Volz (California State U., Fullerton) offers common-sense advice to help theater producers, artistic directors, and managing directors, as well as middle managers preparing to move into executive positions, with the tasks they have to deal with every day: organizing time, running board meetings, charting fund-raising strategy, communicating audience development plans, and following through. He combines basic arts management procedures and strategies with tips for time, life, and personnel management and long-term career-planning. Annotation #169;2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Jim Volz is one of America's leading theatre consultants with over three decades of work with theatre, dance, music, museum and arts center management. Jim is President of Consultants For the Arts, a theatre critic/columnist for Back Stage, editor of the Shakespeare publication, quarto, and a professor at California State University, Fullerton Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Acknowledgments	V
Preface	XIII
Chapter 1 Life Management and the Arts	1
Understanding Human Behavior Is the Key to Successful Arts Administration	1
Communication	2
Understanding and Empathy	3
Strategic Time and Life Management for Savvy Arts Executives	4
Tools for Time Management	5
Ten Timely Tips for Savvy Arts Administrators	6
Twenty Terrible Distractions that Erode Productivity	10
Thirty Wonderful Ways to Seize Control of Your Own Life	12
Chapter 2 Producers, Artistic Directors & Managing Directors: Executive Staff Strategic Planning	18
The Artistic Vision & Producing in America's Nonprofit Theatres	18
An Introduction to America's Nonprofit Theatre Movement	18
Artistic Visioning, the Artistic Director & the Artistic Team	22
The Managing Director	24
The Artistic Director-Managing Director Partnership	24
Sample Organizational Chart for Nonprofit Theatres	25
A Sampling of Mission Statements from Select American Theatre Institutions	26
A Suggested Arts Planning Schedule	30
Brainstorming & Strategic Vision	31
Twelve Timely Tips for Taking Charge & Endearing Your Theatre to Your Community	32
Fifteen Fabulous Ways to Infuriate Your Community	34
Season Selection: Savvy Strategies, Sick Tales & Sad Stories	35
Introduction	35
Advice to Arts Leaders Everywhere: Twenty-one Wonderful Ways to Improve Your Life in the Theatre	37
In Our Own Words: Seventeen Notes Actors Would Like to Offer Artistic Directors	40
Creating Ownership: Strategic Tricks of the Trade	42
Introduction	42
Chapter 3 Board of Trustee Management and the Arts	46
The Role of the Nonprofit Arts Board of Trustees	46
Board of Trustee and Executive Staff Relations	46
Introduction	46
General Tips on Board of Trustee-Executive Staff Relations	47
Board Meeting Planning	50
Organization of the Agenda	50
Distribution of Board Meeting Minutes	51
Season Planning, Budget Preparations & Board Communications	51
Introduction	51
Season Selection and Budget Planning	52
Fundraising Planning & Board Communications	53
A Sample "Talking Points" Outline for Recruiting New Board Members	55
Soothing Souls, Funding Dreams & Saving Theatres: National Theatre Leaders Speak Out on Building America's Nonprofit Boards	57
Who Should Be on a Theatre Board?	58
What Is the Right Size for a Nonprofit Theatre Board of Trustees?	59
How Do You Keep a Board of Trustees Focused on the Theatre's Needs?	60
Sample Board Meeting Agenda	61
In Conclusion	62
Is It Lonely at the Top? Give Yourself a Grade for Board-Staff Communications	62
Board of Trustees: Institutional Audit Questionnaire	63
Introduction	63
Board-Staff Relations	64
Budgeting, Finance & Season Planning	65
Fundraising	66
Marketing & General	68
Volunteers: A Perspective	70
Guidelines for the Recruitment and Nurturing of All Volunteers	71
Chapter 4 Strategic Planning for the Arts	73
Strategic Planning for Successful Theatre Operations	73
The ABC's of Strategic Planning	74
SWOT Analysis Grid	79
Chapter 5 Personnel Management & Human Resources	80
Company Management	80
Introduction	80
Important Advice	81
Key Personnel for Most Nonprofit Theatres	81
The Company Handbook	81
Areas for Company Handbook Consideration	82
Managing People: A Day-to-Day Checklist	85
Supervisory Skills, Secrets & Debatable Sins	85
