Folsom's Cultural Hub, The Harris Center Connects Community With the Arts on Three Stages.

Join me as I speak with Amber Shaver, Center Manager of the Harris Center for the Performing Arts at Folsom Lake College. We take listeners behind the scenes of one of the Sacramento region’s most dynamic performing arts venues — home to three unique stages, hundreds of annual events, and a mission that blends education, entertainment, and community.

Amber shares the story of the Harris Center’s founding and vision, honoring Dr. Brice Harris’ legacy and the Center’s evolution as both an academic and cultural hub. We explore how the venue manages a full calendar of local, national, and student performances; collaborates with the college and the greater Folsom community; and sustains operations through memberships, sponsorships, and volunteerism.

From Broadway tours to symphonies, children’s theater to local arts programs, the Harris Center is helping to make live performance accessible and affordable while fostering creativity and connection. You'll hear how the Harris Center continues to inspire, educate and entertain - keeping the arts thriving in Folsom and the greater Sacramento region.

To learn more about Harris Center for the Performing Arts as well as show schedules, visit the website HERE

Chapter Summaries 

(00:00) Harris Center
The Harris Center is a cultural and educational hub in Folsom, hosting 400 events annually and serving as a resource for Folsom Lake College.

(11:29) Harris Center Community Support and Recovery
Community organizations can benefit from Harris Center collaborations, including sponsorship opportunities, membership support, and affordable ticket prices.

(20:29) Managing the Harris Center Operations
The Harris Center's reopening journey includes challenges, financial sustainability, and balancing work and family life.

(26:11) Harris Center Community Engagement
The Harris Center offers intimate performances, transforming the community with diverse artistic experiences and promoting support for the arts.

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.

Transcript

Amber Shaver: [00:00:00] The Harris Center opened back up in, I think it was May of 2022. We entered the facility and we, we wanted to bring it back and we wanted to put on a show. It was the, the Sound of Music. It was a musical, and we really wanted to show the community that we were back and just be a celebration. And I mean, it was a, it was a huge effort to get the Harris Center back up and running and we had a successful run.

The community was really excited to be back at the Harris Center, but it really took, you know, two or three years to really get back. To a standardized year.

Jeff Holden: Welcome to the nonprofit Podcast Network Here, our purpose and passion are simple to highlight the incredible nonprofits that make our communities stronger. Each episode is a chance for these organizations to tell their story in their words. Sharing not just what they do, but why it matters [00:01:00] to the people they serve, to their supporters, and to all of us who believe in the power of community.

Through podcasting, we hope to amplify their voices, inspire connection, and give them one more tool to reach the hearts of donors, partners, and neighbors alike. This work is made possible through the generous support of our founding partners. CAPTRUST offering fiduciary advice for endowments and foundations serving Sacramento, Roseville, and Folsom and online@captrust.com and Western Health Advantage, a local not-for-profit health plan that believes healthcare is more than coverage.

It's about caring From supporting the American Heart Association to making arts and wellness accessible for all. Western Health Advantage truly delivers healthcare with heart. Learn more@westernhealth.com. I'm proud to welcome our newest partner, core executive leadership and comprehensive support services working in it, [00:02:00] so you can work on it.

Visit cx OR e.com in this our second episode in the month of performing arts theaters. I'm talking with Amber Shaver, general manager of the Harris Center for the Performing Arts in Folsom. If you've ever experienced a live performance there, you know how special that space is. Three wonderful stages, more than 400 events a year, and an energy that truly brings art and community together.

If you haven't yet experienced it, I hope you'll be moved to do so. After the conversation, Amber and I talk about the Harris Center's incredible evolution from Dr. Bryce Harris's original vision to the thriving multifaceted venue. It is today. We explore how the center balances world class touring productions with student performances, the power of community sponsorships, and what it takes to keep a performing arts venue on a community college campus.[00:03:00] 

Sustainable. In today's world, we celebrate creativity, collaboration, and community impact, all happening right in the heart of the fastest growing area of Folsom. Amber Shaver, welcome to the Nonprofit Podcast Network. 

Amber Shaver: Yeah, thank you for having me, Jeff. It's an honor to come on and talk about the Harris Center.

