♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," ARIZONA IS ONE OF SIX STATES INVOLVED IN A NEW MEDICARE PILOT PROGRAM THAT REQUIRES PREAPPROVAL FOR SOME MEDICAL PROCEDURES.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, AN UPDATE ON THE ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY'S RISE ABOVE FUND-RAISING CAMPAIGN.

>>> AND A LOCAL ARTIST PARTNERS WITH THE SUNS AND MERCURY FOR A NEW MURAL OUTSIDE PHX ARENA.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE CONTROVERSIAL NEW WAY TO ADMINISTER MEDICARE IS COMING TO ARIZONA THAT LOOKS TO WASTEFUL AND INAPPROPRIATE SERVICES.

IT CALLS FOR PREAPPROVAL FOR SELECT MEDICAL TREATMENTS.

TO LEARN MORE ON THIS, WE WELCOME ASSISTANT DEAN AT ASU'S COLLEGE OF HEALTH INSTITUTIONS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> NICE TO SEE YOU.

TED: LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS.

A MEDICARE PILOT PROGRAM.

PILOT PROGRAMS ARE, YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED?

LET'S BE INVOLVED.

THAT'S NOT INVOLVED HERE, IS IT?

>> LESS SO.

SIX STATES HAVE BEEN CHOSEN BY THE CENTERS OF MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES AND THOSE SIX STATES INCLUDE ARIZONA OR ONE OF THE STATES CHOSEN FOR A SIX YEAR PILOT PROGRAM.

AND WHAT THE PROGRAM WILL ENTAIL IS THAT TRADITIONAL MEDICARE, SO FEE FOR SERVICE MEDICARE TRADITIONALLY, USUALLY NOT SUBJECT TO PRIOR AUTHORIZATION, ABOUT 16 SERVICES AND THAT COULD EXPAND, WILL BE SUBJECT TO PRIOR AUTHORIZATION, PRIOR APPROVAL BY THE INSURER BEFORE YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER OR THE HEALTH SYSTEM CAN PROVIDE CERTAIN SERVICES OR FILL CERTAIN PRESCRIPTIONS.

TED: GIVE US AN EXAMPLE OF PRIOR AUTHORIZATION.

>> IF YOU ARE A PATIENT, YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE INTERACTED WITH IT.

WHAT IT BASICALLY STATES IS THAT YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY, YOUR PAYOR HAS TO APPROVE CERTAIN TREATMENTS, CERTAIN MEDICATIONS, CERTAIN PROCESSES, NOT EMERGENCY PROCESSES, BUT MOST HEALTH CARE IS NOT AN EMERGENCY SETTING, RIGHT, BEFORE YOUR PROVIDER CAN KNOW THAT THEY WILL GET PAID OR REIMBURSED FOR THAT TREATMENT, AND OFTEN WHAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS ASKING IS, IS THIS BASICALLY THE LEAST EXPENSIVE WAY TO PROVIDE THIS TREATMENT, IS THERE A LESS EXPENSIVE, LESS ARDUOUS, LESS EXTENSIVE WAY TO PROVIDE THIS TREATMENT OR GET THIS MEDICATION ON BOARD.

>> I WANT TO GET BACK TO THE QUESTIONS IN A SECOND, SOUNDS LIKE THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT COULD BOG DOWN A MEDICAL PRACTICE.

I'LL ASK IT RIGHT NOW, IF YOU'RE A DOCTOR DEALING WITH THIS, THIS CAN'T BE GREAT NEWS?

>> YOU MIGHT NOT BE SURPRISED THE CONCEPT OF PRIOR AUTHORIZATION IS NOT POPULAR AMONG CLINICIANS AND PHYSICIANS, AT THE AVERAGE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, THEY SPEND 10 TO 12 HOURS ON AUTHORIZATIONS, HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANIES, HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT APPEALS, ET CETERA, AND ABOUT 25% OF ALL PRIOR AUTHORIZATION REQUESTS ARE DENIED ON THE FIRST RUN.

TED: WOW.

AND IT'S PRIOR AUTHORIZATION, THIS IS USED WITH PRIVATE MEDICARE SITUATIONS.

