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Business and House Management. Day Two. PSAs and News Releases. Make use of all the ELECTRONIC EVENTS CALENDARS on the internet, such as facebook . The key to using any NEWS RELEASE is ACCURACY.
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Business and House Management Day Two
PSAs and News Releases Make use of all the ELECTRONIC EVENTS CALENDARS on the internet, such as facebook. The key to using any NEWS RELEASE is ACCURACY. The TITLE, the DATES, PRICES, curtain TIME, box office TELEPHONE NUMBER and WEBSITE information MUST be correct. Likewise, writing a news release which is DIRECT AND EASY TO READ is a must.
A news release is what is sent to print publications like NEWSPAPERS. The PSA is sent to RADIO and TELEVISION stations. The best part is that they are FREE. Send them to lots of newspapers and other media. What might be CUT from one publication or broadcast might be INCLUDED in another. Develop a media list which includes the FAX number, the CONTACT PERSON and an E-MAIL ADDRESS for submissions.
The media wants just the facts….the TITLE of the play, and the PLACE of production, the PLAYWRIGHT(s) and PRODUCTION COMPANY, the TIMES and DATES of the performances, the admission PRICE, a contact PHONE NUMBER, and possibly the names of the director and the actors playing the lead characters.
Posters Who- your GROUP’S NAME What - play's TITLE When- DATES AND TIME Where- AUDITORIUM, SCHOOL NAME AND ADDRESS Graphic- LOGO OR VISUAL IMAGE OF THE PLAY PLAYWRIGHT and/or COMPOSER LICENSING COMPANY Box office PHONE or WEB SITE Ticket PRICES
Don’t forget, you need to give credit to the PLAYWRIGHT and the LICENSING COMPANY. You must honor the CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS. And make sure you have permission to use any ARTWORK from the publisher. A box office PHONE NUMBER or WEB SITE may be helpful information along with ticket PRICES.
We are a part of the electronic age, so, use it. Create an ACCURATE E-MAIL LIST of CAST AND CREW, and make sure they all know this will be the primary way of communicating with them. E-mail can be a great tool, but can break down if people don't check it regularly. Send publicity info out to ALL STUDENTS who are involved IN THE PRODUCTION. Where do you get this list? From the STAGE MANAGER, so the CAST AND CREW can easily copy it and paste to their FRIENDS AND FAMILY along with a personal invitation to attend “their” show.
Some other print publicity options that can be made in class, or after school include: TABLE TENTS- These are easy to make, and can be put on the tables in your CAFETERIA OR COMMONS AREA. DOOR HANGERS - These are also easy to make, and as people open doors, they'll notice them HANGING on the door knob. KEYCHAINS - These can be a little pricey, but are nice mementos of shows. BUTTONS - These can be easy, but time consuming to make. Check to see if your school already has a BUTTON-MAKER. Many schools do.
HATS, T-SHIRTS AND SWEATSHIRTS - Many schools create t-shirts to ADVERTISE their shows, but they also serve another purpose, that of creating CAMADERIE. It's a good idea to print one side of the shirt with all the information that's on the POSTER, and print the other side with the CAST, CREW AND PRODUCTION STAFF. Request that the entire cast and crew wear them on a SPECIFIC DAY or to an all-school ASSEMBLY or EVENT.
Fine Arts Booster Club A Fine Arts Booster Club can provide a lot of SUPPORT for your theater program. But an active booster club provides much more than just MONETARY SUPPORT. They can operate CONCESSIONS at all theater performances, organize the annual Fine Arts AWARDS BANQUET, provide CHAPERONES for music and theater field trips and festivals, and is a good bridge to the COMMUNITY and the SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION. And don't forget to say THANK YOU to these parents who go above and beyond the call of duty.
Patron Programs Another way to expand community support is by organizing a PATRON PROGRAM. Now this is DIFFERENT than a parent support group, like a Fine Arts Booster Club. Parents are naturally good supporters, so you can expand that base by reaching out to the BUSINESSES and OTHER CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITY by offering them an opportunity to participate in your school’s theater arts program. Create a package for them: it could be a BLOCK OF ADVERTISING or RECONGITION IN YOUR PROGRAM, preferred SEATING at your performances, a RECEPTION on opening night and of course, TICKETS for the shows.
Some schools raise thousands of dollars from selling advertisements in their programs. If your school does not allow paid advertising, think about starting a FRIENDS OF THEATER program. Friends can be listed in the program according to various LEVELS and get different levels of BENEFITS for their contribution. A BENEFACTOR gets his or her name listed in a section at the top of the page, and in large font, and 2 tickets in a preferred seating section. An ANGEL is similar to the Benefactor, but listed below them in slightly smaller font. A PRODUCER is similar to the Angel, but listed lower in even smaller font. A DIRECTOR gets his or her name in the program.
There is a section for how the person would like to see his or her NAME in the program, CONTACT INFORMATION, and the evening they would like their TICKETS, if that applies. The DEADLINE at the bottom of the page must be a FIRM DATE that allows you enough time to get your PROGRAM ready. Becoming a "Friend" gets the parent or local merchant preferred seating, their NAME in the program, and RECOGNITION they are a supporter of the arts.
How about asking local businesses to include a MINI-FLYER for your upcoming show in their PAYCHECKS? It is a good idea to ask about the size of the ENVELOPE they use so you can produce the mini flyer in the APPROPRIATE SIZE. Some credit unions have included flyers or season brochures in their MONTHLY STATEMENTS. These mini flyers cost only a REAM OF PAPER and the credit union funds the postage. We call this PIGGY BACK POSTAGE and it saves a lot of money.
The more important thing to get from this arrangement is the ENDORSEMENT message which comes from the organization which has included your information. If you get an announcement included in your paycheck or your bank statement, the SUBTLE MESSAGE is that the employer or bank believes the local high school or college shows are WORTH SEEING. Endorsement can be the BEST POSSIBLE SUPPORT you can get because it generates support from GROUPS OF PEOPLE, not just individuals. Once again, remember to THANK the people who sponsor you.