Jeff Holden: Well, and knowing some of the performances at the Harris Center that I've attended, I can't wait to get into this conversation. It's so fun to attend and see whether it's a play or an artist or. A musician that you really enjoy in such a neat environment. 

Amber Shaver: Yeah, the Harris Center is a amazing space. It's, there's no, no shy on, on events that are happening there.

Jeff Holden: And, and I'll even say, I was on the board, the foundation board for American River College back in the day when Bryce, Bryce Harris Harris Center had retired. Was there for the opening and the unveiling of the Harris Center with all its grandeur. Yep, yep. And excitement and so much for the community. Yep.

Amber Shaver: Well, you can't [00:04:00] talk about the Harris Center without talking about Bryce Harris. It was his vision and you know, the Harris Center wouldn't be here without him. 

Jeff Holden: Well, and we thank Bryce for that. Yes, we do. It's been almost 14 years, which is also really hard for me to believe. Right. 

Amber Shaver: 14. Yes. Yes. It's, it's, I mean, amazing to think about.

Jeff Holden: It's like yesterday and it still looks like yesterday with the expansion, with the exception of the expansion and all that's going on around it. Yes. Before it was just this, you know, beacon on the top of a hill. Yep. Now it's got. Fully, fully developed all around and it just, yeah, 

Amber Shaver: we, outside my window for the last two years, there was a science building, a $63 million science building that they just, they just did the ribbon cutting last week.

So it's, it's, it's incredible. The Folsom Lake College is an incredible facility 

Jeff Holden: and, and the entire Folsom community has just exploded. 

Amber Shaver: Yeah. It's a gift in 

Jeff Holden: terms of everything. That's definitely, that's surrounding. What used to be a little bit of a desolate area now is, yeah, it's totally impacted in traffic and 

Amber Shaver: Yeah.

Yeah. All the, 

Jeff Holden: uh, the trappings of growth. 

Amber Shaver: Folsom is growing, definitely. Yes. 

Jeff Holden: So [00:05:00] in that 14 years, roughly 400 public events, 150,000 people annually Yes. Come through the center, not to mention the academic activity that takes place. Tell us a little bit about it, because it really is multiple stages too. It actually had a, at one point, a thought process of a different name.

Right? Like three stages or something like that. It was, 

Amber Shaver: it was built as three stages. Yes. But then it was named, named after. Named after Bryce Harris. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah. So, so tell us about that. What does that look like? What are the distinctions between. The stages in the interior. 

Amber Shaver: Sure. I mean, the Harris Center is an incredible facility within the facility.

It has three venues, and the largest of them is the 851 seat, which is the main stage venue. And that's where we, that's where most of the programming happens. So that's where you'll see the, the nationally touring artists. Our concert series, we have professional Broadway shows. We pr, we present a whole season of Broadway and all the community [00:06:00] events, everything from the Nutcracker to the symphony to a really great children's theater and a and and professional promoters.

And they just love the Harris Center because it has. You know, there's not a bad seat in the house. There's great, great accessibility. Easy parking. Affordable parking. Yes. And it, you just don't get the same experience seeing, seeing a show on stage one. So, and then the other, there's another venue, stage two, it's the City Studio Theater.

So that's a pretty unique experience. If you haven't been to that space, 

Jeff Holden: I don't think I have. 

Amber Shaver: So it's, it's a black box style with stadium seating under 200 seats. And that's primarily the educational stage where the theater department, the Falcons Eye Theater, they, I mean, they curate, they, they build their stage sets and they hold their classes there and they do some, some really good stuff on that stage.

Jeff Holden: And then what's the third stage? 

Amber Shaver: The third stage is a charming 100 seat venue. It's the, [00:07:00] the Scott Skillman Recital Center. So that's where you'll see the, you know, lectures, you know, acoustical performances. So kind of the smaller the, the smaller performances. But we program all three and more busy here around, 

Jeff Holden: well, yeah, with three stages.

I can imagine. Just the content that you're having purpose to fill everything all the time. 

Amber Shaver: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: So if, if we said 40 weeks a year times one stage, that's 40. Yeah. Plus performances. But you have times three. 

