The Offstage Mic
The Offstage Mic

The Offstage Mic

Aubrey Bergauer

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Episodes

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Arts and culture is a big business—a $1.02 trillion sector whose 100,000+ organizations serve almost every community in the nation. This podcast is about running that business: how to grow audiences, develop high performing teams and leaders, get younger attendees in the seats and on the donor rolls, apply strategies working in other sectors, and generate millions more dollars in revenue, all in order to serve the mission and flourish in a changing world. Hosted by “the Steve Jobs of classical music” (Observer) and "Sheryl Sandberg of the Symphony" (LA Review of Books), in each episode Aubrey Bergauer discusses the offstage work of arts organizations and the administrators, artists, and board members who make them run. Subscribe, download, and listen right here.

Recent Episodes

Can Auto-Renewing Subscriptions Work in the Arts?
MAY 26, 2026
Can Auto-Renewing Subscriptions Work in the Arts?
Auto-renewing subscriptions in the arts: how one organization hit 87% adoption and tripled its season ticket base in two seasons. Justin Morgan, Director of Audience Development at Chamber Music Society of Salt Lake City, joins Aubrey Bergauer to break down how a small presenter of world class chamber music went from selling 90 paper tickets per concert to filling 450 seats — and how their move to an auto-renewing season ticket model helped them get there.Justin walks through the exact playbook: ditching paper tickets and Excel spreadsheets, migrating to a new CRM to support this work, launching a buy-one-get-one season subscription offer to build the base, then converting to opt-out auto renewal with an 87% adoption rate. He also shares how the board navigated the shift from all-volunteer to part-time contractors, why long-tenured board members were actually the hungriest for change, and how generous ticket donations to veterans and students became a feeder for new subscribers and donors.If this episode helps you rethink your subscription model, subscribe to The Offstage Mic and leave a quick rating or review — it makes a real difference.Reserve your free seat at my Audience Growth Masterclass right now by going to www.aubreybergauer.com/masterclass.Learn more about about the Chamber Music Society of Salt Lake City: cmsofslc.orgSponsors:Bolero: https://hellobolero.com/changingthenarrativeEvolvArts: https://evolvarts.com/Morreale Digital: https://morreale.ca/podcast
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47 MIN
7 Performing Arts Predictions for 2026: Your Mid-Year Scorecard
MAY 5, 2026
7 Performing Arts Predictions for 2026: Your Mid-Year Scorecard
Are your traditional funding sources drying up while your audience development plateaus? In this mid-season reflection, Aubrey Bergauer revisits her seven bold performing arts predictions for 2025 and 2026 to see what’s working and what’s failing in the current landscape. From the global boom of the subscription economy to the bipartisan surprise in government funding, this episode breaks down the data-driven shifts necessary for survival. Aubrey shares why retention must overtake acquisition as your primary growth engine and how AI can reclaim your staff's time for higher-value creative work.This episode is for arts administrators, executive leaders, and board members who are ready to stop the "leaky bucket" of audience churn and start running their organization like a business. You’ll learn: Why opt-out renewals and strong onboarding are the keys to bucking subscription declines. How to move beyond brand-only social media to leverage an "influencer army" of artists and staff. And the tactical ways AI-assisted productivity can solve administrative burnout without cutting jobs.Sponsors:Bolero: https://hellobolero.com/changingthenarrativeEvolvArts: https://evolvarts.com/Morreale Digital: https://morreale.ca/podcastSources:Aubrey Bergauer: 145% Performance Revenue Growth with the Long Haul Model https://www.aubreybergauer.com/long-haul-modelMark Schaefer: Marketing Rebellion https://businessesgrow.com/publication/marketing-rebellion/
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60 MIN