Comments on: A Change is Gonna Come http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/05/11/a-change-is-gonna-come/ Fri, 20 Aug 2010 01:56:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: 99 http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/05/11/a-change-is-gonna-come/comment-page-1/#comment-1708 99 Wed, 13 May 2009 08:20:18 +0000 http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/05/11/a-change-is-gonna-come/#comment-1708 I'm thinking about it...I'm thinking about it... I'm thinking about it…I'm thinking about it…

]]> By: Sarah McLellan http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/05/11/a-change-is-gonna-come/comment-page-1/#comment-1707 Sarah McLellan Wed, 13 May 2009 04:58:39 +0000 http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/05/11/a-change-is-gonna-come/#comment-1707 It would be a lot more fun tweeting the future if 99seats was tweeting it with us...<br><br>I'm just sayin. It would be a lot more fun tweeting the future if 99seats was tweeting it with us…

I'm just sayin.

]]> By: 99 http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/05/11/a-change-is-gonna-come/comment-page-1/#comment-1520 99 Wed, 13 May 2009 02:20:18 +0000 http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/05/11/a-change-is-gonna-come/#comment-1520 I'm thinking about it...I'm thinking about it... I'm thinking about it…I'm thinking about it…

]]> By: Sarah McLellan http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/05/11/a-change-is-gonna-come/comment-page-1/#comment-1519 Sarah McLellan Tue, 12 May 2009 22:58:39 +0000 http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/05/11/a-change-is-gonna-come/#comment-1519 It would be a lot more fun tweeting the future if 99seats was tweeting it with us...<br><br>I'm just sayin. It would be a lot more fun tweeting the future if 99seats was tweeting it with us…

I'm just sayin.

]]> By: 99 http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/05/11/a-change-is-gonna-come/comment-page-1/#comment-1518 99 Tue, 12 May 2009 17:23:09 +0000 http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/05/11/a-change-is-gonna-come/#comment-1518 The five-year plan is absolutely key. And artists are more than capable of doing that sort of thing. An arts consultant I worked with used to say that theatre artists are trained to deliver a product on a tight deadline all the time and have to think strategically, manage time and teams and do all of that work. We're just discouraged from doing it.<br><br>It's not just a business plan, either. Where do you want to be artistically in five years? What kind of work do you want to be doing? How do you plan to get there, artistically? I think adding some sense of formalism to the ad hoc nature of starting a theatre is good, just as long as you avoid institutionalism.<br><br>And none of this, absolutely none, could be happening without the internet and social media. Go forth and tweet the future, y'all! The five-year plan is absolutely key. And artists are more than capable of doing that sort of thing. An arts consultant I worked with used to say that theatre artists are trained to deliver a product on a tight deadline all the time and have to think strategically, manage time and teams and do all of that work. We're just discouraged from doing it.

It's not just a business plan, either. Where do you want to be artistically in five years? What kind of work do you want to be doing? How do you plan to get there, artistically? I think adding some sense of formalism to the ad hoc nature of starting a theatre is good, just as long as you avoid institutionalism.

And none of this, absolutely none, could be happening without the internet and social media. Go forth and tweet the future, y'all!

]]> By: jeffrey http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/05/11/a-change-is-gonna-come/comment-page-1/#comment-1517 jeffrey Tue, 12 May 2009 16:22:32 +0000 http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/05/11/a-change-is-gonna-come/#comment-1517 I'd like to add that you touched on an important yet often underemphasized point: "Support others who are doing it." Not only are you supporting theatre, but you can also steal some brilliant ideas from these smaller companies. Okay. That is all. I'd like to add that you touched on an important yet often underemphasized point: “Support others who are doing it.” Not only are you supporting theatre, but you can also steal some brilliant ideas from these smaller companies. Okay. That is all.

]]> By: Travis Bedard http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/05/11/a-change-is-gonna-come/comment-page-1/#comment-1516 Travis Bedard Tue, 12 May 2009 15:51:59 +0000 http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/05/11/a-change-is-gonna-come/#comment-1516 well, a lot of it IS ad hoc, but what access to information can do is beat the entrepreneur into the heads of ADs before the money (gubbermint cheese or not) comes in.<br><br>We also need to eliminate the hatred of the artist for the very IDEA of business. Having a five year plan and a sustainable business model doesn't make you less of an artist.<br><br>and as to your last point: Twitter has been WONDERFUL for that conversation. Because it's less formal and people don't feel the need to push out a prospectus, or present themselves as an expert, there's a lot ore frank conversation about nuts and bolts... or even this week a friend posted a "look we've been reviewed, and I've social media'd the hell out of this... but folks still aren't showing what do YOU all do in the situation". And the conversation happened on the Monday after a disappointing weekend turnout. <br><br>I really think that sort of thing is thawing a bit, though there's still not enough conversation in town, I haven't convinced the population that this is a cooperative not competitive game... well, a lot of it IS ad hoc, but what access to information can do is beat the entrepreneur into the heads of ADs before the money (gubbermint cheese or not) comes in.

