Theatre Communications Group has, very wisely, been doing "Snapshot Surveys" of its member theatres. Real Clear Arts, an ArtsJournal blog breaks it down for us and mentions some really interesting trends in the industry.
The first set not only indicates danger -- little surprise there -- but also shows just how quickly the world has changed for theater in the last six to eight months.
Last September, of the 241 members who completed the survey, 41.5% reported a surplus, while 36.5% said they had ended their most recent season in the red. The rest broke even. Subscriptions and single-ticket sales were growing.
By January, only 11% of respondents expected a surplus at season's end, while 58% expected to be in the red. Subscriptions, fall and holiday ticket sales and year-end donations had all dropped unexpectedly, and 77% said they were "reprojecting" their expenses for the year.
To cope, two-thirds or more said they were communicating more, using technology and social networking, and revising their planning processes. Better yet, 44% said they were sharing services with other organizations, and 38% said they were narrowing their programs to focus on their core mission.
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