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The Goldmine in the Box Office
During recent history the ticketing professional has become a toolkit of functions that enhance venues through web page
development, social media marketing, contract negotiations, show settlements, budgeting and accounting, data collection
and analysis, donor development, and customer service. Not to mention the role they play as a trusted third party for
venues’ major presenting and rental partnerships as they plan third party sales and budgets hand in hand with the venues’ clients.
This panel will discuss the many insights box office personnel can bring to the table, and a better understanding of how they can
be your greatest asset in growing your business. Ticketing staff have a constant input of data, personal relationships, and first-hand
experience that, mixed with the digital assets and functionality they now have at their hands, can take a venue to the next level in
sales, service, and performance. Learn what resources are available through your box office, ways to break down the silo inherent
in ticketing, and best practices in ticketing to increase income through communication. Join us to find the keys to the riches behind
the box office door and unlock a future of success!
Held in Chicago C, Ballroom Level.
Presenters: Justin Karr, Vice President of Ticketing & Technology, Jujamcyn Theaters, New York, NY; Aren Murray, US Operations
Manager, Tixly, San Antonio, TX; and Maureen M. Patton, Executive Director, The Grand 1894 Opera House, Galveston, TX

Monday Afternoon Education Sessions Conference Education Sponsor

Tools & Techniques Segment 2
1:45pm - 3:00pm | 5 concurrent sessions; 1 session repeats in Segment 5 Wednesday

Building Cultural Bridges in a Small Rural Community
We want to diversify our programming. We want to reach under-represented cultures. We want to change minds in our
small rural communities. The challenge is figuring out how. Tibbits Opera House in Coldwater Michigan has been working
to build bridges and offer programming with the unique cultures in its community for several years. Initial efforts which showcased
the culture of the city’s large Yemeni population were sometimes met with hostility. DEI training for some key institutions,
including the theatre, led to the formation of a task force to bring the intent of the lesson to others. That effort became a
community-wide, month-long celebration with numerous organizations collaborating to present more than two dozen events. The
event celebrated Cultural Connections through music, dance, speakers, book reads, art, exhibits and food. The focus included many
different cultures. This session will explore things that worked as well as some lessons learned. Hopefully it will inspire your own
ideas and give you tools to start building your own bridges.

Wednesday’s session will be an abbreviated version of Monday’s session, followed by an interactive discussion of DEIB best
practices and a lively idea exchange.
Held in Chicago A, Ballroom Level. Repeated in Segment 5 on Wednesday. Sponsored by Custom Plaster, LLC
Presenter: Christine Delaney, Executive Director, Tibbits Opera House, Coldwater, MI

Renovation? But How Do We Pay for It? Multi-Faceted Approach to Fundraising Wins the
Race

Thinking about how to pay for that theater renovation can be extremely daunting. Regardless of the size of the project,
successful fundraising efforts and capital campaigns can only be achieved after reflecting on and engaging in: 1. Your own
organization’s strengths, 2. The available and abundant (if you know where to look!) financial resources, 3. Your loyal past, present,
and future patron base, and 4. Your wide-ranging network of champions. Join the entire team from the Zeiterion Performing Arts
Center (New Bedford, MA) for an in-depth discussion of the creative and resourceful strategies they utilized to successfully meet
their fundraising goals. From historic tax credits to grants and gifts, to at-home visits with potential donors, we will examine how
their approach was executed by not focusing on one big donor to foot the bill, but on delivering tactical micro-campaigns that
involved, engaged, and enticed the entire community. Our panel will include several of the “Z-Team” members who collaborated
in designing these successful outreach efforts. The architect, theater consultant, fundraising expert, and executive director will be
on-hand to provide “real-world strategies” as well as “lessons learned” to demonstrate how to incorporate some (or all) of these
approaches into your fundraising goals!
Held in Chicago B, Ballroom Level. Sponsored by Custom Plaster, LLC
Presenters: Rebecca Durante, LEED AP, NCIDQ, IIDA, Lead Interior Designer and Principal, Wilson Butler Architects, Boston, MA;
Rosemary Gill, President/CEO, Zeiterion Performing Arts Center, New Bedford, MA; Nicole Downing Merusi, Vice President of
Strategic Advancement, Zeiterion Performing Arts Center, New Bedford, MA; and Alec Stoll, ASTC, Principal, Stages Consultants,
Highland Park, NJ

PAGE 12 | INLEAGUE League of Historic American Theatres