FIRST OF ALL, WE HEAR MEDICARE ADVANTAGE, ALL SORTS OF OTHER THINGS.

EXPLAIN THE PROCESS, EXPLAIN THE FORMULA HERE.

>> REALLY QUICKLY, MEDICARE ADVANTAGE IS AN OPTION FOR MEDICARE RECIPIENTS WHERE THEY CAN SUPPLEMENT OR ADD ON SERVICES BY PURCHASING INTO THE PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE SYSTEM.

SO PRIOR AUTHORIZATION IS QUITE COMMON IN THE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE SYSTEM.

IT IS REALLY, REALLY RARE, IN THE TRADITIONAL MEDICARE FEE FOR SERVICE SYSTEM, AND THIS PARTICULAR PILOT PROGRAM IS ANYTHING TO BE AFFECTING THE TRADITIONAL MEDICARE SYSTEM.

TED: I UNDERSTAND A.I., MACHINE LEARNING WILL BE USED ALONGSIDE CLINICAL TREATMENTS AND CLINICAL ASSESSMENTS AND THESE SORTS OF THINGS, HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> WE'RE LEARNING THIS EVERY DAY, LEARNING THE PLANS EVERY DAY.

AS HAS BEEN STATED, BASICALLY IF THERE IS A REQUEST FOR PARTICULAR AUTHORIZATION FOR ONE OF THE 16 TYPES OF TREATMENTS, THERE WILL BE SOME A.I.

ALGORITHM THAT WILL BE APPLIED AND BASED ON THE ALGORITHM, WHICH WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE YET, THE INSURER WILL DECIDE OR THE PRIVATE CONTRACTORT INSURER IS WORKING WITH WILL DECIDE IF THE TREATMENT IS APPROVED OR NOT.

THE ULTIMATE DECISION WILL NOT COME FROM THE A.I.

FORMULA BUT WILL REVIEW WHAT THE A.I.

RECOMMENDS.

TED: THE 16 CONDITIONS, WHAT ARE SOME OF THEM, A?

AND, B, WHY WERE THESE CHOSEN?

>> SO A COMMON CONDITION IS SKIN REPLACEMENTS OR TREATMENTS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH WOUND MANAGEMENT, WHICH TEND TO BE FAIRLY EXPENSIVE AND THERE IS SOME EVIDENCE THERE IS WASTE ASSOCIATED WITH THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH WOUND MANAGEMENT, WHICH IS COMMON FOR MEDICARE PATIENTS, RIGHT?

AND THINGS LIKE INCONTINENCE, NERVE MANAGEMENT, PAIN MANAGEMENT, ET CETERA.

THESE ARE KIND OF THE TYPES OF TREATMENTS THAT ARE MOST COMMONLY LISTED IN THE LIST OF 16.

TED: WHY WOULD NERVE AND PAIN MANAGEMENT -- IS THAT SUBJECT TO WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST?

WASTE AND FRAUD AND SUCH?

>> WELL, ACCORDING TO THE EXPERTS AT CMS AND THOSE THAT HAVE DESIGNED THIS PROGRAM, THEY'RE STATING THAT SOME OF THESE PROCESSES AND SOME OF THE TREATMENTS, THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THERE'S HIGH WASTE FOR SOME OF THESE PROCEDURES, AND IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T NECESSARILY LISTED ALL OF THE PROCEDURES WHERE THERE IS HIGH EVIDENCE FOR WASTE.

WE'LL SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE FOR THE 16.

IT'S GOING TO START IN JANUARY, AND RIGHT NOW, IT'S SCHEDULED FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS.

TED: SIX MONTHS OR SIX YEARS?

>> SIX YEARS.

YES, YES, YES.

TED: CALLED THE WASTEFUL AND INAPPROPRIATE SERVICE PRODUCTION MODEL.

HAS THERE BEEN WASTEFUL AND INAPPROPRIATE SERVICE?

IS THIS IN SOME WAYS A GOOD THING?

>> IT REALLY DEPENDS WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO, RIGHT?

IF YOU ASK THE HEALTH INSURANCE INDUSTRY, THE ANSWER WILL OFTEN ARE, LOOK, THERE'S A HISTORY OF WASTE, HISTORY OF ABUSE, HISTORY OF SOME FRAUD IN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMEWHAT UNDENIABLE.

