Consulting references—Excerpts

"If you're a performer and want to learn quickly how to expand your fan base, there is nobody better than Susan Smith. She moves easily and enthusiastically between more philosophic aspects of audience development and the routine tasks that will put more butts in those seats!"
Greg Curtis, singer

"I found her advice on building a board and fundraising invaluable. She also gave us input on building our subscriber base and we doubled it in the first year...I strongly recommend Susan's services...Her experience and insight have been crucial to the success of New Century Theatre."
Steve Abdow, Board Chair, New Century Theatre.

“Susan ran a highly successful workshop on Audience Development for the Performing Arts that reached out to many professionals interested in improving their understanding of the art of promotion. The response from our students was wonderful and included comments such as ‘Susan did a superb job of sharing her talents with us’ and ‘knows the topic and communicates it thoroughly and effectively’.
Charlene L. Martin, Dean of Continuing Education, Assumption College

“I know a little bit about Audience Development and thus was able to evaluate the ideas that Susan Smith gave me against my own experience. Her ideas are very good. Practical, achievable, measurable. That sort of good. Plus, Susan is delightful to work with. When we met, she took the time to learn where we wanted to be and to review what we had done to get where we are. She did not come in and make us start over from scratch, but rather pointed out some improvements that we had not thought of. None o f this caused any disruption or additional cost to our organization”.
Nicholas Thaw, Executive Director, 1794 Meetinghouse, New Salem, MA

“A committee from the Board of Directors met with Susan. The Chair of the committee found her to be a ‘knowledgeable and very pleasant consultant. I would give her a fine recommendation’. I believe that consulting with Susan Smith would benefit any arts organization, large or small”.
Leslie M. Holmes, President, Wellesley Symphony Orchestra

“Susan offers not only solutions for immediate problems, but also provides a framework for long-term growth. Her suggestions are practical, pragmatic, and easy to implement. I am confident that Susan’s expertise, which she conveys professionally and pleasantly, will prove most valuable to the New England Theatre Company, as well as to other cultural organizations in the area. Her counsel to NETC reinforced our board of directors’ opinion of her excellence”.
William C. Sigalis, President, New England Theatre Company

“Her presentation was right on the money, linking our pre-conceived notions about audiences and our relationship to them with bigger picture insights and strategies, helping us to understand them in totally new ways.”
Rikki Nicolae, attendee, Artsfirst Need to Know Conference, 2002.

"You did a tremendous job for our show...I'm referring other writers to you."
Monica Bauer, playwright

Client List

Monica Bauer (playwright)
"Jack's World" (Inet Entertainment Corp.)
Acting Up Theatre Co. (Worcester, MA)
Devanaughn Theatre Co. (Boston, MA)
Falcon Theatre (Garry Marshall/Burbank, CA)
Sylvia Greenberg (Mass. Cabaret Artist)
Master Singers of Worcester (Worcester, MA)
Millbury Improvement Initiative (Millbury, MA)
Musicians of the Old Post Road
New Century Theatre (Northampton, MA)
New England Theatre Company (Paxton, MA)
Quinsigamond Community College Theatre Dept. (Worcester, MA)
Andrea C. Ross (actress)
1794 Meetinghouse (New Salem, MA)
Wellesley Symphony Orchestra (Wellesley, MA)

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For information, e-mail Susan at bluepumpkinprod@verizon.net