THE MIDDLE WOMAN PODCAST – a roadmap to managing the performing arts

Why a podcast on managing the performing arts? In this episode, Laura Colby shares her journey of becoming a performing arts manager, creating Elsie Management, and the evolution of her roster. Self-taught, her skill-set evolved as her role in the field developed. Colby reveals her learning process and the choice to put her skills at the service of artists with the higher purpose of bringing lesser-known and under-represented performance work to stages and audiences around the globe.

Who is who in the field? What does a manager, an agent, a presenter, and a producer do? Where do they all meet and how do they get to know each other? Laura Colby is joined in this episode by guest Anna Amadei, Elsie Management’s Vice President, and her right hand for over 15 years. They will chat about the roles of this industry and what makes them interdependent and essential to the ultimate goal of presenting artists.

What are the skills needed to be a performing arts manager? In this episode, using technology, communication, and kindness to her advantage, Colby gives insight into how these skills combine to shape a productive and professional manager of the performing arts.

Looking for a career in this industry? Join Laura Colby and special guest Michelle Grove Herzog as they talk about the many levels of Herzog’s career and how she got to where she is today.

How do agents work and how do you get one? In this episode, Laura Colby is joined by special guest Sandy Garcia, Director of Booking at Pentacle, to talk about the process of getting an agent and what artists should expect when they find one.

Part 1

How do you prepare for a conference? In the first part of the conference episode, Laura Colby talks about all the material and email preparation that is needed for conference day.

Part 2

What do you do at a conference? In part two of the conference episode, Laura Colby walks through how you should present yourself at conferences and the ins and outs of talking to people and promoting your work.

How do you make connections? In this episode, Laura Colby talks about how connections are formed, when not to use (not abuse) them, and how to maintain them throughout your career.

In this episode, Laura Colby is joined by Chad Herzog, Associate Vice President of the Arts for the University of Arizona. They talk about the importance of the relationships you forge in each step of your journey in the performing arts field, and how their relationship, specifically as programmer and artist manager, has been shaped and strengthened through the years.

Hierarchy, gatekeepers, and power are all part of the performing arts industry. In this episode, Colby talks about her experiences with egos, the positive and negative impacts on arts workers, and what to do when it interferes with your work.

Laura Colby is joined by Anna Amadei, Elsie Management’s Vice President, to discuss the financial framework of running a business in the arts, being an artist or working in the field on behalf of other people, and managing a budget. They discuss how talking about money can depend on our cultural upbringing and backgrounds, and highlight how important is for all arts workers, no matter which niche they are part of, to learn how to talk about money.

In this episode, Laura Colby invites Allen Moon, Director of Touring and Artist Management of David Lieberman Artists Representatives, to talk about their sales work, specifically how they talk about the performance works, artists, and touring shows they promote via representation. They share their experience selling contemporary performing arts touring shows that are not necessarily considered popular or obvious in terms of what their genres are or what the experience is going to be like for the audience.

In this episode, Laura Colby talks about the importance of having a ready-to-go Elevator Pitch. She covers how to create one of your own and how to present your work. No matter how complicated your work is, you need to be able to describe it succinctly to whomever you are speaking to, be that your grandparent, your UPS person, or that presenter you really want to have program you.

In this episode, Laura Colby shares her experience in contracting for Elsie Management represented artists. Colby talks about the steps to a contract, important clauses, negotiating specific terms, and more!

In this episode of The Middle Woman, Laura Colby shares the things she’d wishes she’d known when she first started in this field. She shares her experience of 30+ years, in the hopes you don’t get tripped up as you move forward in the field.

In this episode, Laura Colby talks about practices to consistently have in your work. Learn about working from a place of “no surprises” – meaning you do everything in your capacity to have clarity of terms & expectations from the beginning of the booking process

Episode 16 of The Middle Woman is all about Expectations! Join Laura Colby as she shares her experience with the importance of being honest with yourself and everyone you work with about what you expect from them and what you can deliver

Contracts Part 2 features entertainment lawyer Brian Goldstein from GG Arts Law. Listen along as Laura and Brian discuss the validity of contracts, how best to communicate with all parties, and the power of “no.”

Join Laura Colby and Anna Amadei (President and VP of Elsie Management) as they talk about how they curate the Elsie Management Roster and the many lessons they have learned along the way

In this episode, Laura Colby and special guests Anna Amadei, Elsie’s Vice President, and Jimena Alviar, Elsie’s Contract Manager discuss the complexities and challenges involved when touring U.S. artists abroad. 

This episode features Laura Colby and Anna Amadei (Elsie’s President and Vice President) as they talk about showcasing platforms, ways to showcase, and the benefits of showcasing.

In this episode, Laura Colby is joined by guests Anna Amadei and Jimena Alviar (long-time Elsie Management employees) to share their first-hand experiences and knowledge about the many things that can go wrong in the daily work of an artist manager. From force majeure, to costly mistakes, and database disasters, hear how these challenges shaped Elsie Management’s approach to mitigating risk – and why who you work with is key.

In this episode, Laura Colby is joined by Anna Amadei & Jimena Alviar as they dive deep into the world of U.S. work visas for international artists. With 20 years of experience under their belts, they reveal insider tips on the petition process, the dos and don’ts, and the reasons behind Elsie’s decision to personally handle visa applications. Discover the behind-the-scenes efforts that go into securing approvals for Elsie’s international artists’ work visas.

In this episode, Laura is joined by President and CEO of APAP, Lisa Richards Toney in a conversation about equity in the field of the performing arts. They discuss how taking initiative in creating your own opportunities is absolutely critical in maintaining equity throughout the industry.

In Episode 24: Answering a Need, Laura and special guest Beatrice Thomas share what it has meant for them to answer a need in the field, how serving in the industry has shaped their careers, and how one can effect change in the industry of the performing arts.

A note about the audio: This is a lost episode found with the help of an AI platform. Due to this, the audio is slightly irregular.

The 25th episode of The Middle Woman, Power Part 1 features special guest Yanira Castro. In this episode, Laura and Yanira discuss the development of Yanira’s work, how power plays a role in artmaking, and the ultimate form of power; money.

Episode 26 Power Part 2 is with special guest Rob Bailis, Artistic & Executive Director of BroadStage. Laura and Rob discuss how power plays a role in their jobs as artsworkers and how artists are an integral part of the power puzzle.

This episode of The Middle Woman, International Cultural Exchange, features special guest Gaurav Kripalani. Pulling from Gaurav’s experience as Artistic Director of Singapore Repertory Theatre, Laura and Gaurav speak to how international collaboration is essential to the development of work and expanding live performances to new audiences.

In Episode 28 of The Middle Woman podcast, Laura Colby is joined in conversation by special guest Todd Wetzel, Executive Director of Purdue Convocations. They discuss the many joys and challenges in balancing family, work, and life in the demanding field of the performing arts; from career paths to the power of setting boundaries.

In Episode 29, Laura talks about the different kind of work she and her team facilitated with several of their artists during the COVID-19 pandemic. Joined by Manual Cinema’s Kyle Vegter and Sarah Fornace, they share the process of creating and presenting the live stream, virtual performances of Manual Cinema’s A Christmas Carol under impossible circumstances.

This final podcast episode features Elsie’s founder and President, Laura Colby, in conversation with Elsie’s Vice President, Anna Amadei, and Elsie’s Contract Manager, Jimena Alviar, discussing the many ways they have endeavored to keep Elsie Management relevant in an ever-changing local and global landscape.