyone has extremely limited resources
- especially artists. But when you can, make an effort to put in some
face time. There's at least one meeting a year where all of us should
be together - partly to take care of a bit of organizational business.
but mostly to get to pick each other's brains and get to know each
other as people. That's where the real connections that turn into sales
are made.
At our annual meeting just a couple of weeks ago, we began an effort to
get more information about each other's businesses out on our website.
Hopefully, as a result, presenters will have a ready resource for
finding artists to perform, agents will have a better feel for what
each presenter is looking for (and can handle from a technical aspect),
and artists will have another audience to whom they can showcase their
work. When we're done, we'll know who is presenting what - and be able
to see a full performance if we need to as an evaluation of the artist.
When we're done, we hope to be a thorough resource for all of our
members. But the information that will make that website more complete
has to come from somewhere and that is each of us.
So speak up and let us know about you and your organization. As
interactive as it may be, your web site is still pretty passive. Your
membership fees are passive as well - unless and until you put them to
use and get to know some of us.
We'd love to know about you and your art. Or you and your season, or
the new additions to your roster, or what you think about the current
state of affairs in theatre - whatever. When we know you, we're more
likely to find the intersections where we can do business together.
Stay in touch.
Bob
Robert Boyer
Patten Performances Director
UTC Fine Arts Center
www.utc.edu/finearts
423.425.4379
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