Amber Shaver: Yeah. Yeah. Well, you know, when you're, when you're booking events, what you have to sell really?

You have, you sell the venue Of course. Yeah. But you really sell the calendar. And when you take out holidays, you know, you, you only have, you know, so many weeks to. Sell, so to speak. But you know, the, the Harris Center does very well and is very successful with, you know, even non-peak dates like a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday 

Jeff Holden: for people who just to, to get their heads around it.

That's just the performing side of things. The, the, the call it, the, the paid side of things for the most part. Yeah. [00:08:00] But you also. Or an academic resource. It's on, you know, Folsom Lakes Yes. Campus. So you have the academic side of the, the operation as well. What does that look like? 

Amber Shaver: Yeah. Well, the, the academic side, I mean, the Harris Center was, was built, I mean, at its core was about education and it was, it was important to, in the, the Center's conception to be a, to be a vehicle for education, for art, for art, and.

You know, performance and give these students an opportunity to perform and rehearse on a professional stage. And it just so happens at that stage also, you know, also holds nationally touring and internationally touring artists. So it's pretty special for the students to experience that too. 

Jeff Holden: The logistics of what you have to do though to make sure that everything fits.

Amber Shaver: Oh, it's a big, it's a big giant puzzle piece. 

Jeff Holden: It has got to be so, 

Amber Shaver: well the we, there is a priority booking order and the college will always take precedence in, in all the dates. So within the VAPA program, which is pretty [00:09:00] robust and it's an incredible program. At Folsom Lake, they have a theater department.

They have a music department. Within the music department. There's a choral department and, and recently a jazz, a jazz department, and also there's a dance department and an art department. So it's just, it's just incredible. 

Jeff Holden: Oh my gosh. It's just. That's constant. 

Amber Shaver: Yep, yep, yep. And I can't, I can't not talk about the other spaces that are, that are programmed at the Harris Center.

So it's not just the three venues. There's, there's an art gallery that's right inside the lobby and it's, it's accessible. So anybody that has a ticket can go view the exhibit. For no cost, and they, they curate and have various exhibits throughout. What people might not know is there is a state-of-the-art recording studio right there in the lobby.

It's not open to the public, but, but the students are able to, to utilize, utilize that space. 

Jeff Holden: That's amazing. Yeah. That is just amazing. Yeah. I'm glad that logistics to me are the biggest nightmare. It's something I can't even get [00:10:00] my head around. 

Amber Shaver: Yeah, yeah, yeah. You keeping our know, you get you, you get, you know, not, you have to be very mindful about what you're booking because you know, it's not uncommon to have three.

Separate and unique audiences happening at the same time. So, and it does happen. So it's a shared lobby space. A shared concession space. And, you know, you wanna make sure that your audiences, Mel, you know, Mel very well together. Yeah. And I can, I'm, 

Jeff Holden: in my mind, I'm thinking I can just visualize what that might look like for, you know, a particular musician Yeah.

Against a particular. Artist or a play or something that's being performed. Yep. Yeah. You could have a train wreck if you weren't careful, right? 

Amber Shaver: Yeah. It takes, it takes a lot, a lot of coordination. 

Jeff Holden: You are doing something a little bit unique too. The Wilson Lake College actually sought a private company to take over the front to back facility management.

Of the Harris Center. Tell us a little bit about that. What does that look like? 

Amber Shaver: Yeah, of course. So I work for a company called Venue Tech Management Group, and we [00:11:00] specialize in the operations, the talent buying, and also the facility management front to back for these small performing art centers. So our company was established in 1989 and we're currently in five.

Five California communities. Generally we work in secondary, smaller, smaller markets like Folsom. Mm-hmm. Because these types of venues take a lot of community support, so and 

Jeff Holden: so what they do is they actually have somebody like you who is embedded in the market, has the familiarity Correct. And the.

Opportunity to get to know the community. Mm-hmm. 

Amber Shaver: A little bit more 

Jeff Holden: intimately. 

Amber Shaver: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: Yet they have the familiarity of the organization overall because they see it in market to market to market to market. Yes. Which a lot of things are similar. Yes. In terms of the trafficking and logistics. Yes. You know, back to putting it together.

