You, as an IAVM member, are our most important asset. Without your commitment to the association and to the venue management industry, we wouldn’t be here. Because of your support, we are featuring member profiles in our I Am Venue Management series. If you are interested in participating in the I Am Venue Management series, please visit http://www.iavm.org/i-am-venue-management-share-your-story.
If I wasn’t doing this I’d be a: From an early age, I knew that I wanted to create. If I wasn’t having the time of my life creating environments for artists and audiences, I would be creating some form of art. Over the last few years, I’ve been lucky enough to travel and re-discovered my love of photography. I’ve got an amazing picture hanging in my office right now of a wall. Yes, a wall. This was a fortress wall built in the 1600s in Obidos, Portugal – so it is a really cool wall! If you want to imagine me in retirement, picture me with a camera around my neck, a passport in my pocket, and a smile on my face!
Most impressive person I’ve ever met: Bob Hope! I was part of a load-in crew for a tribute show that was honoring him. We had been working for 36 hours straight. The first real break was when Bob was interviewed on the set. I, of course, took my chance at a nap and found a comfy spot on the loading dock. When Bob was done with the interview, he passed me on the dock and took the time to stop and thank me for all the hard work. What an awesome guy! Here is my favorite Bob Hope quote: “I’ve always been in the right place and time. Of course, I steered myself there.”
I unwind by: I should probably be embarrassed at how easy this question is to answer! The truth is that I learned early on in my career how important it is to unplug and recharge. On a weekly basis, I unwind in the garage working on one of the little British cars that I’ve adopted over the past 30 years. I say adopted since my wife has named all the cars – which makes it easy when I yell at the car for acting up as kids do… only in this case, that means the car isn’t starting, or isn’t stopping! About once a month, when the car is running, we’ll hop in it and go “motoring about.” We make a game of it… just picking a direction (north, south, east, west) and driving. You’d be amazed at how many cool things you notice when it is about the journey and not the destination. I should get an award for stopping by so many Texas Historical Markers! On these trips, the camera is always in the car — also a way to unwind! Lastly, I’d be lying if I didn’t say I unplug on my porch. After a crazy day, there is nothing better than sitting in a chair with a glass of wine, looking at the stars, and listening to the owl that has recently been camping out at the house. Bliss.
On my desk right now is: Looking left to right, my IAVM PAFMS coffee cup, which I just re-filled. Then, a nice thank-you note from Patrick Donnelly, CFE. Next to his letter is a book I’ve been recommending to everyone – Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek. I am a HUGE Simon Sinek fan and always talk about the WHY. In this book, Sinek discusses how organizations can inspire deep trust and commitment to a company and motivate employees to take risks. Then, you come to the requisite pile of paper, which I keep hoping will magically shrink. Last, a picture of my wife, Heather, standing next to our 1965 MGB in a Texas vineyard.
My favorite IAVM program I ever attended was: Throughout my entire (and varied) career, I’ve always found that attending a good educational program gave me the refreshing feeling of reassurance that I am in the right profession. A great program is one that also offers new challenges and insights, provides a format for the experienced attendee, and is welcoming and encouraging to the less experienced member. The best example of this is PAFMS, now called VMS. Every June, I wish I could be there again. Since that was 11 years ago, that is a lot of Junes!
If I were on the other side of the seats, I’d be a: Well…let’s see. I would be a courteous patron. And an aware patron… who knows where all the fire exits are, what the capacity of the venue is, and probably what year the venue was built. Yup, for my own sanity and the comfort of all those around me, I think I need to be on my side of the seats!
One trait an up-and-coming venue manager should have is: patience. Boy, do I wish I could tell my 20-year-old self this. So simple, and so powerful. As I’ve learned to be patient, I’ve seen how patience can improve collaboration in the workplace. When people expect you to listen thoughtfully, they are more likely to fearlessly share challenges, and then honestly develop innovations. When I expect myself to be patient, I try to do more than take the proverbial deep breath. I try to consider the situation through the lens of others. Again, I would really appreciate a time-machine so I could pop backward 30 years and give myself a serious lecture. Course, I probably wouldn’t have listened… no patience at that time!
One of my goals for this year is to: challenge myself and my employees this year to “think big” about the role we play in helping to build a vibrant downtown community. Essentially, my goal is both simple and complex — to grow and nurture this wonderful asset called the AT&T Performing Arts Center. I truly believe that we are at a defining moment internationally for the role venues play in developing a healthy economy and supporting a great “quality of life.” While this moment is not without challenges, I am confident that my team and I can support success by continuing to “…provide a public gathering place that strengthens community and fosters creativity.” Mission focused this year… myself and my team.
How do you plan to help elevate the profession? I am passionate about this topic, especially since in the past few years, I’ve seen new opportunities emerge for venue managers to virtually collaborate with peers across the globe. Our profession will be elevated when our teams can be professionally fulfilled while continuing to have a direct impact on the successful operation of venues. Sounds simple, but in reality, fairly complex. I obviously believe that professional development is key. Quality and varied initiatives designed to serve the experienced professional as much as the millennial who just entered the job market. Communication is also imperative, and those of us who love this profession have a responsibility to communicate the importance of venue management.
Where do you see new growth opportunities in the profession? We’ve got a great future in how we collect data and then USE the data to improve the performance of our operations. I am recently focused on developing a data management plan that will apply to specific performance measures while not losing sight of WHY we are doing – well, what we do. Collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and then acting (the hard part!) on data will allow us as an industry to identify where systems are falling short, make course adjustments, and then track the new outcomes. This is also where IAVM’s professional learning community is key.
How do you stay current with industry trends and developments? One of my favorite professors in college (also a mentor and dear friend) told me that the one constant is change, and if I wanted to be successful, I needed to keep up-to-date with relevant news, technologies, and business developments. I’ve always tried to take time to step away from the familiar and see how others are getting things done. Conferences and the IAVM blog are key – sometimes for the questions as much as the answers. I also credit IAVM for helping me develop a key network of colleagues. This network has served as a valuable source of information for me, and often times provided me with a different perspective and unique insight. Since I hope some of these friends are reading this right now, let me take a moment to say a heartfelt “thanks.”
Who are three people you’d invite to a dinner party and why? Let’s be clear… if I am hosting a dinner party, that means I am cooking (also, a way I unwind) – so no vegetarians. Let start with a cocktail with smoked ice (Thank you, Robyn!) paired with a mushroom tart, great Texas wine with a three-inch ribeye…oh – PEOPLE, not the menu. Gotcha. I wouldn’t want a boring party. Just three? Hmmm, how about an artist, a war hero, and an inventor. I choose Jackson Pollack, Sam Houston (first president of the Republic of Texas… I am a 10th generation Texan after all), and Nikola Tesla.
Russell Read, CFE, CMP, is vice president of operations at AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas, Texas.
I will second your Leaders Eat Last recommendation, though I’m only just finishing Chapter 9. Sinek easily inspires and creates a pull to action through his work. His focus on the “why” is so unique and creates a great read for an inquisitive thinker.