The NAPAMA Retreat
at Thalian Hall Wilmington, NC | Sunday, June 1 - Tuesday, June 3, 2025
The NAPAMA Retreat is a unique opportunity for performing arts professionals to relax and recharge, learn new skills, and build relationships in a supportive and inspiring environment.
Collective Impact: Shaping the Future Together
The NAPAMA Retreat is a 3-day gathering, open to anyone in the touring performing arts industry, that offers a chance to connect with colleagues outside of the usual sales-focused booking conference and to share information and resources that can help elevate and strengthen your work.
Why come to the NAPAMA retreat? To Rejuvenate, Develop, and Connect. Whether you are an agent, manager, artist, presenter, producer, vendor, service organization, student or other arts worker, this retreat is for you. Networking and learning from each other encourages fresh ideas and new perspectives. Together, we can envision a future strong enough to thrive under pressure and adaptable enough to overcome challenges and changes in the field.
From roundtables to dine-arounds, from panel speakers to happy hours, from sharing stories to sharing our time, this retreat will inspire you both personally and professionally.
Join us in person June 1-3, 2025 at the beautiful Thalian Hall in Wilmington, NC.
You do not have to be a NAPAMA member to register, but if you are, you save on registration!
Hotel
The official retreat hotels will be Aloft Wilmington at Coastline Center and Hampton Inn by Hilton Wilmington Downtown. Both hotels have a courtesy hold on 25 rooms and after that it is first come, first serve, pending availability. The discounted rates are available starting May 31 through Wednesday, June 4. PLEASE book your hotel rooms early so they don’t sell out to others!
Aloft Wilmington at Coastline Center has a discounted rate of $179 plus tax. The last day to book is Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 5pm ET.
Hampton Inn by Hilton Wilmington Downtown has a discounted rate of $172 plus tax. The last day to book is Friday, May 9, 2025.
What past attendees have to say
REGISTRATION FEES
Registration includes an opening reception, a hosted excursion, two breakfasts, and one lunch.
All are welcome to the NAPAMA Retreat, regardless of membership status.
*To access member pricing, first login to the member portal before registering.
Save $51 by registering before May 1!
Non-MEMBER PRICING
MEMBER* PRICING
*To access member pricing, first login to the member portal before registering.
Cancellation and Refund Policy | NAPAMA RETREAT
- If you have to cancel anytime up to 30 days prior to the event your registration fees are able to be refunded less any processing fees incurred. Unfortunately NAPAMA is not able to refund the processing fees.
- However, if you cancel up to 30 days in advance and prefer to, you can defer your registration to the next retreat at no additional cost. Please remember that this deferral holds no cash value and cannot be refunded, applied to membership fees. If prices increase you will be required to make up the difference for that year’s conference.
- OR, you are able to convert all or part of your registration fee into a tax-free donation to NAPAMA.
- All refunds, deferrals, or cancellations must be received in writing 30 days prior to the event.
- Unfortunately we are not able to issue any refunds, deferrals, or cancellations within 30 days of the event, including cancellation due to illness or weather.
- No-shows for the event will not receive a refund or credit for a future event.
Join the conversations in Wilmington
You don’t even have to be a member of NAPAMA to attend.
Schedule
The Retreat runs from Sunday, June 1 at 2:00pm EDT to Tuesday, June 3 at 12:30pm EDT. Each day begins with breakfast and includes professional development and networking opportunities – with a good balanced of focused work and free time to explore the city. Please see Professional Development Topic section for more details on each session, panelists, etc…
10:00am-2:00pm Optional Excursion to Bellamy Mansion
2:00-2:30pm Opening Welcome Session
2:30-4:00pm Introductory PD/Round Table Discussions
4:30+ Opening Reception Party (Location TBA)
8:00-9:00am Sponsored Continental Breakfast at Thalian Hall
9:00-10:30am PD Session: Be Your Own "Boss"
10:30-11:30am PD Session: Marketing
11:30am-12:30pm Venue Tour
12:30-1:45pm Sponsored Lunch at Thalian Hall
1:45-3:15pm PD Session: Re-envisioning showcasing Forum
3:15-3:30pm Break
3:30-4:45pm PD Session: Touring with a commercial lens
5:30-6:30pm Optional Happy Hour (Location TBA)
7pm+ Optional Dine-Arounds
8:00-9:00am Sponsored Continental Breakfast at Thalian Hall
9:00-10:00am PD Session: Roster curation/ready for an agent
10:00-10:15am Break
10:15-11:45am Roundtale Discussions
11:45am-12:00pm Break
12:00-1:00pm Closing Reflection
3:00pm+ Optional Closing Night Party at the beach!
Professional Development Sessions Being Considered
- Resistance as a Tool for Moving Forward
- AI & Data-Driven Decision-Making & Engagement
- Sustainability & Climate Change – How to adapt to the impacts on touring/presenting
- Are you ready for an Agent?
- Re-inventing Showcasing
- Advancements in Accessibility
Professional Development Topics
Monday
9-10:30AM: Be Your Own "Boss"
Exploring smart business practices through the lens of Brand, Organization, Systems, and Strategies (BOSS). This session highlights creative mindsets and practical insights that are helpful to navigate and build a sustainable career as an arts worker, independent artist or entrepreneur. It covers essential topics such as personal branding, financial sustainability, streamlining operations with essential tools, and developing growth strategies.
