Before the Curtain Call

Recital Season Prep for Music and Dance Schools

Great recitals don’t just happen. Music, dance, and performing arts school owners know that before the curtain goes up, there are months of planning, massive coordination efforts, venues to book, programs to develop, costume logistics, rehearsals, countless parent conversations, and so much more. Recital season can be one of the most rewarding times of the year, or the most stressful. Often, it’s both.

In this webinar, David Martin sits down with Benjie Kushins, Studio Director and Co-Owner of Art & Soul School of Creative and Performing Arts, to walk you through the steps to build a recital program that delivers a great experience for students and families, reduces admin overwhelm for your team, and strengthens your school’s reputation. Between them, David and Benjie bring decades of real-world experience running and scaling performing arts schools to share hard-earned lessons and what actually works. Whether you’re planning your first recital or refining a program you’ve been running for years, you’ll leave with a clear, actionable playbook you can put to work immediately.

• Why recitals are so important to music and dance schools: How these programs help your school grow by driving retention, bringing in new students, and creating an opportunity to gather positive reviews.
• How to build your recital structure from the ground up: The decisions you need to make early (format, frequency, venue, and participation model) and how to make them with confidence.
• A repeatable planning timeline: The preparation blueprint that will keep your team organized and eliminate last-minute scrambles, from repertoire deadlines to dress rehearsal logistics.
• How to manage student enrollment and repertoire tracking without losing your mind: Practical systems for assigning performers, tracking pieces, and keeping teachers accountable.
• How to communicate with families before, during, and after the recital: What to send, when to send it, and how to reduce the flood of repeat questions from parents.

David Martin is an entrepreneur, strategist, and advisor to studio owners and small business leaders. After building and scaling his own music school from a handful of students in his parents’ basement to more than 1,000 students across three locations before successfully selling the business, David now helps studio owners implement the marketing, leadership, and operational systems needed to build profitable, scalable schools.

Benjie Kushins is the co-founder of Art & Soul School of Performing & Creative Arts, a thriving multi-disciplinary arts school he built alongside his wife Lauren. Over two decades, Benjie has grown the school from community classes into a full creative organization, guided by a philosophy rooted in service, collaboration, and meeting people where they are.