Schoolin' Life

Today I accepted the position as Director of Marketing and Public Relations at the Performance Network Theatre in Ann Arbor! I will finish my degree in Arts Management as I start this new journey! Thank you to Ken Stevens, Pam Cardell, The Staff ad Board of Performance Network, EMU Theatre, MASS MoCA, and all the lovely people I call family!
Let's get to work!

AMP and AAD12

A group of 11 Eastern Michigan University students were transformed into political advocates this April. Student Organization, AMPlifying the Arts, is a group of Arts Management students who are dedicated to providing opportunities for the university's artists and arts leaders. This year, AMP sent 11 of us to Washington D.C. to advocate with Americans for the Arts at Arts Advocacy Day.

Chairman Rocco Landesman of the National Endowment of the Arts and EMU Student Org, AMPlifying the Arts.

Every year A4A rallies arts advocates from across the nation to address congress on the importance of the arts and arts funding.

AMP and Hansen Clarke, a HUGE supporter of the arts in Michigan

Asking your representatives for $155 million for the National Endowments of the Arts and $30 million for arts education is not an easy task. However, AMP Students were pretty fearless. We're a group of passionate young professionals. And many of us recently completed a course in which we studied techniques in addressing congress to support the arts.

Alec Baldwin delivered a speech at the Kennedy Performing Arts Center to inspire the advocates. He mentioned his love for gangster dancing after watching West Side Story and convinced us it was an integral part of his early days of inspiration. That's right kids, you can thank Jerome Robbins for those giggles you get on 30 Rock.

If you're not an arts advocate, you may be asking yourself...Why would we invest almost $200 million in the arts? After Arts Advocacy Day, we're able to answer that question very easily. 

• Keeping the arts as a part of Core curriculum in public schools is a small investment to substantial outcomes. Students who participated in 3+ years of arts activities as opposed to students who spent less than a half year, on average scored 100 points higher on SAT exams.
• Hospitals that include the arts in their programming (i.e. art galleries in the lobbies, bedside performances, art classes, improv classes, etc.) consistently have shorter patient stays and happier employees. A portion of the National Endowment for the Arts supports Arts in Healthcare.
• The arts creates job opportunities. Ten percent of the estimated total of arts and culture organizations accounts for over 15 thousand jobs within the state of Michigan.
• For more facts click here!

AMP with ArtServe

Thanks to speaking skills from years of theatre, I was able to speak my mind and convey an idea to my representatives. AMP came back to EMU feeling we had really made a difference. SO CAN YOU! Click here to learn more about ArtServe and advocate everyday! 

Leave comments about a piece of art that changed you. Was it a piece of literature? A scene in a movie? A set of lyrics from a Disney movie?

...Mine was when I saw Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, Michigan. I was six years old and I still do theatre!

#NAMPC

Thanks to generous scholarships and supportive mentors, I was able to attend The National Arts Marketing Project Conference (NAMPC) in Louisville (Loo-ah-vull), KY. If we didn't get a chance to meet face-to-face OR we did and you simply can't remember the hundreds of names that ran through your ears - My name is Marissa Kurtzhals (aka @immastereo). I am the Social Media Specialist at Eastern Michigan University Theatre and I'm currently working on my undergrad in Arts Management.

Here's What I Learned at NAMPC

1) Conferencing is Intense.

Waking up served its challenges. Between the traveling, amazing conversations, informative seminars, and lots and lots of free food - fellow NAMPC-ers can probably relate to my thoughts every morning, "How am I going to make it through today?" Most of us relied on outside resources for that critical boost...

2) Arts Marketers Love Their Coffee.

Once that first sip hit my lips - I WAS GOOD TO GO! There were power stations (free coffee) throughout the day which had long lines stretched before them filled with rabid #caffeinejunkies.

3) Twitter is Awesome (Yes @unmarketing...Awesome).

One of my goals for the conference: Be Better With Twitter. Mission accomplished! My followers more than doubled and I was able to meet up with the marketing director of Stratford Shakespeare Festival just by tweeting her! It got to the point that I knew more people by their twitter names, than I did their actual names (@fuzzydinosaur, @littlewhits).  

4) Everyone Else Thinks Twitter is Awesome (a Little TOO Awesome).

If you were tweeting at NAMPC - I don't really need to explain...WE TOOK OVER TWITTER! We took it over so much that we couldn't even use it! Looking back, this makes me proud, but at the time - I was not happy with this inconvenience. Luckily, I got my nerd on the day before and created a NAMPC Twitter list (@immastereo/namp) of all the tweeters who were tweeting about NAMPC. The list was able to take the lead when the hash tag - #NAMPC experienced a tremendous surge and people followed my list! Did you hear that @EMUTheatre?? They were following MY list!

5) Curiosity is Key.

As you've clearly noticed by now, this is not by any means a comprehensive summary of the content that was offered at the conference. However, I would like to share some substantial pieces of info I gathered.

• You can (and should) tailor dynamic pricing to your organization.
• Google Analytics is a must.
• Your brand is determined by your audience.
• Seriously, stop shouting on social media sites.
• When it hits the fan - it's not time to hide behind the fan - it's time to be awesome.

6) Theatre People are My People.

On Saturday, the lunch tables were labeled so you could choose with which group to chat. Some of the tempting options included Emerging Leaders, Blogging, Advertising, and Visual Arts. I began frightfully wandering throughout the room - scanning every table - and came across...ONE OF THE THEATRE TABLES! Everyone was extremely friendly (as you can see) and we had great conversations!

7) It Doesn't Come Often...But NAMPC Sleep is Beautiful.

A belly full of room service and a brain full of ideas...this girl slept HARD every night. (This bed was more comfortable then my bed at home.)

8) Connections are Priceless.

