Just received this note from Gary Bacal, Managing Director of Center Dance Ensemble…
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Hi, Matt.

Did you know Joe Onofrio?  See Wednesday’s Arizona Republic obituary here:  http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/azcentral/obituary.aspx?n=joseph-onofrio&pid=144208331

As you can see he worked with and for just about everyone–and knew everyone.

When I first came to Arizona in mid-80s, and was working at ATC, four or five of us–I can’t remember all the players–got together in Tucson and put together an Arts Sampler–a package that got the buyer one ticket each to any performance of, as I recall, ATC (me), Ballet Arizona (Chuck Fischl), Arizona Opera (Joe),  the Tucson Symphony (Yvonne Tost Ervin) and I think an admission the Tucson Museum of Art.  We always talked about doing something like that for Phoenix , in fact talked about it a lot at the old Cafe Casino that used to be at 24th and Camelback next to Harkins.  And maybe a broader discount pass or system like ShowUp.com has.  But we never did because all had full-time commitments to our organizations–never broke free like you did from Scottsdale .  I know Joe was intrigued and pleased by the success and growth of ShowUp.

And I thought you’d be as intrigued and pleased to know there was the kernel of the ShowUp idea so many years ago.

 - Gary Bacal
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I’m sorry to say that I didn’t know Joe – but I am truly touched by Gary’s note and his reminder that the work we all are privileged to do today – and the community in which we live – is built on the vision, efforts and spirit of so many capable and passionate people who preceded us.

To everyone who knew Joe, I offer my condolences for the loss of your friend and colleague.

When I asked Gary for permission to reprint his note, he replied, “Sure, Joe loves good publicity.”   Sounds like someone I would have really liked!

Resilience.  In the arts & cultural sector, there is no more valuable quality. 

As today marks the end of the fiscal year for many organizations, let’s observe that there are measures of success even MORE important than a financial statement’s bottom line.  Any landing you can walk away from IS a good landing.  So today, let’s take a moment to celebrate that we have endured!  

These are surely some of the toughest times we have faced:  in our families; our careers; our organizations and companies; our sector; our communities; our State; and our Nation.

Yet every day, those of us who work in the arts and cultural sector rise with strength, tenacity and incredible passion to advance the missions of our organizations and to provide valuable services to our communities.  

Even in the best of times, we understand that success isn’t linear.  ”Three steps forward; two steps back” is an expectation we have all known for a long time.  Yet, in recent years we’ve learned to persevere – even when progress is measured as “Two steps forward; three steps back.”

Many years ago, (in a time before computers, when I received a daily paper ”target report” that showed the day’s & season’s ticket sales) at the end of a particularly frustrating and disappointing year, we held an outdoor ceremony and BURNED the final target report of the year.  It was, truly, a liberating experience - to let go of the old season.  To unburden before taking on new challenges. 

However your fiscal year is ending, let me invite you to raise a toast – or just take a breath. 

To my colleagues among all Alliance for Audience member organizations:  I applaud you.  Hug you.  Respect you.  Admire you.  Love you.   The very last line of Sunday in the Park with George returns the audience to the artist’s perpetual renewal:  “Blank, a white page or canvas.  His favorite.  So many possibilities.”

Tomorrow, we have the great privilege to start again.

All Alliance for Audience member organizations are invited to attend an exploratory presentation and discussion:

• Date:    Thursday, June 24
• Time:   8:30 to 10am
• Place:   Playhouse on the Park at Viad Corporate Center, 1850 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix  (just North of McDowell)  Parking is accessible from Palm Lane on the North side of the building and will be validated!
• Welcome:   Marketing Directors, CEO’s & General Managers, Box Office Managers, Development Directors, Board Members and everybody else from your organization who may be interested.
• There is NO COST to attend.
• Please RSVP all participants by registering here: http://audiencelist.eventbrite.com

Are you interested in growing your audience mailing list – and making it work more powerfully for you?

The arts and cultural communities in many communities – Denver, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia (to name a few) have organized list collaborative efforts – sometimes also called “list co-ops”, “community databases” or simply “big lists”.

The time has come to explore how such an effort might work here in Arizona – and how it could streamline processes between organizations that already exchange mailing lists – while significantly enhancing efforts to preserve list privacy and security.  Of even greater significance, such an effort should be able to provide macro-level reports that reveal the full extent to which the arts and cultural community serves resident households and help individual organizations better understand who are their own “best” leads.

In an effort to move this discussion forward, (and with the gracious help of Vincent Vanvleet of Phoenix Theatre) we have arranged for Will Lester of Target Resource Group (TRG) to meet with whoever may be interested to explain HOW such an initiative would/could work.  (Marketing, Box Office, Development and Executive staff and Board Members will find this especially interesting – and you’re welcome to bring everybody else from your organization might be interested is WELCOME to attend.)

(As a side benefit, Will has also agreed to stay for an extra half hour (from 10 to 10:30am) to speak with anyone who is interested in learning more about TRG’s work with arts and cultural organizations in “Dynamic Pricing” – by which ticket prices can rise and fall based on demand.)

