Artificial Intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept, it’s an operational necessity for lean arts organizations. In this episode of The Offstage Mic, Aubrey Bergauer sits down with Ashley Gross, CEO of the AI Workforce Alliance, to demystify how AI can save cultural institutions tens of thousands of dollars and hundreds of staff hours. Whether you’re an AI skeptic or an early adopter, this episode provides a baseline for understanding the current tech landscape and moves quickly into practical application.Ashley shares her "inception story" of building a $115 million revenue pipeline using AI tools before ChatGPT even existed. Together, Aubrey and Ashley walk through live exercises, including drafting an internal AI policy and building an automated "AI agent" for a general inquiry inbox. You’ll learn how to identify "leaks" in your processes, the difference between simple automation and autonomous agents, and how to ensure your technology adoption aligns with core artistic values like inclusivity and accessibility.Subscribe for more case studies and arts management insights. Reserve your free seat for this Audience Growth Masterclass right now by going to www.aubreybergauer.com/masterclass.Sponsors:Bolero: https://hellobolero.com/changingthenarrativeEvolvArts: https://evolvarts.com/Morreale Digital: https://morreale.ca/podcast

Running an arts organization is hard, but tackling a $1 million deficit is a different level of challenge. In this episode, Aubrey Bergauer sits down with Vanessa Morosco, Executive Artistic Director of the American Shakespeare Center (ASC), to discuss how they orchestrated a massive financial turnaround. Learn the tactical steps taken to integrate marketing and development departments, the nuances of managing board expectations during a crisis, and the importance of viewing transactions as human behavior. Whether you work for a theater, a symphony, or a museum, this case study offers a roadmap for moving from financial scarcity to a balanced, sustainable future.Subscribe for more case studies and arts management insights.Reserve your free seat for this Audience Growth Masterclass right now by going to www.aubreybergauer.com/masterclass.Sponsors:Bolero: https://hellobolero.com/changingthenarrativeEvolvArts: https://evolvarts.com/Morreale Digital: https://morreale.ca/podcast

Are your traditional funding sources drying up while your audience development plateaus? In this mid-season reflection, Aubrey Bergauer revisits her seven bold performing arts predictions for 2025 and 2026 to see what’s working and what’s failing in the current landscape. From the global boom of the subscription economy to the bipartisan surprise in government funding, this episode breaks down the data-driven shifts necessary for survival. Aubrey shares why retention must overtake acquisition as your primary growth engine and how AI can reclaim your staff's time for higher-value creative work.This episode is for arts administrators, executive leaders, and board members who are ready to stop the "leaky bucket" of audience churn and start running their organization like a business. You’ll learn: Why opt-out renewals and strong onboarding are the keys to bucking subscription declines. How to move beyond brand-only social media to leverage an "influencer army" of artists and staff. And the tactical ways AI-assisted productivity can solve administrative burnout without cutting jobs.Sponsors:Bolero: https://hellobolero.com/changingthenarrativeEvolvArts: https://evolvarts.com/Morreale Digital: https://morreale.ca/podcastSources:Aubrey Bergauer: 145% Performance Revenue Growth with the Long Haul Model https://www.aubreybergauer.com/long-haul-modelMark Schaefer: Marketing Rebellion https://businessesgrow.com/publication/marketing-rebellion/

Is opera actually dying, or is the business model simply stuck in the digital dark ages? In this episode of The Offstage Mic, Aubrey Bergauer sits down with Dr. Caitlin Vincent, author of 'Opera Wars', to dismantle the narrative that the art form is fading. Instead, they look at the hard data: while public demand for live culture remains high, the structural systems—from hiring practices to financial management—are faltering.This episode is for arts administrators, executive leaders, and creators across all disciplines who are tired of 'gut instinct' management and ready for data-backed change. You’ll learn how gender bias is baked into repertoire selection, why the 'artistic genius' trope protects toxic behavior, and why every artistic decision must be viewed as a commercial one to ensure survival.Sponsors:Bolero: https://hellobolero.com/changingthenarrativeEvolvArts: https://evolvarts.comMorreale Digital: https://morreale.ca/podcastSources:The Conversation: Opera is not dying – but it needs a second act for the streaming era https://theconversation.com/opera-is-not-dying-but-it-needs-a-second-act-for-the-streaming-era-271376Journal of Arts Management, Law, and Society: Financial Headwinds in the Performing Arts: Evidence from United States Opera, 2005–2023 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10632921.2025.2596078Caitlin Vincent: Opera Wars https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Opera-Wars/Caitlin-Vincent/9781668084069

