#theatre threatremarketing Publicity Theatreproduction producing

[theatremarketinginsights]

Dear Playwrights, Producing is Hell.

Here’s a warning to all playwrights.

Producing Theatre is Hell. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

It’s a great thing to hear motivational, “you-can-do-it” speeches, videos, and workshops as they pump you into believing you have what it takes to produce theatre, but let me be the first to tell you that it’s mostly salesy bullshit. Don’t hate me for saying that, I am just trying to save you some of the biggest headaches of your life. So, before you jump in with great enthusiasm and an overflowing dose of positivity, allow me to set the record straight.

First, theatre producing is not what you think it is. In fact, it never was. Whatever fantasy you have about submitting it to some theatre company and seeing it produced while you sit at home and tweak your scenes and dialogue is nonsense. Sure, it may happen… but don’t bet on it.

Second, the chances of going to some mixer, meeting a producer who believes in you and will run with your play straight to Broadway (or even an off-off-off-off Broadway production) is just as fantastical. Prospective producers, investors, and artistic directors will usually NOT come to your reading or festival production and develop it from there. But, sure, keep your hopes up.

Third, the idea that anyone who has never produced a legitimate production can read some books, join some mastermind facebook group, raise money, and evolve into a producer in a few months is the purest bull of all the bull in the bull universe! You could be talking years.

Producing theatre is not for everyone. Producing theatre is hard. Producing theatre is HELL!

And you may actually suck at it because you set out to write plays and are only now realizing that most playwrights self-produce.

Okay, by now you are hating me even though I said not to. Join the club.

Now that we’ve taken off the rose-colored glasses, I am not saying give up. I am not saying that every once in a while some theatre magic doesn’t happen and suddenly a play is on Broadway. The history of entertainment is filled with such magical moments; the actor discovered in a diner, the big-wig producer who goes to see an actor friend at a reading and offers to bank-roll the whole production. What I am saying is to be realistic, be strategic, don’t blow your life savings (or your friends, family, and parents money) on short-cut-themed pipe dreams. For the most part, here is how it works.

Write a great play. Don’t be the one to define your own greatness. Do readings. Be smart about the writing. Always be building a team of collaborators. Test your play in festivals. Do more readings. Teach yourself as much as you can about all the elements of producing (lighting, costumes, marketing, direction, acting, house management, union vs non-union, casting, budgeting, set design…you get the picture.) Then do another reading or two. Set a realistic budget. Now double it. Do another reading and listen to how people react. Define your target audience not once, but often. Read books. Keep talking to people. Perfect your play because a play that sucks will not sell tickets.

The point I am making is that much of your learning happens along the way, trial and error. You are never going to be an expert in all those things, but pick up as much as you can early in the game.

The other thing I can’t emphasize enough is talk to everyone in the business. Talk to theatrical lawyers, to general managers, directors, and anyone who will share their experience. Oh, and know that even when talking to one or more in any of these given fields, you will get opposing opinions on just about everything.

Producing theatre is hard, it’s collaborative, it’s time consuming, and expensive.

Which brings us to the workshops, the presentations, videos, Facebook mastermind groups, and all those wonderful places where we meet and greet. They are great only if you approach them with a focused, learning attitude and not some blind hope that you will find that magical someone who will champion your great play. If it so happens that mythical beast, then great! But know that all the hard work, the financing, the development of the material will be primarily in your universe and under your passionate lead. If you do manage to get past all of the pain of producing, producing can be quite rewarding. That’s why there are producers in the first place. But you do have to suffer for your art, so prepare yourself.

Now go become a producer, or at least think like one…because it may be the only way you’ll see your play produced.

Want to start thinking about producing your play? Call me or email with your thoughts and questions, I’ll be happy to answer some questions at 646-285-3033. And by all means, post and share your response.

RG

(photo: Mel Brooks, The Producers)

Please follow us on Instagram: @TheatreMarketing2019