Moderator:
- Karen Kennedy, 24/Seven Artist Development
Panel:
- Patricia Harris, Harris Associates
- Shana Tucker, Independent Artist, Cellist
- Adam Denison, EPIC Arts Management
10:30-11:30am: Marketing NUTS & BOLTS
A “Nuts and Bolts” session on what venues and promoters need and how artists, agents, and presenters can work collaboratively to best market the show to audiences. Dive deep into topics like what materials should be in an artist’s EPK, social media strategies, and possible revenue streams through audience engagement and special programming. A marketing expert will share what works best for their partnerships and communities, with plenty of time for Q&A!
Panel:
- The Honorable Susi Hamilton, President/CEO, Film Partnership of NC, NC Secretary of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (former)
1:45-3:15pm Re-envisioning showcasing Forum
This conversation format session will examine the landscape of showcasing – where it’s been and how it can evolve going forward. Looking at both Juried and Independent models, this session will include brief snapshots of showcasing from industry and conference leaders along with collaborative conversation around 3 core topics; “The Fee is WHAT? AKA: Demystifying Costs”, “Showcasing In The Social & Cultural Climate”, and “Building Success: The Role Of Artists, Agents, Presenters & Producers”. Don’t miss this chance to share your thoughts and ideas and impact the future of showcasing!
Panel:
- Crandall Rogers, Four Mortals Productions
- Jessica Rosenblatt, Executive Director, Ohio Arts Professionals Network (OAPN)
- Josh Heim, Executive Director, Western Arts Alliance (WAA)
- Lisa Richards Toney, Executive Director, Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP)
- Kyle LeMaire, Executive Director, Arts Northwest (ANW)
3:30-4:45Pm Touring with a Commercial Lens
Presenters are often balancing mission-based programming with so-called commercial acts, but as the funding landscape and audience habits continue to change, more presenters seem to be shifting their focus to engagements that have a robust audience draw and the potential to make money. This leaves some artists and agents left wondering how they can grow their acts to be commercially viable.
Industry veteran Wayne Forte will share his insight and strategies on how to develop artists from being small or medium acts to money makers and help your artists reach their full potential. We will also take a look at ways to tour as frugally as possible to get through the first couple of seasons, during which fees may not yet be as high as you may wish they could be.
Panel:
- Wayne Forte, Owner, Principal, and Entrepreneur, Entourage Talent
- Luisa Korman, Booking Agent, Entourage Talent
Tuesday
9-10am Roster Curation/ Are You Ready for an Agent
Finding the right fit between an artist and an agent or agency is a lot like dating. It’s all about chemistry, communication, common goals, and timing. And many will attest that it’s better to be on your own than to be in a mismatched relationship. If you’re an agent wanting to expand your roster, what should you look for in an artistic partnership? What is your criteria and how do you find those artists? If you’re an artist interested in representation, what questions should you ask or anticipate? What are your expectations and how do you find the right agency? A panel of agents and artists will share their experiences, common pitfalls, and tips to help navigate whether or not a new agent/artist relationship is right for you.
Panel:
- Kris Kaminski, Senior Managing Partner of ECE Touring
- Thia Knowlton, Senior Vice President, Booking Manager of IMG Artists
- Wallace Thomas, Ball in the House
Join us at the (round)table
Our Sponsors
Thank you to all of our Retreat Sponsors whose generous support makes it possible for us to offer this experience at this price.
Diamond Sponsor
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
WE NEED YOU TO BE A SPONSOR
On behalf of the entire Board and membership of NAPAMA, we invite those who can to join us as a sponsor of the 2025 NAPAMA Retreat, scheduled June 1-3, 2025, in Wilmington, North Carolina. With sponsorships starting at $250.00, your investment as a Retreat Sponsor supports the future of the NAPAMA organization, helps keep registration fees low helping those who may not otherwise attend, gives us leveraging power that underlines the importance of our convening power, and offers a meaningful and significant gift to our community. Thank you to the members who have already answered the call to sponsor!
Benefits for All Sponsors (Platinum, Gold, Silver) include:
Logo included on all Retreat-centered written communication such as announcements, emails, digital flyers, and the like
Logo with weblink included on all Retreat pages
Logo included with Retreat materials, table signage, and follow up items and communication
A Live Acknowledgement throughout the Retreat
Remaining Sponsorship Opportunities
$1,000+
- PD speakers or sessions
Platinum Sponsor
$750-999
- Sun Opening Reception
- Monday Lunch
- Monday Lunch – 2nd spot
Gold Sponsor
$500-749
- Monday Social Event
Silver Sponsor
$250-499
- Tuesday Roundtable
Benefits will begin to be acknowledged on or after January 6, 2025.
We hope that you will join us as a sponsor of the 2025 NAPAMA Retreat. To sponsor, email Karen Kennedy directly at kmkennedy@mac.com, Subject: NAPAMA Retreat, with your pledge level and I will follow up with an invoice and link to renew.
For more information, you can contact Tara Bailey, Retreat Chair, at bailiwick.biz@gmail.com.
We hope to welcome you as a sponsor of the 2025 NAPAMA Retreat. Thank you for your consideration.
Retreat Committee,
Kevin Peters, Tara Bailey, and Spring Karlo
This was my first retreat, and it was so wonderful! Thankful for the speed meets and the chance to talk with people I might have otherwise never met.
RETREAT 2021 ATTENDEE