TCG Bulletin

October 2007, Volume 30, Issue 10

Also online this month:

FIELD LETTER

In the October Field Letter, Teresa previews several upcoming TCG events and programs, including Free Night of Theater, the Fall Forum and the launching of our annual Salary and Fiscal Surveys. She also recalls recent visits from member theatres to TCG's office and encourages others to do the same: "These visits are a wonderful way for TCG staff to more thoroughly understand the nature of your work and they also give members a chance to meet our fantastic staff and discover the myriad ways that we can assist you in your daily work. If any of you find yourself in New York with some free time, let us know and we can set up a visit with our staff."

• Click here to view the October 2007 Field Letter.

TCG NEWS

New and Improved Salary Survey 2008 is Coming!

It's almost time for the annual TCG Salary Survey! The survey, which is administered online, will be launched in mid-October. Once launched, an email with a link to the survey will be sent to managing leaders. In response to member feedback, this year's survey introduces several new items—so be sure to thoroughly read the instructions!

Not sure what this survey can do for you? The Salary Survey reports the salary range and average for over 60 job titles that are common among not-for-profit theatres, from artistic director to box office manager. The survey results also track average fees paid to guest artists and average weekly salaries for both union and non-union actors and stage managers. All data is broken down by budget group, so you don't have to compare your theatre's data with that of theatres half or twice your size. After you have received the Salary Survey results, you are free to ask for special reports tailored specifically to your theatre's needs. Remember, surveys are confidential and only managing leaders from participating organizations are entitled to receive the results.

Action: An email will be sent to managing leaders at TCG member theatres later this month with a link to the survey, or check the Tools & Research section of the website for a link to the online survey when it launches. You will need your username and password to access the survey.

Free Night of Theater 2007 Website Now Live

The Free Night of Theater 2007 national website, FreeNightOfTheater.net, is now live! This year's program will be presented in over 30 communities from coast to coast, at over 500 theatres, which will offer as many as 50,000 free tickets nationally. TCG's exciting national audience development program will open on Thursday, October 18 and ticket reservations begin on October 1 as early as 12pm (EST).

Action: Please visit the Free Night of Theater website for complete details on participating locations, reservation dates, theatres and performance information.

Deadline Extended for Fall Forum 2007—Cultivating Innovation: From the Board Room to the Box Office

TCG's Fall Forum 2007, Cultivating Innovation: From the Board Room to the Box Office, will be held in New York City from Friday, November 9, to Sunday, November 11. The Forum will bring together approximately 150 participants, including teams of artistic and management leaders and trustees from TCG member theatres, to provide an opportunity for in-depth discussion on governance issues. TCG's Forums give theatre leaders the chance to hear some of the most provocative thinkers in the field and to engage with their peers in an intimate and informal setting.

Held annually, TCG Fall Forums are designed to enhance board effectiveness and performance. Past forums have focused on management structure, financial issues and the artistic process. This year we plan to focus on how managers and boards think about innovation. Do arts organizations set aside resources for artistic leaders and managers to innovate? How can we stimulate creative thinking in order to develop and implement new strategies to move our organizations forward? The 2007 Fall Forum keynote speaker will be Peter Gelb, general manager of the Metropolitan Opera, who will lay the groundwork for our exploration of all facets of innovation. He has led by example, and we hope he will share the organizational context and culture at The Metropolitan Opera that has allowed for him to embark on their recent innovations.

Action: The registration deadline has been extended to Friday, October 5. Hotel rooms in New York are in high demand during the Forum, so make your plans soon! Visit the Events section of the website for more details or to download the registration form.

Dual Leadership: New Orleans, February 24–26, 2008

For the second time, TCG, Dance/USA and the Institute for Cultural Policy and Practice at Virginia Tech are pleased to offer Dual Leadership: Partnering from the Inside Out from February 24–26, 2008, in New Orleans, LA. Dual Leadership provides a unique opportunity for artistic and managing leaders from theatre and dance companies to come together and build their understanding of the specific challenges involved in developing sustainable and effective dual leadership structures. This highly engaging seminar focuses on the competencies and practices required to build strong team-based leadership models that support both the artistic vision and the institutional resilience required for long term impact.

Action: Invitations will be sent to managing and artistic leaders at TCG member theatres soon. Visit the Events section of the website for more details as they become available.

Save the date! 2008 TCG National Conference, June 10–14, 2008

It's time to mark your calendars for next year's exciting opportunity to be among the 5,000 performing arts professionals who will converge in Colorado for Taking Action Together!

TCG is thrilled that the 2008 TCG National Conference will be held in conjunction with the 2008 National Performing Arts Convention in Denver, Colorado from June 10–14, 2008. The 2008 National Performing Arts Convention will present important voices from the performing arts and beyond in keynote speeches, the best and brightest problem solvers in workshop and breakout sessions and ample opportunities for building relationships between arts disciplines. In addition to convention events, TCG will individually host a variety of theatre-specific activities, including events at the Denver Center Theatre Company and the Curious Theatre Company.

Action: Visit the National Performing Arts Convention website or the Events section of the TCG website more information.

New From TCG Books: The August Wilson Century Cycle

August Wilson's epic dramatization of the African American experience and heritage in the twentieth century—completed just before his death in October 2005—has been called "one of the most ambitious dramatic projects ever undertaken." (New York Times)

TCG Books presents The August Wilson Century Cycle for the first time in its entirety, in a ten-volume, hardcover, slipcased edition. The series is introduced by John Lahr, and includes forwards by Laurence Fishburne, Samuel G. Freedman, Tony Kushner, Romulus Linney, Marion McClinton, Toni Morrison, Suzan-Lori Parks, Phylicia Rashad, Ishmael Reed and Frank Rich.

Action: Visit the Publications section of the website to order your box set.

