June 9, 2008
Charles Seymour Jr's Theater Special Alert - Week of June 9, 2008 - StageMagazineOnline.com
Friends,
Are You Thinking BIG Enough?!
At times, we all do, and that's why we need a good consultant/adviser or Mastermind Group to keep us honest with ourselves.
My Trip To NYC As An Example Of Thinking Too Small
Yesterday I was in NYC, walking from Penn Station to 50th and Park in all the heat and humidity, seeing the Puerto Rican Day Parade crowd assembling. I met one good friend from our days at Tufts University at Penn Station and we walked and talked to meet two more.
Little could I imagine what was in store for me at the meeting we set up to discuss an idea I have for creating a book, interview recordings, transcripts, photographs, and so much more for the people who were early-supporters of a musical theater group I founded 37 years ago at Tufts called Torn Ticket.
We had come from Chicago, Cleveland, Northern NJ, and Philadelphia to talk about this project. Though good friends back in school, we had only stayed in touch periodically over the past 35+ years, but my friends felt the project was important enough that they took time from their busy schedules to meet with me to chat about it.
A Quick Project Overview
The idea had been floating around my head for about two years, and after a reunion of Torn Ticket people just over a year ago (we gathered on the campus to reminisce, see each other, and attend a performance by present students who are carrying on where we left off), the idea kept screaming at me.
Could there be some information coming out of surveying this group that would speak about this baby-boomer, Vietnam-War-Era generation?
You're Thinking Too Small, Charlie!
But my friends really let me have it.
"You've waited 35 years to ask for my help and this is as big a project as you can come up with?"
They really (pardon my French) kicked my butt!
"Don't insult me with a project like this."
They were honing in to let me know that something worthy of our time needed to be much bigger in scope and provide a much wider appeal to the outside world.
"Who will care about this other than a few of us who were involved?"
They pulled no punches and though the agenda I had planned for the rest of the meeting stayed in my bag, what they were saying resonated deeply with me.
"Why are you wasting your time with a project with so little payback?"
I wasn't hurt nor upset nor wanting to fight back - I knew their love and support were in the "right place" and so what they wanted me to hear, they said openly, plainly, and very very directly. Very…
Message delivered. Message received.
Do You Have A Mastermind Group Which Talks So Plainly OR Are You Just Getting It Done?!
Think about your own situation… your life in the theater and your life outside.
It's time to wake up and take the harsh truth: you are exactly where you decide to be, and if you think small, you'll only get small results. Is that what is happening to you?
Heck, I'm usually the guy to make others think bigger. I'm usually the consultant/adviser to open people's eyes to help them see the possibilities in front of them. I'm usually the one to say, "stop… think about this… you can do so much better."
When I saw the advice coming back the other direction, I recognized it for what it was and now have some thinking to do to recreate the project - keep the good parts and throw away the parts that I was doing just to "get it done."
And I need to look at my other projects to be sure I'm not falling into the same trap with any of them.
The Choice Is Yours - And Your Theater Needs Your Best Work
So… YOU decide:
Oh - One More Thing About Thinking Small
By now every theater we work with has received both an EMAIL and USPS version of Kate's two most recent newsletters and her note about StageMagazineOnline.com and whether or not you want us to continue to help you sell your empty seats.
Enough time has been spent thinking small: we'll either make this site HUGE for theater in our area, or we'll spend time elsewhere making other things HUGE - we certainly don't lack for projects.
Our staff has worked hard for theaters - even theaters who haven't cooperated by supplying all of their information in a timely way.
So… if we can help make YOU HUGE, we'll continue. If you don't see the possibilities and aren't able to let us help you the way we know we should, then it's time to move on. For each of us.
Please write to Kate now to tell her your thoughts!
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Productions Opening This Week:
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Town and Country Players presents Lady Windermere's Fan, opening Friday June 13th.
Act II Playhouse presents Married Alive!, opening Friday June 13th.
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Auditions Coming Up:
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Village Productions will be holding auditions for Miracle on 34th Street on Tuesday June 10th.
The Players Club of Swarthmore will be holding auditions for A Few Good Men on Monday June 16th
Please remember: Theaters publish their own information on our site, so if any are missing, please be sure your person in charge of your StageMagazineOnline.com membership updates everything right away. And these can appear for up to 60 days BEFORE an audition, so check the site often!
Full information is on our site.
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 has an opening for a Part Time House Manager.
Haddonfield Plays and Players is looking for a Part Time Lighting Designer, along with part time Production help.
Langhorne Players is looking for a Part Time Director.
Rose Valley Chorus & Orchestra has Part Time Technical positions available.
Sketch Club Players has positions open for Part Time Director, Lighting Techs, and Sound Techs.
Village Productions has Part Time Administrative, Instructor, Intern, Production, and Technical positions available.
Willow Manor Players is looking for a Part Time Set Designer and Technical Director.
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Read A Good Review Lately?:
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We're gearing up for the summer and next season (assuming theaters feel that what we're doing is good for them), so if YOU want to join our Reviewers, get in touch with Maribeth! Join us now while we still have openings. Interest is building for Reviewers and if YOU have ever wanted to tell people why they should see a production you loved, please consider reviewing with us.
Click Here To Read Theater Reviews on StageMagazineOnline.com
(Please remember that this is NOT the complete information. You need to log into your membership area on StageMagazineOnline.com to see everything!)
Also, if you are NOT yet a member of StageMagazineOnline.com and want to join or have your theater join:
1. Click Here To Go To The Main Site
2. On the lower left side click on "Visitors, Click Here To Tour The Site"
3. Indicate if you are there as an individual or representing a theater
4. Read the information and join us! It's very simple to do and all the details are there!
Enjoy the information on the site, and now go see a show!
Charlie Seymour Jr
StageMagazineOnline.com
Charlie@StageMagazineOnline.com
Click Here To See The StageMagazineOnline.com Facebook PAGE and all of our Reviews and our Articles/Blogs!
PS: To see how to view all Current Productions:
Click Here To Learn About Current Productions on our Theaters Page!
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