Member Conference 2015 -

Register for 2016

Thanks to everyone who joined us for the conference last year.
Registration is now open for Vendini Member Conference 2016!

Check out the 2015 schedule ›

Need help justifying your attendance? Download a sample “letter to your boss” ›

About

The Vendini Member Conference will take place July 20-21, 2015 in beautiful Chicago, Illinois. A mix of expert led conference sessions, discussion panels, and common interest groups, the conference will arm Vendini Members with skills and strategies to grow their business and do more with the Vendini system. Conference attendees will get intensive system training, learn about industry trends and best practices, and forge new contacts with like minded professionals.

Location

Stage 773
1225 W. Belmont Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657

Directions to Stage 773 ›

Conference Passes

Admission

to all sessions and breakouts

Meet 1-1

with Vendini Staff and speakers

Meals

breakfast and lunch provided

Free Shuttle

to-and-from the conference

Social Event

the Monday night social event

Goodie Bag

your attendee bag of goodies

REGISTRATION

Early Bird (through May 24) $295

Standard (after May 24) $395

Register

NON-PROFIT DISCOUNT : GET $100 OFF

There is a $100 discount available for non-profit members. To take advantage of the non-profit discount, members must supply current 501(c)(3) documentation and tax ID number. Contact Melissa Sheehan at eventmarketing@vendini.com for the non-profit discount code.

Speakers

Tricia Baker

VP Customer Success, Vendini

Nancy Boas

Director of Product Marketing, Vendini

Courtney Bryan

Director of Ticketing & Group Sales, SPI Entertainment

Thomas Benoist

Patron & Donor Relations Associate, The Cabaret at The Columbia Club

Ruth Egherman

Customer Relationship Manager, Vendini

Andrew Eisenmann

Performing Arts Chair & Vocal Music Director, Helene Galen Performing Arts Center

Adam Engelbrecht

Member Account Manager, Technical Support, Vendini

Jason Epperson

Executive Director, Greenhouse Theater Center

Michael Friedman

Senior Product Manager, Vendini

Keith Goldberg

Chief Revenue Officer, Vendini

Eric Heilmeier

Director, Campus Information & Services, University of Michigan — Ann Arbor

Tim Hines

Channel Marketing Manager, Vendini

Betsy Holbrook

Training & Documentation Program Manager, Vendini

Millie Manning

Member Services Project Manager, Vendini

Pete McCarthy

Senior Product Manager, Vendini

Heather Meza

Director of Marketing, Vendini

Russ Nelson

VP Product, Vendini

Katie Nix

Member Account Manager, Vendini

Gary Payne

Director of Finance, Irvine Barclay Theatre

Stephanie Phipps

Development Director, Thalian Hall Center for Performing Arts

Jim Pritchard

Director of Theatre Operations, Riviera Theatre

Leah Ross

Executive Director, Birthplace of Country Music®

Michele Schmitt

Senior Product Manager, Vendini

Jesse Schmohl

Customer Development Manager, Vendini

Melissa Sheehan

Senior Marketing Manager, Vendini

Jack Short

Director of Tenant Services, Stage 773

Tim Smeal

Patron Services Manager, Reg Lenna Center for the Arts

Mark Tacchi

President & CEO, Vendini

Russ Thompson

Box Office Manager, State University of New York at New Paltz

Gary Tucker

Marketing Director, Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts

John Uetz

Senior Product Manager, Vendini

Cristin Whitley

Member Account Manager, Vendini

Schedule

Monday, July 20, 2015

7:45AM – 6:00PM

Shuttle Pickup
THE WILLOWS HOTEL, DAYS INN CHICAGO

8:00AM – 6:00PM

Shuttle Pickup
CITY SUITES HOTEL

8:00AM – 9:00AM

Registration & Breakfast
LOBBY

9:00AM – 9:30AM

Opening Remarks
THE PRO

9:30AM – 10:00AM

Expand Your Reach with new Marketing Channels
THE PRO

Cultivating loyal patrons is one thing, and getting new butts in your seats is another. Learn how Vendini has invested in new promotional tools that work behind-the-scenes to extend your reach and better promote your events. We’ll discuss how Walletini Insider and the Vendini Affiliate Program extend your marketing efforts to reach new patrons and sell more tickets.

Speaker:

Tim Hines, Channel Marketing Manager

10:15AM – 10:45AM

Customizing Thermal Tickets
THE PRO

10:15AM – 10:45AM

Logistics Manager: Product Roadmap
THE CAB

11:00AM – 12:00PM

Fundraising: Cultivate, Motivate & Elevate
THE PRO

Fundraising is all about building strategic relationships. Donors and members are passionate about your cause and want to help. Our job as development directors is to find out where their interests lie and find a place that makes them successful. This interactive workshop will help you learn new ways to cultivate new and existing donors and sponsors, make the ask and move them along in your organization.