Amber Shaver: Yes. Yes. Well, our, our, our model, and we do, we do implement policies and, you know, visions for our clients. Right. And some of them are, you know, very similar, but a lot of them are kind of unique, but. One of the, one of the [00:12:00] commonalities is that, you know, smaller community theaters, they, they, it really needs the community support for these, these smaller performing arts centers to thrive.

Jeff Holden: Yes. 

Amber Shaver: So, 

Jeff Holden: well I'd imagine when you do it that way as well, you get some leverage with the performances, the shows, the. Artists, whatever it is. Yeah. Because you've got these multi-market you can travel them to. 

Amber Shaver: Yeah, yeah. Helps a lot. There is a, there is a benefit to venue tech doing the talent buying because as long as our clients, you know, agree that it's good for their, their venues, we're able to sometimes enter into an agreement with an artist where we can book multiple venues on the same weekend and we don't raise each other out, 

Jeff Holden: which they all like.

So 

Amber Shaver: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Of course. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah. And those are some of the really distinctive. Nuances of a Harrison or on an academic setting versus some of the independent theater that we've got. Mm-hmm. You know, some of the other people who are in this series, you know, whether it be a B Street or a, you know, a Capital Stage, it's different because they don't have that academic side.

Yes. You're, you're. [00:13:00] That that facility is going all the time. In a variety of different ways. Yep. Yes. And very little downtime. 

Amber Shaver: Yes, yes, there is. There is definitely very little, very little downtime. 

Jeff Holden: Tell me, because you are in the community of Folsom, what does collaboration look like? What does that mean to.

An operation like the Harris Center. 

Amber Shaver: Yeah. Collaboration and community support is really, really key, you know? And, and the primary ways that we do that is through volunteerism. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. 

Amber Shaver: Through philanthropic efforts. Through, tell 

Jeff Holden: me a little bit what that looks like. 

Amber Shaver: So, philanthropic side? Yes. Through the philanthropic efforts.

So we. We collaborate very closely with the, with the Folsom Lake College, the foundation. Mm-hmm. So, and there is a philanthropic arm to the Harris Center that, that does a lot of donor relations and they seek, they seek that, that support for the Harris Center year round. 

Jeff Holden: What about community organizations?

Do they have access to it as well? You know, for, [00:14:00] for example, oh, i, I, a local nonprofit that maybe says, is there something we can do? Is there some way that you work with those nonprofits in the greater fullsome area? 

Amber Shaver: We do. We do. Just, just this year we, we expanded our sponsorship opportunities for the community and, you know, these, these sponsorship opportunities are really a win-win win.

It's a win for the Harris Center because that funding helps support the programming. CL minimizes the, the expenses mm-hmm. For the local businesses. It puts an eye on their business and the Harris Centers, all of the, their followers and their patrons. It really, it really, it really creates a, a huge support and benefit to, to that local business and also the patrons.

You know? Mm-hmm. So we, we have several like restaurant partners that sponsored the, the Harrison Broadway series and who doesn't wanna go out to dinner, you know, before or after? So, um, we're really excited for, for, for the sponsorship opportunities and, and even to expand in next season. 

Jeff Holden: So those would be crafted in a way that there's a benefit.[00:15:00] 

To the package all the way around. Oh, 

Amber Shaver: absolutely. So you're absolutely through, through for playbills, through paid advertising, through the power of our email blast, through social media. You know, even with, you know, sponsor opportunities. 

Jeff Holden: As the set changes and the performers prepare for their second act, it's a great time to hear from the people who make this program possible.

I'm speaking with Darrell Tet, CEO of Core. Welcome to our family of Partners. 

Darrell Teat: Thank you so much, Jeff. We are really excited to be part of the family and contribute to the work that you all are doing. 

Jeff Holden: What is Core all about? 

Darrell Teat: Core provides fractional and interim executive services along with comprehensive back office solutions that go into our client sites and do the work to give them the capacity they need in order to move through transitions, whether that's planned or unplanned, or companies also work with our accounting and finance, back office solutions, human resources, technology, and administration.[00:16:00] 

Jeff Holden: Why are these services such a lifesaver for small and mid-size organizations? 

