Elsie Management
Elsie Management is a Brooklyn-based performing arts artist representation agency, founded in 1995, that represents approximately 20 dance, theater, circus, and spectacle companies for global touring engagements at performing arts venues and festivals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersBrooklyn, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Elsie Management does
Elsie Management is a privately held performing arts artist representation and management firm founded in 1995 by Laura Colby and headquartered at 132 Prospect Place in Brooklyn, New York. The company represents a curated roster of approximately 20 performing arts companies and individual artists spanning dance, theater, circus, and outdoor spectacle, and coordinates engagements at performing arts centers, theaters, festivals, and special event programming. Its core offering is agency representation: Elsie earns commission on bookings negotiated between roster artists and presenting venues, supplemented by international visa processing, contract negotiation, and career development services. The company has coordinated tours to more than 200 venues across five continents and maintains active presence at major industry conferences including APAP, ISPA, and the Edinburgh Fringe.
The firm's operational team is intentionally small — three full-time staff (President Laura Colby, Vice President Anna Amadei, and VP of Contracts and Production Jimena Alviar) — supported by a quarterly internship program. Revenue derives entirely from commission on bookings; no pricing is publicly disclosed and no alternative revenue streams (e.g., subscriptions, licensing) are referenced. Technology infrastructure consists of standard office productivity tools, with no proprietary platforms, patents, or AI/ML capabilities disclosed. Recent product extensions include "The Middle Woman" podcast (launched October 2023) and a forthcoming Routledge book authored by Laura Colby ("A Roadmap to Managing the Performing Arts," May 2026), both functioning primarily as thought-leadership and brand-building assets rather than direct revenue drivers. The firm is founder-owned, with no disclosed institutional investors, parent company, or outside capital, and operates as a horizontal agency serving both artist-clients and presenter-customers within the performing arts ecosystem.
Elsie Management firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Elsie Management
- Legal name
- Elsie Management
- Website
- https://elsieman.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Elsie Management is a Brooklyn-based performing arts artist representation agency, founded in 1995, that represents approximately 20 dance, theater, circus, and spectacle companies for global touring engagements at performing arts venues and festivals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Elsie Management industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performing Arts Management
- NAICS
- Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Full-Service Artist Management (MPAIAGAA)
Keywords
Where Elsie Management is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brooklyn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Elsie Management business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Artist Representation and Commission: Elsie Management represents performing arts touring companies and artists, earning commission on bookings. They coordinate tours to over 200 global venues and provide management, development, and booking services.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Elsie Management product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Elsie Management represents performing arts companies for engagements at performing arts centers, venues, festivals, and special event programming. The firm books approximately 20 dance, theater, circus, and special projects companies into gigs at performing arts centers, theaters, and festivals globally, coordinating tours to over 200 venues across five continents and handling international artist visa processing as needed.
Product overview
Elsie Management is a performing arts artist representation and management company founded in 1995, representing a global roster of approximately 20 dance, theater, circus, special projects, and outdoor spectacle artists for engagements at performing arts centers, venues, festivals, and special event programming. The company's core offering is its artist representation services, supplemented by educational content products including The Middle Woman Podcast (30 episodes of practical guidance for arts managers) and A Roadmap to Managing the Performing Arts book published by Routledge, along with a quarterly internship program for career development in performing arts management.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Artist Representation and Management Services Core representation and management services for performing arts companies, booking dancers, theater, circus, and spectacle artists into engagements at performing arts centers, theaters, festivals, and special events globally. Elsie Management currently represents approximately 20 companies, artists, and projects, coordinating tours to over 200 venues across five continents and handling international artist visa processing.
- The Middle Woman Podcast Podcast created by Laura Colby covering performing arts management topics, with 30 episodes on careers, contracts, visas, international touring, conferences, and equity in the arts. Available on Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, and Apple Podcasts.
- A Roadmap to Managing the Performing Arts (Book) Book by Laura Colby published by Routledge in May 2026, serving as a practical guide for building a meaningful and sustainable career in arts management. It covers equitable contracting, artist agreements, fee structures, visa filing, and industry equity issues based on Colby's 30+ years of experience.
- Performing Arts Management Internship Program Quarterly internship program offering career development services for the performing arts industry in Brooklyn. The internship runs 16-24 weeks (4-6 months) requiring a minimum of 20 hours per week and offers a $500 stipend per intern period.
Quantifiable outcome
- Tours coordinated to over 200 global venues
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Elsie Management
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Elsie Management technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Elsie Management partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NAPAMAcoreNorth American Performing Arts Managers and Agents - professional membership organization. Laura Colby served on NAPAMA board for six years (2002-2008) and served as President in 2007 & 2008.
