08/15/2006
The annual worldwide Tessitura Network, Inc. user conference was held in Toronto this month with record attendance of more than 700 users from over 155 small, medium and large arts organizations which have licensed Tessitura Software® from Impresario, L.L.C. The attendees represented licensees in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States and included theatres, museums, performing arts centers, ballet and dance companies, opera organizations, symphony orchestras and consortiums sharing a system among multiple users.
While at the conference attendees could choose from 66 sessions presented by 121 session leaders plus optional Beginning and Advanced focus tracks.
General sessions announced the launch of the following major enhancements to and interfaces with Tessitura Software:
- Further expansion of an optional “Select Your Own Seat” online buying path for organizations that elect to put that power in the hands of their online ticket buyers. Many capabilities are in place for comprehensive sales and online consumer seat selection; selected websites using this technology can be viewed at www.steppenwolf.org and www.osfashland.org. The design of the user experience is totally flexible thus enabling the using organizations to plan and execute their online experience from start to finish. The API enabling this capability is provided to all licenseholders at no charge.
- An integration of Tessitura Software with Artifax Event, a UK-based supplier of facility management and scheduling software for arts organizations. The API enabling this capability is provided to all license holders at no charge.
Breakout sessions covered over 60 topics including:
- Usage of Tessitura for Education to Manage Classes, Outreach and Educational Events
- Data Mining and Marketing Tool Box Functionality
- Managing Moves: Using Solicitations, Promotions and Research to Cultivate Donors
- Web Analytics, web configuration and tuning, E-Philanthropy, Email Marketing
- Subscriptions and Benefits Via the Web
- Yield Management
- Financial Reconciliation with Multiple Organizations Using Tessitura Consortium Capability
- Memberships, Benefits and Stewardship
This year’s conference had tracks for fundraising, marketing, ticketing, finance, customer service, the web, credit card processing and technology as well as departmental roundtables. There was also an optional day for both beginner and advanced user-intensive sessions on sessions ranging from Custom Report Writing to Advanced Web Implementations. A focal point of the conference was usage of the web by arts organizations for ever expanding functionality and the enabling of that functionality via an included web API. A session on the “Wild Wild Web” focused on usage examples and successes of multiple organizations. Some Tessitura Network, Inc. members are now driving 50% or more of their revenue via the web and there is a growing use for online fundraising and memberships.
The Tessitura Network, Inc. structure allows the licensees of the software to vote on priorities for the future development
of the software. With version 6.5 released in August, the users reviewed their voting results on development priorities for version 7.0 at the meeting. Tessitura releases new versions twice a year and updates the included web interface at the same time. A few of the 250+ highlights of v6.5 enhancements and updates include:
- Unlimited Custom Screens
- Linkage to Online Mapping for Address Pinpointing
- Enhanced Content Management Information for Website Operation
- Non-Fixed Seat Package Enabling for the Web via the Standard API
- Outlook Deployed Mail Logging within the Constituent Record
- A New Customizable Help System
- Enhanced Block Hold Code Additions and Adjustments
- Lessons Learned From Implementations of Kiosks and Access Control Systems via supplied Tessitura Software Interfaces to World-Class Integrated Hardware and Systems
Starting in 2002, Tessitura licensees have been provided with a web interface that covers online ticketing, contributions, subscriptions and many other functions. No fees are due for any transactions to Impresario, L.L.C. or the Tessitura Network, Inc. and thus arts organizations are able to maximize the revenue and contributions they generate. Multiple organizations sharing a Tessitura database using the Tessitura Consortium capabilities can also utilize multiple websites, each with their own “look and feel.” Discussions at the conference, besides covering functionality and usage, also focused on best practices for Consortia and appropriate Security and Access configurations.
The nonprofit Tessitura Network organization is governed by a Board of senior arts administrators whose interests are aligned with the needs of the users as their organizations also utilize Tessitura for ticketing, fundraising and advanced customer relationship management. The Board fielded questions from members in a panel session and several Board members were also presenters. Kelly Tweeddale, Chairperson of The Tessitura Network, Inc. and Administrative Director of the Seattle Opera, opened the conference by comparing the formation and operation of the Tessitura Network to examples in the book Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies by James C. Collins and Jerry I. Porras. The Board highlighted the fact that annual membership dues for support and upgrades has come down every year since inception at the same time that the staff and number of services of the Tessitura Network have increased dramatically.
Jack Rubin, President of the Tessitura Network, Inc, commented, “This year’s conference built on the success of past meetings in Boston, Seattle, San Diego, Chicago and Santa Fe and attendance has grown dramatically each year. Tessitura users realize the value of the knowledge sharing, conference content and Tessitura Community networking. The conference agenda is guided by a committee representing a cross section of Tessitura users and reflected the needs of the licensees. Unlike other companies which try to turn their user conferences into trade exhibits and profit centers, the Tessitura Network, Inc. focuses on the issues and priorities for knowledge sharing as directed by its members. The conference is private. In conjunction with the topical sessions, this year’s conference included a reception and beach dinner on Toronto Island as well as a number of networking events. The collaborative nature of the Tessitura Network user community is very gratifying for the 30+ person Tessitura Network staff, whose role is to enhance, improve and support the software in a manner that meets the mission of the Tessitura Network. A highlight celebrating the success of the conference, the software and the nonprofit Network concept was the all-volunteer Tessitura Network Chorus and Orchestra which presented a musical version of the Tessitura Network mission statement. It received a standing ovation."
The conference concluded with the announcement that the 2007 Conference will be held in Tucson, Arizona.
About Tessitura Software® and the Tessitura Network, Inc.
Tessitura Software® is an enterprise software application that enables an integrated approach to “constituent
management” for arts organizations. Using a single database of information, the system empowers the user organization to record, track and manage all contacts with its constituents, conduct highly targeted and cost-efficient marketing, membership and fund raising appeals, handle all ticketing, subscription and membership transactions and provide detailed and flexible performance and analysis reports. Besides seamlessly providing efficient business functionality and ticketing, marketing and development department operations, a key benefit of the system is its ability for relationship managers to have a full view of each constituent – their history, preferences and all contacts with the institution. Tessitura Software is owned by Impresario, L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Metropolitan Opera and was first launched in 1998.
The Tessitura Network, Inc. is a nonprofit company established to further enhance Tessitura Software® over time and to provide ongoing support and consulting services for Tessitura licensees. Licensees become “members” of the Tessitura Network once they start using Tessitura to process transactions for their organization.
Contact: Jack Rubin
www.tessiturasoftware.com
Phone: 214.265.1908
jrubin@tessiturasoftware.com