Darrell Teat: Great question, Jeff. The reason why our back office solutions add value is because we save them time and money anywhere from 20 to 30% of what they would spend on that back office solution. We work in it so they can actually work on it.

Jeff Holden: I have to believe that there's somebody right now listening and thinking, I could use that kind of help. What's the best way to get in touch with you, Darrell? 

Darrell Teat: The best way is at our website, cx OR e.com. And contact me directly at DTE a t@cxore.com. 

Jeff Holden: Darrell, thank you for your investment and commitment to supporting our messaging.

And if you're interested in learning more about Core may help your organization, visit CXOR e.com. 

Scott Thomas: Hello, this is Scott Thomas with CAPTRUST in our Sacramento office. I specialize in working with local nonprofits and associations annually. We survey [00:17:00] private and public nonprofit organizations across the country to better understand challenges they see in today's environment.

In our more recent survey, we hear concerns about proper board governance, mission aligned investment, and how to implement alternative investments. If you would like a copy of the survey or do discuss your organization, look me up, scottThomas@captrust.com. At Western Health 

Jeff Holden: Advantage. Healthcare isn't just a service, it's a shared value.

As a nonprofit leader, you need a health plan that understands the important of mission-driven work. Western Health Advantage is a local not-for-profit health plan that supports organizations like yours with affordable, flexible coverage options for your team. What truly sets them apart is their commitment to community supporting nonprofits like the American Heart Association, Sacramento Ballet, and the Crocker Art Museums Pay what you wish Sundays with access to top tier providers and dedicated [00:18:00] local support.

Western Health advantages more than a health plan. It's a partner in your purpose. Explore your options today@westernhealth.com. Western Health Advantage, healthcare with heart, designed for those who give back budgeting. Most people think, well, I pay for my ticket. Yeah, that takes care of everything. Yeah.

Yeah. And really nothing could be further from the truth. 'cause that's, that's, yeah. A, a piece of it. Roughly what percentage is ticket sales that allows a facility to keep open versus everything else that you need to do? 

Amber Shaver: Yeah. Well, you know, facilities like the Harris Center and venues all across America that are under, you know, say a thousand.

Mm-hmm. They, you know, they, even, even if you sold every single ticket of every single show, it's not gonna be enough to support the day-to-day operations. There. There, there often needs to be some sort of financial subsidy to close, to close the gap. Sure. The gap. Yeah, [00:19:00] definitely. So it's important to us to keep the ticket prices as low as we possibly can for the community.

Um, but what we really are focused on is minimizing the expenses. So we run very, very lean in terms of, you know, operations for how big the Harris Center is, right. And, um, we try to maximize our revenues in various ways. So, um, you had asked how, you know, community support, so we also have a pretty, a pretty robust membership.

Program and support. Right now we have over 500 members that support the Harris Center through ticket sales, and that's fantastic. You know, their, their membership donations and even the volunteer program, we have over 350 active volunteers right now. I mean, it's incredible and some of our volunteers are members and our members are volunteers.

So the support that the Harris Center has is truly incredible. 

Jeff Holden: And just so I'm clear too, because I. Obviously live in the area where I get your mailers all the time. Mm-hmm. And pick the show here and I haven't, yeah. Done the full subscription. Is the member, the subscription, is that the kind of one and the same, [00:20:00] or are you using those.

Interspersed or is is a member something different than a subscriber to a Series 

Amber Shaver: me member is something different than a subscriber. Thank you. Good? Yes. I'm glad you identified 

Jeff Holden: that. 

Amber Shaver: So, so two, we do have a subscription to our Broadway series. 

Jeff Holden: Yes. 

Amber Shaver: And if you're a subscriber, you get the, the most affordable ticket and you get the best seat.

So layered on top of that is, is membership. So the biggest, the biggest benefit to, to memberships, other than supporting the Harris Center and you know, being a good steward of the arts is as you get early access to tickets. So the single ticket, so, 

Jeff Holden: okay. Yep. So, we'll, and that's important 'cause I've, oh, 

Amber Shaver: it's hugely important.

I 

Jeff Holden: cannot tell you how many times, oh, shoot. I, I, I wanna do that. Okay. It's still, it's still playing. Yeah. Let me go see, uh, sold out. 

