CI to Eye with Monica Holt

CI to Eye is back with a healthy dose of inspiration to help you re-center at the top of the new year. In 2023, we spoke with remarkable thought leaders both within and beyond the realm of the arts. Guests ranged from executive directors and arts researchers to experts in DEIBA. They all answered the same question: "If you could broadcast one message to executive directors, leadership teams, staff, and boards of thousands of arts organizations, what would it be?" We call this their “CI to Eye moment,” and in this special episode, Dan revisits these key insights to offer encouragement and perspective for the year ahead. QUICK LINKS Capacity Interactive | Boot Camp 2024 Registration

Panel discussion at Boot Camp 2023 on empowered decisions, digital marketing strategies, and limited time usage. Reflections from arts marketers on learnings from the past year. Insights on decision-making, leadership, balancing yes and no, beta testing, combining marketing campaigns with development goals, AI in marketing, challenges, inclusivity, and hopes for the future. Importance of hiring well, supporting diversity, and finding inspiration in art. Heated debate on the start date of holiday music.

We’re swiftly approaching one of the busiest times of year for arts marketers… and with it, holiday programs, gift campaigns, end-of-year donation pushes, and—to top it all off—strategic planning for next season. If the holiday hustle has you feeling a bit frigid, this episode will warm you up with actionable tips and smart questions to end the calendar year on a high note. Digital Download (1:40) - Dan catches up with Senior Consultant Jess Isgro to discuss how to get the most out of your holiday gift campaigns, juggle concurrent end-of-year priorities, and implement learnings from the past year as you plan for 2024. CI to Eye Interview (22:00) - CI President Priya Iyer Doshi sits down with Tara Mohr, a revered leadership expert and best-selling author who shares subtle mindset shifts that can grow your confidence in the workplace. Get ready to kick self-doubt to the curb as you tackle high-stakes strategic conversations for next season.  LINKS: Capacity Interactive | Ask CI: How Do I Optimize Holiday Gift Campaigns? Tara Mohr | Playing Big Leadership Program

Explore the decline in subscriptions for arts organizations and ways to adapt. Discover the role of social media and Google in search. Learn about the success of narrowing down fixed package offerings and increasing visibility of students in performances. Find out how Stepan Wolf revived flexible memberships and the evolution of membership. Understand audience preferences and behavior. Dive into the themes of evolution, community, and meaningful change.

Arts administrators wear a lot of hats, and that trend has only intensified as our industry finds itself in recovery mode. With all of our energies focused on audience re-engagement and revenue growth, organizational culture can often take a backseat. But with more news of quiet quitting and high burnout levels, investing in your people has never been more critical.  Discover simple adjustments you can make today to lead stronger teams and create healthier work cultures that energize and empower the people around you. Digital Download with Ali Blount (2:30) - Dan joins fellow senior consultant Ali Blount to review newly released benchmark data from CI’s clients and share inspiration as you begin planning for the upcoming winter season.  Media Moment with Molly Shoemaker (14:35) - Dan chats with CI’s Director of People Operations and Recruiting about finding your footing with flexible work and helping your team thrive in and out of the office. CI to Eye Interview with Snehi Bhatt (29:45) - CI’s President, Priya Iyer Doshi, sits down with a longtime friend and Leadership Development Executive at Admired Leadership to discuss the key pillars that set leaders up for success. LINKS: Capacity Interactive | Ask CI: Crafting The Perfect Digital Holiday Campaign Work Appropriate | Remote Work Done Right with Marissa Goldberg Admired Leadership | Field Notes  

In the summer of 2020, George Floyd’s murder and the protests that followed sparked crucial conversations about racial equity and social justice. Many arts organizations made public commitments to do better—both in their programming and behind the scenes. It’s been three years since that pivotal moment, and it’s still imperative to hold ourselves accountable to move the needle on diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and accessibility (DEIBA) in the arts.  In this episode, Dan sits down with social psychologist Dr. Evelyn Carter to discuss the unique DEIBA challenges and opportunities we face in the arts and entertainment industry. Dr. Carter shares expert tips for living our values, creating welcoming environments, and addressing implicit bias in the workplace and beyond. LINKS Paradigm

