Date: Sat, 6 Dec 2008 15:56:51 -0500
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Are your bookings down or up?


My fall bookings are down after having a great summer

Just to give some more perspective- based on a larger sampleI am with a
chapter of Young Audiences
They include music, dance, storytelling and theatre artists all doing
arts-in-education in the schools.

A few days after Steve Axtell asked for comments, I got a note from Young
Audiences.

They report that for 2008 there has been an over-all 10% drop in programs
booked,

For this chapter that means a total 294 fewer programs booked.

The are proposing a "sale" with prices for programs 10% below the catalog
price.
They are asking the artists on their roster to accept 7% less during the
period of the sale.
Of course they have no way of knowing if the strategy will work.

One factor that has been reality for several years-
Back some years ago, Young Audiences had a mix of clients that included
suburban schools and inner city schools.

The inner city programs were funded by grants.
Those grants have almost entirely disappeared.
It might be argued that the inner city kids have the greatest need for
programs that promote creativity, and promote learning using alternate
methods.


The advantaged kids in the wealthier districts get the programs. In some
schools it is the parents groups (PTA etc) that pay for the programs.

Steve



On Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 8:54 AM, Steve Axtell <steve-AT-axtell.com> wrote:

> As a performer have you found that in these
> difficult economic times, that your show bookings
> are slower than normal, or are you as busy as
> ever.... or have you found that you are even
> busier this year than you were last year?
>
>
>
>
> Steve Axtell
> Axtell Expressions, Inc.
>  http://www.axtell.com
> ****************************************
> Amazing Puppets & Magic
>
>
> The original content of this email or attachment is (c) Axtell Expressions,
> Inc.
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