Ramping Up...

Oh boy, things are about to get crazy.

Starting in September, and running until March, we are attempting to release 1 video per week.

Why? Why would we plan something like this? Because we enjoy creating mountains of work for ourselves? Because we feel like it's our best bet at creating some online momentum and cultivating a viewership? Because we're just excited about the project as a whole? The answer is probably some combination of all these things.

Our first 6-part series has already been shot and is being edited right now. We're shooting a puppetry series next week. Plus we've got a few other odds and ends in various stages of production.

We're basically trying to bank as much content as we can right now, so that once our steady stream of launches begins we can maintain it. Let's see how we do.

Kevin

PS: Licensing music is expensive! Things I've learned working on this project...

Dad's Garage TV is live!

Things are very exciting around Dad's Garage these days.

Our horror musical Scarlett's Web is doing so well that we've extended it for two weeks.

We've launched 3 videos in the last month on our new YouTube channel as a part of Dad's Garage TV. If you're not faint of heart, you might wanna check them out here!

Or view here...



And this weekend we're hosting Saturday Night Live alumni Tim Meadows at our theatre where we will work with him to create and perform some fun nights of live comedy.

The whole idea with Dad's Garage TV is that all ships will rise, which is to say we'll see an increase in ticket sales, class registration, corporate booking, etc. And while it's certainly too early to say how effective our efforts will be, it is heartening to see things generally buzzing with a positive momentum.

The celebrity guest angle is connected because one of the goals of the theatre right now is to generate more awareness about our work on a national level, and we're hoping that amazing guest artists like Tim will help us accomplish that.

And most unexpectedly: our channel has only been live for a month and we've already received two cold call requests for corporate video work. And although this wasn't an intended outcome, it's becoming clear that it could be a great new revenue stream for the organization as well as the artists.

But really, things are just whirling around right now, and the real test of the effectiveness of this project will be when the initial excitement dies down and it has to stand on its own two digital feet.

Thanks for reading, whoever you are!

Kevin Gillese

The Importance of Prototyping

While building strategy for our online video push something glaring has occurred to me: it's way easier to attract partners for a project when you've already got something to show off.

EXAMPLE A
Me: Hey man, we're launching a really exciting project that'll see us produce and upload dozens of videos over the next 18 months. Wanna talk about how you can be a part of this?

Random suit: (no response)

EXAMPLE B
Me: Hey man, we're launching a really exciting project online and we'd love to have you involved. Wanna see some examples of what we've done so far?

Random suit: Let's take a look.



In the end I guess what I'm saying is that prototyping is an important phase in the development of any new project, not just because it's a time to work out the kinks before the actual launch, but because it can provide materials necessary for attracting the right kind of partners. I mean, to be perfectly honest, I don't know that I'd want to work with someone who would jump onboard without seeing the goods.

It'd be like jumping in the sack with someone who you've only ever talked on the phone with. Not a good idea if you take your love life seriously at all. Which is why I'm posting a naked picture of myself below. Have sexy holidays everyone!

MetLife Foundation and TCG Announce Third Round Recipients of the A-ha! Program

MetLife Foundation and Theatre Communications Group announce the third round of recipients for the A-ha! Program: Think It, Do It, which encourages TCG member theatres to think and act creatively. Six theatres were awarded grants, totaling $225,000, to either research and develop new production ideas or experiment and implement innovative concepts in the theatre field. The total award amount is a 50 percent increase from last year’s total of $150,000.

The 2010 A-ha! Program recipients are:

Think It

Pillsbury House Theatre will develop its transformation into a Cultural Community Hub. The project will focus on assessment and metrics planning that will define and measure organizational success.

Curious Theatre Company will explore innovative opportunities for reinventing the resident artistic company model for the 21st century American theatre, by re-centering artists within producing organizations.

Center Theatre Group plans to conduct focus groups and interviews with students, academic administrators and theatres to explore an internship model that pairs graduate students in arts administration with Los Angeles theatres.

Do It

Southern Rep will establish Youth Onstage New Orleans, LA (YO NOLA) as a pilot program to bring the arts to the underserved population at a New Orleans elementary school, via a student-run theatre company. This program includes mentoring, workshops and building life skills.

Northlight Theatre is building Northlight On Campus, a two-year, comprehensive residency program in one underserved suburban middle school featuring after-school drama programs, artist visits, student matinees and a commissioned play for students.

Dad's Garage Theatre Company will create their first season of online content in tandem with their live work. This ongoing initiative will be self sustaining and will redefine them from a theatre company to a creative company.