Special Alert Blog for StageMagazineOnline.com - What's Happening in Theater The Week of February 11, 2008

Friends,

Let's Sell Your Empty Seats!

1) I asked last week: "Can Anyone break through all the election noise out there?"

Did you see the video I created to support the political action, Gore Vidal play, The Best Man, which is playing at The Players Club of Swarthmore?

The photograph of the state and local politicians supporting the "Register to Vote Campaign" that PCSTheater.org is running was already here early last week. But just below it is the YouTube video that, in under two minutes, gets the message across.

OK… so the main thrust of the video is to get people to Register to Vote in time for the PA Primary, but notice how many times "The Best Man" is mentioned. Even a bit of their opening scene is displayed. (And anyone worrying about copyright: no lines from the show are used: the play licensing agencies can stop you from using the author's words, but the images you create on stage are YOURS to use. And hey… I'm not a lawyer and don't play one on the stage, and I'm not dispensing legal advice, but I sure am running this video here to support their show and Register to Vote Campaign which is drawing more attention to what they are doing).

The video is on YouTube and tagged on FaceBook.

Time will tell if this gets past all the election noise, but they're working hard to do it. Click Here To See The Article and Video To Generate New Ideas For Your Own Marketing!

2) Marketing, SMO-Style

Two major new initiatives are underway to market our Member Theaters to the area's theater-lovers.

- Social Marketing: Andrew (our Manager of Social Networking), Maribeth (our Reviews Manager), and I (as chief marketing officer) are all spending time on your behalf in Social Networking, Social Bookmarking, and Content sites. Any Theater Review on StageMagazineOnline.com gets extra push in MySpace, FaceBook, and many of the most powerful Social Bookmarking site, multiplying the impact of the words our Reviewers write telling the world about your productions. Personally, I'm involved in an intensive, 10-week course taught by the Internet marketing superstars at StomperNet. This intense course of videos, audios, workbook topics, and general discussions details all the latest findings and shows us how to get the word out about you even further. We're here to help you and will share some specific steps with our Member Theaters over the next few months. If you or your theater is on FaceBook, please friend me: CharlesSeymourJr: Click Here To See Charlie Seymour Jr's Facebook Page!

- Targeted Marketing: I have invested several thousand dollars in new Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) software that will let us track every customer and client: his/her likes and dislikes, what shows were seen, where they live and how close they are to your theater, and much much more. The first full week of March I'll be in the headquarters of the Infusion company in Phoenix, AR to learn even more. Some of the Internet's top marketers use this CRM and personally recommended it to me during a marketing conference in November last year. We have been getting up-to-speed with this and soon will shift all our marketing and accounting functions to it. And then we'll tell YOU how YOU can participate more fully, tracking your own prospects and members while sharing in the successes of other theaters throughout our Community.

3) Theaters: How often are you using the Articles and Releases section of StageMagazineOnline.com?

Glad to see that many of you contacted Kate after this article appeared last week.

As I wrote before, Google is spidering us a lot! Every time we mention your theater and your website, you rise in the rankings. But don't only post your press releases about the Opening of your next show. You can write here once a week about what is happening behind-the-scenes at your theater. Let us help get the word out for you!

If you are NOT having us publish all your Theater Press Releases and stories several times a month, you are missing the boat! Click Here To Ask Kate To Help You Use the Articles and Releases Section on StageMagazineOnline.com!

4) Our Reviewers are having a great impact! In her monthly Newsletter to Member Theaters, Kate has begun a series of articles focusing on our Reviewers. (Member Theaters: LOOK for your latest issue - it is being send Snail Mail directly to you this month!)

This month Kate wrote about Amy Lewis:

Amy Lewis is a Philadelphia native whose passions include film, theater, and Philadelphia itself. She received a Bachelor's of Fine Arts Degree with a Minor in Film from New York University in 2001 and a Post Graduate Certificate of Education in English, Drama, and Media Studies from Cambridge University in 2002. During this time, she appeared as a soloist with the South West Essex choir and attended classes at Mountview Theatre School. Afterwards, she was the Head of Media Studies at Colfe's School in London until 2005, when she returned to her native Philadelphia to get involved in the arts scene here.

Since then, Amy has appeared in productions with Plays and Players Theatre, sung with the Philadelphia Pops Orchestra at the Kimmel Centre as part of the Pops Festival Chorus, and volunteered her time to Philadelphia Theatre Company for several productions. She also does film and theater reviews for www.Philadelphiamaven.com in addition to her reviews here.

After turning in a spectacular performance as "girl who runs up the Art Museum steps after guy with bike" in the closing credits of Rocky Balboa, Hollywood was banging down her door. However, Amy turned her back on fame to leave herself free to get the word out about the best shows in town!

Look for Theater Reviews by Amy Lewis on StageMagazineOnline.com/reviews!

If YOU would like to review for us or know someone who does, please Click Here To Contact Maribeth, our Reviews Manager! Just tell her you're interested (or give her the name and email address of someone interested) and she'll take it from there! It's easy to get started!

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Productions Opening This Week:
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Villanova Theatre presents the Maltby and Shire musical Baby, opening Tuesday February 12th.

The Wilma Theater presents Ying Tong- A Walk with the Goons, opening Wednesday February 13th.

People's Light & Theatre Co. presents The Glass Menagerie, opening Wednesday February 13th.

Penn Presents premieres Top Secret: The Battle for the Pentagon Papers on Thursday, February 14th.

Thespis, Etc. presents The Yeomen of the Guard, opening Friday February 15th.

Village Productions presents David and Lisa, opening Friday February 15th.

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Auditions Coming Up:
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Langhorne Players will be holding auditions on February 10th and 13th for The Busy World is Hushed.

The Road Company Theatre Group will be holding auditions on February 11th The Secret Garden.

Please remember: Theaters publish their own information here on our site, so if any are missing, please be sure your person in charge of your StageMagazineOnline.com membership updates everything right away.

We do realize, however, that many theaters are now cast for the season and will begin again in the spring for next year.

If You Need Some Help Publishing Your Theater Information On Our Site, Please Contact Kate Now!

NB: Always be sure to check with the theater AFTER their auditions if you REALLY want to be in that show. Who knows… maybe they didn't cast the very part that you want!

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Job Postings:
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Act II Playhouse is looking for a Part Time House Manager.

The Drama Group is looking for Part Time Directors.

Dramateurs, Inc at the Barn Playhouse is looking for Part Time 2009 Season Directors.

Langhorne Players is looking for Part Time Directors.

Narberth Community Theatre is looking for a Part Time Director.

Rose Valley Chorus and Orchestra has Technical positions open, particularly sound positions.

Sketch Club Players is looking for Part Time Directors, Lighting Techs, and Sounds Techs.

Village Productions is looking for Part Time Instructors/Interns, and Technical/Production staff.

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Read A Good Review Lately?:
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We're still looking for interested, interesting people who want to review for us! Join our terrific Reviewers and expand your theater world and ours!

(Please remember that this is NOT the complete information. You need to log into your membership area on StageMagazineOnline.com to see everything!)

Enjoy the information on the site, and now go see a show!

Charlie Seymour Jr
StageMagazineOnline.com
Charlie@StageMagazineOnline.com

PS: To see how to view all Current Productions:

Click Here To Learn About Current Productions on our Theaters Page!