Comments on: Arts Entrepreneurship

By: Dennis Baker

Dennis Baker — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 01:23:54 +0000

Hi Lisa,

Mick was someone I quoted on Twitter. I saw the Institute website, congrats. I have been in email conversation with Cory Huff over at Abundant Artist. I am curious about an arts entrepreneur online hub of content and classes, with physical meeting at satellite locations like Portland, Los Angeles, Austin, Chicago, etc. for online community members that can attend. I agree that artists are not getting the entrepreneur skills they needs, and with today’s technology, I think more artists can be reached that do no live in the location that the schools is at. I look forward to hear how classes are going.

By: Lisa Canning

Lisa Canning — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:09:48 +0000

Mick,
Thanks for the shout out! Don’t know if you also know that I am rolling out a brand new school to teach artists how to earn a living called The Institute for Arts Entrepreneurship.

http://www.TheIAE.com

Since you are interested, like I am, in getting rid of the notion that artists have to starve, your readers might like to support the mission and get a free button. Here is the link.
http://www.instituteforartsentrepreneurship.com/IAE_-_Free_Button.html

Every good wish,

Lisa Canning

By: Dennis Baker

Dennis Baker — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 23:29:51 +0000

Thanks Travis, I will look into what New Leaf is doing.

By: Dennis Baker

Dennis Baker — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 23:28:42 +0000

I don’t think theater has to be completely void of capitalism. Non-profit does not mean “no profit”. In an ideal world, the theater is paying livable wages to all the artists, technicians, etc (pause for the sighs from all the artists and technicians, as we know this is not usually the case). For that to happen there has to be money made, and therefore entrepreneurship. What I am curious for in 2010 is bringing to light the different models that are being explored in the light of all that has been discussed in the theatrosphere.

Papp’s biography is high on the reading list and something I look forward to reading.

By: Uke Jackson

Uke Jackson — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:00:12 +0000

I’m not certain that entrepreneurship is the right model. That still requires a capitalist approach. and capitalism in theater leads to middle brow dreck.

I advise everyone thinking about these things to read “Free for All” the new Joe Papp biography, if you haven’t already.

I posted my review of the book on my blog last night:

http://www.aplaywrightspeaks.blogspot.com/.

By: Travis Bedard

Travis Bedard — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:03:46 +0000

I agree that we need more business acumen in our approach to the business of theatre. I think that we spend too much of our talking time talking about how we don’t have any money and trying to figure out the next bake sale to make that happen.

Which is why the discussion moved to new models… the two most exciting at the moment being the CST model that Stolen Chair is running and the partnership model the New Leaf just unveiled.

Folks who aren’t trying to ignore that we don;t have a widget to sell but rather are trying to adapt their model to monetizing what we DO have.