How to Run a Theater: Creating, Leading and Managing Professional Theater

by Jim Volz

"All of us in the arts field are hungry to improve our skills in arts management. The grim tenor of the times makes this witty and fun guide even more valuable to us all!" Ben Cameron, Former Executive Director, Theater Communications Group "Dr. Jim Volz knows how to organize, how to manage, how to motivate, how to assign priorities. In short, he knows how to get the job done." Abe J. Bassett, Former Dean, Indiana University/Purdue University 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. Now, Jim Volz brings his expertise to anyone who works in arts management, from novices to middle managers to executive directors. How to Run a Theater is a unique, dynamic, and savvy guide to building an arts institution that works. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience, here is practical advice on a variety of management skills: Financial Management; Personnel Management; Fundraising Development; Board of Trustees Communications; and Marketing & Audience Development. This new edition is thoroughly updated and revised and now includes a Board of Trustee Contract, new budget exercise with ticket income formulae and the use of social networking for marketing and fundraising.

Genres: Theatre, Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published May 29, 2011

Reviews

[Tinkerbell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've had the dream to run my own theater for a very long time, and I figured I would pick up a book about the mechanics just in case I suddenly run into a ton of money and can make my dream come true. Well, my eyes glazed over trying to read many parts of this book, but I'm glad I read it.

Every time I looked at the cover I thought it said, "How to Ruin a Theater" which made me laugh. Actually this author seems like he is very good at his job and has a lot of great advice. However, I think the book should be titled, "How to Run a Very Large Non-Profit Theater that Already Exists." There was nothing said about for-profit ventures, nothing said for smaller programs that may need less staff or less structure, nothing for those just starting a theater program. There was also a lot of business talk in here, hence the eyes glazing over. Any book that uses the term "Ad Hoc" more than twice makes me want to go to sleep. I KNOW that theaters are a business and therefore you need to know how to run a business, but I think things could have been conveyed without all the office jargon. "Encourage and request public relations assistance, communication, and support internally and externally." Ok, but there's gotta be a better way to say that.

There were weird things, like a section would be labeled "Budget Basics: A to Z" and then there was a numbered list afterward... but the "Terminology: A to Z" would be in alphabetical order. Is that supposed to be funny, or just confusing? A lot of things were repeated, but each time it was presented like a new idea, not like he was repeating for emphasis.

Like I said, I'm glad I read it, and I'm sure the author is good at his job, but the book could have been a little more user friendly.

[Robert · Rating 1 out of 5]

This reads like a brain dump from someone on speed. There is no discernible organization to the way things are presented. Lists of vague ideas with no follow up action, and brief pointless history lessons.

[Leonard Bacica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the advice is very useful, some of it it's dated, and some of it is very focused on US. A useful read overall, but always meant to be a ready reference rather than a lecture.

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because I'm on the cusp of starting a theatre company. This book is clearly geared towards artistic directors of fairly large, well established, not for profit, regional theaters. That being said there was still a fair amount of useful information and I imagine I'll refer back to this book for various things as the years go by.

Mr Volz loves lists. Loves them. Whether they have anything to do with the topic at hand or not. I have a feeling when he goes in to a consulting job he hands them a packet of lists, and he has taken those lists and put them together with some more long form prose for this book. The tone of the lists varies wildly, from informative and succinct to dry and sarcastic. Some of the lists should be excised from their current placement and given a chapter all their own called "Lists I love but don't fit into any of the chapters"

[Bizzy Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly informative and witty, it's also a great resource. Running an arts organisation in the uk not all things were relevant for me but it's certainly something I can adapt for my own needs.