National Performance Networkpresents:

Doin’ It On the Road

A general reference for artists interested in touring their work

Introductions

National Performance Network Who we are

Network of 61 Performing Arts Partner Organizations across the United States (43 cities; 28 states)

Visual Artists Network – 15 VAN Partners What we do

Support the creation and touring of performing and visual arts across the United States

Basics of Touring

Why tour? Broaden audience base Connect to like-minded communities Extend the life of the work Income – cold hard cash 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…

Kinds of Presenters

Colleges and Universities Multi-disciplinary Arts Centers Community Centers Municipal Performing Arts Centers Producing Dance/Theater Companies (other

artists) Booking/Touring Houses Arts Councils …and many more…

Structures that support touring:

Association of Performing Arts Presenters National Performance Network Southern Arts Federation New England Presenters Mid Atlantic Arts Federation Western Arts Alliance Arts Midwest Alternate ROOTS National Dance Project

What kinds of work tours?

Work that has a local, regional support base is economically feasible knows it’s audience crosses disciplines/sectors

note: these are simply some recent presenting trends, not universal mandates

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.

How to Build Relationships with Potential Presenters

Presenters’ decision-making process

Seeing work live Learning about artists and their work Booking conferences Packets and media Rosters Web (MySpace, You Tube, FaceBook, etc.) Opportunity for presenters to share how they

select work

The Booking Process

Agents Self-representation Deepening the experience with residencies Calendar/cycle of planning a season

Booking conferences Grant deadlines Presenting Seasons

Different Approaches to Presenting

Relationship based Artist Presenters Community Curatorial theme

Mainstream Booking conferences Filling quotas Using booking house

Tools for Touring

Pricing your work Mutual understanding of presenter’s and

artist’s financial realities Subsidies and financial resources

Sample Artist Budget

ARTIST FEES, 1-WEEK Salaries for Artists/tech 6x$700 $4,200 Fringe Benefit for Artists/tech 6x$140 $840 Transportation 6x$350 $2,100 Lodging 6x7nightsx$75/night $3,150 Per Diem 6x7 daysx$40/day $1,680 Administrative Allowance $1,500 Artistic Director's Contingency $300

TOTAL FEE $13,770

Sample Presenter Budget EXPENSES

Facility Costs Rental $2,000 Insurance $100 Personnel

Front of House $600 Backstage $1,200 Booth $1,500 Presenter (admin/misc.) $1,000

Box Office $2,000 Hospitality $500 Marketing

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

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

TOTAL EXPENSES $30,770

REVENUES Box Office (400 seats @ $15.00 x 2 nights) $12,000 Ad Sales $1,000 Contributions and Grants $17,770 TOTAL REVENUES $30,770

Connecting with community, promotion of touring artists

Contextualization of your work for an audience

Presenter responsibilities Artist responsibilities What are your intentions, and to whom does

your work speak?

Other Opportunities

Commissioning Long-term residencies Artistic collaborations

Questions / Answers