How To Become A Reviewer On StageMagazineOnline.com

How To Become A Reviewer On StageMagazineOnline.com

As one of our stated goals, we at StageMagazineOnline.com want EVERY theater production to have the opportunity to be reviewed. More reviews, more comments about them, more publicity for more theaters equal more people seeing and enjoying theater. We encourage EVERYONE who has ever seen a production and wanted to tell his or her friends to consider reviewing. Following is a list of brief guidelines about WHO can review and HOW the reviews are to be written:

WHO Can Be A Reviewer For StageMagazineOnline.com:

1. Anyone who LOVES theater, applies to our web site after reading this information, agrees with our policies, gives us permission to release her or his words, and is approved by our small oversight committee can become a Reviewer. You must be a Platinum Level Member to keep your eligibility.

2. Your review must be unbiased toward or against the theater company and the type of production you are reviewing. Hey… we didn’t say you couldn’t be passionate about the production, we just don’t want you to go in thinking “this type show never works” or “this is my favorite group” and then allow your own bias to influence your writing. Please do not critique the playwright’s work (unless it’s a new play), only the production you have seen.

3. You do not have to LOVE every production, nor the acting, nor the costuming, nor any other aspect of the production, but we know you will be supportive of the process, knowing that other people will be influenced by what you write. We encourage bright, upbeat reviews… even negative critiques can be said in a pleasant way.

4. No one may attack personally anyone onstage or off. Take time to “see yourself” on that stage and write in a way that reflects the respect you have for yourself AND for the people creating this production. Don’t waste the readers’ time complaining about the guy three seats over from you who didn’t turn off his cell phone. You’re speaking directly to the Community: let them know your thinking, but stick to what’s relevant to our Members about the production you’re seeing.

5. You must be able to type your review on your computer, check the spelling and grammar, and upload it to our site. These are YOUR words and YOU are responsible for them. YOUR NAME will appear with your review (we will clearly state that these are YOUR opinions and not the opinion of the owners or staff of the site). You don’t need to be a literary genius, but typing a few “complex sentences” together into coherent paragraphs is a must.

6. You must be comfortable enough with technology and our web site to upload any digital photographs the theater provides to you.

7. You must be ready for comments from the Community… each review will allow space for others to comment. OK… others won’t be able to attack YOU either, but let’s face it, SOMEONE is bound to disagree with what you wrote and they probably won’t be shy stating it. But we know that lots of people commenting about a specific production is GREAT. More chatter means more interest and more people attending productions.

What Is Required In A Review:

1. A bit of the plot; comments about the acting, directing, and technical aspects of the production; and a statement about what you really appreciated when you saw it. Let us know how it affected you, what emotions it played on, how you were changed because of what was said.

2. Be sure NOT to give away too much of the plot, especially for mysteries, thrillers, etc. And remember: this is NOT just a synopsis of the plot.

3. Write in a personal style – your English teacher from 11th Grade will NOT be correcting this. Write as you speak, and let us know how you feel.

4. Unlike printed newspapers, we have NO arbitrary length limitations – say what you want to say, take as much space as you need, but get to the point and make it clearly. Your words will NOT be edited by us… when you are ready, you upload them by yourself and they are there for the world to see. We cater to families as well as individuals – a comment about the appropriateness for each group will be helpful.

Some Procedures:

1. You must sign up online to become a reviewer and, once approved, you’ll receive special access to the Reviewing Area where you sign up (first-come, first-served) to review a specific production at a specific theater during the first week of production.

2. Tickets will be provided for two individuals and a press packet will be at the theater for the StageMagazineOnline.com Reviewer. It is up to you to double check with the theater you will be attending so that you know the exact date and time. Check here on our site but double check directly: we don’t want you to miss the first half hour or arrive on a day they are dark.

3. Once you agree to attend a performance, you MUST attend it or come back online and remove your name 48 hours prior to curtain so that someone else can attend it. Your review is due no later than 24 hours after you saw the production.

4. Type the review in your word processor so that you can check the spelling, grammar, etc. Once you are finished, copy the text and paste it into the Review Area online that is provided for the production you just reviewed.

Ready To Apply?

1. From your personal email (outside of this site), please write to Maribeth Waddington (Maribeth@StageMagazineOnline.com) to tell her that after reading this information you want to become a Reviewer.

2. Send her your personal contact information (including name, email address, phone number).

3. Send her TWO samples of your writing, each a page or more in length – preferably a review or mock review.

4. She will quickly review your information with our Core Development Group and

5. Get back to you with the approval!

6. Full details about how you proceed from there will be sent to you at that time.

If you are ready to let your voice be heard, we’re ready to help you. Please let me hear back from you by the end of the week.

Charlie Seymour Jr
StageMagazineOnline.com

PS: From the “We Have To Say It Department”: Reviews with foul and offensive language or those that violate our other policies will be removed and the Reviewer restricted from reviewing any longer… but we don’t expect this to happen. And though we reserve the right to cancel permission for any Reviewer to have a review on our site, those following these guidelines can keep writing and writing! Have fun!