Ok, it has been a few weeks to say the least. And I have been busy!
Recently the man-friend and I traveled to outside of Detroit to visit his family. We played with little kids and laughed along with his family. On our way back we stopped in Ann Arbor for lunch at the Arbor Brewing Company. Having so much fun over lunch, we decided to stay the night. We got a room for cheap at the Lamp Post Inn and re-lived the college life for a day. Luckily we timed it on a Monday, during which many of the bars that the man-friend frequented in his college days were holding all day happy hours. Umm, $3 beers? Score. Weather was crappy, but boy did we have fun.
I've been working a bunch for Chicago Sailing. The season started April 11th and it has been a crazy ship to keep running. At the end of each day I crash hard on the couch, as the roommate can attest.
Boomer has a new roommate as well. The roommate's dog arrived this past Saturday. Per usual, Boomer is proving that he is not an alpha dog. It has been awhile since he has voluntarily climbed on my lap without seeking attention. He's done that a couple of times in the last few days. It's fun to watch these two figure out how to play with each other and sort out personalities.
May 5, 2009
April 14, 2009
A must read
For everyone starting a theater company... Courtesy of The Mission Paradox.
One thing that theater companies also fail to discuss is when they will stop producing work. If you remain a small ensemble, focused on doing work that showcases your ensemble members, eventually you will reach a point where that is no longer possible.
One thing that theater companies also fail to discuss is when they will stop producing work. If you remain a small ensemble, focused on doing work that showcases your ensemble members, eventually you will reach a point where that is no longer possible.
April 13, 2009
A difference of scale
In my past life as a theater marketer and fundraiser I worked really hard to get two nickels to rub together. A good day at my last place of employment was $500 in ticket sales. An amazing day was $1,000. We had a capacity problem when we brought in over $1,500 - our staff of 1 couldn't support that many calls!
Today, a rainy and unseasonably cold Monday, my new job brought in over $2,000. That translates into 4 new clients. To achieve that same sales goal, without ticketing fees, you need 100 new clients for most small theaters.
I sent out a team of 3 to the Addison el stop today, handing out brochures to people on their way to work in the morning and on their way to the Cubs game in the middle of the day. Cost = $125 (brochures were printed last year)
If I get 2 new customers out of that effort, I've made a huge return. And the beauty with sailing is that once people are taught the basics, they can handle our small boats. We keep making money off of them because they keep wanting to go out.
Often theater people talk about how small an audience there is for your work. It is rare for me to go see a show and not run into someone I know, they are usually in the industry. I'd guess this is true for other industries as well.
More theaters should think about ways to create their own industry audience. How do you give patrons a participatory element in your programming, that will keep them coming back for more?
There isn't really a thorough line to this post, I'm talking about a couple of different ideas.
1. how much effort it takes to get patrons in the door of theaters
2. ways to create an 'industry' member mentality within your audience
Run with these ideas where you want!
Today, a rainy and unseasonably cold Monday, my new job brought in over $2,000. That translates into 4 new clients. To achieve that same sales goal, without ticketing fees, you need 100 new clients for most small theaters.
I sent out a team of 3 to the Addison el stop today, handing out brochures to people on their way to work in the morning and on their way to the Cubs game in the middle of the day. Cost = $125 (brochures were printed last year)
If I get 2 new customers out of that effort, I've made a huge return. And the beauty with sailing is that once people are taught the basics, they can handle our small boats. We keep making money off of them because they keep wanting to go out.
Often theater people talk about how small an audience there is for your work. It is rare for me to go see a show and not run into someone I know, they are usually in the industry. I'd guess this is true for other industries as well.
More theaters should think about ways to create their own industry audience. How do you give patrons a participatory element in your programming, that will keep them coming back for more?
There isn't really a thorough line to this post, I'm talking about a couple of different ideas.
1. how much effort it takes to get patrons in the door of theaters
2. ways to create an 'industry' member mentality within your audience
Run with these ideas where you want!
Where I have been blogging...
