Running Your Theater: Getting people in for auditions

Getting people in for auditions

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Theater Administration
Forum Name: Running Your Theater
Forum Discription: General questions about how to make it work
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4211
Printed Date: 11/22/24 at 4:11pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Getting people in for auditions

Posted By: chelserin
Subject: Getting people in for auditions
Date Posted: 8/26/09 at 2:49pm

We just held auditions for two days and had a total of 9 women and 1 man show up. Unfortunately this is part of a trend we've been seeing for a couple seasons. So far we've been able to scrounge together the neccessary people to get full casts, but that means it's pretty much always the same people on stage.

We put audition notices in the local papers, online through the website, craigslist, community calenders on radio stations, facebook and mass emails. What are other ways you advertise auditions that work to get people to come in?

thanks

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To be in the world, and of the world, and never to stand aside and watch.

Replies:

Posted By: John Luzaich
Date Posted: 9/01/09 at 9:58am

what is your theatre web site address?

It's not enough to post something on-line, the goal should be to drive people to your web site. We only had 110 people look at our web site during the 08/09 season. We redesigned our web site and have strategies to drive people to the site. The new site's been up about 6 months and we've had 6,955 visits and 72,126 page views as of yesterday.

If the same things are being done to publicize auditions and not enough people are showing up, something different needs to be done to think outside the box.

Word of mouth and networking is key. We send press releases to newspapers and P.S.A.'s to radio stations too, but that doesn't get people to auditions (although, we still need to do it). Contact someone at a newspaper and ask them to write a story about auditions. Contact radio stations and ask to get on the morning program for a few minutes and talk about auditions. And even a TV station or cable program. If you're friends with a local DJ, call or e-mail that person and they might mention it on the air. Develop a list of businesses that have signs, billboards, marquees and send a letter to them asking if they'll post info about your auditions. Continue to grow your e-mail list. Do you have about the same number of people on it as you have for awhile now? That's not healthy, it needs to grow. Exhibit with a booth somewhere off-site or away from the theatre and have info about auditions there. (like at a mall, shopping center, an art fair, a business expo).

Just a few thoughts. What is the theatre web site address?

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John
cfct@cfu.net
http://www.osterregent.org
http://www.facebook.com/osterregent

Posted By: KEB54
Date Posted: 9/01/09 at 5:42pm

Mix age shows ... heavy on the kids.

Find shows that have both adults and kids and then use the schools to help you get the word out. At worse you may have to use a few high school kids to take adult parts. That ain't all bad. And the kids don't need big parts, no more than walking on stage in a group for a crowd scene is enough.

All kinds of good things happen when you bring in kids:

You get big audiences. Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, friends, ...
You get parent involvement. The dad that helps build the set and the mom who sews the costume for their kid's show may get the bug and want to help even when their kid isn't involved.
An adult who won't normally try out may be persuaded to "for the kids".
You grow your own talent. All those kids grow up and some of those kids will stick around town.
It generates excitement in the community and people talk about the show ... and your company.
It injects "new blood".
Post pictures from the show on your website but put audition notices on the home page so that everyone sees it on the way to the pictures.

It should go without saying, but involve the community in community theatre. Adding kids expands the community. Get help from business that depend on kids - MacDonalds, photography studios, sporting goods shops, toy stores, etc. They may post flyers or buy advertising or become a sponsor or lend props, ...

Do one show a year heavy on the kids and I bet you increase your visibility and your participation for the other shows you do as well.

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KEB