My Pecha Kucha about the Sweet Little Variety Show's Tech Refresh is HERE. It should play as soon as it loads. Notes to accompany the slides are below.
Since the Sweet Little Variety Show is live and I'm clinging to whatever humanity I can these days, I've changed my mind about pre-recording and I'm going live, baby! (Or it's way too late at night to try Loom.)
Nighty night!
Pecha Kucha by Jen Stevens - July 10, 2025 - CURR 501, Dr. Lesley Bogad
6:40 1) Cover
Welcome to my presentation about giving my 15-years-running Sweet Little Variety Show, or SLVS, a tech refresh. After over 150 shows, it’s time. I’ve kept a wish list of things to improve or modernize, but haven't prioritized finding time to engage with new technologies. I’m not apt to do that unless I have to meet some external requirement.
6:20 2) Performers 1
Here are a handful of the hundreds of performers who have graced the sweet little stage. Our motto is: “Since January 2010, the Sweet Little Variety Show has supported local musicians, poets, magicians, comedians, dancers, actors, filmmakers, and many more, as a monthly feminist, anti-racist, queer-positive, and body-positive cabaret.”
6:00 3) Performers 2
My WHY for the Sweet Little Variety Show has become more clear since November: maintain community space for misfit artists to gather, experiment, thrive, and pretty much subvert S.C.W.A.A.M.P. Our class discussion about dominant ideologies was a welcome reminder to better connect with differently-abled and neurodivergent performers.
5:40 4) Who Am I?
I identify as a “techno-traditionalist” falling somewhere between “augmentation” and “modification” on the SAMR scale. My reluctance and skepticism toward new digital tools paints me a Prensky “digital immigrant.” To my surprise, this class has afforded me the time, support, and inspiration needed to confront my digital aversions that I’ve sensed could be game-changers for SLVS outreach.
5:20 5) I believe
I believe live performance as creative expression is a powerful builder of understanding, community, resistance, self-esteem, connection, and hope, and has the capacity to profoundly change its observers, often when they’re least expecting it. This is my favorite performer of all time, Ani Difranco. See me in the front row? I’ve seen her over a hundred times, and it always fuels my soul!
5:00 6) Logos
I also believe variety is the spice of life. I won’t be telling you about one digital tool today. Let’s explore all of these. Kidding! There were several common tools I was curious to try, but previous to this class SLVS utilizef Google Workspace, MailChimp, Facebook mainly for events, a Canva template, and YouTube for pandemic streaming of pre-recorded and edited-together shows.
4:40 7) Facebook/Burnout
Our audience heard about the Variety Show by word of mouth, Facebook events like these, the website, and posters around town, when I do that. I sense stagnation and personal burn out on the horizon, but believe the show can reach a higher potential if new life is breathed in, particularly from younger performers and patrons. Ostensibly this target audience prefers to find events online in interactive, visual formats, that aren’t Facebook.
4:20 8) Website edit 1
I considered whether I was maximizing the tools I already used, and assessed that I could get more out of Google Workspace. Way back, a volunteer set up the domain and website, which was somewhat awry with off-center images and features that were harder to align than I thought they’d be and I let it lie. Determined to make the site presentable, I searched and concluded that editing the HTML code seemed necessary.
4:00 9) Website edit 2
This frightened me. Was I about to crash the whole website? But it worked! I edited more HTML so that the MailChimp plug-in would fit better on the page. Funny thing was, I never knew the website was Blogger, or that Blogger was Google, until I came back to RIC last September and Lesley had me create a blog on the first day of class. Surprisingly, I was already logged in as SLVS!
340 10) Google Calendar
L:esley mentioned the ability to add “gadgets,” but that went right over my head. This semester, when she mentioned it, it got me thinking. I populated a Google Calendar with our events (in dark mode since we’re trying new things). After some perseverance, was able to add a gadget so that site visitors can integrate our events into their own Google Calendar.
3:20 11) Mailchimp fixed
I also made a bunch of improvements to the site, like removing distracting features. I couldn’t get the dang MailChimp logo to fit in. Maybe fun for another day. These minor changes took hours. Is this a good use of my time? Does it matter? At least it felt great to check off some To Dos.
3:00 12) Papers
We oet very few email sign ups on our paper list at the door for shows. Many are illegible, so bounce back when I send the newsletter. I’ll occasionally put paper surveys on tables that come back wet with beer, also illegible. I then have data entry and analysis to do. This is clearly antiquated. Google Forms is a tool I’m comfortable using and I love that it generates a Google Sheet for easy analysis.
2:40 13) Exit Slip
Inspired by Lesley’s “exit slips,” I combined the papers into a Google Form to collect emails and feedback. Then, using QR Code Monkey — so easy and free — generated this directing to the form. Flyers with the code will be on tables and the bar. For motivation, one randomly email address will win free admission to the next show. I bet this will work. Maximizing Google felt like a great use of time!
2:20 14) Instagram
Now for something new! Multiple past survey respondents suggested an active Instagram presence. First things first, I had to let go of my pride for never having had an Instagram account. I created one. Check! Next, two people helped gain access to our neglected account created by a co-founder. After a password reset, I was in, and this is what I saw.
2:00 15) Tiny URL
I responded apologetically to messages long ignored, updated the profile pic to the “new” logo designed years ago, and connected the account to Facebook, ‘cause I hear that can streamline communication. Then set out to create my first post — for an upcoming special event, but the ticket link was ridiculously long. I tried out Tiny URL, which was easy as pie, and pasted the shortened link into the post.
1:40 16) Special Event
Done! I scrolled around, hearting this and that. I decided the next steps for Instagram are to 1) test out hashtags, 2) commit to not mindlessly scrolling, 3) share the login with our show host who is willing to see what kind of attention she can attract, and
1:20 17) Hootsuite
4) try managing Instagram, Facebook, and MailChimp through Hootsuite, a platform that allows users to manage multiple social media accounts, schedule posts, and monitor and analyze activity from a centralized dashboard. I don’t have the time or will to use these platforms daily. If I can streamline the process, maybe we pick up steam. I don’t care about followers or likes, I care about butts in seats.
1:00 18) Waste Time
When I think about wasted time, this recycled Canva template that a designer provided as a Facebook event cover image leaps to mind. I always wish it’d magically resize to 8.5” x 11” so I could print flyers. I tried resizing it with tools like ChatGPT, Pixlr, and Pokecut, and all failed, either ‘cause I didn't have some additional software, or the image was laughably distorted.
0:40 19) Notebook LM
When Molly introduced Notebook LM, I appreciated that you control all the source material the AI draws from. I dropped in one photo and a show lineup and prompted it to generate a flyer with a description. After refining prompts, it improved, but I couldn’t fix the image distortion, so it hasn’t yet rendered something useful. I’ll definitely explore this tool more.
0:20 20) To Do
My SLVS wish list was long and dusty when I started this class. It feels great to tick off several items. To keep momentum, I’ve revised my list. This project will help articulate my vision to any future collaborators. One cool connection is that Nate’s kid is going to perform in the 8/14 show and wants to get involved in the production. You’re all invited! Let me know if you’d like me to put you on the list at the door, which will definitely be a sheet of paper.
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