Today we’d like to introduce you to Russ Belin.
Russ, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in Maryland but eventually moved to Atlanta, where I have been for the past 10 years. Shortly after college, I started working for Feld Entertainment where I was able to travel on the road for three years with various touring productions to gain experience in different roles of management. Traveling on a tour also provided me a unique look at how guests engage in live experiences which ultimately has been beneficial to my career path. I started my role as a promoter in Feld Entertainment in 2001, and that’s when I began to grow my skills in marketing live entertainment.
In 2011 I was able to pursue additional opportunities in my field, becoming the vice president of Broadway in Atlanta. A few of my favorite memories along my journey include when I was able to live on the Ringling Brothers’ circus train for three months, helping to organize special free performances for military families in Fayetteville, North Carolina and Nashville, Tennessee.
More recently, I had the opportunity to present the reading of “Our Town,” where the Avengers cast did a one-time reading of the play at the Fox Theatre benefitting the victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Through ticket sales and donations, we raised over $500,000 for the Hurricane Maria Community Recovery and Relief Fund. Being able to partner with a variety of companies and people to bring light to others’ lives is what makes my job truly enjoyable.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Like most, my career has had many bumps along the way. The most challenging aspect of my career, and in my industry, is the schedule. The entertainment business has a very demanding schedule and there are a lot of hours put into work, including normal business hours as well as events on the weekends and after hours.
Throw that on top of the extensive travel, and it is definitely a challenge to overcome. The schedule really becomes a lifestyle more than a job – but I love it, and I would estimate that I have presented shows in over 75 U.S cities throughout my career. It’s always exciting to work on different shows, such as “Wicked,” “Book of Mormon” and “The Lion King.”
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Broadway in Atlanta – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am currently the vice president for Broadway in Atlanta, which is part of the Broadway Across America network. My team and I manage each series, which include all aspects of getting the biggest touring Broadway shows to the Fox Theatre.
Our duties range from choosing specific titles we feel will resonate best with the Atlanta audience to engagement marketing/media and subscription sales. The tagline I like to use is “we put butts in seats,” but there’s really so much more to it than that. Nothing is better than seeing a sold-out crowd and smiling faces watching the performance. That really leads to what I am most proud about my company – being a part of making lifelong memories for our guests. We are the premiere presenter of national touring. We work hard to get the best shows straight from Broadway and the product we present is the same quality as you will see in New York without the travel.
One of the most satisfying parts of my job is hearing the feedback from our guests about their wonderful experiences at our shows. In 2018, this includes the highly anticipated debut of “Hamilton” to Atlanta. We have already been overwhelmed by the response from patrons looking to see the show and are delighted to get this incredible production in front of local audiences.
Recently I had the honor of being nominated to the board of directors for Most Valuable Kids of Greater Atlanta (MVK). MVK is a nonprofit organization that distributes unused event tickets to underserved kids in metropolitan areas. Through this collaboration, Broadway in Atlanta will donate tickets to MVK for age-appropriate shows throughout the season, and the organization has committed to a minimum donation valued at $12,500.
This partnership also provides Broadway in Atlanta season ticketholders the chance to easily donate their unused tickets online to children in the area who would otherwise be unable to see the shows. This new partnership sheds light on a great opportunity for our patrons to donate tickets – which will certainly deliver a source of inspiration to the youth in our community.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I plan to continue to meet my own personal goals on top of those set by my company. I know what is expected of me from my company, as well as our industry, but I continuously set personal goals to challenge myself to be an industry leader in my field. What I see for Broadway in Atlanta is to continue the growth of our brand in Atlanta. We are working hard to expand our audience, adapt to make it more accessible for millennials and the next generation of Broadway enthusiasts.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://atlanta.broadway.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/broadwayatlanta/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BroadwayAtlanta/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/broadwayatlanta
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