Summary
Arts marketing channel decisions have some points of similarity to the ways in which tangible products are distributed. Sometimes services rely on tangible products as part of their delivery (such as small-press magazines or exhibitions). Even performance-based arts are capable of being enhanced by ancillary products. But the essential element in opening up the experience of the arts to customers is interpersonal contact and a commitment by the venue to building relationships with customers and intermediaries.
In this chapter we have emphasized how appropriate forms of distribution combine strategically with the other elements of the marketing mix, product, price and promotion to maximize the number of arts customers reached in the optimum combination of cost and the achievement of organizational objectives.
The role of marketing channels in promotion is often vital in the arts, as they act as conduits of information to and from the customer. Intermediaries play a crucial part in this process. Just as retailers in commercial marketing perform functions which manufacturers could not execute unaided, so intermediaries like managements, venues and entrepreneurial agencies open up audiences and opportunities which would otherwise be unavailable to artists and performers. The members of a channel of distribution (such as a touring production company and a venue at which it performs) need to interact effectively to optimize the experience for the final customer.