Many of us are staring down end-of-fiscal-year goals, but it’s hard not to feel discouraged by prevailing economic uncertainty and ever-changing audience behavior. How do you keep your team motivated and mission-focused when the sands are shifting beneath your feet?  Hear from fellow arts marketers who are leading their teams in fresh and creative ways, and dig into positive industry trends that show us the way forward. Today’s episode is the boost of inspiration you need to cross the fiscal finish line. Media Moment (1:55): Dan sits down with CI Senior Consultant Ali Blount to discuss our industry’s road to recovery. They review heartening research from IMPACTS Experience, share promising trends they’re noticing with CI clients, and offer tips for adapting your digital marketing strategy to meet the moment. CI to Eye Interview with Van Ackerman (17:15): Dan joins Van Ackerman, VP of Marketing & Communications at Cincinnati Arts Association, to reflect on the resilience of the arts. They discuss leadership lessons from the ‘08 recession and the power of psychological leadership to motivate a team. CI to Eye Interview with Charles Buchanan (33:38): Dan catches up with Charles Buchanan, Senior Director of Marketing & Audience Development at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. They discuss innovation during challenging times and tips for avoiding digital marketing ruts. --- LINKS JCA Arts Marketing: Subscription decline is an opportunity—not a threat. Capacity Interactive: The Return Of Meta’s 28-Day Attribution: A Full Picture Of Audience Buying Behavior Capacity Interactive: 2023 Digital Priorities: Institutional Campaigns IMPACTS Experience: Increased Digital Engagement Is a ‘New Normal’ for Cultural Entities Capacity Interactive: 2023 Digital Priorities: Google Machine Learning IMPACTS Experience: Here’s What Organizations That Recovered Fastest Post-Pandemic Have in Common Bain & Company: The Value of an Existing Customer

AI is generating a lot of buzz in the marketing sphere—but is it really worth the hype? In this episode we pull back the curtain on AI, explore its strengths and limitations, and consider how it can help arts marketers meet their goals more efficiently. Don’t miss this special, extended conversation with CI’s Managing Director Christopher Williams and Senior Consultant Dan Titmuss. They cover AI’s impact on the arts industry and pinpoint areas where AI can have the largest impact on your day-to-day work. LINKS McKinsey & Company: The state of AI in 2022—and a half decade in review Capacity Interactive: Google's Machine Learning Capacity Interactive: SEO for Content Creators ChatGPT Rytr.me Jasper

More than ever, arts marketers need to be purposeful about data collection, responsive to privacy regulations, and respectful of their audiences’ preferences. In 2023 and beyond, it’s all about staying user-centric and privacy-focused.  Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered with expert insights from CI consultants, a data privacy expert, and a fellow arts marketer who's been in your shoes—and has a few words of advice.   Digital Download (2:20) - Dan chats with fellow Senior Consultant Alison Goldberg about changes in the data privacy space and why this topic is so time-sensitive for arts marketers. They break down commonly used acronyms so you can feel confident tackling this topic. CI to Eye Interview with Jodi Daniels (13:30) - Certified data privacy expert Jodi Daniels shines light on the human side of this technical subject, and offers suggestions for ensuring your organization’s practices are both legally compliant and trust-building.  CI to Eye inerview with Rob Macpherson (44:44) - Arts marketer extraordinaire Rob Macpherson reflects on his experience implementing privacy regulations at Birmingham Hippodrome, one of the U.K.’s most prolific theaters. He shares his first-hand experience and offers sage advice to U.S. marketers just starting on this journey.   LINKS: CMSWire: Future of Data Collection: From Coercive to Consensual to Collaborative Pew Research Center: Half of Americans have decided not to use a product or service because of privacy concerns KPMG: The new imperative for corporate data responsibility Capacity Interactive Red Clover Advisors Creating Impakt

As arts marketers, it’s easy to get distracted by shiny new digital marketing trends or bogged down with low-impact work. In this episode, we cut through the noise and help you focus on strategies that yield the greatest results for your organization. Media Moment (2:15) - News outlets, like Axios, have published eye-catching headlines about Google and Meta’s declining ad dominance. The articles are shocking, but should we really panic? Dan sits down with CI’s own Ally Duffey Cubilette to look at how U.S. ad spend is changing and what this really means for arts marketers. Digital Download (10:30) - Dan chats with Principal Consultant Nick Nolte about the digital tools and strategies you should prioritize in 2023 and beyond. They’ll cover topics like first-party data, Google Analytics 4, and SEO-focused content to help you gain high-impact results. CI to Eye Interview (27:43) - CI’s Managing Director Christopher Williams catches up with Ballet Austin’s executive director Cookie Ruiz, who shares her team’s unique approach to customer service. You’ll also learn more about their powerful on-site engagement strategy and how it’s turning newcomers into brand evangelists. LINKS: Slow fade for Google and Meta's ad dominance Forecast 2023: Ad Spending Will Slow Down Next Year But Will Continue To Grow CI Ticket Buyer Media Usage Study