THIS IS AN ATTEMPT AT SOLVING THAT PROBLEM.

THE EVIDENCE KIND OF SHOWS ABOUT 5 TO 7% COST KIND OF SAVINGS ANNUALLY, BASED ON PRIOR AUTHORIZATION.

IN NOW IF YOU ASK PROVIDERS AND HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS WHAT THE ANSWER WILL BE, WELL, BUT WE'RE SPENDING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS, AROUND 40% OF ALL DOCTOR'S OFFICES HAVE SOMEONE HIRED JUST TO HANDLE PRIOR AUTHORIZATIONS.

SO THIS IS A HUGE ADMINISTRATIVE CHALLENGE, HUGE ADMINISTRATIVE COST THAT OFTEN GETS PASSED ONTO THE PATIENT.

TED: AND WE'VE ALSO HEARD FROM CRITICS OF THIS PARTICULAR IDEA AND THIS PILOT PROGRAM, THIS IS A BACKDOOR WAY TO PRIVATIZING MEDICARE, IS THERE ANY POINT IN THAT?

>> SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS IS SOMEWHAT UNPRECEDENTED.

WE GENERALLY HAVE NOT HAD A SYSTEM LIKE, THIS AN APPROACH LIKE THIS, WITH TRADITIONAL MEDICARE, WE DON'T TOUCH TRADITIONAL MEDICARE.

SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT THE COMPANY THAT WILL BE CONTRACTED FOR THE A.I.

REVIEW, THERE IS A PROFIT SHARING ARRANGEMENT AS WELL, SO AT THE MOMENT, THERE'S A PROFIT SHARING ARRANGEMENT SO THE COMPANIES WILL RECEIVE SOME KIND OF PROFIT FOR THE WASTE THAT THEY'VE SAVED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

TED: MY GOODNESS, A LITTLE COMMISSION ON, HUH?

>> AS IT'S STATED RIGHT NOW.

TED: INTERESTING.

IS THERE ANY OPTING OUT FOR ANYONE IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM WITH THIS?

>> AS STATED, PROVIDERS, CLINICIANS, HEALTH SYSTEMS, NEED TO OPT INTO THE SYSTEM, BUT WHAT'S TRICKY HERE, IF YOU HAVE NOT OPTED INTO THE PRIOR AUTHORIZATION PROCESS FOR THE 16 PROCESSES, THERE CAN BE A POST REVIEW OF HOW YOU TREATED SAID ONE OF THE 16 ISSUES, RIGHT?

AND YOU CAN STILL BE DENIED REIMBURSEMENT IF THE A.I.

GENERATION AND IF THE REVIEW DETERMINED THAT YOU DID NOT PROVIDE THE CORRECT TREATMENT OR THE LEAST EXPENSIVE TREATMENT.

>> I WOULD IMAGINE A POST REVIEW WOULD BE MORE ADMINISTRATIVE WORK, WOULD IT NOT?

>> WELL, IT WOULD.

AND REMEMBER, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE REVIEWS IN GENERAL, WE'RE NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH THE A.I.

REVIEWS, BUT WE HAVE INDEPENDENT CLINICIANS THAT WORK FOR THE INSURERS, REVIEWING THE TREATMENT, REVIEWING THE PRESCRIPTION, THERE IS USUALLY CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE PRESCRIBING PHYSICIAN AND THE REVIEWING PHYSICIAN.

SOMETIMES NOT ALWAYS THE MOST PLEASANT AND ALSO THE ADMINISTRATOR AT THE PHYSICIANS OFFICE OR WITH THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, IT'S A PROCESS.

AND YOU CAN APPEAL, BUT LOTS OF PATIENTS DON'T APPEAL, THERE'S A LOT OF NAVIGATION TO THE PROCESS.

TED: SEEMS LIKE THIS IS FLYING AWFULLY LOW UNDER THE RADAR HERE.

WHEN THIS KICKS IN, ARE WE GOING TO SEE A HUE AND CRY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> WE'LL SEE WHAT THE ACTUAL EFFECTS ARE.

WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN PROUD OF THE FACT THAT THEY'VE ACTUALLY LESSENED AND STREAMLINED SOME OF THE PRIOR AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS AROUND MEDICARE ADVANTAGE, SO IT WAS A KIND OF FASCINATING DECISION TO INSTITUTE THIS NEW APPROACH A FEW MONTHS LATER.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW THIS AFFECTS PATIENTS IN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

TED: DR.

SWAPNA REDDY, ALWAYS A PLEASURE, THANK YOU.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

.

TED: THE ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY KICKED OFF A $6 MILLION FUND-RAISING CAMPAIGN EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THE EFFORT IS TITLED RISE ABOVE.

AND AFTER SIX MONTHS, THE CAMPAIGN'S RAISED MORE THAN HALF OF ITS TWO YEAR GOAL.

MATT AUGUST IS ATC'S ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, NICE TO HAVE YOU BACK.

>> NICE TO SEE YOU.

TED: RISE ABOVE CAMPAIGN.

RISING ABOVE WHAT?

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

>> THIS IS A CAMPAIGN DESIGNED TO TAKE US A LITTLE BIT BEYOND WHAT WE WOULD NORMALLY RAISE FOR ANNUAL FUND.

THE CAMPAIGN DIVIDED INTO THREE COMPONENTS.

WE'RE SELLING NAMING RIGHTS FOR VARIOUS LOCATIONS AND AREAS OF BOTH CAMPUSES IN TUCSON AND TEMPE CENTER FOR THE ARTS.

THOSE ARE FOR OUR HIGH-END DONORS TO SPONSOR THE BOX OFFICE OR THE THEATER OR THE CABARET THEATER THAT WE HAVE IN TUCSON, AND THEN, THE SECOND COMPONENT IS ASKING AUDIENCE MEMBERS TO GIVE MORE THAN THEY NORMALLY GIVE OR TO GIVE A FIRST-TIME DONATION, THAT'S BEEN REALLY SUCCESSFUL.

WE OVER DOUBLED OUR NUMBERS IN FIRST-TIME DONORS, AND THEN THE THIRD COMPONENT IS -- I CAN'T REMEMBER THE THIRD COMPONENT RIGHT NOW.

TED: MAYBE IT WILL COME BACK TO YOU.

THE IDEA IS TWO YEARS, $6 MILLION, AND YOU ARE ALREADY HALFWAY THERE?

MORE THAN HALFWAY THERE.

>> MORE THAN HALFWAY THERE, AND FORTUNATELY WE HAVE A WONDERFUL FOUNDATION, THE HILLMAN FOUNDATION, THAT STEPPED FORWARD, THIS IS THE THIRD COMPONENT OF IT.

DOING A $300,000 MATCHING GRANT.

FOR EVERY DOLLAR OR EVERY TWO DOLLARS GIVEN TO US, WE WILL GET ONE DOLLAR EXTRA FROM THE HILLMAN FOUNDATION.

TED: NAMING RIGHTS FOR TEMPE CENTER FOR THE ARTS AND TEMPLE OF MUSIC AND SUN IN TUCSON, HAVE THEY BEEN GRANTED?

A WORK IN PROGRESS?

>> STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS, HALF OF THEM ACCOUNTED FOR ALREADY.

WE HAVE A HANDFUL LEFT TO GO.

TED: THERE'S A DIGITAL GIVING PLATFORM INVOLVED AS WELL, WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> THAT'S OUR ATC.ORG/DONATE COMPONENT OF OUR WEBSITE.

TED: OKAY, THAT'S WHERE THE DONORS CAN DO WHAT THEY DO MAYBE PUSH IT UP A LITTLE BIT MORE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

TED: THIS IS A DIRECT RESPONSE, I WOULD IMAGINE, TO THE FINANCIAL PRESSURES THAT THE ORGANIZATION FEELS THAT THE PERFORMING ARTS FEEL IN GENERAL RIGHT NOW.

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT IS JUST THE PANDEMIC STARTED AND YOU'RE STILL KIND OF DEALING WITH THIS?

OR IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON?

>> A COMBINATION OF THINGS.

I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

THE PERFORMING ARTS HISTORICALLY IS WE'RE A MISSION DRIVEN OPERATION.

