Thank you to everyone who answered our recent survey! Now onto the findings…

We had about 70 individuals complete the questionnaire, including at least 20 Society members.

A couple quick takeaways from the data:

• We’re very happy to see that overall, enjoyment of the Society is quite high. We do know we can always improve!
• We definitely want to continue diversifying the Society as much as possible, in terms of all the participants and attendees!

We also heard from a number of members that they are interested in a new space for the Balboa Park readings (currently held at the Veterans Museum).

We look for venues with:

1. adequate space for attendees
2. open hours into the evening (at least 9 pm)
3. accessible/ample parking
4. affordable rental costs

If you know of one, please share your ideas (in a comment below or with Darryl)!

And thank you to Tim, our social media coordinator, for creating all the charts and graphs!

Ratings (out of 5)

• Overall for the Society: 4.3
• Lecture and Panel Series: 4.2
• Bard Birthday Celebration: 4.1
• Monthly Readings: 4.0
• Student Shakespeare Festival: 4.0
• Sonnets Program: 4.0
• Mock Trials: 3.2

 

How do you identify?

• Audience member: 49%
• Actor: 28%
• Academic: 16%
• Director: 6%

 

Which do you prefer?

• Watching a Shakespeare play: 57%
• Learning about a Shakespeare play: 43%

 

Your level of experience with acting Shakespeare?

• Beginner: 54%
• Intermediate: 24%
• Advanced: 22%

 

Do you belong to any professional unions?

• None: 93%
• SAG-AFTRA: 3%
• Other Unions: 4%

 

Do you consider yourself a professional creative?

• No: 76%
• Yes: 24%

 

Your Age

• 55 to 64: 31%
• 65 to 74: 19%
• 45 to 54: 15%
• 75 or older: 13%
• 25 to 34: 9%
• 35 to 44: 4%
• 18 to 24: 3%
• Prefer not to say: 4%

(or in numerical order…)

• 18 to 24: 3%
• 25 to 34: 9%
• 35 to 44: 4%
• 45 to 54: 15%
• 55 to 64: 31%
• 65 to 74: 19%
• 75 or older: 13%

As you can see, about 80% of respondents are over 45, and about 65% are over 55; we’d like to cultivate and develop more connections and attendees in the “under 45” crowd and are planning ways to do this!

 

Level of Education

• Master’s degree (e.g. MA, MS, MEd): 37%
• Bachelor’s degree (e.g. BA, BS): 25%
• Professional degree (e.g. MD, DDS, DVM): 10%
• Doctorate (e.g. PhD, EdD): 10%
• Associate degree (e.g. AA, AS): 9%
• Some college, no degree: 4%
• High school degree or equivalent (e.g. GED): 3%

(or in increasing order…)

• High school degree or equivalent (e.g. GED): 3%
• Some college, no degree: 4%
• Associate degree (e.g. AA, AS): 9%
• Bachelor’s degree (e.g. BA, BS): 25%
• Master’s degree (e.g. MA, MS, MEd): 37%
• Doctorate (e.g. PhD, EdD): 10%
• Professional degree (e.g. MD, DDS, DVM): 10%

Not a surprise that we have a very educated audience!

 

Employment status

• Employed full time (40 or more hours per week): 45%
• Retired: 30%
• Self-employed: 12%
• Employed part time (up to 39 hours per week): 10%
• Student: 3%

 

Gender Identity

• Female: 49%
• Male: 46%
• Gender Variant/Non-Conforming: 1%
• Prefer not to say: 3%

 

How would you describe yourself?

• White: 69%
• Asian: 6%
• American Indian or Alaska Native: 1%
• Black or African American: 1%
• Prefer not to say: 22%

 

How did you learn about SDSS?

• Social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram): 27%
• Friend: 24%
• Other: 15%
• Online (Meetup, Eventbrite): 12%
• Google search: 10%
• Newspaper: 9%
• Flyer/ad/insert in a theatre program: 4%

 

How do you prefer to stay connected with SDSS?

• Email newsletters only: 57%
• Facebook (@SDShakespeare): 37%
• Instagram (@sandiegoshakepeare): 4%
• Meetup: 1%

 

What should we keep doing?

• Lecture and Panel series: 63%
• Monthly open readings (at Balboa Park or Escondido): 51%
• Sonnets Program (at the Old Globe): 37%
• Student Shakespeare Festival (at Balboa Park): 27%
• Mock trials (Richard III, Prospero): 25%
• Bard Birthday Celebration (in La Jolla): 24%
• Museum of Art Spooky or Romantic Art Stops: 18%

 

What else should we do?

• Movie nights of Shakespeare-related films: 81%
• Staged readings (minimal rehearsal): 67%
• Acting classes or workshops on Shakespeare: 63%
• Social gatherings at a restaurant/pub: 54%
• Trivia/Game Nights (Shakespeare themed!): 49%

We hear you! There’s a staged reading on the horizon (we will announce soon), and we have an Acting Workshop on July 29th! Plus we’d love to start organizing films!

 

Were you aware of benefits to members?

• Yes: 60%
• No: 40%

 

We’re looking into several other ideas, suggested both by the data here and by the open comments submitted. Thank you all again!