Amber Shaver: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's happened. That's happened several times in the last couple years. We went on sell to our members and they bought all the tickets before we went on to dinner.

That's so 

Jeff Holden: disappointing when it's a show that you procrastinated on buying your tickets and your wife goes, well, I thought we were going to. Whatever it [00:21:00] was. Yeah, 

Amber Shaver: yeah, yeah. Well, sorry honey. I, yeah, I say Join, join, join, join the membership. It's, um, you know, it's, it's, it's $150 to join at the lowest level.

And if you like going to shows and, you know, you want to see more than, you know, more than just a couple shows, it's worth it if you want the good seats and the pre access to tickets. And, 

Jeff Holden: and thank you for that pricing, because I didn't know what it was. Yeah. And, and I do wanna compliment you as well. So many shows come to various venues around town, even downtown, smaller venues.

The ticket prices are egregious. I just, I sometimes don't understand who can afford to go to these shows where it's near 2, 3, 400 hours a ticket. 

Amber Shaver: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: And we're not talking about contemporary bands or performing artists. Mm-hmm. It may be stuff that's been around for a long, long time and it's so frustrating.

You think, well, we can't do that. I'm not gonna spend that much money and I don't know who really can. When we look at the ticket prices that are available at the Harris [00:22:00] Center and our community theaters, they're affordable. Yep. They are affordable. And if you're packaging 'em with something like a, you know, a dinner or whatever else, yeah, 

Amber Shaver: yeah, of course.

Jeff Holden: It just makes it that much easier because you're gonna do that anyhow. Youre. But I, I applaud you guys for that. Yeah, Dan, 

Amber Shaver: thank you. Thank you. We are very mindful when we set the ticket price, and I will, I will ask you where, where, where you're, where you're purchasing your tickets, you know, make sure you go to the actual venue's website.

'cause oftentimes the third party ticket resellers mm-hmm. Will sell them at three to four times that price. But yeah, we, we do, we, we really pay attention to the ticket prices and try to keep it affordable. We know, you know, people only have so much disposable income. 

Jeff Holden: That's a really key point too, and I, I'm gonna reemphasize it.

It's very easy to get sucked into the wrong link when you go to search. 

Amber Shaver: Oh, sure, sure. 

Jeff Holden: For something, for ticket sales, you might put the artist in. You might put the center in. Yep. It doesn't necessarily mean it's going to your website, so it's important to look at that URL because you may see a particular show that, [00:23:00] oh boy, I, I thought it was less than that.

As a matter of fact, Jeff just said on that program, these tickets are affordable, and then you realize, well, that's not, make sure you are at. The site for the Harris Center, and we'll address that too at the end. Yeah, I'll, I'll put it in the show notes of, of where to go if somebody were to come to you.

Mm-hmm. And say, Amber, I love what's going on in Folsom. I just sold my business. 

Amber Shaver: Mm-hmm. 

Jeff Holden: I have. A blank check for you to do what you need to do for the Harris Center. Mm-hmm. For the greater good. What would it look like? What would you do differently? 

Amber Shaver: Yeah. Well that first, that's a really, really great question.

In everybody's dream, right? 

Jeff Holden: Yes. 

Amber Shaver: So if I had a blank check for the Harris Center, I would probably use it to create an endowment that would, that would ensure the sustainability for the Harris Center. 

Jeff Holden: That's wonderful. 

Amber Shaver: Yeah. That was an easy question. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah. Yeah. Well, well, sometimes it's, it just depends, you know, it's, every organization has something different and [00:24:00] you just 

Amber Shaver: Yeah.

Jeff Holden: Nailed it. Just, it will be here forever. Yep. It's not going away. Yes. 

Amber Shaver: That is the goal. Yeah. That is the goal. 

Jeff Holden: Because I know in so many challenging economic times, good times, it's, it's an up and down. The cycle. It's, it's very cyclical in terms of chasing sponsors. Oh boy. This show, do we have the right shows?

Do we have enough shows? Yes. Have people, you know, pulled in so much that Yes. You know, they've lost some interest 

Amber Shaver: and there's so many elements involved, you know, through your, you know, donors, through your membership program, through your sponsorship program. Are people buying tickets? Yes. You know, there's so many different elements involved that really contribute to the success.