FINANCIALLY WE GET ABOUT HALF OF OUR REVENUE FROM TICKET SALES AND THE OTHER HALF REALLY FROM DONATIONS.

THAT'S THE WAY THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IN THE PERFORMING ARTS HAS GENERALLY WORKED.

THE PANDEMIC DID A NUMBER ON EVERYBODY BECAUSE IT COMPLETELY WIPED OUT PROGRAMMING FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS, AND FORTUNATELY THERE WAS A SURGE RIGHT OUT OF THE PANDEMIC OF GOVERNMENT FUNDING, ARE AND DONOR SUPPORT, THAT SINCE THEN, WITH THE INFLATION THAT HAS HAPPENED, AND THE RISING COST OF MATERIALS AND THE RISING COST OF LIVING, THE BALANCE HAS GONE OUT A LITTLE BIT, AND WE NEED JUST A BIT MORE OF A PUSH IN ORDER TO REALLY SUSTAIN THE LEVEL OF WORK THAT WE WANT TO BE DOING.

TED: TALK MORE ABOUT INFLATIONARY PRESSURES AND THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS AND THE COST OF GETTING EVERYTHING FROM SET MATERIALS TO PAYING SALARIES, ALL POINTS IN BETWEEN?

>> ALL MORE EXPENSIVE.

LABOR IS MORE EXPENSIVE AND FRANKLY WHAT OUR STAFF NEEDS IN ORDER TO MAKE ENDS MEET HAS RISEN BEYOND WHAT THEY CAN REALLY HANDLE.

SO OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE'VE GIVEN OUR STAFF TWO COST OF LIVING INCREASES.

THAT TAKES A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF -- THAT PUTS A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE ORGANIZATION, AND AS MATERIALS HAVE GONE UP AND PARTICULARLY WITH THE TARIFFS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT THINGS BECOMING EXPONENTIALLY MORE EXPENSIVE.

TED: YOU MENTIONED THE NAMING RIGHTS.

CAN BE A BIGGIE HERE, BUT IT KIND OF A ONE-TIME THING.

ONCE YOU GET THE NAMING RIGHTS IT'S LIKE A TATTOO, IT'S THERE.

IS IT ONLY A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME?

>> A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME.

IT IS A ONE-TIME WHOPPER.

FORTUNATELY, WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR THESE NAMING RIGHTS GET US THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS AND AT THAT POINT, WE LOOKED AT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND HOPEFULLY ON TRACK WITH TICKET SALES AND THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF ANY DEFICIT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

TED: LAST QUESTION.

GIVE ME THE ELEVATOR PITCH WHY THEATER, ATC IS SO IMPORTANT THAT IT NEEDS PEOPLE TO DONATE?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

RIGHT NOW, PARTICULARLY RIGHT NOW, GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR SILOS, GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR LONELY ROOMS, GETTING PEOPLE OFF OF THEIR COMPUTERS, GETTING THEM OFF OF THEIR PHONES AND PUTTING EVERYBODY IN A ROOM, IN THE DARK, TO HAVE A COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE WHERE THEY'RE TOLD A STORY THAT MEANS SOMETHING, THAT HAS A LOT OF EMOTIONAL VALUE, AND HAS A VERY ENTERTAINING STORY AROUND IT, AND WONDERFUL PRODUCTION VALUE.

THEY WILL WALK OUT OF THE THEATER CONNECTED TO EVERYBODY AROUND THEM, IN WAYS THEY DON'T REALIZE.

THEY WILL START RECOGNIZING EMOTIONS AND EXPRESSING THEMSELVES IN A MUCH DEEPER WAY THAN THEY DO IN MONOSYLLABIC COMMUNICATION ONLINE, THEY WILL LEARN TO INTERACT AND FEEL THINGS WITH EACH OTHER.

TED: WHERE CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN?

>> ATC.ORG.

TED: MATT AUGUST, ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY, CONGRATULATIONS ON GOOD PACING.

>> YEP, WE'RE HALFWAY THROUGH, A YEAR TO GO.

TED: GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

.

TED: LOCAL ARTIST ANTOINETTE CAULEY HAS A NEW MURAL.

