Gentle Listers.... Tom Bouchard wrote: "The other trend that as designers we are being asked to do, is take the graphics and other items from our design work and find ways for them to be available in stores. For instance a CD ROM interactive in the exhibits could be available in a slightly different format for sale. A copy of it might be playing on a kiosk. Another thing is that with digital imaging almost any image in the exhibits or archives can be made available for sale (rights issues not withstanding). There are lots of possibilities for integration. " My company, Big Head Interactive, produces interactive CDs specifically for this application, but goes beyond simple reformatting of an existing CD-based interactive embedded in the exhibit. We encourage museums, science centers, and heritage centers to consider the vast wealth of material in their storage, as well as new exhibit and installation items as excellent source for an interactive CD. We specialize in using digital video and digital stills of dioramas and installations, knit together with animation, museum staff and scholar interviews, music and narration to create an excellent companion piece to a museum visit. But more than just providing a memento, an interactive CD is an opportunity to go beyond the exhibit, delving deeper into subject matter, showcasing elements of a collection that funding or real estate could not permit display space.In this way, as Angela Roberts, of Hillwood Museum & Gardens referred to in her original posting, the shop indeed becomes an extension of the interpretation effort. Interactive CDs can also be an engaging component of an educational outreach program for those without robust internet service. A staff member at the Met indicated that the CD title, "Splendors of Imperial China: Treasures from the National Palace Museum, Taipei" experienced run away sales, selling out all 7 thousand copies in the first week of the three month exhibit, going on to sell 15k copies by exhibit close. AND it was cheaper to produce, containing more material, than the printed catalogue! It showcased more than 475 masterpieces from the National Palace Museum,Taipei, Taiwan. In addition to full-color illustrations and descriptive texts, the program contains biographies, translations and an audio pronunciation guide, maps, a glossary, an index, a chronology, and the ability to unroll precious scrolls to their full length, something that could not be done in the exhibit as installed. (Copies are still available on the Met's web site shop.) I am currently preparing an article providing information about creating good contracts with exhibit fabricators and designers. Museums need to insure that the museum's digital rights to graphics (as Tom Bouchard mentioned), 3 dimensional installation items, A/V components, etc. are protected for use in interactive CD ROMs for sale under museum title. I hope to cover topics that will get the creative juices flowing, and inspire broader usage of this very profitable form of interpretation. It is important for museum staff to think ahead to these potentials, even if the immediate future does not hold a CD project. Museums that track CD purchase rate as a percentage of visitors are finding numbers around 3 out of a 100 visitors purchase an exhibit CD (these numbers are enhanced when kiosks both in the exhibit space and museum store are used). Traveling exhibits are well suited to companion CDs, as the CD can act both as advance publicity and remain in the host museum shop after the exhibit has traveled on. I crunched numbers for a prospective client museum projecting over of 450k visitors to a planned exhibit. That would translate into potential sales of 13,688 CDs, using the 3 out of a hundred visitors model. Lets round down a bit to 13,500, subtract the "break even" sales of the initial 1,600 CDs (to cover production costs of $45k), and, assume a sales price of $30. That represents profit to the museum of $357,000 in the first year. Not bad, eh? For a meaningful and relevant item that serves as an extension of your interpretation effort, expanding upon your interpretive message while turning a respectable profit at the same time! If I can be of service as a sounding board for designers or museums considering a CD project, please contact me by phone or email. I would be glad to help. Beth Macdonald Big Head Interactive 415.752.6511 www.bigheadinteractive.com ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://museums.state.nm.us/nmmnh/museum-l.html. You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).