When Great Minds Gather: Running a Productive Meeting	86
Communications Basics: Memos, E-mails & Letters	87
Building Character & Careers: Theatre Personnel Development	88
Human Resources: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly	91
Hiring	91
Sample Interview Questions	92
Orientation & Training	93
Promotion & Retention	93
Termination	95
Negotiating Tips for Arts Managers	96
Motivational Points to Consider	97
The Bottom Line & Golden Rules	98
The Negotiation Tip Sheet	99
Ethics & the Arts: Making a Commitment to Human Dignity	103
Introduction	103
Too Busy for Ethics	103
Taking a Stance: Codes of Ethics, Human Dignity & Sexual Harassment in Arts & Education Associations	104
Individual Theatre Policies	105
Summary	108
Chapter 6 Fundraising for the Arts: Basic Strategies for the 21st Century	109
Introduction to Fundraising	109
Fundraising Can Be Fun	109
Fundraising Can Be Poignant	109
Fundraising Keeps Institutions Alive	110
Fundraising by Any Other Name	110
Marketing-based Fundraising Is Here to Stay	110
Start in Your Own Backyard	111
How to Recruit a Board of Trustees That Understands Fundraising Responsibilities	111
Introduction	109
Key Concepts Related to Fundraising Leadership	112
Creating Enthusiasm	112
Establishing a Sense of Urgency	113
Define Your Mission	113
Establishing a Case Statement	113
Determining Feasibility	113
Clear Public Communications	113
Setting Goals	113
Timing	114
Staff Support	114
Budget	114
Orienting Fundraisers	114
Developing Prospects and Suspects	114
Solidifying the Prospective Donor List	115
Matching Fundraisers to Prospective Donors	115
Cultivating Prospective Donors	115
The Ask and Follow-Up	115
Ongoing Cultivation	116
Renewing Contributions	116
Basic Fundraising Vehicles	117
Annual Campaign	117
Planned Giving	117
Capital Campaigns	117
Endowment Campaigns	117
Fundraisers	118
Fundraising Theories	118
Introduction	118
Fundraising Myths	119
Common Fundraising Mistakes	119
A Sample Executive Outline of a Strategic Fundraising Plan	120
Fundraising Objectives, Targets & Goals	123
Chapter 7 Marketing the Arts in the 21st Century	126
Introduction	126
Overview	127
Basic Arts Marketing Terms	127
Press & Media	129
Helpful Media Hints	130
Job Descriptions	131
Director of Marketing	131
Director of Audience Development	131
Director of Publications	131
Director of Press and Public Relations	131
Sales Manager	131
Group Sales Manager	131
Telemarketing Manager	132
Box Office Manager	132
Director of Education	131
Image-building and Strategic-planning Notes	132
Nuts-and-bolts Staff Communications & Relations Tips	133
Income & Image Strategy Basics	135
Marketing on a Limited Budget	136
Two Audience Development Tools for Strategic Planning and Goal Setting	137
Outline for Strategic Planning and Nuts-and-Bolts Marketing	137
Chapter 8 Budgeting & Financial Management	142
Budget Basics: A to Z	142
Summary of Standard Theatre Financial Terminology & Processes	145
Introduction	145
Terminology: A to Z	145
Sample Business Office Procedures	147
Purchase Orders	147
Cash Receipts	147
Cash Disbursements	147
Bookkeeping	148
Annual Audit	148
Business Office Flow Chart	148
Financial Worksheet for Theatre Budget Planning	149
Sample Comparative Budget Analysis of Expenses	158
Chapter 9 Surviving in a Competitive Field	159
Trippingly on the Tongue: A Guide to Speaking the Speech (or Public Speaking)	159
If You Are in the Theatre You Are Expected to Know How to Speak	159
Content and Form	159
Speaking the Speech Tips	160
Tips for Stress Reduction: Staying Fit for Life	161
Introduction	161
Stress Reduction Tip Sheet	162
Five Tips for Starting a New Job	165
Fourteen Artistic Networking Survival Skills for Theatre Professionals Young and Old	165
Introduction	165
An Abbreviated Directory of Related Labor Unions, Guilds, Theatre Contracts & Associations	167
America's Nonprofit Professional Theatres: An Overview of Four Nationwide Organizations	170
Theatre Communications Group (TCG)	170
League of Resident Theatres (LORT)	171
Institute of Outdoor Drama (IOD)	174
Shakespeare Theatre Association of America (STAA)	178
A Final Note	181
Bibliography	182
Index	184
About the Author	190

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