For additional information – or to receive NOTES from the meeting if you’re unable to attend, please contact Matt Lehrman at MLehrman@allianceforaudience.org.

Please also note that this “list collaboration” discussion will continue at the Southwest Arts Conference.  Be sure to register!  More information here:   http://www.azarts.gov/swac/program/

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Last weekend’s opening of the Musical Instrument Museum was a great success.  Not only is the MIM a landmark museum attraction, but it’s also an incredibly exciting world-music concert venue.  Its 299-seat theatre is gorgeous, comfortable and (I’m told from reliable sources) the listening experience is absolutely stunning!

Our friends at the MIM invite ALL Alliance for Audience/ShowUp.com member organizations and stakeholders (and their friends!) to enjoy a performance TONIGHT and this weekend.  CLICK HERE to download a special “Buy One/Get One Free” offer for these performances:

• TONIGHT!  4/28 – NATION BEAT:  The Colorful sounds of Brazilian fusion
• FRIDAY!  4/30 - MELODY OF CHINA: San Francisco’s premier Chinese music ensemble
• SUNDAY!  5/2 LOS TEXMANIACS: 2010 Grammy winners with a unique Tex-Mex groove

Again, be sure to CLICK HERE or download it from http://www.allianceforaudience.org/mim1.pdf for complete “Buy One/Get One Free” details.

Enjoy the show!

These days, I take inspiration EVERY way I can get it!   (Don’t we all?)

Our friends at Arizona Citizens for the Arts and the Arizona Commission on the Arts remind us:  “The awards honor not only the creative talents of Arizona’s diverse arts and cultural community, but the passion of those who support the arts in our schools, our communities and our everyday lives.”

And if ever there was an opportune time & place to refresh our own passion for the arts, re-charge the passion of our Boards of Directors, reward staff and re-energize stakeholders -  THIS IS IT!

So, please register RIGHT NOW for the 2010 Governors Arts Awards (to be held April 19th at 5:30pm at the Orpheum Theatre) – http://www.governorsartsawards.org/

See you there!

Like many of you, this month Alliance for Audience submitted its grant application to the Arizona Commission on the Arts.

New this year was the requirement to submit a detailed Accessibility Plan.  And I’m particularly grateful to Margaret Fallon (AFA’s amazing ”Director of Everything that Needs Doing“) who researched and wrote our plan – and who worked closely with ARTability and the staff of the Arizona Commission on the Arts to craft something appropriate and useful to guide our continuing efforts.

Accessibility is truly a CORE function of any organization’s audience development undertaking.  This must NOT be just a document for the files.  Margaret has added an “Accessibility Moment” to our weekly staff meetings to keep us thinking, planning and acting upon our accessibility responsibilities.    

This week’s discussion topic was about remembering that when we communicate about someone who has a disability, it’s important to always talk about the PERSON first.  (I cringe, in retrospect, remembering a time when I heard one usher at a theatre call out to another, ”We got another wheelchair!” ) 

In case you weren’t prompted by the Commission’s grant process – please let me suggest that NOW is an opportune time to address your own accessibility plan.  We suggest starting here:   http://www.artability.org/mainmenu.html 

(And if you want to see the accessibility plan for Alliance for Audience & ShowUp.com – simply e-mail Margaret at MFallon@allianceforaudience.org and we’re happy to share.)

During April, the Arizona Republic’s Arizona Living section will be publishing a newsroom-produced “deals blowout” on each of the four Sundays. The Republic intends to bring readers the best deals and values so that they can enjoy Arizona, its arts, entertainment and dining the whole month long. Each of the deals featured will be a 2-for-1 bargain.

The deals will be themed each Sunday. April 4 will feature dining deals. On April 11, the theme is Arizona travel bargains. On April 18, entertainment and event deals will be featured. Arts deals will be the theme on April 25.

The Republic will be running the best 25 bargains in the Arizona Living Sunday section, and also posting those and as many other bargains as they can online.

The Republic has created a form by which local organizations, museums, businesses and venues can submit information to Deals reporter Sue Doerfler. The form can be found at www.dealsblowout.azcentral.com.

I’m delighted to share this invitation from Phoenix Theatre…

EVENT INFORMATION

Arts in Crisis: A Community Conversation with Kennedy Center President Michael Kaiser

MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2010
• 2:30 – 3:00pm Registration/Networking
• 3:00 – 4:30pm Conversation with Michael Kaiser
moderated by Robert Booker

Phoenix Theatre is proud to host Michael Kaiser’s visit to Phoenix as a part of Arts in Crisis: A Kennedy Center Initiative. Kaiser will address the challenges facing non-profit performing arts organizations today through such areas as fundraising, building more effective boards of trustees, budgeting, and marketing. Robert Booker, executive director, Arizona Commission on the Arts, will conduct an interview with Michael Kaiser and invite questions from the audience.

This event is free and open to the public.

Please pre-register by April 5th to ensure a seat. 

To register or for more information please call 602.889.5298 or email l.balch@phoenixtheatre.com

For more information about Arts in Crisis: A Kennedy Center Initiative, please visit www.artsincrisis.org