tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post6305485405589435761..comments2024-03-27T05:04:39.476-07:00Comments on Museum 2.0: Rethinking Membership: What Does it Mean to Belong to a Museum?Nina Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11723930679606298550noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-49142922543341641112010-12-03T13:23:39.375-08:002010-12-03T13:23:39.375-08:00How aggravating for me. We actually went backwards...How aggravating for me. We actually went backwards in 2008. We were selling away from an admissions desk, and in a survey in 2007 we had 86% of respondents say they got the membership to support the museum. Now with added admissions and new desk up front, its become a value membership. <br />I LOVE the idea of letting them decide where their funds can go!!<br />Thanks for the article!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-180267771647871032009-02-18T09:18:00.000-08:002009-02-18T09:18:00.000-08:00Hello Anonymous - This question/statement really i...Hello Anonymous - <BR/><BR/>This question/statement really is much larger of course than membership alone. Anonymous is speaking i think to the very nature of what his or her museum is and is not, and more importantly what role if any could they have now, and in the immediate future. Without knowing this museum, and completely speculating but the museum has ceased to have a role in their community, it's vibrancy has become stagnant, and thus it's membership is greying. Similiar story nationally, hard state to exist in. Few museums can bounce from this position, re-think themselves, and come out running with new purpose, new sense. Yes, they have challenges, lack of street traffic, distance from the city. But also the reality of their situation, and need, makes me think that they need to re-evaluate their future. Banking on a traveling show is not the answer, rather figuring out what role they could play in their many communities is.<BR/> <BR/>Adam RozanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-55860776716979865122009-02-13T13:13:00.000-08:002009-02-13T13:13:00.000-08:00Hi anonymous @vesterheim,After a brief scan of you...Hi anonymous @vesterheim,<BR/><BR/>After a brief scan of your site, it looks like you are offering a lot of high-quality programs to your local audience and reaching out beyond with things like the travel program.<BR/><BR/>I'm in favor of working to get grassroots word-of-mouth support, listening to members, and providing remarkable customer service. Due to the economic downturn our museum (www.ncmls.org) budgeted to have only very modest growth this year. Thus far (FY started in Oct) we have beat our budget in membership and attendance. I credit our service and staff, not our marketing.<BR/><BR/>If you'd like to discuss this further, send me an email at jeffs[at]ncmls[dot]orgJeff Sternhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03736810759532034145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-88428563245482092352009-02-12T09:11:00.000-08:002009-02-12T09:11:00.000-08:00I have a question for you folks- as a membership d...I have a question for you folks- as a membership director for vesterheim museum www.vesterheim.org - in a small rural town, about 3 hours away from a major city I am having problems maintaining let alone increasing membership.Our loyal members are dying off, we don't have a large population locally so street traffic is a problem, the only glimmer of hope is our travelling exhibit due to launch in the Midwest this fall. I hope that will begin to generate interest from a new population.<BR/>I can elaborate more but for the sake of the blog I will stop here.<BR/>Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-28472072363179999952008-12-12T05:46:00.000-08:002008-12-12T05:46:00.000-08:00Maryann,Heck, I'm not the expert... or no more tha...Maryann,<BR/><BR/>Heck, I'm not the expert... or no more than anyone else! The Brooklyn Museum also has a more traditional membership program, but this new membership is a pilot towards something more communal. In some ways, it monetizes a fledging community that exists via their many Web projects on Flickr, Twitter, etc. But it's also very connected to the physical, quite social experience of the First Friday events.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/community/blogosphere/bloggers/2008/12/05/getting-to-know-our-1stfans/" REL="nofollow">Shelley's post</A> on her thoughts on this new membership program are instructive. She's about as far from marketing as one can imagine.Nina Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11723930679606298550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-89291294921099992262008-12-11T11:01:00.000-08:002008-12-11T11:01:00.000-08:00Nina, I think this is a brilliant way to reframe m...Nina, I think this is a brilliant way to reframe membership. I would love to see museums go from member benefits that no one really wants (free calendar?! newsletter?!), other than discounts, to experiences that have more meaning, especially in the social context. <BR/><BR/>And you're the expert, but I think art museums are just as "attraction-y" as others. How often to you get an art museum membership solicitation that's tied to discounts or guaranteed tickets to an upcoming blockbuster exhibition?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-23479962569638498552007-11-24T08:04:00.000-08:002007-11-24T08:04:00.000-08:00Katie,It sounds like MCA did give you enough socia...Katie,<BR/><BR/>It sounds like MCA did give you enough social and content value for you to move from a $$ value member to someone with a more meaningful connection to the institution. I am not saying that value is the only reason to be a member; rather, that it is a growing and problematic reason.<BR/><BR/>Your comments make me wonder if art museums are less susceptible to the value member problem than interactive science/kid's museums. Art museums are still understood to be places that rely heavily on donors, and they are often less "attractiony" than other museums. <BR/><BR/>If the MCA makes you proud to identify with them, they are doing something right. And so are you.Nina Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11723930679606298550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37032121.post-62754042237045643322007-11-23T16:58:00.000-08:002007-11-23T16:58:00.000-08:00I'm not sure about this. I think some people join...I'm not sure about this. I think some people join for the social capital of being able to say that they are a member. For instance, I am a member of the MCA in Chicago, a city I no longer live in, and yet I still pay dues to be a member of the museum. There is something nice about being a member, and I do not think it is all about value. <BR/><BR/>Museums like the MCA in Chicago have cultivated a series of events like First Fridays where young members can mingle, dance, drink, and look at the work. When waiting in line to get in, there are tables where memberships can be purchased, thus waiving the ten dollar entrance fee (about a third of the student yearly membership). At this point, why not? It certainly is a value. <BR/><BR/>But on another level, being a young person and being able to say "I am a member of that institution" has some power. And I don't think it is just money.katie hargravehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08384976805490992127noreply@blogger.com