Times are a changin'

Below a repost by my favorite marketing guru Seth Godin.  I can see this at work in the theatre biz.  Agents are getting nervous because so many can submit themselves online. Businesses who copy headshots have seen a sharp decline in the need for their services even though we will always need a hard copy at times. Theaters themselves need to get on the digital train before it leaves the station.  And I don't just mean they need to get a Facebook page.  We are so good at calling ourselves "the creatives"so let's not stop progress by saying "the reality is...." let's visualize something that keeps pace with this decade.

One more updated thought, non profits need to think like businesses.

Perfect and impossible

The definition of a revolution: it destroys the perfect and enables the impossible.

The music business was perfect. Radio, record chains, Rolling Stone magazine, the senior prom, limited access to recording studios, the replaceable nature of the LP, the baby boomers... it all added up to a business that seemed perfect, one that could run for ever and ever.

The digital revolution destroyed this perfect business while enabling the seemingly impossible: easy access to the market by new musicians, a cosmic jukebox of just about every song ever recorded, music as a social connector...

If you are love with the perfect, prepare to see it swept away. If you are able to dream of the impossible, it just might happen.

Putting it out there!

  I am seeing first hand, the power of "Putting it out there" this week.

Our realtor, Deb, showed Jamibeth, Andy and me a great space in Stamford recently.  To secure this spot we need to get some "pledges" of funding.  It would be a spot where we would build a theatre and in an area where the developers want to create a Soho, Chelsea piers type area.  We would fit perfectly there.

After seeing the space, we all agreed that we needed the connections to banks, corporations, private funding now.  Governor Malloy of CT just announced 11 million in cuts to the Arts and to be honest, we were not really expecting much help from government grants. While some might look at that as a "glass half empty" challenge we think it's something we can use in our favor.

IF Stamford/Greenwich really wants to attract terrific business talent, more tourism, the 20-50's set, and be seen as a progressively developing city, they need to have us there.  They need a theatre that operates by helping other non profits in the area, mentoring those who want our connections to the professional theatre world, and who can lead the way in promoting an organization that utilizes new social media and marketing in partnership with businesses and other arts non profits. In addition, and not as an after thought, we will be producing Broadway caliber shows in the area. But all of the above make us more than just a theatre.  We are fulfilling our mission statement now.

So after we saw the space we "put it out there" that we needed the contacts to get in the doors of the businesses that have a motivated interest in our being a part of their community.

This week Jamibeth met a wonderfully connected person who is setting up appointments as I write.  The owner of the space we want sent me another high powered connection and one of our board members set up a meeting with the president of the Chamber in Stamford who is also helping us make a huge connection.  

The lesson: Nothing is beyond your reach. Even if you don't have any idea how you will do something, just put it out there and let things happen. Keep your mind open and don't turn down something that comes your way just because it's not exactly what you were expecting. It can turn into something huge!

Mark Holleran also finished up our Non profit video.   I think it's great and we will be taking this video into our big meetings.  Who needs better PR right now than banks? And if donating to us, a theatre that also raises money for other non profits in the area, makes them look good, then it's a no-brainer to become a supporter of our vision.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKSIFFCxQFE

And our winner is: Cidalia Alves!  A wonderful singer/actor studying at Western Ct State University. She sings musical theatre and opera. In fact she is singing the leading role of "Carmen" in her college's upcoming production.  Margaret Astrup is her vocal coach.   Cid will be coming with me to two (so far) TV follow ups where she will sing and talk about her experience in the very first "So ya wanna be a Broadway Star" competition.

The judges also decided that they wanted to name an "Honorary mention" for this contest.  Joel Dommel, a senior at the University of Hartford (Hartt School, theatre division) is that performer.  He just performed the lead in "Sunday in the Park with George" for his college as well as participating in the Goodspeed new musical series.  

Our FAN FAVORITE is Teddy Hall who had many fans there to vote for him. Teddy admits to just getting back into his favorite passion, which is performing.

And our FACEBOOK FAVORITE is: Jamison Daniels who won our contest for submitting his 30 second video on why he should be the next Broadway Star to our Facebook page. At last count he had 138 people who "liked" his video on our page.   That amount of likes and his creative content won him the prizes.
Here is his video:
 http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=774896768729&set=o.112332212178935&type=3&theater


AND finally after this wonderful competition we will have our next contest on our facebook page in conjunction with the event The New Paradigm Theatre is partnering with for the Bruce Museum in Greenwich.  Stay tuned....

ps:  below is a great link to a blog that I think is appropriate to anyone pursuing a career in the Arts.  "10 Ways being a theatre major prepared me for success".  I think I will link this blog to our site as well:
http://tomvanderwell.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/10-ways-being-a-theatre-major-prepared-me-for-success/