[jmoore11]

I am joining this conversation to be part of it. I don’t have any immediate solutions as I have been overseeing our Union since March 2024. We have a theater in our building that is currently being used for programming space (all entities of campus) as well as to show movies, films, etc. I’d be interested in learning more about how that space could be a revenue generating space as well.?

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Joshua Moore
Director
Coastal Carolina University
Conway SC
(843) 349-4102
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-09-2024 16:54
From: Travis Houtz
Subject: Running a Theatre?

Hello! 

I am looking for fellow union professionals who are also responsible for running/booking an on-campus theatre.

In 1951, Shippensburg University(approx. 5000 student pop) opened a large 650 seat theatre/auditorium. For years it was the school’s home for music/theatre arts. In the early 2000s, the university opened a large 1400 seat performing arts center which rehoused the music/theatre arts departments, and became the region’s home for community arts programming, bringing in tours and shows.

The original theatre became the home to student organizations & other groups to put on dance shows, theatrical performances, step shows, hypnotists, and more. We do not bill internal or student groups for rental time or staffing, just external rentals. The building operation is housed under student affairs and falls under my direction(by myself).

If anyone is in a similar situation as I am, I am looking for insight into how you may be fairing off in this way and generating revenue. I’d love to connect more on this. Thanks!

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Travis Houtz
Associate Director, Ceddia Union Building
Shippensburg University
Shippensburg PA
(717) 477-1560
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[Emily Crespo]

Hi folks,?

Travis, we’ve also got a couple performances spaces under our student union umbrella: some are spaces within the building itself, some are shared lecture halls-used-as-performance-spaces, and two are standalone theater spaces (one has about 1,000 seats, one is a small-ish black box). In our large theater, we do all the kinds of things you’re talking about, including student org events and external events. I’ve been looking for other folks in my position! Our performances spaces are so busy that it is really my primary focus.?

Our “performance” team is relatively new compared to our student union, and many of our processes and policies were created from scratch within the last ten years. Now that there are a few of us with theater backgrounds on staff, we’ve got a much more robust system for supporting and informing the users of our spaces, including updated theater policies, updated rental rates, and an updated external contract template.?

I’d be happy to share what we’ve got with you all or set up a time to chat with anyone else who’s in our shoes. And we’re very much still a work in progress, so I’m always looking to steal ideas too!?

____________________________________________

Emily Crespo

Production Manager
Performance and Satellite Venues, Norris University Center
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois ?
847-491-3252

[burnsj@fau.edu]

Hi Travis,

We have a 2400 seat auditorium attached to our Student Union. We host a variety of events including dance shows, concerts, lectures and graduations. Our clients include student orgs, university departments and external clients. We have different billing models for our clients and try to balance serving our students and generating some revenue as well. I’d be happy to share more information on our operation and would be interested in hearing more about your experiences.

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John Burns
Associate Director Operations
Student Union
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, Florida
561 297 3730
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-22-2024 18:28
From: Emily Crespo
Subject: Running a Theatre?

Hi folks, 

Travis, we’ve also got a couple performances spaces under our student union umbrella: some are spaces within the building itself, some are shared lecture halls-used-as-performance-spaces, and two are standalone theater spaces (one has about 1,000 seats, one is a small-ish black box). In our large theater, we do all the kinds of things you’re talking about, including student org events and external events. I’ve been looking for other folks in my position! Our performances spaces are so busy that it is really my primary focus. 

Our “performance” team is relatively new compared to our student union, and many of our processes and policies were created from scratch within the last ten years. Now that there are a few of us with theater backgrounds on staff, we’ve got a much more robust system for supporting and informing the users of our spaces, including updated theater policies, updated rental rates, and an updated external contract template. 

I’d be happy to share what we’ve got with you all or set up a time to chat with anyone else who’s in our shoes. And we’re very much still a work in progress, so I’m always looking to steal ideas too! 

____________________________________________

Emily Crespo

Production Manager
Performance and Satellite Venues, Norris University Center
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois  
847-491-3252

[Scott Casanova]

Hi Travis,

I manage two multipurpose spaces in our Schine Student Center, the larger being a 1,500 seat auditorium that we’ve done our best to turn into a theater.? When the building opened in 1985 the spaces were managed and staffed by a department that until that time was tasked with providing portable sound systems to events around campus and delivering tables for catering.? As a result production costs for that space were always billed out regardless of event sponsorship. Eventually that department was absorbed into the student center operations office, however no new funding was allocated (housed under Student Affairs) so the costs for use remained.? In additional to production costs there is also a room rental fee which is waived for student organizations.? Currently we do not accept reservations requests from individuals or organizations not affiliated with the university.?

Our current fee structure can be found here: https://experience.syracuse.edu/student-engagement/reservations/charges-and-fees/

Happy to answer any questions!

Scott

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Scott Casanova
Associate Director
Syracuse University
Syracuse NY
(315) 443-4240
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——————————————-
Original Message:
Sent: 10-09-2024 16:54
From: Travis Houtz
Subject: Running a Theatre?

Hello!?

I am looking for fellow union professionals who are also responsible for running/booking an on-campus theatre.

In 1951, Shippensburg University(approx. 5000 student pop) opened a large 650 seat theatre/auditorium. For years it was the school’s home for music/theatre arts. In the early 2000s, the university opened a large 1400 seat performing arts center which rehoused the music/theatre arts departments, and became the region’s home for community arts programming, bringing in tours and shows.

The original theatre became the home to student organizations & other groups to put on dance shows, theatrical performances, step shows, hypnotists, and more. We do not bill internal or student groups for rental time or staffing, just external rentals. The building operation is housed under student affairs and falls under my direction(by myself).

If anyone is in a similar situation as I am, I am looking for insight into how you may be fairing off in this way and generating revenue. I’d love to connect more on this. Thanks!

——————————
Travis Houtz
Associate Director, Ceddia Union Building
Shippensburg University
Shippensburg PA
(717) 477-1560
——————————