Sovereign CenterInside Berks Business

Kathryn Mazurek

2010

Inside BERKS business: iBbA five-day learning experience for educators

• Educators are placed in summer internships with local businesses around Berks County through the BCIU.

• The goal is for teachers to become better informed of the occupations, job skills, and abilities that are necessary in the job market.

• iBb supports the PA Career Education and Work Standards.

Sovereign Center

• Joanie Bernie – Sovereign Center Mentor– Marketing Coordinator

• Spent 4 days at the Sovereign Center.

• Shared time between the Sovereign Center and the Sovereign Performing Arts Center.

Sovereign Center• 23 full time employees

• Sits on former site of the Aster Movie Theater, which closed in 1975.

• The building was built in 2001.

• Home of the Reading Royals Ice Hockey team – during Hockey season they cover the ice like a jig-saw puzzle so concerts can still be held.

• Home of the Reading Express Indoor Football team.

• Wilson, Reading, Mifflin, Muhlenberg, Alvernia, Albright have all held graduation ceremonies at the Sovereign Center now.

• Sovereign Center holds 8,900 seats total.• Theater can also be changed into the Reading Eagle Theater

by the use of a curtain to 2, 500 or 4,500 seats.

• Big events: Elton John, Jonas Brothers, Eagles, Cher, Tim McGraw.

• Upcoming events: Hank Williams Jr. and Smack Down World Tour.

Sovereign Center

Sovereign Performing Arts Center• The Sovereign Performing Arts

Center was built in the 1870s with a Masonic Temple on its upper floors.

• It became the Academy of Music in 1886.

• The Rajah Shriners purchased it in 1917 to use the building for various activities.

• The auditorium was rebuilt in 1921 after a fire destroyed most of the facility.

• In 2000, the Berks County Convention Center Authority purchased the 1,700 seat Rajah Theater.

• Today, the Sovereign Performing Arts Center is home to the Reading Symphony Orchestra and the Broadway on 6th Street series.

• Big events: Willie Nelson, Wynton Marsalis, Jerry Seinfeld, and David Copperfield.

• Upcoming events: Joan Baez, Straight No Chaser, Broadway events: The Wizard of Oz, Grease, Riverdance and Beauty and the Beast.

Sovereign Performing Arts Center

Spectator Management Group

• Building managed by Spectator Management Group

(SMG).

• SMG manages other facilities as well.

• Employees are hired by SMG.

Food and Beverage

Tonya Dinatally - Catering Manager

• Planning events, coordinator

• Recreation director

• Organized Gilmore – Henne community fundraiser

• www.GHcommunityfund.com

• Savor … Reading (weddings and banquets)

Food and Beverage

Food and Beverage:• Order all food and drink• Inventory all items 1 time every month• 6 month health inspection – maintain clean and safe working

environment• Catering for all events, including “Stars”• 20 + Part time concession employees – hiring and training

Non-profit Groups:• Bring in non-profit groups• Training for non-profit groups• Makes sure that all non-profit volunteers have been TIPS trained.• TIPS certification is Training Intervention Procedures for responsible sale of alcohol. All non-profit volunteers MUST go through training.

Diane Hiester - Food and Drink Manager

Box Office

• Booking:– Books shows – speaks with agents– Relationships– Know your market - Classic Rock and Country

• After show: Settlement report, how many tickets were sold?

• Box office opens 5 minutes before internet sales

• Ticketing software

• SMG exclusive contract with Ticket Master

Brian Sipe - Booking and Box Office Manager

Operations

• Manages auditorium for all shows.

• Sovereign Performing Arts has 3 types of shows:

1. Local Artists (Reading Symphony Orchestra)

2. Concerts (Weird Al)

3. Broadway (4 – 6 shows) Tractor trailers full of sets and scenery

• No set hours, hours are set by the demands of the shows.

Troy Wenger - Theater Director

• Accountant – CPA

• In charge of payroll / bills / money

•Box office and ticketing

• Settlement the next day – wire money, no real cash anymore

•Settling the show – Pay-up, create report

• Human Resources and Benefits

FinanceHope J. Parkin, Regional Director of Finance

Sales

• Business background

• In charge of selling Suites – now available on single event basis

• Prices vary – A few empty suites are

available

• Sovereign Center offers group discount rates – the show determines discount.

