Image: The Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, home of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra; Credit: Luke Fritz, CC BY 2.5
In today's fast-paced digital age, performing arts organizations are facing some unique and complex challenges, from declining attendance to limited funding and constrained staffing resources. The industry was hit especially hard by the pandemic, with a study from SMU Data Arts estimating it suffered a staggering $3.2B in losses through December 2021, while industry operating expenses continue to rise – growing by over 32% in 2021. To overcome these challenges, many organizations have been turning to innovative solutions such as digital membership programs and customer relations management (CRM) software. In order to stay relevant and engage with their audience, a seamless membership program has become more important than ever.
Enter the dynamic duo of Cuseum and the Tessitura Network, a powerful partnership that has been successfully delivering solutions to performing arts organizations worldwide. By leveraging Cuseum’s suite of digital tools, ballets, operas, theaters, and performing arts centers from the Tessitura ecosystem and of all types can streamline their processes, boost their revenue, and provide audiences with the ultimate experience.
In this blog post, we'll be exploring some amazing organizations that have successfully implemented our solutions to modernize their operations, increase engagement among members, and cultivate loyalty among their patrons.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Image: Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center; Source: dallassymphony.org
Experience the power of music at its highest caliber with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra! Founded over 120 years ago by a group of 40 determined musicians, the orchestra is now led by renowned Music Director Fabio Luisi, and performs out of the iconic Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, in Dallas, Texas. The orchestra offers unparalleled musical performances from Beethoven all the way up through Star Wars-themed events—an energizing experience for both first-time attendees or seasoned concertgoers alike.
They have also been a leader among orchestras in digital distribution; In 2021, it found immense success with a three-concert broadcast series that reached over 5.4 million viewers around the world. This same spirit of innovation is evident in the orchestra’s investment in its local community, where they have organized over 200 outdoor chamber concerts since last summer, in addition to offering online lessons for over 300 students participating in their Young Strings and Young Musicians programs. The orchestra dedicates itself to connecting with and inspiring its community, engaging over 243,000 people annually through exhilarating performances, enriching educational activities and meaningful outreach initiatives. By upgrading to digital memberships, the orchestra is unlocking new possibilities for delivering value more efficiently and effectively than ever before.
Today the Dallas Symphony Orchestra benefits from cutting-edge technology solutions that boosts operational efficiencies, enriches membership and subscription platforms, and delivers more value to their constituents – locally and globally. Using Cuseum’s Digital Membership Cards in concert with Tessitura’s robust CRM allows the orchestra to leverage the latest tech innovations, save crucial staff hours and funds by streamlining operations, maximize subscriptions and memberships, gain valuable insights through data collection and analysis, and drive engagement across all outreach. They can also better serve their hundreds of members with exclusive content, personalized experiences, mobile capabilities, and additional benefits.
By adopting digital technology, the orchestra is able to offer audiences of all ages more effortless and enjoyable experiences. Contrary to the stereotype that older audiences are less proficient with technology, the use of smartphones among older Americans is skyrocketing, making it easier than ever for them to embrace the convenience and accessibility of everything from text messaging to mobile payments – to digital membership cards. The orchestra’s older patrons are proving that digital cards are easy to adopt, convenient, with a more accessible and user-friendly experience than ever before.
Whether it's by improving efficiency and decreasing wait times, highlighting exclusive perks to drive engagement and revenue, or enhancing the accessibility, Cuseum's digital solutions are helping Dallas Symphony Orchestra transform their membership program and enrich the audience experience. With these tools, this cherished institution is well on its way to meeting its mission – delivering maximum value through inspiring and memorable audience experiences.
State Theatre New Jersey
Image: State Theatre New Jersey; Source: stnj.org
State Theatre New Jersey, located in downtown New Brunswick, is a historic performing arts venue and beloved cultural institution that has been entertaining audiences for over 100 years. Originally built in 1921 as a vaudeville theater, it features a stunning Art Deco interior and hosts a wide variety of events, including Broadway shows, concerts, comedy acts, and family-friendly performances.
With over 1,800 seats, the theater is one of the largest in the state, and continues to draw in audiences from across the region. It also has a strong commitment to arts education, providing a range of programs for students and teachers throughout the year. In a bid to provide their patrons with enhanced value, the theater sought out an alternative method for managing membership cards – one that is not only cost-effective and user friendly - but also helps them improve sustainability.
By integrating Cuseum’s digital solutions, the State Theatre New Jersey saves staff hours and resources, streamline operations, and drive engagement among audiences, members, and donors. By choosing digital cards, they will be able to reduce costs, eliminate hassle and save the environment all at once. With time and cost savings, the theater can invest more in their programming, whether in-person or virtual, and on unlocking new revenue streams.
Innovative initiatives like Digital Membership programs also foster a sense of community and loyalty among members, providing exclusive access to events, discounts, and other perks. By embracing technology and digital transformation, State Theatre New Jersey can provide an exceptional experience for their hundreds of members and thousands of annual patrons – and remain a leading performing arts organization in the digital age.
Los Angeles Opera
Image: The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, home of the L.A. Opera; Source: LAopera.org
Since its inception in 1986, the Los Angeles Opera has been a trailblazer of artistic innovation and cherished cultural institution, taking their audiences on moving journeys through incredible musical experiences and fostering an appreciation for the timeless art form. With nearly 4,000 members and over 135,000 attendees each season, the opera is an essential part of the city’s cultural landscape.
This iconic opera is a prime example of a performing arts organization that has fully embraced the digital age. With the launch of their digital initiatives like short films and “Living Room Recitals,” they have made significant strides in their hybrid strategy of engaging with their audience and promoting their events both in-person and online. One of the key components of their digital strategy was teaming up with Cuseum to build an innovative and convenient digital membership program, helping them better connect and communicate with their patrons and supporters, as well as drive growth and engagement. By partnering with Cuseum, the opera is well on its way to fostering a more robust and enthusiastic base of support than ever before.
The L.A. Opera’s commitment to innovation and digital transformation is truly admirable, and serves as a shining example for other performing arts organizations looking to adapt to the digital age. Through these digital partnerships, the orchestra can realize greater returns for their resources invested - giving their audiences, members, and donors an unprecedented membership journey for years to come.
The performing arts industry is constantly evolving, and organizations must adapt to new challenges and opportunities to remain relevant, drive growth, and engage with their audiences, members, and donors. With our dynamic partnership, Cuseum is enabling performing arts institutions within the Tessitura Network and beyond to achieve greater heights in audience engagement, operational efficiency, and mission fulfillment. As we look towards the future, we remain committed to supporting the performing arts industry in navigating the digital age and delivering cultural value and engaging experiences to audiences worldwide.
To learn how you can turbocharge your membership program with Cuseum, schedule a free demo today!