Customer experience is more than a buzzword. It is a critical driver of the bottom line, affecting everything from word-of-mouth marketing to donor retention. In this episode, Aubrey Bergauer dives into the 'Three Fs' of customer experience with a focus on making the venue friendly for newcomers. As traditional subscriber bases shrink, organizations must pivot to engage the 'non-aficionado' majority who value surprise, quality, and unpredictability in live events.Who it's for: Arts leaders, marketers, and executive directors looking to modernize their audience engagement and operational strategies.We’re joined by Toby Suckow and Mason Bates of Mercury Soul, an innovative organization redefining how audiences experience classical music through immersive, nightlife-inspired performances. Toby and Mason share how they’ve built a groundbreaking model that blends electronic music, classical performance, and experiential design to attract new audiences and reimagine concert culture. This episode dives into arts innovation, immersive experiences, audience development, and the future of live performance.Sponsors:Bolero: hellobolero.com/changingthenarrativeEvolvArts: evolvearts.com Morreale Digital: morreale.ca/podcast Sources:McKinsey: A new way to measure word-of-mouth marketing https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/growth-marketing-and-sales/our-insights/a-new-way-to-measure-word-of-mouth-marketing#/ Eventbrite: Social Study Report: How Gen Z and Millennials Are Redefining Live Experiences in 2026 https://investor.eventbrite.com/press-releases/press-releases-details/2026/Eventbrites-Inaugural-Social-Study-Report-Reveals-the-Reset-to-Real-How-Gen-Z-and-Millennials-Are-Redefining-Live-Experiences-in-2026/default.aspx

Welcome to Season 6 of The Offstage Mic! We are kicking things off with a massive milestone: our 50th episode. In this season premiere, host Aubrey Bergauer dives deep into the latest national data from SMU DataArts, JCA, and Advisory Board for the Arts to reveal the truth about the 'cutting death spiral' currently facing cultural institutions. This episode is for arts administrators, executive directors, and board members who are tired of short-term budget fixes and are looking for a sustainable path to growth. You’ll learn how the ‘minimum viable product’ model applies to arts innovation, why cutting performances is actually hurting your bottom line, and the surprising reason your first-year subscribers are the key to unlocking long-term donor loyalty. Plus, Aubrey announces a major giveaway to celebrate 50 episodes, including gift cards, t-shirts, and a free Audience Development Bootcamp.Subscribe to the show for more data-backed strategies to help your arts organization thrive. Whether you are listening or watching our new video format, we appreciate your support in changing the narrative for the arts.Sponsors:Bolero: hellobolero.com/changingthenarrativeEvolvArts: evolvearts.com Morreale Digital: morreale.ca/podcast Sources:Edison Research: Podcast Listening Hits Record High https://www.edisonresearch.com/podcast-listening-hits-record-highs/#:~:text=The%20percentage%20of%20people%20age,100%20million%20weekly%20listeners%20milestone.Riverside: Podcast Statistics and Trends for 2026https://riverside.com/blog/podcast-statistics#:~:text=In%202023%2C%20podcasts%20were%20most,68%25%20listen%20to%20whole%20episodes Podcast Hawk: 70% of the Audience Listen to a Full Podcast Episodes https://podcasthawk.com/70-of-the-audience-listen-to-a-full-podcast-episodes-the-key-to-targeting/#:~:text=The%20answer%20might%20surprise%20you,is%20the%20key%20to%20success Signal Hill: YouTube’s Growth As a Podcast Power Player https://www.westwoodone.com/blog/2024/07/08/youtubes-growth-as-a-podcast-power-player-revealed-in-cumulus-media-and-signal-hill-insights-podcast-download-spring-2024-report/ SMU DataArts: National Trends 2025 https://culturaldata.org/national-trends/national-trends-2025/ Aubrey Bergauer: Scarcity Mindset is Killing Your Arts Organization https://aubreybergauer.medium.com/scarcity-mindset-is-killing-your-arts-organization-f4c023f1c844 JCA: Trends in Performing Arts Audience Behavior: 4 Key Takeaways for 2026 https://www.jcainc.com/trends-in-performing-arts-audience-behavior-4-key-takeaways-for-2026/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=sharpspring&sslid=M7e0MDAyMjMyNjI2AQA&sseid=MzEAAUMDS0tLMwNjEwA&jobid=3d003ea7-7129-4e80-9ea1-ece89d2b0133 Advisory Board for the Arts: 2025 Ticket and Subscriptions Sales and 2026 Forecasts https://www.advisoryboardarts.com/research-collector/2025salesrevenues2026projections