• Group minimum – 10

• New - dinners before certain shows. Broadway buffet $20.00

Michelle Lamonica - Group Sales Manager

Marketing

Melanie Mann – Director of MarketingJoanie Bernie – Marketing Coordinator

• Getting the word out about shows.• Advertise is various ways:

• Newspaper• Radio Y102, W10V, Allentown• Cable TV• Major networks when it reaches your target

audience, such as Country Music Awards• All shows have a budget • Banners and billboards• Walking with Dinosaurs – huge project!!

General Manager

• Strategic Planner

• Hire great people and let them do their job.

• Community face – local committees “face of the building.”

• Works with Brian on booking of shows.

• In charge of budget.

• Business and marketing background.

• Production background and athletics background.

• The more you know, the more secure your job is!

Zane Collings – GM

Education Requirements and Salary and Benefits

• Salary varies by the job and experience level.

• Part-time employees must have a High School Diploma.

• Part-time employees start at minimum wage.

• Go to www.sovereigncenter.com, click on more information and employment opportunities.

Assets

• Service to the community– Jehovah’s Witness Conference

• Trade service - attendees clean the theater, paint, and complete minor repairs.

• Hotels, Meals, foot traffic through the city.• 6,000 + people attend.

– Community Foundation www.GHcommunityfund.com

• Fundraiser party at the Sovereign Performing Arts Center.

• Founded by John Gilmore and Chad Henne.• Fundraiser to fix-up local playgrounds and parks.

Technology• Everyone must have technological skills:

– Purchasing tickets – All computer based programs

– Scanning tickets – Special handheld scanner

– Communication – Phone system, Facebook, E-mail

– Publicity – Website, E-mail, Scanner / Copy Machine

– Security – Cameras, Light board, ice monitoring system

Greatest Challenge

• Economy– Job losses, higher unemployment rates – Less money to spend on entertainment

• How is it being addressed?– Bringing in great shows that people are willing

to spend their money to see.– Fiscally responsible – great value.– Everyone deserves a break!

Skills• Communication – speaking and interacting with people.

• Writing letters and reading skills.

• Math - word problems (contracts).

• Computer skills (typing, e-mail, presentation software).

• Personality and professionalism – shake hands!

Skills

• Background checks for all employment, credit checks for finance department.

• Work ethic and effort – not a privilege.

• Building relationships with others.

• Event services in college – gain experience while in school.

Abstract 1

Students will follow all steps necessary to put on a successful concert. The Sovereign Performing Arts Center has several employees that work together to book, advertise, sell and display a concert. The class will be divided into small departments that will work together to promote the school concert.

- Make programs

- Add student names

Sales Marketing

General ManagerTeacher

OperationsBox Office

-Set up concert venue

- Create decorations

-Write commercials

- Read narrative over morning announcements

-Create posters

- Hang posters

Class Company

Career Ed. and Work Standards

• 13.1.5 G. Identify the components of a career plan, such as, but not limited to: Beginning of career portfolio, Career goals, Individual interests and abilities, Training / education requirements and costs.

• 13.1.5.H Connect personal interests and abilities and academic strengths to personal career options.

• 13.2.5.A. Apply appropriate speaking and listening techniques used in conversation.

• 13.2.5 E. Apply to daily activities, the essential workplace skills, such as, but not limited to: Commitment, Communication, Dependability, Health / Safety, Personal initiative, Scheduling / time management, Team building, Technical literacy, Technology.

• 13.3.5.B. Explain the importance of working cooperatively with others at both home and school to complete a task.

• 13.3.5 G. Describe how personal interests and abilities impact lifelong learning.

Music Standards

• 7a. Students devise criteria for evaluating performances and compositions.

• 7b. Students explain, using appropriate music terminology, their personal preferences for specific musical works and styles.

Abstract 2

This lesson will follow the lesson from Abstract 1. The teacher will explain that every child used many different skills to complete the project they just finished. Students will now write a job description from the position they just held within the class. The job description will be used for the students to read for the project next year.

• 13.1.5.H Connect personal interests and abilities and academic strengths to personal career options.

• 13.2.5 D. Identify individualized career portfolio components, such as, but not limited to: Achievements, Awards / recognitions, Career exploration results, Career plans, Community Service involvement / projects, Interests/ Hobbies, Personal Career goals, Selected school work, Self inventories.

Career Ed. and Work Standards

• 8b. Students indentify ways in which the principles and subject matter of other disciplines taught in the school are interrelated with those of music.

• 9d. Students identify and describe roles of musicians in various music settings and cultures.

Music Standards

Kathryn Mazurek, Tulpehocken Area School DistrictSovereign CenteriBb Project 2010