In the business world, Net Present Value (NPV) has long been an essential calculation when making investment and program decisions. The NPV formula helps managers focus on four essential truths about their financial decisions: It’s the long-term value or cost of a decision that matters, much more than the perceived immediate return; All calculations should […]

A cluster of theater service organizations in the UK offer an alternative measurement of theatrical success, which they hope counters the current methods of headcounts and box office receipts. The Independent Theatre Council, Society of London Theatre, and Theatrical Management Association — along with the New Economics Foundation — have posted details of the approach […]

If you’re working in the nonprofit or public arts, or plan to be, and you’re carrying Federal student loans, it’s a good time to be sure your record-keeping is in order. As a tag-along to the recent health care reform legislation, the Federal government also enhanced its approach to student loans. As a result, there […]

Author Jane Hamilton ask a rather probing question toward the end of her radio interview on To the Best of Our Knowledge (you can listen here with your Real player, interview starts at 43:25). The question evolves from a conversation about the crowds of people who want to be writers, but who aren’t well read […]

You may not be aware of it, but you’re likely highly dependent on APIs, or ”application programming interfaces.” If you monitor your Twitter or Facebook accounts through a desktop or mobile device, if you scan a map to a venue that’s driven by Google Maps, if you check your flight status on your PDA, you’re […]

It’s the University’s spring break this week, along with my kids’ break. So I’m taking a short recess from blogging to refresh my thinking and revisit my other chores. See you next week!

“The Business” radio show on KCRW offers an interesting inside look at futures markets (you know…pork bellies, heating oil, uranium), and the new opportunities coming soon to buy futures in popular entertainment receipts — more specifically, the movies. The proposed Cantor Exchange, seeking approval from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for a possible launch in […]

I’m a bit late to the party and the invitation, but artists, arts organizations, and anyone who might label themselves a ‘creative professional’ should give a moment of thought and a speedy response to this call from the White House: How many jobs depend on the existence of intellectual property?  What are the greatest risks […]

Composer Eric Whitacre and his collaborators offer up a really interesting hybrid of the virtual and the real in the Virtual Choir, combining 185 separate choristers from 12 countries recorded independently, all conducted by the composer (through a prerecorded conductor track on YouTube) and combined into a single performance. Whitacre posted the announcement and instructions […]

The independents are clearly frustrated. They’re developing their work with lean and innovative processes. They’re diving into risk and creative expression. They’re exploring new visions and new voices. But all the while, they’re struggling against a large, established, and out-dated infrastructure that’s resource-hungry, risk-averse, and wielding too much influence over the creation and control of […]