Overview

Based on 30+ years of experience in artist management, this book is a savvy collection of advice, learnings, and practical resources for successfully working in performing arts management. Many arts management books focus on hypotheticals and conceptual situations—so what’s a burgeoning artist manager to do when things get real? This book serves as the practical guide to build a meaningful and sustainable career in arts management, including basic building blocks of the field, along with many skills and guiding principles that have proven successful during economic downturns, industry shifts, and completely unexpected events. Filled with tools and templates, the book defines crucial aspects of arts management, such as equitable contracting, artist agreements, and fee structures. It also provides insight for filing visas to bring international artists into the United States, and peers into the future of the performing arts to assess current power structures in the field to reach toward equity in each and every role. With this book, new and aspiring arts managers and administrators will gain a real-world education and long-lasting inspiration as they develop their careers and come to understand how the performing arts touring world really works.

Full Product Details

9781041219880

Table of Contents

Reviews

“Immersive, thoughtful, and practical—this book inspires as much as it instructs, illuminating the hidden forces that make live performance possible.” Liz Maxwell, Associate Professor of Dance, Chapman University “From profound life lessons to practical contract clauses, this book is essential reading for anyone seeking to build and sustain performing arts communities. With detailed and humane insights, it equips artsworkers with the tools to thrive.” Rebecca Lazier, Professor of the Practice, Princeton University “This book pulls back the curtain on the essential roles that sustain the performing arts. Laura Colby reminds us that the work is not a series of transactions, but a shared effort built on trust, care, and collaboration, guiding the arts toward a lasting, connected future.” Chad Herzog, Associate Vice President, Arizona Arts at the University of Arizona and Executive + Artistic Director of Arizona Arts Live

Author Information

Laura Colby, President of Elsie Management (based in New York City), recipient of the 2016 Liz Silverstein NAPAMA Award, is the founder of Elsie Management. With over 30 years of experience in the performing arts, she has represented artists, spoken at leading institutions, and co-developed equity-focused workshops. In 2023, she created The Middle Woman, a 30-episode podcast guiding future arts leaders.

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