CAULEY IS INVOLVED WITH THE MERCURY MURAL MENTORSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH WORKS TO INSPIRE YOUNG ARTISTS.

JOINING US IS ANTOINETTE AND ONE OF HER MENTES, FELLOW ARTIST.

NEW ARTWORK AT PHX, HUH?

>>O, YEAH, I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.

TED: TALK TO US ABOUT IT.

>> WE BROUGHT COLOR TO THE CITY.

I WORKED WITH THE PHOENIX MERCURY, SUNS MERCURY FOUNDATION, ALL OF US CAME TOGETHER AND RAN THE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM, I WORKED WITH 11 GIRLS AND WOMEN, TAUGHT THEM THE BUSINESS OF MURAL MAKING AND WENT A MURAL THEY DESIGNED.

TED: YOU DESIGNED A MURAL AND YOUR MENTES HELPED YOU OUT A LITTLE BIT?

>> I GOT TO CREATE IT AND ASSIST ME FOR THE NEW PIECE OF ART FOR THE CITY.

TED: ALYSSA, YOU WERE ONE OF THE MENTES?

>> I WAS, I SAW THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON INSTAGRAM, AND YOU SUBMIT YOUR ARTWORK AND BY A CERTAIN DAY YOU GET AN E-MAIL TO SEE IF YOU ARE CHOSEN OR NOT AND I GOT THE E-MAIL AND I SCREAMED AND IT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I HAVE DONE FOR MYSELF, IT WAS GREAT TO GET MENTORED BY ANTOINETTE.

TED: WHAT DID SHE TEACH YOU?

>> BUSINESS SIDE OF THINGS, HOW TO MAKE A MURAL, CONTRACT, WHAT GOES INTO MAKING THE MURAL AND WHAT GOES INTO DOING A MURAL.

TED: I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BUSINESS ASPECT, THEY LIKE TO SHOW HOW TO DO THINGS AND GET ALL THAT DONE, BUT THE BUSINESS SIDE IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALL GAME?

>> OH, YEAH.

THE BUSINESS SIDE IS THE PIECE THAT A LOT OF ARTISTS DON'T GET.

WE LIKE TO MAKE.

THAT PART OF OUR BRAIN WEEK DON'T TAP INTO AS MUCH.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE SUPER BENEFICIAL TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND BRING MERCURY REPS IN TO JOIN IN ON THE CONVERSATION, I TALKED TO THE GIRLS ABOUT HOW DO YOU NEGOTIATE WITH A BIG TEAM LIKE THE MERCURY OR CORPORATION?

HOW DO YOU PRICE YOUR MURALS?

HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU BE CHARGING BASED ON THE TIME OF YEAR?

DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

THAT WAS BENEFICIAL FOR THEM.

TED: DID YOU GET A LOT OUT OF THAT ASPECT OF IT?

>> YEAH, I NEVER KNEW WHAT IT WAS TO MAKE A BIG MURAL FOR A COMPANY ON THE SIDE OF A COMPANY BUILDING.

KNOWING WHAT WENT INTO IT, THAT WAS HELPFUL AND SOMETHING I'LL NOW KNOW FOREVER.

TED: I WOULD IMAGINE ANOTHER LESSON IS WORKING COLLABORATIVELY ON A MAJOR PROJECT.

THESE ARE BIG MURALS?

>> HUGE.

THAT WAS INTERESTING, I'VE NEVER HAD MORE THAN TWO ASSISTANTS AT A TIME TO.

HAVE 11 AT ONE TIME, IT WAS INCREDIBLE.

I DIDN'T THINK WE'D ALL BE ABLE TO FIT IN THERE.

EVERYONE FOUND A FLOW, A RHYTHM, HAD A PART TO WORK ON, AND GOT TO TAKE MORE BREAKS THAN I'M USED TO.

TED: THIS IS KIND OF A LEARNING PROCESS FOR YOU, I WOULD IMAGINE, IN TERMS OF OVERSEEING PEOPLE AND MAKING SURE -- LOOK AT THESE FOLKS, THESE ARE FOLKS FROM THE SAME MURAL?

>> THERE WAS A HUGE LEARNING CURVE FOR ME.

