BCT Box Office + Software Donation = Business for Bloomington

Organization Information:

Organization Name:
Buskirk-Chumley Theater
City & State:
Bloomington, 
Indiana
Organization Website:
http://www.buskirkchumley.org
Organization's Mission Statement

It is Buskirk-Chumley Theater Management, Inc.’s mission to develop the Buskirk-Chumley Theater as a high quality and widely accessible community resource and performance venue, operated in a fiscally responsible manner. Support from the City of Bloomington, Indiana University, the Indiana Arts Commission, our many corporate sponsors and community donors helps maintain this historic community resource and bring a wide diversity of programming to the stage each year.

Submission Information

Impact Essay

BCT Box Office

A year round box office since 2004, the BCT Box Office provides ticketing services to over 50 community organizations, ranging from local theater companies (Cardinal Stage Company, Bloomington Playwrights Project) to concert promoters (Lotus World Education & Arts Foundation, Spirit of ’68 Promotions) and non-profits (Middle Way House, WFHB Community Radio). In addition to providing ticketing service for events taking place at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, the box office sells tickets for nearly all arts-related events throughout the community. The Box Office staff is committed to customer service, value and keeping the business side of event ticketing local. This commitment makes the BCT Box Office a service to the community that is irreplaceable and of great local significance.

Software Donation = Business for Bloomington

In January 2009, BCT Management, Inc. installed a server running Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 to power E-Folio, our new, online ticketing software. Part of our Folio Box Office point-of-sale system, the E-folio online ticketing service has greatly improved customer service and contact, office efficiency and workflow. As a box office service provider to over 50 community organizations, the BCT Box Office serves Bloomington, Monroe County and beyond. Not only did Microsoft’s software donation dramatically improve the inner-workings of the BCT Box Office and the delivery of BCTM’s mission, it also shows a promising and exciting trend for the local Bloomington economy.

Results

Using E-Folio ticketing software, powered by Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2, has significantly extended our reach and customer base within a 35-mile radius. Within only the first 3 months of 2009 we have seen an increase from 2.3% to 7.5% of the total number of patrons from the Indianapolis area and an increase from 13.8% to 27.5% of total patrons that come from outside Monroe County. Growth is also evident in the number of patrons from the surrounding states: in Illinois from 1.0% to 2.7%, in Ohio from 0.4% to 1.1% and in Kentucky from 0.1% to 1.6%. Furthermore ticket sales have significantly increased by 20.7% or 5030 tickets sold vs. 4168, as compared to the same quarter last year, with net revenue reaching $93,005 (vs. $55,672).

Impact on local economy

According to research and calculations by Americans for the Arts patrons to the arts impact the economy by spending $22.50 on average per person on event related expenses, excluding tickets*. In the first quarter of 2009, all organizations selling tickets through the BCT Box Office generated $93,005.00 in ticket sales alone. Factoring in the $22.50 per patron adds $113,175.00 in additional, related spending and results in a total economic impact of $206,180.00! Projecting this calculation through 2009, the total amount spent by BCT Box Office patrons will be around $825,000.00, a figure most likely to rise, taking the current growth into account.

A closer look at the patrons buying tickets to Buskirk-Chumley Theater performances, reveals that in early 2009, 35% of our patrons came from outside Bloomington and Monroe County. If we apply that percentage of patrons to our yearly projection economic impact, $288,750.00 will come from outside Bloomington and Monroe County. And this is really good news for our community.

*Americans for the Arts, 2009, Arts & Economic Prosperity III, www.artsusa.org

Related Improvements

The maximization of the impact of the BCT Box Office is only one aspect of the great improvement that the Microsoft software donation has had on BCT Management, Inc. The overall workflow and office efficiency has greatly increased and substantially accelerated all processes and daily activity, cutting down on overhead and work hours. In the foreseeable future this will most likely result in a greater effectiveness and enhanced impact of BCT’s mission.

Submission Category
Transformations to Maximize Impact
Project Image
roffman01.JPG
Supporting Work Files