Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Increasing Involvement in new CT

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darkheart
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Joined: 12/15/07
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Topic: Increasing Involvement in new CT
Posted: 7/21/08 at 12:39am

I live in a small town of about 2,700, we are starting a community theatre group. We (five original members) had our first production last year. We want to get others involved to have a larger pool of actors. So, since I have been "appointed" the head of this group, I'm looking for suggestions on how to get others from the community involved.

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Kathy S
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Joined: 8/21/04
Location: United States
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Posts: 303

Posted: 7/21/08 at 1:58am

It will take a variety of avenues to find your volunteers.

1. Everybody's family is usually a huge resource. Draft them into service.

2. Choose the best writer in your group to write articles for your local newspapers and submit them on a weekly basis when you have something coming up.

3. Young people don't read newspapers... use facebook or myspace to find young people in your area that might be interested.

4. Have a presence at community functions such as art fairs, holiday celebrations, etc. such as a booth where you do face painting or balloon sculptures for kids, or something crazy like fortune telling. Have volunteer questionaires for anyone to take that lists all the ways someone can volunteer and let them check off their interest areas. Contact them.

5. Invite people personally to participate. Most of our participants (I'm guessing 90%) were personally asked.

Good luck. I hope this helps.

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magic612
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Joined: 7/23/08
Location: United States
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Posts: 4

Posted: 7/24/08 at 5:47pm

darkheart - I'm in a similar situation as you. My town is 3300 people, and I'm looking at getting a group started.

1. First, talk to EVERYBODY! Everyone you speak to (even just buying groceries or at the bank or whatever), mention the group. You never know who they know, or who might overhear you and ask about it.

2. Be observant. I once was waiting for a flower arrangement to be made at my local florist. A lady came in and ordered some flowers, and was wearing a sweatshirt from a production with a group about 20 miles away. I asked her how long ago she did the show, and learned a lot about her involvement as well as her son's interest, too.

3. Churches are a huge opportunity to find people. If you have any churches in your area that have done or are interested in doing any kind of drama with a more "contemporary" kind of service, go talk to them. Usually the youth pastor heads up that kind of thing, but not always. And people in choir may not only sing well, but be decent actors too.

4. Go to your local library and talk to the folks at the front desk. See if they know of people that have checked out drama or theater books recently, or do so regularly. You have to be careful about how you do this, because you don't want to be seen as a stalker! But if you're friendly about it and make it known that you're looking for like-minded folks, they may be very helpful. (I'm meeting someone later this week that my wife met at the library who's interested in getting some theater classes started.)

5. Put an ad in the classifieds section of the local paper. Or put up flyers in the grocery store or post office (or anywhere else you can put up a flyer). Make NICE ones, with "tear off tabs" so people can call you / email you.

Hope that helps, best of luck!

Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness how genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now. ~ often attributed to Goethe

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KEB54
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Joined: 7/24/08
Location: United States
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Posts: 227

Posted: 7/25/08 at 4:33pm

Don't forget the high school. Many of the current students may have an interest especially if the HS only does one play a year. That may also give you leads to former students with interest that are still in the area. And very importantly the teachers and staff at the high school. These are folks that may have been involved in college theatre. And theparents of students and former students.

High school can also give you access to others that may develop into theatre interest - shop teacher, home econ teachers, janitors, music teachers, secretaries, administrators, and many others can bring in skills very helpful to your theatre. Remember the people on stage are just a small part of a production.

One of the theatres I work with started as an off shoot of HS theatre, basically a summer show outlet. But parents got involved and decided it was too much fun and wanted to be further involved. We have a set building crew that were "Dads" with no theatre experience. Now they are very experienced. We have a dynamyte stage manager -- a "Mom" that learned the ropes. The list goes on.

For the first two years a lot of kids had to play older (18 year olds playing 40, etc), but now involvement is so great that everyone is cast age appropriate.

KEB

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Stageref
Player
Player

Joined: 7/30/08
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13

Posted: 7/31/08 at 2:49pm

It aslo wouldn't hurt to get your new company listed on a fine, new on-line database. And use those lisings in the mentioned promotional material.

Stageref.com
The new, free, on-line social experience of community theater productions and people

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Dave Charest
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Joined: 8/06/08
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Posted: 8/09/08 at 9:27am

Hi darkheart,

One of the most important things to do when you're out there talking with and meeting people who show interest in your group, is to LISTEN.

What does it mean to really listen?
People have very specific reasons for why they do things. Most times they're not the reasons you or I would come up with. It's important to be paying attention to what these people are really telling you. This is especially true of those who fit the mold of your ideal members.

These ideal members are the ones who will help your group flourish. Once you know the real reasons why they have an interest or have decided to join your group. You can tap into these reasons when marketing for new members.

How does this work?
Let's say you met a mom who was really interested in becoming involved with the theatre group. During your conversation you find out she's been looking for something fun she can do with her family. Use this information to attract others to your group.

Now when you start hanging up flyers looking for new members. Instead of a headline that says 'New Community Theatre.' Use a headline that speaks to what the person is really looking for, 'Looking for something fun to do with your family?'

You can of course use different headlines to attract different types of people. But the key is to listen to the real reasons they're getting involved or showing interest. Then build your marketing around these reasons.

Hope this helps.

D.