What does Changing the Narrative mean ten years later? That is what this season of The Offstage Mic with Aubrey Bergauer is all about. How can we continue to change the narrative for our cultural institutions today? How can we reverse the negative trends so pervasive these days?This podcast is about running our business: how to grow audiences, develop high performing teams and leaders, get younger attendees in the seats and on the donor rolls, apply strategies working in other sectors, and generate more revenue, all in order to serve the mission and flourish in a changing world.We are talking all things the business side of the arts, and it is not business as usual.Season Six of The Offstage Mic launches April 14. Watch, listen and follow along wherever you get your podcasts.

If your days as an arts leader are consumed by never-ending to-do lists, last-minute fires, and reactive work—this episode is your call to break the cycle. In this Season 5 finale, we dig into a leadership struggle that nearly every arts executive, administrator, and manager faces: the battle between the urgent and the important. Through honest reflection, personal experience, and practical tools, we unpack why time management in arts leadership isn’t just about productivity—it’s about reclaiming your role as a strategic visionary. You’ll learn how to identify the 20% of your work that drives real impact, why busyness can be a form of avoidance, and how to shift your focus toward building a thriving future for your organization. If you're ready to trade burnout for clarity and momentum, this episode offers both the mindset shift and tactical tools to help you get there.The Offstage Mic is made possible by Artelize: their Audience Retention Dashboard is the one-stop place to access your audience data across every important metric. And also by Annual Fund Toolkit: they’ve built a support system to help grow your donor community and major gift pipeline.

One of the biggest mistakes arts organizations make is over relying on major donors. In this penultimate episode of the season, Aubrey Bergauer talks with Dana Snyder—author of The Monthly Giving Mastermind—about why major gifts alone won’t save your organization’s financial future. Together, they explore how a strong monthly giving program isn’t just smart strategy; it’s sustainable, reliable, and rooted in digital marketing best practices.Learn how moving just 2% more charitable donations to monthly giving could unlock $9 billion in recurring revenue. Discover why recurring donors give 42% more per year, and how to build a donor pipeline that leads to more major gifts—not fewer. If you’re tired of chasing one-time checks and ready to grow real stability, this episode is a must-listen.What You’ll Learn:Why over-relying on major donors puts your organization at riskThe $9 billion opportunity in recurring givingHow to launch and grow a thriving monthly giving programWhy digital marketing skills are key to donor retentionHow to move monthly donors into major givingThe Offstage Mic is made possible by Artelize: their Audience Retention Dashboard is the one-stop place to access your audience data across every important metric. And also by Annual Fund Toolkit: they’ve built a support system to help grow your donor community and major gift pipeline.

Does managing operations at your arts organization feel tedious or unwieldy? Maybe you know your internal processes need a boost, but don’t you know where to begin. Good news: It’s actually more simple than you think. This episode, Aubrey talks about the Kaizen Method of sustained, incremental change. If it feels like you’re trying to turn a big ship, instead of letting perfect be the enemy of good, start by testing out small changes to see what yields the biggest results. This episode tells you how. The Offstage Mic is made possible by Artelize: their Audience Retention Dashboard is the one-stop place to access your audience data across every important metric. And also by Annual Fund Toolkit: they’ve built a support system to help grow your donor community and major gift pipeline.