Speaker:

Stephanie Phipps, Development Director, Thalian Hall Center for Performing Arts

11:00AM – 12:00PM

Logistics Manager: Form Builder 101
THE CAB

12:00PM – 1:00PM

Lunch
LOBBY

1:00PM – 2:00PM

Live Stream: Patron Connect Launch
THE PRO

2:15PM – 3:15PM

Building Strong Community Partnerships
THE THRUST

Join fellow Vendini Members for an interactive panel discussion about building and benefiting from community partnerships. After Member panelists share their partnership strategies, we’ll turn it over to the audience for discussion and best practice sharing.

Panelists:

Andrew Eisenmann, Performing Arts Chair & Vocal Music Director, Helene Galen Performing Arts Center
Jason Epperson, Executive Director, Greenhouse Theater Center
Leah Ross, Executive Director, Birthplace of Country Music®
Gary Tucker, Marketing Director, Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts

Moderator:

Melissa Sheehan, Senior Marketing Manager

2:15PM – 3:15PM

Introduction to Reports
THE PRO

3:30PM – 4:30PM

Breakout Sessions: Birds of a Feather
THE PRO, THE THRUST, THE BOX, THE CAB, LOBBY

Break into common interest groups to discuss topics specific to your organization and industry with your peers. Birds of a feather breakout groups to include: small and large universities, small and large performing arts organizations, tours and attractions, and live music, festivals and promoters. Meeting room locations to be announced at the conference.

Large Universities (more than 10K students)

The Cab

Moderated by:

Eric Heilmeier, Director, Campus Information & Services, University of Michigan
John Uetz, Senior Product Manager, Vendini

Small – Medium Universities (fewer than 10K students)

The Box

Moderated by:

Millie Manning, Member Services Project Manager, Vendini
Russell Thompson, Box Office Manager, State University of New York at New Paltz

Large Performing Arts Organizations (more than 20K tickets per year)

The Thrust

Moderated by:

Ruth Egherman, Customer Relationship Manager, Vendini
Gary Payne, Director of Finance, Irvine Barclay Theatre

Small – Medium Performing Arts Organizations (fewer than 20K tickets per year)

The Pro

Moderated by:

Tim Smeal, Patron Services Manager, Reg Lenna Center for the Arts
Cristin Whitley, Member Account Manager, Vendini

Tours, Attractions & Museums

Lobby

Moderated by:

Tim Hines, Channel Marketing Manager, Vendini
Katie Nix, Member Account Manager, Vendini

Live Music, Festivals & Promoters

Lobby

Moderated by:

Robby Black, Director of Festival Solutions, Vendini
Kevin Hazlip, Project Manager, The Orange Blossom Opry

4:45PM – 5:00PM

Customer Success at Vendini
THE PRO

6:15PM – Shuttle
7:00PM – 10:00PM

Member Success Celebration
BUDDY GUY'S LEGENDS

Unwind after Monday’s conference sessions wrap. Join us to enjoy some Chicago blues, soul food and brews at Buddy Guy’s Legends, a Chicago staple. Mike Wheeler and his trio will perform an exclusive show for Vendini Member Conference attendees.

Complimentary shuttles to the party will be provided and will depart each conference hotel at 6:15 PM sharp. The final shuttle will depart at 10:15 PM sharp from Buddy Guy’s Legends. Conference attendees can also stay for that evening’s Brother John show at 9:30 PM.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

7:45AM – 6:00PM

Shuttle Pickup
THE WILLOWS HOTEL, DAYS INN CHICAGO

8:00AM – 6:00PM

Shuttle Pickup
CITY SUITES HOTEL

8:00AM – 9:00AM

Breakfast
LOBBY

9:00AM – 10:00AM

Creative Pricing Strategies
THE PRO

Join fellow Vendini Members for a panel discussion of creative pricing strategies that influence the bottom line. After Member panelists share their strategies, we’ll turn it over to the audience for discussion and best practice sharing.

