The Middle Woman - a roadmap to managing the performing arts

Elsie Management
  • 5.0 (3)
  • PERFORMING ARTS
The Middle Woman - a roadmap to managing the performing arts

Laura Colby is a performing arts manager, based in Brooklyn NY. As founder and president of Elsie Management, she has managed a roster of international contemporary artists for nearly 30 years, bringing dance, contemporary theater, outdoor spectacle, new circus and puppetry arts to global audiences. She has focused her work on developing best practices for managing, touring, and presenting the performing arts from the lens of a working artist. In The Middle Woman, Colby shares her collected learnings with the new generation of performing arts professionals.

  1. Ep. 30: Staying Relevant (with Anna Amadei & Jimena Alviar)

    6 DAYS AGO

    Ep. 30: Staying Relevant (with Anna Amadei & Jimena Alviar)

    This final podcast episode features Elsie's founder and President, Laura Colby, in conversation with Elsie's Vice President, Anna Amadei, and Elsie's Contract Manager, Jimena Alviar, discussing the many ways they have endeavored to keep Elsie Management relevant in an ever-changing local and global landscape. Link to transcript, glossary, and more!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Credits Created by Elsie Management Music by Manual Cinema

    46 min
  2. Ep. 29: Creating Through Adversity (with Kyle Vegter & Sarah Fornace)

    12/11/2024

    Ep. 29: Creating Through Adversity (with Kyle Vegter & Sarah Fornace)

    In Episode 29, Laura talks about the different kind of work she and her team facilitated with several of their artists during the COVID-19 pandemic. Joined by Manual Cinema’s Kyle Vegter and Sarah Fornace, they share the process of creating and presenting the live stream, virtual performances of Manual Cinema’s A Christmas Carol under impossible circumstances. Link to transcript, glossary, and more!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Credits Created by Elsie Management Music by Manual Cinema

    1h 2m
  3. Ep. 28: Work & Life Balance (with Todd Wetzel)

    11/20/2024

    Ep. 28: Work & Life Balance (with Todd Wetzel)

    In Episode 28 of The Middle Woman podcast, Laura Colby is joined in conversation by special guest Todd Wetzel, Executive Director of Purdue Convocations. They discuss the many joys and challenges in balancing family, work, and life in the demanding field of the performing arts; from career paths to the power of setting boundaries. Link to transcript, glossary, and more!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Credits Created by Elsie Management Music by Manual Cinema

    1h 3m
  4. Ep. 27: International Cultural Exchange (with Gaurav Kripalani)

    11/06/2024

    Ep. 27: International Cultural Exchange (with Gaurav Kripalani)

    This episode of The Middle Woman, International Cultural Exchange, features special guest Gaurav Kripalani. Pulling from Gaurav’s experience as Artistic Director of Singapore Repertory Theatre, Laura and Gaurav speak to how international collaboration is essential to the development of work and expanding live performances to new audiences. Link to transcript, glossary, and more!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Credits Created by Elsie Management Music by Manual Cinema

    42 min
  5. Ep. 26: Power Part 2 (with Rob Bailis)

    10/23/2024

    Ep. 26: Power Part 2 (with Rob Bailis)

    Episode 26 Power Part 2 is with special guest Rob Bailis, Artistic & Executive Director of BroadStage. Laura and Rob discuss how power plays a role in their jobs as arts workers and how artists are an integral part of the power puzzle. Link to transcript, glossary, and more!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Credits Created by Elsie Management Music by Manual Cinema

    38 min
  6. Ep. 25: Power Part 1 (with Yanira Castro)

    10/09/2024

    Ep. 25: Power Part 1 (with Yanira Castro)

    The 25th episode of The Middle Woman, Power Part 1 features special guest Yanira Castro. In this episode, Laura and Yanira discuss the development of Yanira’s work, how power plays a role in art making, and the ultimate form of power; money. Link to transcript, glossary, and more!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Credits Created by Elsie Management Music by Manual Cinema

    50 min
  7. Ep. 24: Answering a Need (with Beatrice Thomas)

    09/25/2024

    Ep. 24: Answering a Need (with Beatrice Thomas)

    In Episode 24: Answering a Need,  Laura and special guest Beatrice Thomas share what it has meant for them to answer a need in the field, how serving in the industry has shaped their careers, and how one can effect change in the industry of the performing arts. A note about the audio: This is a lost episode found with the help of an AI platform. Due to this, the audio is slightly irregular.  Link to transcript, glossary, and more!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Credits Created by Elsie Management Music by Manual Cinema

    45 min
  8. Ep. 23: Getting to Equity (with Lisa Richards Toney)

    09/11/2024

    Ep. 23: Getting to Equity (with Lisa Richards Toney)

    In this episode, Laura is joined by President and CEO of APAP, Lisa Richards Toney in a conversation about equity in the field of the performing arts. They discuss how taking initiative in creating your own opportunities is absolutely critical in maintaining equity throughout the industry. Link to transcript, glossary, and more!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Credits Created by Elsie Management Music by Manual Cinema

    1h 4m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Laura Colby is a performing arts manager, based in Brooklyn NY. As founder and president of Elsie Management, she has managed a roster of international contemporary artists for nearly 30 years, bringing dance, contemporary theater, outdoor spectacle, new circus and puppetry arts to global audiences. She has focused her work on developing best practices for managing, touring, and presenting the performing arts from the lens of a working artist. In The Middle Woman, Colby shares her collected learnings with the new generation of performing arts professionals.

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