On the Road - Presenters Handbook

YOU’RE IN GREAT COMPANY

As a presenter, you’ll be joining a cast of thousands across the country who take responsibility to facilitate engaging performing arts experiences for their community.   Here are some examples of “presenter types” you can find around the country. 

Community Presenters

Community presenters are usually volunteer-based, non-profit organizations committed to providing arts experiences for their communities.  Some undertake just one or two concerts a year, others may present dozens, but most will stage anywhere from three to eight concerts a season.  With a few exceptions, the season runs from fall to spring.  Some community presenters may have some paid employees on staff, but most rely on community volunteers.

Occasional Presenters

Many organizations and associations occasionally present artists. For example:

• Professional associations booking a performance for a conference or a local charity for a fundraiser.
  
• Art galleries, bookstores, shopping malls, coffee houses and restaurants.
  
• Colleges and university campuses, including individual departments or student activity groups (e.g., a Woman’s Studies or a Native Studies Department might bring in a well known writer or performer for workshops or performances, a Music Department might bring in a string quartet for masterclasses and a performance, and student activity groups or clubs such as the Student Union (usually popular music) might book artists for on-campus concerts).

Festivals

Most of the festivals in Canada are non-profit organizations.  Many are discipline specific (e.g. offering dance, theatre, a particular type of music or work for children) while many Indigenous and culturally diverse festivals are multi-disciplinary.   Some festivals take place over a day or two, while others may last several weeks. 

With festival organizations, there may not be any year-round employees or there may be just one or two: festivals are generally dependent upon a large group of volunteers and short-term contract employees to deliver their events. 

Libraries, Schools and School Divisions

Libraries, schools and, occasionally, school divisions are also presenters of performances and workshops in informal settings, such as a classroom, resource centre or cafetorium.  Sometimes, they are collaborators, co-presenting events with a local presenting organization or simply committing in advance to purchasing tickets for a school matinee performance.

Facility Presenters 

Presenters linked to municipal facilities or universities and colleges are generally staffed by at least some paid professionals who take responsibility for marketing, box office and technical support. Many of them also have volunteers involved in their organizations. 

Specialized Presenters

Specialized presenters generally work with a specific art form (like new music or dance) or present a number of art forms with a clearly defined aesthetic.  Sometimes they are artists who make presenting opportunities for their peers.  They are most often found in major urban centres or mid-sized cities.

For-Profit Promoters

In the music industry, particularly in the for-profit sector, the presenter is more commonly referred to as a “promoter.”  Promoters can be found working in music clubs, restaurants, traditional “soft-seat” concert halls, arenas and outdoor venues, such as amphitheatres and stadiums.  

Civic Events and Community Celebrations

From local community fairs to neighborhood block parties to Canada Day Celebrations, there are community events that feature entertainment throughout the country, especially in the summer-time.   In smaller communities, it is usually a volunteer organization like the Agricultural Society that puts on the fair and books the talent. In larger communities, the event may be the responsibility of a government department who will contract an independent promoter to book the entertainment.