- APAPcoreAssociation of Performing Arts Professionals - primary industry conference and membership organization. Laura Colby served on APAP board for three terms, as Vice President in her final term. Co-manages Dance Managers Collective's annual JanArtsNYC showcasing efforts with APAP.
- Dance/USAcoreNational service organization for dance. Laura Colby founded Dance/USA's Agents and Artist Representation Council and served as Founding Chair for three years; also served on Dance/USA board for four years.
- ISPAminorInternational Society for the Performing Arts - global professional network. Elsie Management maintains membership and attends annual ISPA Congress.
- Western Arts AllianceminorRegional arts service organization serving the western United States. Elsie Management maintains membership.
- Fractured AtlasminorNonprofit arts service organization providing insurance and administrative support. Elsie Management maintains membership.
- The FieldminorNew York-based nonprofit providing services and resources for artists and arts organizations. Elsie Management maintains membership.
- International Performing Arts for YouthminorProfessional network for performing arts for youth programming. Elsie Management maintains membership and attends IPAY showcase.
- En Pointe ManagementcoreCollaboration with Anne-Camille Hersh/En Pointe Management to co-host Dance Managers Collective showcases at NY City Center as part of JanArtsNYC programming.
- Dance Managers CollectivecoreIndustry consortium co-managed by Laura Colby with Jennifer Morris (Siegel Artist Management) to organize annual showcases at APAP and JanArtsNYC.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Elsie Management competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- IMG Artists: One of the largest global performing arts management firms representing classical and contemporary artists across multiple genres; broader scope but overlapping client base in dance, theater, and orchestral touring.
- Opus 3 Artists: Major performing arts management agency with deep roster across classical, dance, and global music traditions; competes for same presenter bookings though at significantly larger scale.
- Harrison Parrott: UK-headquartered international artist management firm representing classical, contemporary, and world music talent; competing for global venue slots that overlap with Elsie's international roster.
- Askonas Holt: International artist management and booking agency with roster across classical music and performing arts; an alternative for artists seeking global representation.
Direct peers
- David Coffen / DC Management: Independent dance and circus artist management; operates at similar boutique scale to Elsie serving comparable NYC and international venues.
- Siegel Artist Management: Boutique performing arts management firm run by Jennifer Morris; co-manages Dance Managers Collective showcases with Elsie. Directly comparable niche dance/circus/theater representation model.
- En Pointe Management: Dance-focused talent management led by Anne-Camille Hersh; partners with Elsie on JanArtsNYC showcases at NY City Center. Overlapping roster categories (contemporary dance companies) and comparable client base.
Others
- APAP (Association of Performing Arts Professionals): Industry trade association for performing arts presenters, managers, and agents; not a competitor but the primary industry convening where Elsie showcases roster and networks with presenters.
- NAPAMA (North American Performing Arts Managers and Agents): Trade body for artist managers/agents that hosted Elsie's principal recognition (Liz Silverstein award); ecosystem enabler rather than competitor.
Emerging players
- Pentacle (DanceWorks, Inc.): Nonprofit management support organization serving independent dance companies with management services and consulting; adjacent service model for the same dance company client base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Elsie Management social profiles
Digital presenceElsie Management financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Elsie Management leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Elsie Management funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Elsie Management M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Elsie Management
What does Elsie Management do?
Elsie Management represents performing arts companies for engagements at performing arts centers, venues, festivals, and special event programming. The firm books approximately 20 dance, theater, circus, and special projects companies into gigs at performing arts centers, theaters, and festivals globally, coordinating tours to over 200 venues across five continents and handling international artist visa processing as needed.
Is Elsie Management a public or private company?
Elsie Management is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Elsie Management founded?
Elsie Management was founded in 1995. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Elsie Management based?
Elsie Management is headquartered in Brooklyn, United States, in the North America region.
How does Elsie Management make money?
One revenue line is on record: artist Representation and Commission.
Who are Elsie Management's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are IMG Artists, Opus 3 Artists, Harrison Parrott and Askonas Holt. Direct peers are David Coffen / DC Management, Siegel Artist Management and En Pointe Management. Others are APAP (Association of Performing Arts Professionals) and NAPAMA (North American Performing Arts Managers and Agents). Pentacle (DanceWorks, Inc.) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Elsie Management have an API?
No public API is recorded for Elsie Management.
What industry is Elsie Management in?
Elsie Management's product category is Performing Arts Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAGAA, Full-Service Artist Management. Its NAICS code is 7114 and its SIC code is 7900.