Ryan Moore: What Planetariums Are Leaving on the Table - and Why Creators Keep Missing It
Martin talks with Ryan Moore, Executive Director of Dome Fest West, about where fulldome programming is opening up and why many creators still misread the market. Ryan’s perspective comes from constant contact with planetariums, festivals and producers. In this conversation, he argues that better results start with a more precise approach: not treating fulldome as one market, but thinking in terms of venue type, audience, time slot and business model. For planetarium directors and programmers, the episode offers concrete ideas for extending use of the dome beyond standard school screenings. Ryan points to areas such as music-driven shows, meditative formats, adult evening events and producer-led rentals. He also notes the operational realities behind those ideas, especially staffing, venue mission and the limits of existing schedules. For creators, the discussion is equally practical. Ryan explains why content needs to be designed for the actual route to audience, why testing in a dome matters, and why close collaboration with a planetarium partner can save time and costly mistakes. He also cautions that sales alone are rarely enough to finance production, and that producers need a realistic understanding of how distribution works in this field. The episode also covers the development of Dome Fest West itself: from a screening-focused event toward a wider meeting point for business, programming and industry exchange. Ryan says that one missing piece in fulldome is better shared market intelligence, and explains why he wants Dome Fest West to help fill that gap.