TCG/ITI Travel Grants Deadline October 26!

TCG/ITI Travel Grants, funded by the Trust for Mutual Understanding, are designed to foster cultural exchange and artistic partnerships between theatre professionals in the United States and their counterparts in Russia and Eastern and Central Europe. These $3,000 grants support travel in either direction between theatre artists, administrators and educators, enabling them to share ideas, gain exposure to each other's cultural traditions and communicate contemporary theatre techniques. Recipients may be either a U.S. not-for-profit theatre applying on behalf of a theatre professional or an individual theatre professional who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the U.S.

Action: The postmark deadline for Fall 2007 TCG/ITI Travel Grant applications is October 26. New application and guidelines are now available. Visit the Grants section of the website for more information.

2008 Observership Program Grants Deadline November 1!

Recipients of the Observership Program, TCG's oldest grant program, are given travel stipends of up to $2,000 to travel across the country and internationally. The program provides opportunities for key staff at TCG member theatres to observe the administrative and artistic work of other theatres and to meet with colleagues.

Action: The postmark deadline for the 2008 Observership Program is November 1. New application and guidelines are now available. Visit the Grants section of the website for more information.

New Generations Program Deadlines Approaching!

For the eighth round of the New Generations Program, theatres applying in the Future Leaders or Future Audiences objectives must submit an online Intent to Apply form by midnight on October 9 and a Preliminary Proposal postmarked no later than October 29.

Theatres or individual theatre professionals applying in the Future Collaborations objective are not required to submit an Intent to Apply form. Applications for Spring/Summer 2008 grants (for travel between January 1, 2008, and June 30, 2008) must be postmarked no later than October 1. Applications for Fall/Winter 2008 grants (for travel between July 1, 2008, and December 31, 2008) must be postmarked no later than March 17, 2008.

Action: There are several New Generations application deadlines approaching. Visit the Grants section of the website for complete details.

Wanted: Electronic Human Resources Documents for TCG's Topical Files

As a service for member theatres, TCG maintains electronic resource files for inquiries about performance reviews, job descriptions, organizational structure, trustee evaluation, software packages and more. Some of our most useful and most requested files contain employee handbooks, reviews, job descriptions and contracts that are submitted by member theatres to be used as a resource by other member theatres.

All member theatres are encouraged to send us any electronic human resources-related documents they utilize for inclusion in these files. We can remove any language that identifies your theatre, if you wish to contribute anonymously. In particular, we are looking to expand our collection of employment contracts for full-time and management-level staff, but we gladly welcome any and all submissions. Also, if you have worked with a consultant that you particularly would recommend, please forward their information as well.

Action: If you have any documents that you would like to contribute to our files, please email them as an attachment (Microsoft Word preferred) to Jason Schroeder.

Update Your Staff Contacts with TCG

TCG sends email notification of the TCG Bulletin and Field Letter directly to general managers, education directors, business managers, marketing directors, PR directors, literary managers, dramaturgs, development directors and associate artistic directors at TCG member theatres. We do this in order to keep staff informed of the activities and developments of the not-for-profit theatre field, to deepen staff knowledge of TCG and to increase participation in our programs. Many of these senior staff already participate in TCG programs and have sent TCG their email addresses. However, we are far from a complete list. We strongly encourage you to send us email contacts for all senior staff at your theatre, and to inform us of any staff changes when they occur.

Action: To receive notification of the TCG Bulletin and Field Letter by email or to inform TCG of staff changes at your theatre, contact Kelly Haydon.

TCG Requests Production Posters

TCG is requesting posters from your theatre's current season. We prominently display members' posters in our office, which not only creates a lively and attractive work environment but also helps us showcase the full diversity of our membership to the artists, funders, government leaders, theatre administrators and board members who visit TCG. We also remind you to send posters to your federal, state and local legislators. They often like to display their constituents' posters in their offices.

Action: Mail posters to Demosthenes Chrysan, TCG, 520 Eighth Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10018-4156, as well as your legislators.

TCG Trustee Leadership Network

All trustees of TCG member theatres are eligible to join the TCG Trustee Leadership Network. For $75 annually, the network affords trustees the following benefits: American Theatre magazine; annual TCG Theatre Directory; and notification of management publications including the TCG Bulletin, Field Letter and Centerpiece. Please encourage your board members to join.

Action: Visit the Membership section of the website to download a registration form or for more information.

TCG and League of American Theatres and Producers Collaborate on Quarterly Information Alerts to Commercial Producers

As part of ACT II's ongoing dialogue between not-for-profit theatres and commercial producers, TCG and the League of American Theatres and Producers have instituted quarterly alerts to commercial producers about upcoming workshops, staged readings and new productions of plays and musicals of particular interest.

If your theatre is developing a new work or production that you feel has commercial potential, it will be suitable for the alert. You will need to provide the following information: name of new work; author(s); theatre; a one-line description; dates and location of workshop, reading or production; and contact name, phone and email at the theatre. Entries will be distributed quarterly to League members.

Action: Submissions for the December 1 issue are due by November 15. To participate, email your details to Ben Pesner, League of American Theatres and Producers.

TCG Seeks Interns

TCG's Internship Program is looking for highly motivated individuals with good organizational, communication and computer skills. Learn about contemporary American theatre through contact with the artists and professionals who work in our over 450 member theatres, as well as constant interaction with the TCG staff and its unique resources. Internships are offered year-round in the following areas: Artistic Programs, Fundraising, Communications, Management Programs, Advocacy/Education Programs, American Theatre magazine/Publications, National Conference, Graphic Design, Business Administration and Website. Fall and Spring internships are available.

Action: For more detailed information, please visit the About TCG section of the website. To apply, email your résumé and a cover letter indicating primary area of interest to Jen Cleary.