March is IAVM Webinar Month – Take advantage of these bite-sized educational opportunities. If you can’t attend, remember they are always available online after the webinar at IAVM’s Webinars page.
Aw Crap: Now What?!? Communicating in a Crisis
Thursday, March 7, 2013
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET
Speaker: Jeff Chatterton
Do you know the most important point in a crisis response? How do you build trust and credibility when the impossible has happened? It doesn’t matter the situation – as a venue manager, you’re going to face high-risk, high-stress situations. Responding to those situations correctly makes the difference between caretaker and superstar.
Active Shooter Situations
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm ET
Speaker: Chief Craig Miller – Chief of Police for Dallas Independent School District (ISD)
This webinar will present information and provide recommendations for venue operators on activate shooter incidents during events in and around public assembly facilities.
Hidden Gems of Sales & Service
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET
Speaker: Nancy Friedman
Hidden Gems of Sales & Service is a concise series of insights in how to build a relationship with a customer while gaining valuable information that will result in a sale. This key list of ingredients is the secret formula to closing more sales. Moreover, it shows how to get repeat business, and how investing in a long-term relationship is the most powerful marketing tool to grow your business!
Low Water Pressure Creates High Pressure Situation during Sold Out Show
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET
Panel: Jim Brown, CFE – Executive Director at Wright State University’s Nutter Center; John Cox – Assistant Director, WSU Nutter Center; Chris Bethel – Patron Services Manager – WSU’s Nutter Center; Misty Cox – Marketing Manager – WSU’s Nutter Center.
What would you do if you had almost 11,000 fans at your venue for a sold out concert only to realize when doors open that you have no water pressure on the concourse causing all restrooms accessible to fans not to flush? Listen to Jim Brown and his staff discuss best practices and what they would have done differently when they experienced this last March.
How to Make EVERYONE On Your Team a Salesperson
Thursday, March 28, 2013
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm ET
Speaker: Gary Hernbroth
Repeat business is so very important to venues. Retention of your customers can be improved with an enthusiastic, service-oriented front-line staff that thinks and operates as part of your sales team. You’ll hear the keys to turning your front-line staff into front-line salespeople including the role of managers and supervisors to create – and support – the right sales culture.
Click here to register for one or all!
I asked RV Baugus, editor at IAVM, for some of his thoughts on this new issue of the magazine:
How has the content changed in the new magazine?
RV: Our members told us in a loud voice, through a recent magazine survey, that they wanted relevant, useful and timely news as well as the industry’s latest technology, trends and tips. In addition to developing content around those topics, we will also be incorporating more data and statistics applicable to our industry. Finally, I would add that readers will see more “wow” types of features that will be educational, informative and, we hope, will invite plenty of discussion. Continue Reading →
The theme of this year’s Performing Arts Managers Conference was “Risk;” fitting, as the location of the conference was in Las Vegas, which is probably one of the last places one wants to come down with the flu.
As we all know, the flu strains have been especially robust this year and massive outbreaks were happening throughout the country. As it turns out, reports came out February 21 that the flu shot was, in fact, only 56% effective, and even less so (27%) for those 65 years and older. Those statistics made me feel a bit better about not getting the flu shot myself. Catching the flu can sometimes simply be a matter of chance, regardless of whether you are vaccinated, but disappointing nonetheless when it causes one to miss a day and half worth of sessions at one’s favorite conference.
This week we spoke to Cheryl Swanson, CFE, venue manager and IAVM member since 1994, about IAVM’s Senior Executive Symposium (SES), a program she has attended and for which she has acted as Board Chair. The window to apply closes in just 30 days, so we wanted to ask Cheryl why the program is an important addition to any venue manager’s to-do-list.
Cheryl Swanson, CFE, is currently employed by the City of Grand Forks, ND, as the executive director of the Alerus Center, an indoor football stadium, arena and conference center. She worked in health care administration and marketing for 15 years before becoming the Bookings Manager for the Sioux City (IA) Auditorium, Convention and Visitors Bureau. From there she opened a new arena at Eastern Michigan University, eventually moving up the state to the Breslin Center at Michigan State University before working at the Alerus Center.