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Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Other Topics

Author	Message
darkheart Walk-On Joined: 12/15/07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Increasing Involvement in new CT Posted: 7/21/08 at 12:39am
	I live in a small town of about 2,700, we are starting a community theatre group. We (five original members) had our first production last year. We want to get others involved to have a larger pool of actors. So, since I have been "appointed" the head of this group, I'm looking for suggestions on how to get others from the community involved.

	IP Logged

Kathy S Celebrity Joined: 8/21/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 303	Posted: 7/21/08 at 1:58am
	It will take a variety of avenues to find your volunteers. 1. Everybody's family is usually a huge resource. Draft them into service. 2. Choose the best writer in your group to write articles for your local newspapers and submit them on a weekly basis when you have something coming up. 3. Young people don't read newspapers... use facebook or myspace to find young people in your area that might be interested. 4. Have a presence at community functions such as art fairs, holiday celebrations, etc. such as a booth where you do face painting or balloon sculptures for kids, or something crazy like fortune telling. Have volunteer questionaires for anyone to take that lists all the ways someone can volunteer and let them check off their interest areas. Contact them. 5. Invite people personally to participate. Most of our participants (I'm guessing 90%) were personally asked. Good luck. I hope this helps.
	IP Logged

magic612 Walk-On Joined: 7/23/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Posted: 7/24/08 at 5:47pm
	darkheart - I'm in a similar situation as you. My town is 3300 people, and I'm looking at getting a group started. 1. First, talk to EVERYBODY! Everyone you speak to (even just buying groceries or at the bank or whatever), mention the group. You never know who they know, or who might overhear you and ask about it. 2. Be observant. I once was waiting for a flower arrangement to be made at my local florist. A lady came in and ordered some flowers, and was wearing a sweatshirt from a production with a group about 20 miles away. I asked her how long ago she did the show, and learned a lot about her involvement as well as her son's interest, too. 3. Churches are a huge opportunity to find people. If you have any churches in your area that have done or are interested in doing any kind of drama with a more "contemporary" kind of service, go talk to them. Usually the youth pastor heads up that kind of thing, but not always. And people in choir may not only sing well, but be decent actors too. 4. Go to your local library and talk to the folks at the front desk. See if they know of people that have checked out drama or theater books recently, or do so regularly. You have to be careful about how you do this, because you don't want to be seen as a stalker! But if you're friendly about it and make it known that you're looking for like-minded folks, they may be very helpful. (I'm meeting someone later this week that my wife met at the library who's interested in getting some theater classes started.) 5. Put an ad in the classifieds section of the local paper. Or put up flyers in the grocery store or post office (or anywhere else you can put up a flyer). Make NICE ones, with "tear off tabs" so people can call you / email you. Hope that helps, best of luck!
	Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness how genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now. ~ often attributed to Goethe
	IP Logged

KEB54 Celebrity Joined: 7/24/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 227	Posted: 7/25/08 at 4:33pm
	Don't forget the high school. Many of the current students may have an interest especially if the HS only does one play a year. That may also give you leads to former students with interest that are still in the area. And very importantly the teachers and staff at the high school. These are folks that may have been involved in college theatre. And theparents of students and former students. High school can also give you access to others that may develop into theatre interest - shop teacher, home econ teachers, janitors, music teachers, secretaries, administrators, and many others can bring in skills very helpful to your theatre. Remember the people on stage are just a small part of a production. One of the theatres I work with started as an off shoot of HS theatre, basically a summer show outlet. But parents got involved and decided it was too much fun and wanted to be further involved. We have a set building crew that were "Dads" with no theatre experience. Now they are very experienced. We have a dynamyte stage manager -- a "Mom" that learned the ropes. The list goes on. For the first two years a lot of kids had to play older (18 year olds playing 40, etc), but now involvement is so great that everyone is cast age appropriate.
	KEB
	IP Logged

Stageref Player Joined: 7/30/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 13	Posted: 7/31/08 at 2:49pm
	It aslo wouldn't hurt to get your new company listed on a fine, new on-line database. And use those lisings in the mentioned promotional material.
	Stageref.com The new, free, on-line social experience of community theater productions and people
	IP Logged

Dave Charest Walk-On Joined: 8/06/08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 8/09/08 at 9:27am
	Hi darkheart, One of the most important things to do when you're out there talking with and meeting people who show interest in your group, is to LISTEN. What does it mean to really listen? People have very specific reasons for why they do things. Most times they're not the reasons you or I would come up with. It's important to be paying attention to what these people are really telling you. This is especially true of those who fit the mold of your ideal members. These ideal members are the ones who will help your group flourish. Once you know the real reasons why they have an interest or have decided to join your group. You can tap into these reasons when marketing for new members. How does this work? Let's say you met a mom who was really interested in becoming involved with the theatre group. During your conversation you find out she's been looking for something fun she can do with her family. Use this information to attract others to your group. Now when you start hanging up flyers looking for new members. Instead of a headline that says 'New Community Theatre.' Use a headline that speaks to what the person is really looking for, 'Looking for something fun to do with your family?' You can of course use different headlines to attract different types of people. But the key is to listen to the real reasons they're getting involved or showing interest. Then build your marketing around these reasons. Hope this helps. D.
	IP Logged

Topic: Increasing Involvement in new CT( Topic Closed)