Thistle's the Way: Performing Arts in the Concho Valley

In the realm of human creativity, the performing arts stand as a testament to the fusion of imagination and skill. Traditionally seen as a domain driven solely by artistic expression, the performing arts have increasingly embraced a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating elements of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) into their fabric. This harmonious convergence has not only enriched artistic endeavors but has also expanded the horizons of innovation and collaboration. Let's explore how STEAM influences and enhances the world of performing arts. Science: Understanding the Human Experience At its core, the performing arts are based on human biology.  From the colors we see, the sounds we hear, the vibrations we feel, and the odors we smell, a live performance is tailored to maximize the sensory experience.  If we were dogs, it would be a completely different experience that may emphasize blues and yellow colors while adding more olfactory sensati

Leaving the Army after 22 years and somehow ending up in performing arts venue management may seem like two sides of two different rocks, but actually they are similar in many ways. Strategic planning, for example--not the strategic plan for a fiscal year, but the 5-10 year planning required to meet the needs of a future development--is common to both. Who on an Army staff doesn't like strategic planning? It is one of the most fun and engaging activities that an officer can do during their career. I jest of course. Strategic planning can be daunting, ponderous, complex, and unfinished. In the performing arts and non-profit world, strategic planning are all those things and more. In San Angelo, for example, we have to consider many factors such as the planned extension of the interstate, transition of organizational leadership, developments in other nearby cities, and the shifting trends in audience interests. At the forefront of all the variables, however, is the planned extension

This is a multi-part series to provide insight on the Performing Arts industry and what I've learned in two years as the Executive Director for SAPAC.    Non-profit performing arts management is a challenging profession that I have likened to being in the armed forces.  It is a dynamic environment that requires near term coordination and execution, long term planning, risk mitigation, operational assessments, and area analysis.  Every event is similar to a military training exercise.  Planning usually begins 6-8 months out, and sometimes 1-2 years depending on the size of a show.  During this planning and coordination phase, we finalize contracts and do initial coordination; this includes developing a marketing plan.  Everything has to be in place either at the start of a season or at least 3 months out from the show.  However, as planning for the upcoming season takes place, you're executing the for the current season of shows.      3-6 weeks out from the show, the Production

Musings by the Executive Director of the San Angelo Performing Arts Center. Yukio Kuniyuki Technology keeps us on the edge of our toes.  This weekend we managed our first Zoom call broadcast on Facebook Live and projected on a screen in one of our theatres.  We had never done something like this, but were asked by an event organizer to help figure out how they could reach more people during a Cancer awareness event. So we did it.  It wasn't perfect at first because we had to work out a few networking issues, but we had it going within 15 minutes.   Today is another test of technology to meet the evolving demands of the information domain.  We hear marketing professionals say that organizations need to improve their Search Engine Optimization.  They say that blogging is the way to go, but they don't often say which blogs to use.  As with some other non-profits who created a blog on their website, we followed suit.  But I got to thinking, is this the right blog forum?  In a world