We also need to eliminate the hatred of the artist for the very IDEA of business. Having a five year plan and a sustainable business model doesn't make you less of an artist.

and as to your last point: Twitter has been WONDERFUL for that conversation. Because it's less formal and people don't feel the need to push out a prospectus, or present themselves as an expert, there's a lot ore frank conversation about nuts and bolts… or even this week a friend posted a “look we've been reviewed, and I've social media'd the hell out of this… but folks still aren't showing what do YOU all do in the situation”. And the conversation happened on the Monday after a disappointing weekend turnout.

I really think that sort of thing is thawing a bit, though there's still not enough conversation in town, I haven't convinced the population that this is a cooperative not competitive game…

]]> By: Travis Bedard http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/05/11/a-change-is-gonna-come/comment-page-1/#comment-1515 Travis Bedard Tue, 12 May 2009 15:44:04 +0000 http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/05/11/a-change-is-gonna-come/#comment-1515 and that's really what's standing between indies and broader success is a long term plan, and a definition of success. Because so much time is spent 'subsistence arting' there isn't really a cycle out of serfdom. And the goal is to work at Steppenwolf rather than be the NEXT Steppenwolf.<br><br>Our production model scales, because it's based on finished minimalism, but 'living wage' is still more than a decade off, and not for a full rep company. and that's really what's standing between indies and broader success is a long term plan, and a definition of success. Because so much time is spent 'subsistence arting' there isn't really a cycle out of serfdom. And the goal is to work at Steppenwolf rather than be the NEXT Steppenwolf.

Our production model scales, because it's based on finished minimalism, but 'living wage' is still more than a decade off, and not for a full rep company.

]]> By: Travis Bedard http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/05/11/a-change-is-gonna-come/comment-page-1/#comment-1514 Travis Bedard Tue, 12 May 2009 15:32:47 +0000 http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/05/11/a-change-is-gonna-come/#comment-1514 You have to be careful working with kids from NH ;)<br><br>Part of it I think is that many storefront/indies are doing shows to do shows, they aren't creating a unique voice. Nosedive, the Vamps, the Neos (NY or Chi), Collisionworls at the Brick - I know what I'm getting when I work with them. I know what I'm getting if I hire someone who comes from them. <br><br>So if I offer the strike price for their services... whatever it is they have decided is enough... then I hire them to infect my company with That Thing. rather than simply hiring talented guy I've heard of. <br><br>In the same way sitcoms hire stand-ups with defined personas rather than simply actors. As companies we need to develop those things that define us. You have to be careful working with kids from NH ;)

Part of it I think is that many storefront/indies are doing shows to do shows, they aren't creating a unique voice. Nosedive, the Vamps, the Neos (NY or Chi), Collisionworls at the Brick – I know what I'm getting when I work with them. I know what I'm getting if I hire someone who comes from them.

So if I offer the strike price for their services… whatever it is they have decided is enough… then I hire them to infect my company with That Thing. rather than simply hiring talented guy I've heard of.

In the same way sitcoms hire stand-ups with defined personas rather than simply actors. As companies we need to develop those things that define us.

]]> By: 99 http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/05/11/a-change-is-gonna-come/comment-page-1/#comment-1513 99 Tue, 12 May 2009 13:39:52 +0000 http://blog.cambiareproductions.com/2009/05/11/a-change-is-gonna-come/#comment-1513 Yes! I think that storefront theatres are indeed doing it, all over the place. But I don't think it's recognized as a business model and something to emulate or promote. It's treated as an ad hoc, necessary stage in the development of a company. For the first five years, every company looks like that. But Scott hits the nail on the head: once the "money" comes pouring in, the priorities shift and companies move away from it. There's so much talk about what's wrong and how to fix it, but little practical talk. Small companies, in my experience, are sort of bashful about it what they're doing and why. They shouldn't be. They should be advocates for a system that's working. Because you're absolutely right: it is working. It's the corporate model that's not working. Yes! I think that storefront theatres are indeed doing it, all over the place. But I don't think it's recognized as a business model and something to emulate or promote. It's treated as an ad hoc, necessary stage in the development of a company. For the first five years, every company looks like that. But Scott hits the nail on the head: once the “money” comes pouring in, the priorities shift and companies move away from it. There's so much talk about what's wrong and how to fix it, but little practical talk. Small companies, in my experience, are sort of bashful about it what they're doing and why. They shouldn't be. They should be advocates for a system that's working. Because you're absolutely right: it is working. It's the corporate model that's not working.

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