I WAS HONEST ABOUT THAT.

I DIDN'T KNOW HOW IT WOULD BE HAVING 11, 12 OF US AT ONE TIME IT.

SEEMED TO FLOW WELL.

TED: ART CAN BE A SOLITARY ENDEAVOR, THIS IS VERY COLLABORATIVE.

HOW DID IT WORK FOR YOU?

>> THAT WAS COMPLETELY NEW FOR ME.

I DO MY ART IN MY ROOM, IN MY ZONE, THIS WAS DIFFERENT.

I'M SO PROUD HOW IT CAME OUT.

I HAD NO ISSUES OF ANYTHING, EVERYONE KNOWS SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND THAT ALL CAME TOGETHER PERFECTLY.

EVERYONE TAUGHT SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW AND IT WAS REALLY, REALLY GREAT.

>> THE NEW MURAL AT PHX ARENA.

WE'RE SEEING IT RIGHT HERE.

DOES THIS REPLACE THE BRITTNEY GRINER ONE?

>> IT DID.

I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT IT IS BROUGHT OUT WHY THAT WAS REPLACED, I CREATED THAT ONE.

AND DISPLAY MENTORSHIP AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN THE MURAL.

TED: ALICIA, WHEN IT COMES TO THE PROCESS, WHAT DID YOU LEARN?

IS THERE SCALING?

>> YES, I FOREVER THOUGHT PUTTING AN IDEA ON A WALL SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE.

YOU WOULD BE THERE TWO, THREE WEEKS, BUT LEARNING HOW SIMPLE IT WAS TO SCALE IT DOWN, USE THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE NOW HAVE, BEING ABLE TO TAKE A PICTURE OF THE THING YOU WANT, TAKE A PICTURE OF THE WALL, PLACE IT ON TOP OF EACH OTHER AND TRACE IT FROM YOUR EYE, IT WAS REALLY, REALLY EASY, SIMPLIFIED THE WHOLE PROCESS.

TED: WHO TAUGHT YOU THIS?

DID YOU HAVE A MENTOR?

>> I DID.

MY FRIEND, GOES BY JEFF CREATED IT.

HE'S AN INCREDIBLE MURALIST IN THE CITY.

THAT'S WHO TAUGHT ME, AND PASSING ON WHAT HE TAUGHT ME.

TED: YEAH, YEAH.

THE OTHER ONE -- WHAT DOES THIS -- HOW LONG WILL THIS BE HERE?

DOES IT CELEBRATE A CERTAIN EVENT?

THE 2024 WNBA ALL-STAR GAME WAS PART OF THE MURAL PROCESS.

>> THAT WAS LAST SUMMER, WE DID THE BASKETBALL COURT FOR THAT.

THIS IS JUST -- I PROPOSED IT TO THEM OUT OF THE BLUE, AND THEY LOVED IT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL BE UP, BUT DID LET THEM KNOW, I THINK THIS IS A PROGRAM YOU SHOULD RUN EVERY YEAR WITH A DIFFERENT LOCAL ARTIST.

TED: AND DIFFERENT LOCAL BUILDING?

>> ON THE SAME WALL.

THEY SHOULD DO IT EVERY YEAR.

WE'LL SEE.

TED: ALICIA, WHERE DO YOU WANT YOUR ART TO GO FROM HERE?

>> FROM HERE, TOO MANY IDEAS TO THINK OF.

I THINK THIS MENTORSHIP OPENED MY MIND TO THINGS I DIDN'T THINK WAS POSSIBLE.

DEFINITELY WANT TO HIT UP MORE WALLS.

[LAUGHTER] >> HONESTLY, I'M GOING TO KEEP GOING AND SEE WHEREVER BECAUSE THIS OPPORTUNITY OPENS SO MANY DOORS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S NEXT BUT I'M EXCITED.

TED: WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU?

>> A LOT.

I HAVE AN ARTIST WORKSHOP SERIES KICKING OFF THIS SATURDAY, AND I'M PREPARING FOR NEXT SOLO SHOW IN THE SPRING OF 26.

TED: CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST OF LUCK AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

GREAT WORK THERE.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: AND CONTINUED SUCCESS, ALICIA AND ANTOINETTE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.