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The Art of the Turnaround: Creating and Maintaining Healthy Arts Organizations |  | Author: Michael M. Kaiser
Publisher: Brandeis
List Price: $27.95
Buy New: $17.53
as of 11/22/2009 03:12 CST details
You Save: $10.42 (37%)
New (20) Used (5) from $17.53
Seller: sbd-
Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 8444
Media: Hardcover
Edition: First Edition, 2nd printing
Pages: 204
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6.1 x 0.9
ISBN: 1584657359
Dewey Decimal Number: 791.068
EAN: 9781584657354
ASIN: 1584657359
Publication Date: September 30, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Many arts organizations today find themselves in financial difficulties because of economic constraints inherent in the industry. While other companies can improve productivity through the use of new technologies or better systems, these approaches are not available in the arts. Hamlet requires the same number of performers today as it did in Shakespeare's time. The New York Philharmonic requires the same number of musicians now as it did when Tchaikovsky conducted it over one hundred years ago. Costs go up, but the size of theaters and the price resistance of patrons limit what can be earned from ticket sales. Therefore, the performing arts industry faces a severe gap between earnings and expenses. Typical approaches to closing the gap--raising ticket prices or cutting artistic or marketing expenses--don't work.
What, then, does it take to create and maintain a healthy arts organization?
Michael M. Kaiser has revived four major arts organizations: the Kansas City Ballet, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, and London's Royal Opera House. In The Art of the Turnaround he shares with readers his ten basic rules for bringing financially distressed arts organizations back to life and keeping them strong. These rules cover the requirements for successful leadership, the pitfalls of cost cutting, the necessity of extending the programming calendar, the centrality of effective marketing and fund raising, and the importance of focusing on the present with a positive public message. In chapters organized chronologically, Kaiser brings his ten rules vividly to life in discussions of the four arts organizations he is credited with saving. The book concludes with a chapter on his experiences at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, an arts organization that needed an artistic turnaround when he became the president in 2001 and that today exemplifies in practice many of the ten rules he discusses throughout his book.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 8
 Good if you work for a famous and large organization October 4, 2009
S. K. Hwang (Milwaukee, WI)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I've been an arts administrator for 13 years and have a masters degree in the field. I felt the book was very readable, but lacked applicability to smaller arts organizations....ones that make up the majority of our arts community.
The over-arching message of, [programming and marketing are key, and should be the last thing cut in a financial crisis], is universal. But beyond that, the anecdotal approach to the book leaves the smaller organization needing more guidance. Where's the book for the organizations that will NEVER have access to the Jumbo Tron?
The author was more successful in a speaking engagement than in this book.
Not worth it in my humble opinion.
 Not worth it September 8, 2009
Kippy (Miami, FL United States)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book is not worth the purchase price. Interesting anecdotes and insights into Michael Kaiser's life but nothing of substance here to assist real life arts organizations with real life problems. Arts organizations need to operate more like businesses instead of begging for money all the time. This book will not provide much insight into how to make that happen. I was disappointed.
 The Art of the Turnaround: Creating and Maintaining Healthy Arts Organizations August 6, 2009
S. L. Smith (Worcester, MA)
Fantastically well-done. This book combines common-sense general prinicples for performing arts groups experiencing financial difficulties with a handful of case studies of organizations that author Michael Kaiser has worked with. Mixes practical and specific advice with general philosophies designed to establish stability and health for performing arts organizations.
too personal May 30, 2009
Charles Wright (Eugene, Oregon)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Lots of flattering autobiography, without much that's transferrable to other arts organizations. Author is a real name-dropper.
Incredible advice! May 5, 2009
Ginger More (Connecticut)
This book is excellent. Every theater management should read it, especially community theaters that are struggling. Michael Kaiser is an amazing manager and very talented!!! I purchased books for the whole board and management of my community theater! They loved it and it really influenced how the theater is being run especially in these difficult economic times! Ginger
Showing reviews 1-5 of 8
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