The other points are great too! I keep a teeny tiny notebook in my purse for “quick facts” that I learn about someone when meeting with them. That way I can jot things down immediately!

Great list! I even go as far as to suggest to my clients to have a small notebook handy and when they hear a gem about a patron to make sure they write it down and add it to the database.

Two things I would add. First is that fact that you need to hire people who are “people persons” in your box office in order to be able to acquire this information.

Secondly, building relationships does take time. I’m running into the challenge that some organizations have capacity issues and are struggling to get things done. My advice to them is to simply add a little one-on-one time here and there. The little bits of personal touches and personal time will add up.

It would definitely be in our best interest to get back to the more one-on-one conversations and transactions. It’s funny that with all the technology advances, we find that patrons fall through the cracks. Maybe as a whole we need to slow down and enjoy our existing patrons more instead of always trying to market for the new. You’d be surprised the connections that our existing patrons may have, and with getting the existing patrons more involved, it seems to naturally build an audience without all the expensive efforts of mass marketing.

Again, thanks for posting this list and getting more people thinking about going back to the old fashioned get-to-know your patrons philosophy. It truly is people and the passion for our arts that will turn things around for our industry.