Unfortunately, I had to leave the conference early and get back to reality (school). But on my way back to Ypsilanti, Michigan, I stopped at Danelle Cheney's apartment in Cincinnati. Danelle is a graphic designer at the Cincinnati Art Museum and one of my best pals. She let me stay with her and made me breakfast for dinner. What a pal. I met so many amazing people from some notable organizations (The Public Theater, Long Wharf Theater, Jacob's Pillow, and Arena Stage). AND I chatted with Bob Lynch...I felt like I was meeting a celebrity.

Thank you to EVERYONE who helped me prepare for my trip! Dr. Bill Fennal, Ken Stevens, Pam Cardell, Susan Badger Booth, Katherine Myers, August Rosa, Wendy Kivi, Emily Clarkson, Danelle Cheney, and Mama K.

(excuse my gigantic looking finger and check out EMU Theatre's blog!!)

Art Prize Anyone?

It's pretty clear that ArtPrize is one of the best art projects....ever.

(^that's colored sand by the way^)

What exactly is ArtPrize? It's a $45 thousand competition where nearly 2 thousand artists from all over the world submit ONE PIECE to be displayed around the entire downtown Grand Rapids, MI area.

(^that's ballpoint pen by the way^)

To give you a better idea - let me elaborate. Basically, you drive into Downtown GR and it doesn't matter where you go - THERE IS ART. All kinds. All over.

You could be driving down the street and you'll see a giant sculpture of a praying mantis... 

(^This piece is actually a finalist in the contest.^)

...or you'll wander into a pizza parlor and see wall art made out of bras donated by women who have had breast cancer. 

(See? Literally everywhere you go.)

My Mom and I headed out there for a weekend and discovered so many interesting pieces AND explored the city of Grand Rapids. We were able to walk into any restaurant, bank, store, lounge, or gallery that we wanted because they all were a part of the event.

 (^This piece was in a restaurant and was made out of THOUSANDS of tiny pieces of sequence.^)

We had an amazing lunch at Sanchez - Tapas Bistro. And enjoyed our visit to the Grand Rapids Art Museum.

The best part of the trip for me, was the viewing of Ocean Exodus by Paul Baliker (WHICH IS ALSO IN THE TOP 10!) Whoever decided to put this intricate sculpture on a rotating platform is genius. The disturbingly breathtaking piece is compiled with wood and bronze. The center of the piece features a giant octopus with a single tear streaming down its face. Whales, fish, and other sea creatures are carved into the woodwork - as if they're weaving in and out of the ocean and earth. Viewers are supposed to question their actions regarding the pollution of our oceans. This piece is still a work in progress and is expected to get bigger!

...here is a side image of the sculpture that I was able to snatch...

I encourage you to do your research on ArtPrize. We Michiganders are extremely lucky to have the opportunity to welcome so many contemporary artists and art lovers into our home.

Would you ever go to ArtPrize? Is this something you could do for YOUR community? Stay curious readers. And love art. That's all I ask.

(^Um yea, that's made out of leaves^)

HAPPY FALL

Why Don't People Like Art?

Well Hello.

This would be my first personal blog. But I will say that I've written many-a-blogs in my day. I completed my internship at MASS MoCA in June and now I'm working for Eastern Michigan University Theatre. Both jobs require(d) me to blog blog blog blog blog. So why not start my own eh?

This semester I have finally completed EVERY single gen ed requirement and all of my courses are for my major, which is Arts Management (I also have minors in Marketing and Theatre Communications. Woo!)

As a part of my minor, I decided to take a course called Sports and Events Marketing, taught by Professor Sam Fullerton. I figured, "Why not? We're both selling the same concept - Entertainment as a service." The only difference, I have found, are the numbers. As I'm reading the book for class, I see stats that tell me that sports are the 11th largest industry in the U.S. I realize that they DO have a pretty outstanding merchandise platform and practically built-in loyalty, but how are they able to sell out events on a regular basis? Arts orgs are pretty much happy with any attendance they get!

But why? I asked my beloved Mother and she said, "Well...not everyone can paint or act. But basically anyone can grab a basketball and shoot a couple hoops." My Mom is right. And that is just wrong.

But she brings up a good point.  Do people really think they CAN'T draw? or dance? or craft? I mean...I totally understand feeling a little shown up when you're standing in front of a Renoir or watch a youtube video of Martha Graham, but why does this scare people? Shouldn't it inspire them? But I suppose I understand. Fortunately, my family is fairly athletic so I have an appreciation for sports. However, if I asked my theatre friends to "shoot some hoops" or go to an EMU Football game, they'd look at me like I was insane. (Note: But pretty much anyone would go to a Red Wings or Tigers game...I mean...Let's get real.)

But why does the high school football team - who barely won a third of their season - get a new field and the drama club - who brings home state trophies - not even have a working drinking fountain in the green room? (What? I'm not bitter.)

...I don't have an exact solution for this dilemma, that's why I'm going to school. But sometimes it's good to read let these things out. We all know it. So someone needs to say it. Well here you have it: SPORTS GET MORE ATTENTION THAN THE ARTS. There.


I believe the solution to the problem (if the problem is addressed from an arts administrative stand-point) begins with education. I believe if elementary and secondary education can genuinely excite children and invite them into the arts community - they will beg their parents until - they too are passionate about the arts. Sports can be a huge part of family tradition, and that is where consumer habits form.


Now let me clarify something...Yes. My future job is in the arts. And yes, I most certainly want to earn a living off of my career. But my concerns have nothing to do with the bottom line. My choice in my education is deeply rooted in my belief that our existence could simply not function without the arts.


I will stifle this tangent for a future blog. I have many thoughts and opinions about the arts and I am always searching for the thoughts an opinions of others.


Comments are (obviously) more than welcomed. Keep reading =]