Panelists:

Thomas Benoist, Patron & Donor Relations Associate, The Cabaret
Courtney Bryan, Director of Ticketing & Group Sales, SPI Entertainment
Jim Pritchard, Director of Theatre Operations, Riviera Theatre
Jack Short, Director of Tenant Services, Stage 773

Moderator:

Keith Goldberg, Chief Revenue Officer

10:15AM – 10:45AM

Structuring Win-Win Pricing
THE PRO

10:15AM – 10:45AM

Track Sales Success On-the-Go
THE THRUST

11:00AM – 12:00PM

Advanced Reporting
THE PRO

11:00AM – 12:00PM

Creative Email Strategy for the Mobile Age
THE THRUST

12:00PM – 1:00PM

Lunch
LOBBY

1:00PM – 2:00PM

Moving Toward Patron Intimacy: Engage, Cultivate and Listen
THE PRO

Knowing which patrons to engage, how often to contact them and their likes/dislikes has traditionally been an inexact science. New technological advances are eliminating the guesswork to ascertain potential donors and provide better customer service. This session will focus on the data, workflows and best practices required to succeed in the “conversation” economy.

Speakers:

Nancy Boas, Director of Product Marketing
Betsy Holbrook, Training Manager

1:00PM – 2:00PM

Logistics Manager: RFID & Beyond: Access Control and Deep Patron Analytics
THE THRUST

2:15PM – 3:15PM

Conversion Tracking: Know & Grow Your Audience
THE PRO

Conversion tracking is a powerful way for businesses to collect and analyze their website user data. Conversion tracking helps businesses monitor many important metrics, including conversion rates, bounce rates, referral source, and more. In this session, we’ll explore what conversion tracking is, how to implement it in the Vendini system, and examples of how Vendini Members are using conversion tracking to grow their sales.

Speaker:

Adam Englebrecht, Technical Support Manager

2:15PM – 3:15PM

Subscriptions & Season Tickets Strategy
THE THRUST

Vendini has many features to offer your most loyal patrons easy and preferential access to tickets. In this session, we will look at how you can use packages, memberships, and season renewals to drive ticket sales. We’ll also dive into real-life usage cases of how Vendini Members use these features in creative ways, and learn best practices and advanced strategies for using these features to benefit your organization.

Speaker:

Cristin Whitley, Account Manager

3:30PM – 4:00PM

The Mobile Box Office
THE PRO

3:30PM – 4:00PM

An Outstanding Experience Begins With Your Website
THE THRUST

With online and mobile ticket sales accounting for an ever increasing portion of the market, your website is key in keeping a consistent connection with your patrons. User experience (or “UX”) is critical because it determines how your patrons feel when using your website, as well as influencing their behavior. This session will touch on improving user experience through topics such as calls to action, mobile-responsive design, and search engine optimization (SEO). We will discuss general guidelines for how these components should be incorporated into your general website design, and how they can be easily implemented through Vendini Website Manager.

Speaker:

Millie Manning, Product Manager

4:15PM – 4:45PM

Product Vision
THE PRO

4:45PM – 5:00PM

Closing Remarks
THE PRO

Hotel

We’ve arranged discounted room rates at local hotels.
To reserve a room, call the hotel directly and mention the Vendini Member Conference group.
Limited rooms available. Book before mid-May.

City Suites Chicago Hotel
933 West Belmont
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 404-3400
$151 — 191 PER NIGHT

The Willows Hotel
555 West Surf St.
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 528-8400
$151 — 191 PER NIGHT

Days Inn Chicago
644 West Diversey Pkwy.
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 525-7010 x 0
$127 — 153 PER NIGHT

Complimentary shuttles will run between the three conference hotels and the conference venue. Shuttles will pick up outside of each hotel and Stage 773. For shuttle pickup times, see the conference schedule.

Shuttles to the Monday night party will also be provided.
Party shuttle information is available on the conference schedule as well.

Questions?

Contact:
Melissa Sheehan
eventmarketing@vendini.com
(415) 693-9717

Thanks to everyone who joined us for the conference last year. Registration is now open for Vendini Member Conference 2016!

About

Location

Conference Passes

Admission

Meet 1-1

Meals

Free Shuttle

Social Event

Goodie Bag

REGISTRATION

NON-PROFIT DISCOUNT : GET $100 OFF

Speakers

Tricia Baker

Nancy Boas

Courtney Bryan

Thomas Benoist

Ruth Egherman

Andrew Eisenmann

Adam Engelbrecht

Jason Epperson

Michael Friedman

Keith Goldberg

Eric Heilmeier

Tim Hines

Betsy Holbrook

Millie Manning

Pete McCarthy

Heather Meza

Russ Nelson

Katie Nix

Gary Payne

Stephanie Phipps

Jim Pritchard

Leah Ross

Michele Schmitt

Jesse Schmohl

Melissa Sheehan

Jack Short

Tim Smeal

Mark Tacchi

Russ Thompson

Gary Tucker

John Uetz

Cristin Whitley

Schedule

Monday, July 20, 2015

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Hotel

Questions?

Thanks to everyone who joined us for the conference last year.
Registration is now open for Vendini Member Conference 2016!