Check out this video from the 30’s. In the middle it says “‘The Great White Way’ is the kaleidoscopic cradle of the theatre and Home Sweet Home to actors, musicians, chorus girls and hot-cha boys.”
Oh the outfits! The coats and hats! The mustaches!
Posts Tagged ‘Video’
YouTube's new Text Feature
It’s kinda cool. You can take the videos you’ve already uploaded to YouTube and write messages over them. Of course it’s limited to one font and one type of color for now, but eventually I think this will change the way we make online videos.
Check it out, we used it to put a social network code on the Fela video:
5 Free Ways to Promote Your Show on the Internet
1. Wednesday is the new Friday. Facebook is the new Myspace.
It’s awesome. You can create a fan page for your show which allows for people to comment, rate and view videos and pictures. You can also create an event and invite everyone you’ve ever met to come see the show. Comment on other theatre facebook pages “If you liked Cats, you’ll love the Gender Bending Three Sisters! Use code XXX for $35 tix!” Okay, maybe not that lame, but you get the idea. Facebook is the fastest growing social network and will continue to grow. (Myspace is still the most popular, but Facebook is much more valuable for promotion.) Click here for an article on how to set up a Facebook account.
2. You scratch my Eblast, I’ll scratch yours.
Get your friends who are involved with a theatre company to do placement on their eblast. It’s a common misconception that you can just ‘use their list’ – which is illegal. However, placement on the theatre companies already existing newsletter is prime exposure. If you don’t have a list to trade yourself, offer placement, a link or banner on your site under Partners or Community.
3. Times online reader reviews.
Get all your fans, supporters and friends to jump onto the NYTimes.com and write and rate. It makes them feel like they are important for the show, and it adds a personal touch to the existing review. (And may balance out if it’s a bad one.) The more reviews and higher rating your show gets, then it gets listed under Readers’ Highest Rated.
4. Video Schmideo.
It’s easy! Borrow your friend’s video camera. Go backstage and tape the actors. Upload it to your computer. Edit it. Upload it to YouTube and then post to your website and social networks. Be creative! Give the actors the video and let them create the content. Even if you are just taping the actors talking about their role, their hair, the dressing room, whatever! It helps to create a ‘Backstage Pass’ – it’s also easy to upload to YouTube, embed the code and post it on your website. It’s like DVD extras! If it’s funny, or interesting or different, it may just go viral…
5. Celebimonials
I know it’s cliche, but celebrities sell tickets. If you can’t afford 50k a week to have one in your show, get one to talk about it for free. You probably know a celebrity or two through 6 degrees (Your mom went on a date with George Clooney in ‘89 and they still keep in touch), so call in the favor and get them to write a testimonial for your website. Better plan: Get them to be on camera to say “I loved it! Go see it!”
Tonys 2008: The Year of Great Acceptance
I love the Tony Awards for more than just the glittery gay dance numbers. For me, it’s all about the acceptance awards. Mark Rylance gave my favorite and for me, wins Best Acceptance Speech:
Best Starlet Speech goes to Laura Benati
Best Diva speech goes to Patti LuPone
Most Poetic and Rehearsed speech goes to Lin Manuel Miranda
Best Fat Joke during a Speech goes to Stew
Great job on everyone who tried to be interesting with your acceptance. Bravo. I know what everyone is asking. “Jim, what will YOU say or do when you win your Tony?” While Dressed in a head-to-toe diamond tux, I will come accompanied with a giant sheet with all the thank you’s printed legibly, flash it, and use the time to break dance while throwing out vats of glitter, like Rip Taylor.
Having trouble with your click-thru rate? Let them TESTIFY!
Marketing/ad folks who work on shows with a budget will knock out the usual suspects: the 10 or 12 email blasts the theatre community will purchase to cram up the multiple-ticket buyers inbox. Official verbiage: Direct Response. Subject: It’s better than Cats! See it for $49.99! Since there are only about 12 blasts in the theatre world, it forces theatre marketers to hit them up with a second shot later in the run, with a significant drop in the return of investment.
Woe is the theatre marketer. What ever shall we do?
I know! A testimonials video!
Hitting your audience with something new, something they can engage in and something they can relate to will increase the click-thru rate. It’s a great way to find the words to describe your show. Let the audience tell you! It’s better than Cats.
My television debut, etc.
I don’t like to brag, but the Vineyard Theatre’s God’s Ear commercial we created just happens to be my acting debut! Don’t blink though, or you’ll miss my appearance. Yes, that’s me, looking morose (and maybe a little cold . . . it was dang chilly that day!). I think you’ll agree it’s the ne plus ultra of tooth fairy performances in a thirty-second commercial! Look at Jim’s post from April 3 to see for yourself.
God's Ear 30 second spot
The Vineyard wanted to play with more video. Equity doesn’t make it easy (or cheap) to use actors or footage from the show. So, Amy, Laurie, Jaisen, Jon and I created something that would work for this television spot. God’s Ear is a very avant-garde piece. All of us thought this was the best way to take what little we had and deliver and awesomely bizarre commercial.
Also, The Vineyard was offered the YouTube Non Profit Program (go AMC!) and there’s a good chance we may get featured on the homepage of Youtube.com.
Check it out and let us know what you think!
Can't wait for Boris
Just got back from the marketing meeting for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and I can’t be more thrilled for Boris Kodjoe to be stepping in for Terrence Howard in April. Check out our exclusive interview with Boris at opening night.