Columbus Day at the IMA
From writing large-scale, big-budget marketing plans to proofing marketing pieces for the printer, I generally have about 15-30 different projects cross my desk every day. Some things take a considerable amount of attention, while others take seconds. Some days I have six meetings, while others I have just one. As with many jobs, my position requires me to switch back and forth between projects all day, every day. At times, I find the harried nature and varied scope of my work to be exhausting. But most of the time, I find it exhilarating. Regardless, I love every minute.
To give you an overview of what someone who works in museum marketing does , I thought that I’d outline my typical day. In order to do that, I recorded my activities throughout the past Monday. While some of you were relaxing (or partying) on your Columbus Day off, I was hard at work with my fellow colleagues at the IMA.
Image taken from ugotbling.com
COLUMBUS DAY, OCTOBER 12, 2009*
8:27 Arrive at office. Plug in laptop.
8:35 Sip coffee and respond to emails sent over the weekend.
8:50 Research the 100 Acres: Virginia B. Fairbanks Art and Nature Park for IMA Magazine article.
9:15 Write interview questions for article to send to Ed Blake, the landscape architect for 100 Acres.
9:32 Email interview to Ed Blake.
9:37 Discuss signage in Efroymson Family Entrance Pavilion with Marketing Manager.
9:42 Register for Next Audiences Summit.
9:52 Review marketing budgets from last 2 years.
10:22 Read NYT’s article about the Louvre’s attempt to ‘Loosen Up.’
10:34 Get distracted by Jamie Oliver article in NYT’s Mag.
10:39 Review Web site content. Put together work plan to present in the afternoon’s Web team meeting.
11:22 Read Geoff Von Burg’s blog entry.
11:31 Email this week’s TV schedule for Sacred Spain commercials to Max, curator Ronda Kasl, and Nugget Factory.
11:38 Check attendance numbers from the weekend.
11:39 Organize opening weekend debrief meeting for Sacred Spain.
11:45 Polish up communication pieces for potential Winter Nights and Summer Nights media sponsorships.
12:18 LUNCH (Lean Cuisine and Fage Yogurt).
12:38 Watch Gentleman Broncos movie trailer.
12:41 Send movie trailer to Dan Dark.
12:44 Change Twitter name from @IndyArtGirl to @MegLiffick.
12:50 COFFEE.
1:00 Catch up on emails from the morning.
1:30 Web Team!
2:50 Review and edit Group Tours corporate mailer for Sacred Spain.
3:15 Respond to email from Contemporary Curator Lisa Freiman about the prestigious national award that her husband received. Congrats, Ed!!!
3:17 Create an initial inventory of marketing materials that can include media/corporate sponsor recognition during 2010.
4:02 Continue to draft 2010 marketing plan for Public Programs.
4:48 Brainstorm about communication ideas for TAP.
5:21 Respond to remaining emails.
5:42 Leave office. Head to gym.
6:13 Check email while running on treadmill at gym. DANGEROUS!
6:16 Attempt to respond to an email while on treadmill at gym. EVEN MORE DANGEROUS!
8:15 Read IBM’s social media guidelines while watching Will Ferrell on Man Vs. Wild.
8:30 Close laptop. No more work for the day.
*Please note that I have left out some details such as phone conversations, specific email correspondences, bathroom breaks, and Facebook and Twitter checks.
Next up (Oct. 28), I’ll tackle the ginormous topic of branding a museum. Stay tuned.
