NATIONAL PERFORMANCE NETWORKpresents:

Doin’ It On the Road

a general reference for artists interested in touring their work

Introductions

• Who we are:A network of 62 performing arts organizations called Partners representing 43 cities and 28 states throughout the United States

Visual Artists Network (VAN) – 15 VAN Partners

• What we do:Support the creation and touring of performing and visual arts across the United States

National Performance Network

Basics of Touring

A Few Industry Definitions

Presenter

An organization which contracts with an artist to present that artist’s work to the public. The presenter provides the facility and technical support, promotes the event to the community, and pays the artist a fee.

Producer

An individual/entity who supervises and controls the finances, creation and public presentation of a play, film, program or similar work. In some cases, artists/companies have an organization which produces their work; in other cases artists/companies contract with producers for this function.

Producing Company/Artist

An entity that conceives and creates a work of art for which a presenter contracts.

Booking Agent

An entity that represents and promotes Producing Companies/Artists to Presenters, arranges tours and negotiates contracts. For some artists the booking agent function happens within the company, sometimes it is an external entity to which the artist pays a fee and/or percentage of contracts.

Manager

An advisor, confidant, counselor, organizer, industry “buffer,” cheerleader, or protector for the artist/company. A manager sees things from a different perspective from the artist (the big picture) and helps to devise a master plan that the artist can follow in order to achieve their goals.

Curator (performing arts)

A presenter who holds an aesthetic vision for their organization and community and applies that vision to their selection of artistic work for a season or series.

Self-Presentation

Artist/Company rents space, self-promotes work, is responsible for bringing in audience and receives box office income.

Commissioning

Providing all or part of the financing of a new work, but limited only to that financing support or in-kind contributions. Commissioning is distinct from producing, managing or presenting the work. Commissioners are not entitled to financial return.

Why tour?

• Broaden audience base

• Connect to like-minded communities

• Extend the life of the work

• Confirmed income

• See the country, meet new people

Are you ready to tour?• Finished work that has an audience at home• Company members who are willing to travel• Technical package / Tech Rider • Promotional package / marketing materials• Management/representation• Networking: How do you approach presenters with your

product?• Social networks: Making the web work for you• Research, research, research…

Relationship between your work at home and touring

• Portability of your completed work

• Understanding the audience you serve

• Connecting with similar markets/audiences in potential cities/sites across the U.S.

• The complete package…

What kinds of work tours?

Work that

• has a local, regional support base

• is economically feasible

• knows its audience

• crosses disciplines/sectors

Note: These are simply some recent presenting trends, not universal mandates

What they are looking for:How presenters identify work they are

interested in booking

Kinds of Presenters• Colleges and Universities• Multi-Disciplinary Arts Centers• Community Centers• Festivals• Municipal Performing Arts Centers• Producing Dance/Theater Companies (other artists)• Booking/Touring Houses• Arts Councils• And many more…

Learning about artists and their work

• Seeing work live

• Booking conferences

• Packets and media

• Rosters

• Web

Understanding the booking process

• Agents

• Self-representation

• Calendar/cycle of planning a season Booking conferences Grant deadlines Presenting Seasons

Different approaches to presenting

• Peer presentation• Partnering with diverse organizations• Touring support structures• Box Office Splits

Touring support structures• Association of Performing Arts Presenters• National Performance Network• South Arts • New England Presenters• Mid Atlantic Arts Federation• Western Arts Alliance• Arts Midwest• Alternate ROOTS• National Dance Project• National Theater Pilot

How to get booked: Tools for promotion

• Websites• Social media • Online work samples• Media samples• Press packets

After you get booked: Tools for touring

Tools for touring• Presenter Responsibilities• Artist Responsibilities• Pricing your work• Mutual understanding of presenter’s and artist’s

financial realities• Subsidies and financial resources • Sample contract• Insurance

Understanding each other:

• Artist responsibilities

• Presenter responsibilities

Pricing your work:Sample artist budget

ARTIST FEES, 1-WEEK 5 Artists, 1 Tech• Salaries for artists/tech 6 x $700 $4,200• Fringe benefit for artists/tech 6 x $140 $840• Transportation 6 x $350 $2,100• Lodging 6 x 7 nights x $75/night $3,150• Per diem 6 x 7 days x $40/day $1,680• Administrative Allowance $1,500• Artistic Director's Contingency $300

TOTAL FEE $13,770

Presenter expenses and revenues:Sample presenter budget

• EXPENSESFacility Costs

Rental $2,000 Insurance $100 Personnel

• Front of House

$600• Backstage

$1,200• Booth

$1,500• Presenter (admin/misc.)

$1,000Box Office $2,000Hospitality $500Marketing

Advertising $5,000 Direct Mail $1,000 Web $100 Program/playbill $1,000

Equipment Rental $1,000Artist Contract $13,770

• TOTAL EXPENSES $30,770

• REVENUESBox Office (400 seats @ $15.00 x 2 nights) $12,000Ad Sales $1,000Contributions and Grants $17,770

• TOTAL REVENUES $30,770

Tools for touring

• Subsidies and resources

• Sample contract

• Insurance

On the road:Connecting with community

• Contextualization of your work for an audience

• What are your intentions, and to whom does your work speak?

• Deepening the experience: Community engagement activities

Other opportunities

• Commissioning

• Long-term residencies

• Artistic collaborations

Questions / Answers