So, and all of them have to work. 

Jeff Holden: Let me ask you. Post pandemic, so, so pre pandemic to post pandemic? Mm-hmm. We had the gap of nothing. Yes. For a while. Yes. Where are you today? Have you recovered from the pandemic? Have you seen things rebound to. Maybe as good as, maybe better than or, or not quite. Yeah. You know, I mean, 

Amber Shaver: [00:25:00] performing arts centers and just the art entertainment industry, it, it was a huge hit.

You know? I mean, everyone took a huge hit. Yes. But you know, in the performing arts world, we were the first to close. Mm-hmm. We were the last to come back. A lot of the, the staff are gig workers and during that time, the gig workers had to do what they needed to do Yeah. To support themselves. So they often, you know, found full-time jobs elsewhere in other, in other industries.

But it took a really long time. The Harris Center opened back up in, I think it was May of 2022. Mm-hmm. And you know, we, I, I laugh because we entered the facility and we, we wanted to bring it back and we wanted to put on a show. It was the. The sound of music, it was a musical and we really wanted to show the community that we were back and just be a celebration.

And, you know, we didn't know that, you know, we, we didn't have a phone system in place. The ticketing software, you know, was outdated and we needed to hire the staff. I mean, it was a, it was a huge effort to get the Harris Center back up and running, and we had a successful run. [00:26:00] The community was really excited to be back at the Harris Center.

But I really feel like even the artist agencies and, you know, the agents and the producers, and it, it really took, you know, two or three years to really get back to a standardized year. And we feel like 25, 26 is, is back to a standardized. Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: Which is, is great. It's huge. It's taken three years to get there.

Yes. Which is, but it's good that, that you are, yes. And you have the benefit of a growing community too. Yes, definitely. Which also helps. So you have that buffer of new people who haven't experienced it yet. Yeah. Who, who now are, 

Amber Shaver: yeah. Yeah, yeah. And you know, I, I do wanna touch on kind of our. It's kind of our, our, our programming model, right?

Mm-hmm. So we are very, we're very meticulous about, you know, choosing the acts that come to the Harris Center. You know, we, we only wanna book things that do good to minimize the risk, right? Sure. And, but we really believe that we need to program something for everybody. There's the Broadway series.

There's the concert series. If you like, ballet, we have the [00:27:00] Nutcracker, if you like Symphony, the, the Folsom Lake Symphony is an incredible organization, but I think we do, we really do a good job to kind of curate a mix of, of programming 

Jeff Holden: for community. It appears that you do, I think, I want you to pick my stocks too, because if you, you can come with that.

Success in stocks. 

Amber Shaver: Yeah. We'd all be in great 

Jeff Holden: shape, right? 

Amber Shaver: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: Back to the reality of of operating the facility. What is the greatest need that you see today? 

Amber Shaver: Again, I'll go back to it being successful, it being sustainable, and our primary focus is closing the gap because there is still one. You know?

Mm-hmm. As, as much as, as much effort as we put in operationally performing art centers are very expensive to operate, usually in, um, under a thousand seat venues. They're owned by either nonprofit organizations or by, you know, government organizations for a reason. Mm-hmm. 'cause it takes that level of subsidy.

So our focus is to, is to continue to work really hard to close that gap. 

Jeff Holden: Boy, wouldn't it [00:28:00] be something if you could get it to where it's not subsidized? 

Amber Shaver: Yes. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah. Right. 

Amber Shaver: Yeah, yeah, yeah. 

Jeff Holden: What a statement that would make. 

Amber Shaver: Yeah. Yeah. Huge statement. It's, it's, it's difficult and it's not just the Harris Center, you know, venues all across the nation, right.

Require, do require a level of subsidy unless they're lucky enough to get a lot of donations and. 

Jeff Holden: Would you say that subsidy has the, the gap has closed over time? 

Amber Shaver: We've, we've, in the, in the past three years, we have made some good move. 

Jeff Holden: Excellent. On 

Amber Shaver: that. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah. Yeah. That's great to hear too. 

