Do you pay licensing, design or even content management fees to your Web developer? Are you locked in to that developer’s proprietary software?

Orchestras have been held hostage by outdated technology. That’s why I developed a free WordPress Theme, OrchestraMarketer, that enables orchestras and other performing arts to build, maintain and update their own site.

• Create a concert listing with photos, videos, audio, sponsor logos and description, all positioned where you want them.
• Add a page, show it in the menu, then delete it whenever you want.

How WordPress Empowers You

With the release of WordPress 3.05, WordPress continues to increase its capabilities. Once merely a blogging platform, WordPress has evolved into a powerful yet still simple-to-use content management system. The platform supports more than 10 million sites, including this one. And rather than paying a developer to build an application for your own site, add-on widgets can support an enormous range of needs. The following are all freely available:

• Integrate social media throughout every page, effortlessly. Add a Facebook Like button to each concert. Add a button that enables readers to share something on Twitter.
• Integrate e-commerce throughout your site.

WordPress is open-source, with an enormous developers’ community to support it. Do it entirely on your own. Or hire a developer to set up your site. You aren’t tied to any one vendor–or anyone else at all.

Own Your Website

Check out the active site of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. Or for a pure, unaltered example, look at this nonfunctional demo, courtesy of the Holland Symphony Orchestra.

OrchestraMarketer is a child theme of WordPress’ new default theme, 2010. That means that other than the event-listing capability of OrchestraMarketer, virtually all the site functions will be updated by the WordPress team.

You can show a header or change the sidebar layout with a minimum of fuss. Change the colors and fonts with only a bit of CSS skills. Of course, if you wish you can hire a developer to install, build or customize your site.

Download Free

Click here to download the OrchestraMarketer Theme, free of charge.

Like to know more? Email me at brucerobinson@marketingfororchestras.com. I welcome your comments and questions below as well.