The Offstage Mic
The Offstage Mic
Aubrey Bergauer
Arts and culture is a big business—a $1.02 trillion sector whose 100,000+ organizations serve almost every community in the nation. This podcast is about running that business: how to grow audiences, develop high performing teams and leaders, get younger attendees in the seats and on the donor rolls, apply strategies working in other sectors, and generate millions more dollars in revenue, all in order to serve the mission and flourish in a changing world. Hosted by “the Steve Jobs of classical music” (Observer) and "Sheryl Sandberg of the Symphony" (LA Review of Books), in each episode Aubrey Bergauer discusses the offstage work of arts organizations and the administrators, artists, and board members who make them run. Subscribe, download, and listen right here.
Apply These 7 Research-backed Skills to Grow Your Leadership in Arts Management
Advancing in arts leadership can be tricky, because what got you to where you are now likely won’t get you to where you want to be. In the final part of this bonus series, Aubrey gives you real-world examples of the seven researched-backed steps to advancing your career in arts management. Then, she guides you through a visioning exercise to identify the conditions and behaviors needed to become the arts leader you want to be.  
Dec 10, 2024
55 min
8 Negotiation Strategies to Advance in Arts Leadership
Imagine negotiating the salary and benefits you know you deserve as an arts leader. Or going to the bargaining table for union negotiations, and all parties come out satisfied. In Part 2 of this bonus series, Aubrey dives deep into an important skill necessary to growing your leadership: the art of negotiation. Spoiler alert: it’s not all about the money. Then she builds upon the visioning in Part 1, helping you understand the difference between the work you’re good at vs. the work that will let your true genius shine.
Dec 3, 2024
56 min
Things They Never Taught You About Growing Your Leadership in Arts Management
There’s a lot about arts leadership most of us were never taught. And you can’t win a game if you don’t know the rules. So we’re bringing you three bonus episodes from our recent training series, “They Never Taught You That: How to Grow Your Career in Arts Management.” This is Part 1, where Aubrey shares the seven research-backed steps to growing your leadership in arts management. She also offers some reflection prompts, so you can tailor the research to your specific work in the arts. 
Nov 26, 2024
1 hr 7 min
Climbing The Ladder to Executive Director and Creating A Kick Ass Culture On The Way [Success Series]
Working your way up in arts admin can feel like an uphill battle, but it doesn’t have to be a fight! In the final episode of the season, arts administrator Chelsea Chambers at the Peninsula Symphony talks about working her way up to executive director. Hear how realizing that “I don’t have all the answers” helped her climb the ladder to ED and create a kickass company culture along the way. Guest: Chelsea Chambers, Executive Director of the Peninsula Symphony
Oct 22, 2024
45 min
How An Arts Administrator Found Her Confidence Because of This One Statistic [Success Series]
Ever heard the saying, “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take?” What if we told you that when it comes to jobs they’re not 100 percent qualified for, white men are more likely than women and people of color to apply anyway? This was the statistic that made today’s guest decide to take her shot. Hear how an early version of the Uplevel professional development program – and the community of people within it – helped her find confidence, overcome imposter syndrome, and land the job she wanted. Guest: Jo Griffin, Recruitment Specialist at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
Oct 15, 2024
32 min
‘Fake It Till You Become It’: Level Up Your Leadership With Power and Presence
Ever feel like you’re not quite giving off the confidence you know you should be as a leader in the arts? Social psychologist Amy Cuddy says it may have something to do with your “presence” – a sort of “self-assured enthusiasm.” Today, we get into her research on presence as an incredible indicator of leadership success, from how you come off to your colleagues to whether people you meet trust you. Hear how to tap into your personal power and harness it to lead. Hint: it can start with something as simple as changing your physical posture. For more on this, check out Amy Cuddy's Ted Talk: "Your body language may shape who you are."
Oct 8, 2024
39 min
How One Conductor Learned You Can’t be Everything to Everyone [Success Series]
What is your unique purpose as an arts administrator? How do you find the courage to lead with purpose once you know? Carlos Cordero is a conductor, new choral music advocate, singer and self-proclaimed “great hug-giver.” But he started off with a broad, more generic vision that wasn’t connecting with audiences the way he wanted to. As a gay Latinx immigrant artist, Carlos did some soul searching and clarified his mission: to advocate for the LGBTQ+ and immigrant community through his brand, The Happy Choir, and his professional Tenor-Bass choir, Un/heard. Hear how Carlos learned that you can’t be everything to everyone. By going from generic to specific, he took ownership of his brand and unlocked community connection for himself and his ensembles.Guest: Carlos Cordero, new choral music artist and advocate; creator of The Happy Choir
Oct 1, 2024
33 min
Load more