2011 Emerging Practice Seminar

Location

University of Chicago
Gleacher Center
450 N. Cityfront Plaza Drive
Chicago, IL 60611

Admission

Registration is $45 and includes lunch.

Agenda

April 29, 2025 8:30am-5pm

8:30am: Check-In

8:45am: Welcome and Introduction

Morning Topic: Uses of Technology in Audience Engagement

9:00  Topic Introduction (Tim Roberts, ARTS Australia)

9:15  Case Study Presentations (subject to change):

    Concert Companion: right idea, wrong technology
    Engaging audiences with real-time interpretive content
    Presenter: Alan Brown, WolfBrown
  
    Tweet Seats
    Engaging audiences through Twitter inside and outside of venues
    Presenter: Vicki Allpress Hill, The Audience Connection

    Mobile Interaction: adding content and context
    Engaging audiences and visitors through QR codes and mobile apps
    Presenter: Ron Evans, Group of Minds

    Uses of Foursquare and Other Geolocation Technologies
    A study tracking 76 nonprofit theatres on Foursquare in the past year and a half, and several mini case studies
    Presenter: Devon Smith, 24 Usable Hours

    Innovative uses of blogging to engage audiences in new work (final title and presenter TBA)
  
    Best practices in uses of video content to attract and engage audiences and visitors (final title and presenter TBA)
 
10:45  30-minute Roundtable Consultations with Presenters

Participants have an opportunity to follow-up with the presenters on any of the six topics/case studies at informal roundtable discussions.
 
11:15  Break

11:30  Synthesis Discussion on Uses of Technology in Audience Engagement
 
12:00pm  Lunch Break

 
Lunch Topic: The role of Technology Devices in Theatres and Concert Halls

12:30:  A live debate between Martha Lavey, Artistic Director of Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and Alan Brown, Principal, WolfBrown.  Moderated by Roger Tomlinson, Senior Consultant with Baker Richards.

As a field, we are grappling with serious issues surrounding the sanctity of the audience experience.  What are the limitations of audience interaction and engagement during arts experiences?  Are we undermining the art forms by inviting audience members to Tweet?  Does art speak for itself, needing no mediation or embellishment, or should we provide audiences with more and more interpretive assistance, and allow them to photograph, remix and react in real-time?
 

Afternoon Topic: Revenue Management & Dynamic Pricing

1:30  Topic Introduction (Tim Baker, Baker Richards)

1:45  Case Study Presentations (subject to change):

    Chicago Symphony Orchestra revenue management case study
    Presenters: Kevin Giglinto, Vice President for Sales and Marketing, Chicago Symphony, and Philippe Ravanas, Chairperson of the Arts, Entertainment and Media Management        Department, Columbia College Chicago

    Goodman Theatre – emerging thoughts on dynamic pricing
    Presenter: Lori Kleinerman, Marketing & PR Director at Goodman Theatre  

    In the Night Garden
    Presenter: Debbie Richards, Baker Richards

    Sydney Opera House
    Presenter: Tim Roberts, ARTS Australia

    Center Theatre Group and its use of audience zoning to maximize revenue
    Presenter: Tim Baker, Baker Richards

    Auditorium Design & Its Ability to Affect Income
    Presenter: Duncan Webb, Webb Management Services
 
3:15  30-minute Roundtable Consultations with Presenters

Participants have an opportunity to follow-up with the presenters on any of the six topics/case studies at informal roundtable discussions.
 
3:45  Break

4:00  Synthesis Discussion on Revenue Management & Dynamic Pricing

4:30  Wrap-up

Day ends at 4:45pm