“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.”
My Sweet Little Variety Show could certainly benefit from a tech overhaul. I used to have co producers but it’s been just me for the last seven years, booking all the artists, managing finances, promoting, prepping the host and sound engineer, interfacing with all venue staff, and coordinating the run of show while appearing to be a gracious host. I've been burning out for a lot of reasons, but still feel like this show can reach a higher potential. Me coasting on auto-pilot will lead to a slow death of this thing, and no one wants that. I've got to level up, or give up. Today, I'm choosing to level up.
The WHY for the Variety Show has become more clear since November: provide space for a community of misfit artists to remain intact, grow, and thrive. SLVS is a place where creatives showcase their passions, take risks, try out new works, workshop stuff, all without the pressure of selling a ton of tickets. We have about seven acts each show – around a dozen performers – so if everyone brings a few people, we’ve got a decent house. Dance instructors can enroll workshop dancers who use our show as their recital. Playwrights can test out scenes. Comics take some risks. Songs are debuted, and so on.
Producing a show from soup to nuts is quite an ordeal. I recently tried to figure out how much money I make on this, and it is very far below minimum wage, so I’m disinclined to pay for services, but open to it. The free tools I currently use are: Blogger (website), Gmail, MailChimp, and Facebook. I've dabbled somewhat miserably in the free version of Canva. Here’s where I brainstorm...
Artist communications:
- I need to receive an updated promotional pic, bio, and all A/V materials ahead of the show so that I can prep our host and sound engineer. I'm often chasing down straggling information until show time.
- Currently, I do this almost exclusively over email with some texting.
- This webpage functions as an artist FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions).
- Is there a way to streamline this process?
- Maybe a Google form for artists to submit to confirm their booking that would capture all of that and indicate to them what they are missing? Is this really easier?
Promotion:
- Promo is not something I enjoy (yet most club owners refer to me as a promoter)
- Active Facebook page with 1000+ followers
- Website through Blogger
- Mailchimp - 1 email per month to a list of about 350 people.
- Instagram - locked out of it for years. MUST get in or start a new one. (I have never been logged in to Instagram.)
- Hashtags?
- Twitter/X - Are we locked out of that? We had/have one.
- Used to post flyers around town but the designer got busy. I’d like a plug & play Canva poster where I can just switch out the artists' photos/names. Worth it to pay for the Pro package?
- Photos, not great quality but have some from every show
- I have lots of videos I’ve done nothing with
- Have artists record a promotional video?
- Audio ad/teaser?
- Memes?
- Motif Magazine shouts us out a lot (unpaid), but no other connections to magazines
Try live streaming?
- Suggested donation
- Equipment and operator needed(?)
- Our three pandemic YouTube shows made the most money of any shows. I was so surprised. (We donated it, so maybe ppl were extra generous.)
- Facebook Live? Other live streaming platform?
Online engagement:
- No thanks? Haha
- No interest in daily moderation or “content creation” to try to converse with ppl online
- Hootsuite? Heard I could schedule a bunch of posts at once
- More strongly encourage or coordinate performers to help promote
- Could I develop a paid internship program and work with a marketing student?
Tourism:
- Tourists would love this show. It gives people the local flavor and is unique, every time. They can’t find us.
- City of Providence Arts, Culture & Tourism Dept
- PVD/Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Hotels
- Artist support
- I'd like to help bolster our performers.
- Having good photographs would provide them added value to perform (We pay each artist $20 and a drink ticket.)
- Better connections with other arts orgs: ProvSlam, RI Latino Arts, RI Black Storytellers, PVD Improv Guild.
- Again, this is really why I do this. I admire artists so much. I enjoy the shows, and being with friends and family. The community-building piece is everything to me.
As far as inspiration drawn from the previous student projects, people did some really great things, though because I am not approaching this from the educator perspective, what spoke most to me was considering how to simplify my direction. I'm a bit all over the place. Feedback is welcome on what you'd think would be the most helpful to elevate this show and breathe new life into it! Thanks for reading.
I'll end up posting another comment, but I wanted to point out here that the formatting on this is really wonky, with some paragraphs extending way beyond the screen.
ReplyDeleteThere's a LOT to work with here. We definitely need to talk.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea! I think live streaming could be so fun and away to bring this to many people!
ReplyDeleteI think all of these are great ideas. I also think there's a lot, especially if your next show in August. Just remember, that even if everything doesn't work or come into place, you are doing good and important work.
ReplyDeleteOne thought about paying for Canva (actually two thoughts): Teachers get a free account, so maybe you could "borrow" one (like mine). Also, depending on how fancy you're trying to get, you can make a simple poster from a google slide. It might not end up as pretty as Canva, but it's free and easy to edit.