So I've been a little slow on the blog updating recently. That's because my day job has been quite exciting recently. The sailing season officially opened this past Saturday in Belmont Harbor. My office is a house boat. Yup! I look out my window and see ducks a lot of the time. It's a very different setting from the number of window-less theater offices I have worked out of.
My job as the Marketing and Events Manager takes many different forms. I've been twittering away since I joined the company and am proud to have 130 followers in just under 2 months! Another of my job duties is maintaining the company's blog. Now that the season has gotten going, I expect that I will have a lot more posts over there!
My job as the Marketing and Events Manager takes many different forms. I've been twittering away since I joined the company and am proud to have 130 followers in just under 2 months! Another of my job duties is maintaining the company's blog. Now that the season has gotten going, I expect that I will have a lot more posts over there!
April 6, 2009
12th Night
Yesterday I went to see 12th Night at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. It was actually quite enjoyable. Could have moved a little bit quicker and used the full stage better, but the director interpreted the text very well. And what's not to like in a Shakespeare mistaken identity love story?
It has been a few weeks since I've made it to the theater. On my current list of must-see's is The Tempest at Steppenwolf and God's Ear at the Viaduct. The House's Rose and the Rime has been extended, using the slot they had originally planned for Alan Infinitum.
Apparently the Chopin just got its liquor license. Fantastic news for this Chicago mainstay.
It has been a few weeks since I've made it to the theater. On my current list of must-see's is The Tempest at Steppenwolf and God's Ear at the Viaduct. The House's Rose and the Rime has been extended, using the slot they had originally planned for Alan Infinitum.
Apparently the Chopin just got its liquor license. Fantastic news for this Chicago mainstay.
March 26, 2009
World Theater Day
Is tomorrow!
I've seen some folks twitter about e-mails they have received from theater companies, specifically Chicago's experimental theater power-house The Neo-Futurists. Sadly, I haven't seen a whole lot in Chicago's press. Chris Jones' blog has not mentioned anything. Time Out featured Abraham Levitan's collaboration with Dog & Pony. (Kudos to D & P who I worked with in the past.)
What's going on? I know the League hosted a meeting to organize and secured Daley's support - tomorrow is World Theatre Day in Chicago. The last I heard from them was 2 weeks ago.
My two cents: We are missing out on a major collective marketing opportunity, to reach out to people who might not know about Chicago's role in the international theater community.
A friend of mine who now lives in Madrid, commented on the emphasis on World Theatre Day in the city. She sent me one of the posters posted all over the city. When she lived in Chicago she was dragged to all sorts of obligation theater, now she is excited to be in a city celebrating it's theatrical opportunities all month long and especially tomorrow night.
So, in short, if you don't have plans for tomorrow night... Go see some theater! And if you're in Chicago, order a round in honor of being the best theater city in the country. Make sure those around you hear what you're celebrating!
I've seen some folks twitter about e-mails they have received from theater companies, specifically Chicago's experimental theater power-house The Neo-Futurists. Sadly, I haven't seen a whole lot in Chicago's press. Chris Jones' blog has not mentioned anything. Time Out featured Abraham Levitan's collaboration with Dog & Pony. (Kudos to D & P who I worked with in the past.)
What's going on? I know the League hosted a meeting to organize and secured Daley's support - tomorrow is World Theatre Day in Chicago. The last I heard from them was 2 weeks ago.
My two cents: We are missing out on a major collective marketing opportunity, to reach out to people who might not know about Chicago's role in the international theater community.
A friend of mine who now lives in Madrid, commented on the emphasis on World Theatre Day in the city. She sent me one of the posters posted all over the city. When she lived in Chicago she was dragged to all sorts of obligation theater, now she is excited to be in a city celebrating it's theatrical opportunities all month long and especially tomorrow night.
So, in short, if you don't have plans for tomorrow night... Go see some theater! And if you're in Chicago, order a round in honor of being the best theater city in the country. Make sure those around you hear what you're celebrating!
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