Amber Shaver: Yes. Yes. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah, I can, I can see just by the, yeah.

The smile. Yes. That's a good thing. 

Amber Shaver: Yes. It's a great thing 

Jeff Holden: when you have access to all this incredible talent, and I'm sure you have a lot of interaction in the community and demand on your time. Uh. You're running 24 7, you're worrying about whether the theater's full. How are we selling in that particular show?

It's not just a date, it's usually a run of dates. Yeah. [00:29:00] For, for most, most performances, for most of us, it's like, oh, we'll go out, seek some entertainment. We'll go to a show. Yeah. You know? What does Amber Shaver do when. It's downtime. 

Amber Shaver: When it's downtime. Well, I've been, I've been managing performing art centers for almost 20 years now, and you never stop thinking about the building.

It's a 24 7 because when you're there day to day, you're working on administrative duties and you're always planning for the next show, sometimes even up to a year, a year out there. Well, I have a very, a very understanding and loving husband, I'll put it that way. But what I, what do I do in, in my downtime?

I have a 4-year-old that keeps me pretty busy. Oh, 

Jeff Holden: that, that's good right there. Yep, 

Amber Shaver: yep, yep. She, um, she just started pre-kindergarten, so she 

Jeff Holden: Congratulations. She keeps me 

Amber Shaver: busy. Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah. That's, yeah. That, that's plenty right there. Yep. Yeah. You, you said enough, it's everything for that 4-year-old Yes.

Whatever that looks like. Yes. What is the best way to learn more about the Harris Center, the events that are coming up, the performances that might be on the [00:30:00] docket for the future? 

Amber Shaver: Yeah, I, I always tell people just go to the website and events are added constantly, so as busy as we are, events are added quite a bit.

And even with three, with three venues on campus. Yes. So go to the website, harris center.net. And also we have a really active email, so if you join the email. Blast. That's probably, and you can do 

Jeff Holden: that without having to pay for anything. 

Amber Shaver: Yes, yes. Absolutely. Excellent. Absolutely. You can access that from the website too.

Jeff Holden: Good. And it's harris center.net. 

Amber Shaver: Harris center.net. 

Jeff Holden: the.net is what throws a lot of people. Yes, because most of the conversations we have here 

Amber Shaver: are.com 

Jeff Holden: org. 

Amber Shaver: Oh, or org? Or org, yes. no.net. So 

Jeff Holden: it's harris center.net. I will put that in the show notes as well. Oh, great. Thank you. Okay, so we've got it. Yeah, I, I love the intimacy of theater and smaller theater better.

Yes. 'cause you get so much feel for the performances and we live relatively new nearby, so we have the opportunity to get to the Harris Center. Yes. And the experience is something that if, if you haven't experienced it, [00:31:00] if you just want to try it and see what it's like, maybe you're not into it, didn't think you were into it.

I, I thoroughly recommend. You know, going, going to the Harris Center and even if it's the smaller stage, if you really wanna get a feel for something, it's identified when you buy your tickets, what stage it's at. Yes. And some of those artists really are smaller venue artists because they're niche artists that people want to, you know, simply hear, which isn't the general population at large.

And it's not hundreds of people. But if you haven't been, I strongly encourage you to go. And see what it's all about and really get a feel for it. Because I think once people do experience it, they realize, oh my gosh, this is so different than the technology of television or the technology of anything digital, whether it be an app or a a device that they're so used to watching and it's engaging and you have.

The audience around you in, there's just a [00:32:00] sensation of engagement. And I think community is, is the word we would use inside the theater, not to be confused with the community outside the theater. Correct. And it's just a, a, a wonderful experience. So for you and your team and the people who make all that possible, you, thank you.

You bring great content to our community in an area that. It was a void before. Yeah. Yeah. You know, it was a performance desert, so to speak. Yeah. We had the Folsom Rodeo. Yes. That was the best thing we had. That was live, but it was really a different kinda live. Yeah. So I, I just think what you've gotten and what Bryce's vision was, has become, and for the benefit of the students, for the benefit of the community, for the benefit of everybody that wants to enjoy that type of entertainment.

Thank you. 

Amber Shaver: Yeah. And thank you. I, I appreciate you giving the platform to the art.

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